The Sunday Times

If the content of makeover television programmes reflects our tastes in home alterations these days, perhaps it's time to worry, because lately our tastes have turned distinctly hardcore. What started off a few years ago as a harmless inclination among homeowners towards a little bit of slap and redecoration has now evolved into an appetite for full-on demolition and reconstruction. According to the Irish Georgian Society (IGS), our period homes are victims of our enthusiasm. In the past, typical assaults on period houses were ill-advised window replacements and paint jobs, but these days well-intentioned homeowners are more likely to destroy entire walls.