It seems we've had Dermot back on our screens only a short while, but last night saw the season finale of Room to Improve, the hit show where Ireland's favourite architect, Dermot Bannon, creates diverse and beautiful homes.
He's pushed budgets to their limits, installed more glass windows than anyone thought possible, and inspired some of the country's funniest tweets.
Realising that tonight's episode is the last in the series. 😭#RoomToImprove pic.twitter.com/fvT1z9I7os
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) October 13, 2019
As usual, the show went out on a high note, as Dermot met Glenn Keating and Gustav van der Westhuizen, who live in Grace Park, Drumcondra, with their five-year-old son Noah and two pet Weimaraner dogs.
Their stunning Edwardian terraced three-story house comes with a story, as it as built for officers of the British Army, between 1897 and 1902. While parts of it have been slightly modernised, others seem stuck in the 1900s, while the mezzanine looks like it was plucked from a modern hotel suite.
Glenn and Gus, a youth worker for LGBTI+ young people in the city centre and a banker respectively, have moved from South Africa, where Gus is from, to Kilkenny and finally to Dublin, but are struggling to make a home in their cold, mismatched and outdated house.
Though they've been in the house for 19 months, they haven't unpacked and efforts to charge ahead with renovations were scuppered when they couldn't pin down a builder. This has left them disillusioned, but Dermot still sees the charm in the stately house and sets out to restore it.
That is, until he sees the wallpaper they want.
The modernist-inspired geometric pattern is just the first stumbling block for the trio, as Dermot argues for sleekness and neutral colours and the couple fight for their "eccentric" and worldly style. With taxidermy animals, religious iconography and a sofa shaped like lips, this is a design challenge Dermot struggles to battle against.
Glenn and Gustav finally have a home that combines functionality with their unique style.#RoomToImprove pic.twitter.com/ff2vLuZRWl
— RTÉ One (@RTEOne) October 13, 2019
A breakthrough comes, amazingly, with a big pretty piece of pink stone, as Dermot takes the couple shopping for a counter top for their bespoke "alter" sink, showing that two contrasting styles can be combined and create harmony.
And with that, we bid farewell to the builds, battles and banter of Room to Improve. Until next year, Dermot!
As always, Irish Twitter was on hand to document the highs, the lows and the nation's grá for Dermot, and his grá for an auld window. Here are the best of the lot:
The new Glenroe
Watching #roomtoimprove is akin to watching glenroe as a kid... when those credits roll its time for bed and cue the Monday fear #roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/chWIn9LM3N
— Fiona Molloy (@fi_molloy1) October 13, 2019
That gap
The wallpaper gap. I'm triggered, I'll never sleep tonight! #roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/YNapQB5XG8
— Iain Rogers (@Iain_Rogers) October 13, 2019
An ecumenical matter
Which altar to go for...#roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/bSj15ayUkW
— Mairéad Ní Chuaig TG4 ☀️🌈 (@MaireadNiChuaig) October 13, 2019
Can he fix it?
John the builder always bringing good news#roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/icr8FEHDkz
— Caolán Mc Aree (@Caolanmcaree) October 13, 2019
This buck and his friend
No sign of the wife yet. She won't be happy when she comes back if this buck and his friend make all the decisions...#roomtoimprove
— Aul lads at funerals (@Irishfunerals) October 13, 2019
Our own Miranda Priestley
The PURSING of the lips? DON'T CROSS THE DERMOT #RoomToImprove pic.twitter.com/PEUROIrZ1H
— James Patrice (@JamesPatrice) October 13, 2019
Dermot says a bad word!
Reaction to Dermot swearing #roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/qiVdq4B0wS
— Deborah Carroll (@NotBadParenting) October 13, 2019
Keeping Dermot humble
"You can do a lot for €150,000 if you do your job properly" #roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/jqx643qOjQ
— IrishGal26 (@Gal26Irish) October 13, 2019
Team of us
Reading #roomtoimprove twitter banter on a Sunday night genuinely makes me proud to be Irish. The sarcasm, the memes..just fantastic all, well done. #TeamOfUs
— Edel Bourke (@edelbourke) October 13, 2019
Joe. And. Mary
And the Oscar for the best episode of #roomtoimprove in 2019 is....
— Mags (@magsmccallig) October 13, 2019
Joe & Mary 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/TgSBpuWytE