Modern Love

Architect Elaine had no interest in tackling a self-build.She had put down her booking deposit on a house in a new development in Ennis, and was happy with that. But then her boyfriend at the time (now husband) Ken’s Dad had to pay his car insurance, and that changed everything.

- Barbara Egan Reportage

The insurance agent doubled as an estate agent, and Ken’s father’s attention was snagged by a site for sale that he spotted in the agent’s office. He forwarded the details to Ken and on route home from work that day, Elaine got a request to go and check out the site. ‘It was out of the blue,’ says Elaine. ‘Ken and I had been going out for four years, but we hadn’t discussed buying together. The house in Ennis was my own buy, and building a home wasn’t even close to being on my radar.’

Ken supplied directions and Elaine went to look at the site, discounting it initially, although she had to admit it was a lovely site; three acres with a stream running through it. She told Ken as much, but added that she had no intention of building a house there.It was her architect’s mind that tripped her up, having viewed the site it started supplying concepts and ideas to create a beautiful, light-filled home surrounded by countryside. Eventually, she began to like the idea. Then Ken went off it. By the time the site came up for auction they were both in agreement, they decided to buy it and their bid was successful. ‘We didn’t find the site, the site found us’, says Elaine.