Room to Improve viewers left unimpressed with focus on garden

Room to Improve has been filling our dull January!

Of course, it wouldn’t be the iconic show without Dermot Bannon ruffling a few feathers.

And it’s usually the people at home who are left fuming with the TV architect’s decisions.

This week they headed to Knocklyon in Dublin to meet Sandra and Daniel Davey who wanted to make their home more liveable and increase its energy efficiency.

Sandra and Daniel bought their dream home over four years ago but were left unable to live in half of the house due to the conservatory that leaves the house freezing cold.

The couple just want a warm home. Sure don’t we all.

But the topic of the episode quickly changed from keeping the house warm to outside the house. Yes, conversation soon turned to the garden.

They realised that they could renovate the house for €119,000 of their €130,000 budget. Dermot wanted to use the left over €11,000 to do up the garden.

However, quantity surveyor Claire Irwin disagreed as there were plenty of other places that the money could be needed. And soon it was used to do up their shed, with the renovation costing €17,000, which meant that the couple already went over budget.

But Dermot was concerned about the lack of greenery in the garden and he urged the couple to stretch their budget just a bit more… €2,000 more!

Despite a lot of back and forth, the couple decided against Dermot’s plans and left the garden as was.

And viewers took to social media to share their opinion on the garden “obsession”.

#roomtoimprove ffs Detmot it’s room to improve not the Chelsea flower show 2k for shrubs, the garden can be the next project , they’re on a budget!!!!

— shar (@shsron_l) January 21, 2024

Does Dermot not understand that if they say they have no money left they have no money. Stop pressuring them.#RoomtoImprove

— Mairead McLeod (@MaireadMcleod) January 21, 2024

I would rather pass away than spend 3 grand on a planter in my back garden unless it also includes a man who also comes and does the “planting”. No thanks #roomtoimprove

— Carly Killen (@carly_killen) January 21, 2024

Why is Dermot obsessed with the garden? Let them do it themselves over the next few years. #roomtoimprove

— Therese Dempsey (@Tskk1971) January 21, 2024

Jesus what bit of “we can’t afford it” is Dermot not getting! How often do people wait a year or whatever to do the garden… it is not normal to have everything perfect immediately #roomtoimprove

— Deirdre O'Shaughnessy (@deshocks) January 21, 2024

Could ye not just finish the garden next year when ye have money for it? No rush lads! #roomtoimprove

— Rory McEvoy (@rorymcevoy) January 21, 2024

They only wanted a warm house, & now it’s all about living in the garden #roomtoimprove pic.twitter.com/LzDmuXoPB0

— DOT (@alloneworddotie) January 21, 2024

However other’s understood Dermot’s point of view.

I think gardens with no flowers, shrubs, trees are horrendous. I understand it not being a priority for them but I can totally see Dermot’s point of view #RoomToImprove

— Roisin (@RoRoSuperRo) January 21, 2024