{"id":3247,"date":"2026-09-19T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/?p=3247"},"modified":"2026-09-14T09:34:15","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T08:34:15","slug":"a-portadown-pair-sold-the-bungalow-moved-into-the-converted-stables-at-the-end-of-their-own-garden-and-let-the-main-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/a-portadown-pair-sold-the-bungalow-moved-into-the-converted-stables-at-the-end-of-their-own-garden-and-let-the-main-house\/","title":{"rendered":"A Portadown pair sold the bungalow moved into the converted stables at the end of their own garden and let the main house"},"content":{"rendered":"

They wanted something smaller, smarter<\/strong>, and more themselves<\/strong>. A Portadown couple sold a little bungalow, shifted<\/strong> their lives into the converted<\/strong> stables at the back of their plot, and began letting the big<\/strong> family house to steady tenants<\/strong>. It sounds eccentric, yet it\u2019s orderly<\/strong>, pragmatic, and quietly joyful<\/strong>. \u201cWe kept the garden, the birdsong, the morning light<\/strong>\u2014just lost the excess<\/strong>,\u201d says Karen O\u2019Neill, smiling at the timber<\/strong> beams now warming her compact new home<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The spark behind the switch<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

The turning point came after their last child left home<\/strong>, when the main house felt too large<\/strong> and too busy<\/strong> to justify heating and weekly scrubs<\/strong>. Energy bills rose; so did mortgage<\/strong> rates. \u201cWe weren\u2019t chasing minimalism<\/strong>,\u201d Michael says. \u201cWe were chasing sense<\/strong>.\u201d Selling the old bungalow on the edge of town<\/strong> unlocked capital, while the stables at the garden\u2019s end<\/strong> offered a ready-made canvas<\/strong> for a right-sized life<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

From hay to home<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

The outbuildings were solid, stone<\/strong>-walled, and wonderfully wonky<\/strong>. The couple brought in an architect who understood light, insulation<\/strong>, and heritage detail<\/strong>. They kept the cart-door arch<\/strong>, propped the old lintel<\/strong> where swallows once nested, and threaded underfloor heating<\/strong> beneath reclaimed brick<\/strong>. \u201cThe brief was simple,\u201d Karen says. \u201cMake it warm<\/strong>, keep it honest<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Planning was steady rather than speedy<\/strong>. Bat surveys, drainage maps<\/strong>, and a subtle roofline tweak<\/strong> carried the scheme through. Costs stayed disciplined<\/strong> by reusing materials<\/strong>, trading a spare trailer, and doing the garden work<\/strong> themselves. The conversion finished just as spring arrived<\/strong>, when the apple trees shook off their winter sleep<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Letting the big house<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Instead of selling their main home<\/strong>, they decided to let it to a long-term tenant<\/strong>. The rental income covers the stables\u2019 modest mortgage<\/strong>, routine maintenance<\/strong>, and a rainy-day fund<\/strong>. A local agent screens applicants<\/strong>, handles inspections, and fields late-night boiler calls<\/strong>. \u201cWe wanted distance from the day-to-day drama<\/strong>,\u201d Michael admits. \u201cWe get the income<\/strong>, they get the hassle<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The house now hosts a young family<\/strong>, which pleases Karen more than an empty sale<\/strong> would have. \u201cA house that big should hear laughter<\/strong>,\u201d she says. \u201cOurs still does<\/strong>, even if it\u2019s across the garden path<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Daily life in the stables<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

Inside the former stalls<\/strong>, space is neat, bright<\/strong>, and intentionally low<\/strong>-maintenance. A galley kitchen hugs the wall<\/strong>, while an open-plan nook doubles as living and work<\/strong> space. There\u2019s a single bedroom with deep storage<\/strong>, a suntrap courtyard<\/strong>, and a tiny loft<\/strong> for winter quilts and summer chairs<\/strong>. \u201cWe measure by use<\/strong>, not by metres<\/strong>,\u201d Karen says.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Mornings are quicker and quieter<\/strong>. Cleaning takes one hour<\/strong>, not a day<\/strong>. Heating covers rooms they truly need<\/strong>, which makes winter feel cosy<\/strong>, not costly<\/strong>. They cook simpler, eat in the courtyard<\/strong>, and rarely miss the dining-room rituals<\/strong> that once demanded every Sunday afternoon<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Money, effort, and upside<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

They spent less than an average home extension<\/strong>, because the shell already stood and services were nearby underground<\/strong>. Selling the bungalow delivered cash; the rental now supplies stability<\/strong>. Energy use dropped sharply, and so did their monthly anxiety<\/strong>. \u201cWe downsized our stress<\/strong> more than our footprint<\/strong>,\u201d Michael says.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Insurance and compliance were non-negotiable<\/strong>. The stables needed robust ventilation<\/strong>, smoke and heat alarms<\/strong>, proper egress windows<\/strong>, and a damp-proof strategy<\/strong>. Meanwhile, the letted house follows landlord standards<\/strong>, with annual gas checks and electrical reports<\/strong>. The couple treat compliance like a calendar<\/strong> habit, not a last-minute panic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

What they wish they\u2019d known sooner<\/h2>\n

<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n
  • Start with a clear, bold brief<\/strong>, then guard it against \u201cjust one more room<\/strong>\u201d creep. <\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Keep the bones<\/strong> visible; old materials bring free character<\/strong> and costly lessons<\/strong>. <\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Model realistic cashflow<\/strong> with voids, repairs, and tax\u2014dreams don\u2019t pay HMRC<\/strong>. <\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Insist on airtightness and proper ventilation<\/strong>; comfort lives in those hidden details<\/strong>. <\/li>\n

    <\/p>\n

  • Choose one capable agent<\/strong> and write everything down\u2014clarity is cheap insurance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n

    \n<\/ul>\n

    <\/p>\n

    A home that fits like a thought<\/h2>\n

    <\/p>\n

    This isn\u2019t exile to a shed<\/strong>, nor a retreat from community<\/strong>. It\u2019s a reframing: live where you actually live<\/strong>, and let the rest work for your longer-term plan<\/strong>. The garden still carries their history<\/strong>, while the stables carry their next chapter<\/strong>. \u201cI miss nothing I can name,\u201d Karen says. \u201cBut I notice everything\u2014light on old stone<\/strong>, kettle on, door open<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    From the lane, the setup looks almost storybook<\/strong>: main house breathing behind hedges, compact quarters tucked into shade<\/strong>, and a gravel track stitched through the green<\/strong>. It\u2019s modest, specific, and quietly modern<\/strong>\u2014a way to stay rooted while stepping forward<\/strong>. For two people who wanted less burden<\/strong> and more being<\/strong>, the shortest move of their lives changed almost everything<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3297,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-50"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3247","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3247"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3247\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3285,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3247\/revisions\/3285"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3297"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3247"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3247"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.farmersforum.ie\/trends\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3247"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}