Isolation Restoration

Lisa and her husband Owen turned their attentions to a dilapidated cottage in Belleek, Co. Fermanagh during lockdown and the end result is simply beautiful.

Lisa and Owen purchased Keenaghan Cottage a few years ago. As Lisa explains, 'Owen and I have lived in Co. Tyrone all of our lives and can fondly remember passing this little cottage as we travelled for holidays in Donegal with our families.' The couple not knowing that some day they would be the proud owners.

Lisa goes on to say, 'In 2019 we noticed that it was for sale and within seconds of viewing it we knew it would be the perfect holiday home for us. It had been sitting abandoned for about ten years and as a result was in need of an awful lot of work, but rather than run a mile, I had a clear vision of how it could look.

'At the time the exterior was completely overgrown with briars, the thatch deteriorated, the window frames and lintels were completely rotten. Internally it was cold and damp, so you can imagine the smell. It needed rewired, replumbed and a new heating and hot water system.

'We had not long purchased the cottage when lockdown hit so we felt it was the ideal time for us to get stuck into the restoration. Coming from a construction background with our family run joinery business, we felt more equipped than most to take on a project such as this, anything we couldn't do ourselves we knew someone who could help us. My son Tommy is also training to be a joiner, and was a great help in laying wooden floors and even made some beautiful wooden wall hooks and shelving which are now my favourite pieces in the cottage. My two teenage daughters Molly and Jane helped me paint the entire place, replacing the red and purple walls inside with a fresh coat of white paint. Like Owen and I, the kids all have an interest in property and interiors,' adds Lisa.