Country farmhouse extension near Oughterlin, Co. Donegal

This country home is in the heart of rural Donegal – a winding country road, stone walls, and tin-roofed sheds are all nestled wonderfully in the hills of Oughterlin. Our clients have travelled far and wide, but came to us in 2019 seeking an extension to their farmhouse to allow them to settle down and better connect with their garden and immediate surroundings.

We designed a small extension to provide a dining area, which also serves as a work-from-home office, reading nook and observation deck for the beautiful garden below. The charred larch cladding, crafted by Sasha at Toasted Wood, was selected as a weatherproof, environmentally-conscious alternative to standard plaster finishes, and the window projection provides a light-filled reading retreat suspended over the pond. The charred shou sugi ban larch and ‘rain chain’ detail both call back to Japanese garden design principles, which are intrinsically linked to the rituals of outdoor work.

The external decking provides a threshold between inside and out, and adds to the sense of immersion in the garden from the extension. Our clients have expertly created a haven for wildlife and pollinators in their garden, and the extension now allows them to fully enjoy the results of their hard work.