COCO Content is encouraging members of the farming community who are losing the war against clutter in their living spaces – yards and outhouses are another story – to apply to take part in its ‘Home Rescue’ programme on RTÉ One.
Dolores Murray who lives on a Laois suckler farm is among those who have benefited from participation in the series in the past.
Until 2019 she could barely use many of the rooms in her home because of all the clutter. “It was organised chaos but it was way too much,” she said.
Dolores’ sister, Grace, secretly decided to apply to ‘Home Rescue’ on her behalf. The show helps people who are struggling to curb clutter by sending in a crack team headed up by architect and interior designer Róisín Murphy and builder Peter Finn.
The duo toiled tirelessly over the course of three to four days in the summer of 2019 to declutter the house and reimagine and redecorate two rooms, sponsored by IKEA Ireland.
In the beginning, the idea of it was daunting. When my sister Grace told me she had applied to the show for me, I thought: ‘No way.’ But then my daughter, Lorraine, convinced me to really look at the house and I thought this could really give us a boost and a fresh start.
Once she came to terms with the idea of the clutter being scrutinised, Dolores was thrilled to be selected.
She made a strong connection with the team, especially Róisín. Olwyn and the team of clutter-busters helped the family to sort through an array of clothes and objects and decide what to keep, what to recycle and what to consign to the bin.
Dolores’s kitchen before
“After the initial shakes about going through my clutter and deciding what to part with, it became so easy. Peter and his team are unbelievable. It’s amazing what they got done in such a short space of time.
“I had holes behind my cooker and in the walls and all of that was sorted out as part of the makeover,” said Dolores.
COCO Content’s casting researcher, Suri Grennell, said that once the form on their website is completed, one of the team will make contact to get a picture of individual situations. The six people selected to take part will benefit from a comprehensive declutter and makeover of two rooms in their home.
Dolores’s kitchen after
“The makeover will be based on conversations that will have happened with the presenter, interior designer-architect Róisín Murphy, and the family, as to how the house could work better for them once the clutter is cleared,” said Suri.
“This could be anything from converting an unused bedroom to a home office to making a multi-use space function properly.”
“Now I walk into my kitchen and I get ideas of what I want to do with the rest of the house. I’ve already got the sitting room all organised and I’ve started on the bedrooms. I would say to anyone to go ahead and apply – it’s a great opportunity and gives you such a boost.”