DESIGNING YOUR own kitchen is not for the fainthearted but you can save a small fortune if you know what you are doing. Despite having no formal design background, the owner of 63 Leopardstown Park (see page 6) had a carpenter make up the kitchen units from his own detailed drawings complete with measurements. He estimates that the entire job cost less than a third of the cost of a shop-ordered bespoke kitchen.

An unusual feature is the double layer of cupboards on the wall which go right to the ceiling for maximum storage.

His advice is that if you go the DIY route, be very clear with the carpenter about what you want and go through lots of kitchen books and magazines. It’s also vital to price around; a branded stainless steel splashback over the cooker can cost €300 but you could get a stainless steel fabricator to make it for less.

The owners wanted a clean and crisp look but not white so they painted the units and the century Welsh dresser in Perma-Glaze high gloss paint in Frost. Soap and water works for everyday cleaning but for a high shine for special occasions, they use car polish.