The Forge, near Ramelton, Co. Donegal

The renovation of The Forge thatched cottage near Ramelton has been a labour of love and involved intense attention to detail. From the monolithic stone walls down to the fine brassware on the kitchen cabinets, the cottage’s original character remains beautifully intact after its ground-up renovation to improve thermal efficiency and breathability.

The cottage was improved in all aspects, including the addition of floor insulation, re-rendering of the stone walls with breathable insulated lime plaster, as well as repairs to the thatched roof structure and weatherproofing. The internal finishes and furniture have been curated in close collaboration with our clients to retain the authentic cottage atmosphere, while reaping the benefits of modern thermal performance and technology.

There have been some interesting revelations throughout the project – for example the c.1980s aerial photo of the cottage which revealed that the thatch had in fact been removed and replaced with corrugated metal – before being restored to its original thatched condition, presumably some time in the last 10 years.