Longford cottage impresses on RTÉ Home of the Year

The picturesque setting of Aughaboy, Killoe, hit the TV screens in style last week as Caroline Crowley and her husband, Jason McCormack featured their 120-year-old refurbished cottage on RTE’s Home of the Year.

The cottage is surrounded by beautiful mature chestnut, oak and sycamore trees and oozes old word charm, with some modern twists.

“We renovated the entire interior from removing a partition wall in the kitchen to open up to what you see now a modern open plan kitchen/ dining room,” said Caroline, who is an interior designer.

“We bought our kitchen on done deal for very little; we added new work tops. Jason re sprayed it , added a larder unit area to create that beautiful look.

“Downpipe is our kitchen unit colour; it’s renowned in the interior sector - a colour that has a signature look. Our floors are bright to add light and our woodwork painted to add the cottage charm.

“The hall tiles are our statement piece bought locally and we addded the deep green tone studio green to add character to one wall.

“Our half door is used all the time it most definitely adds to our home at Fernsborough Cottage.”

Getting the phone call from the producer of Shinawil production that their little cottage was in one of the unique 21 homes category on RTE Home of the Year 2022 , was a day that will stay with Caroline forever.

“The mind raced and the head wanted to paint, to redecorate, buy all new pieces,” said Caroline.

“It was like the most important visitors were coming to stay. We put a plan in place, we touched up our paint work. Yes we added panelling into the kitchen and we bought a beautiful new sofa. It was an overdue purchase, due to covid we were waiting, now this gave us the push, it was great excitement.

“Was it hard work? Absolutely. Did I loose sleep? Most definitely. We were working long hours on our own business which is JMC Respray, respraying kitchens and furniture old and new. So add in Home of the Year and the levels of coffe were off the chart.

The cottage is a place of sanctuary for Caroline, Jason and their grown children Naomi (26), Faye (22) and Alex (17), as well as their dogs Oscar and Hugo.

“RTE Home of the Year allowed us to show case how cottage life is so do able,” said Caroline.

“We were on a budget; we intend on replacing windows, adding on a new part to the cottage all over time.

“Putting our home on RTE Home of the Year opened up Longford to show case our beautiful county.”