House and Home March/April 2026

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What makes a design last generations? Is it exceptional craftsmanship? Is it honest materials? Is it timeless design? For us, it’s all of these. at’s what makes a Neptune home.

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Transform

How

What’s

Renovation specialist Kate O’Driscoll reworks a Victorian Dublin house with quiet

An Edwardian family home by the sea gets a colour injection, giving it confidence, comfort and character

26

Kitchen Special

86 KITCHEN COOL

The cabinet colours, surface materials, storage ideas and must-have kit you need to know about in 2026, according to industry experts

100KITCHEN UPGRADE

In need of a new kitchen? We got you. Four looks, all different price points, plus tips on how to make one each work

108 COUNTER CULTURE

The workhorse of any kitchen, your worktops will get put to the test every day, but just because they have to be practical, doesn’t mean they can’t be pretty

118 KITCHEN STORIES

From a 1790s Dublin home to a Mayo selfbuild and a Cork new-build, three kitchens, three families, and the stories behind them

30

105

125

FINISHING TOUCHES

Stylish stools, pendant lights and designled kettles to help complete your dream kitchen scene

132 OLD WOOD, NEW MOOD

DIY paint, hardware and clever fixes for high impact furniture updates

137 THE NATURAL WORLD

Extract: The Nature of Decorating: Interiors Inspired by the Natural World by Jenny Rose-Innes 100 86 M

EDITORIAL

Editorial Director

Sive O’Brien sive@houseandhome.ie

DESIGN

Art Director

Marlene Wessels

ADVERTISING

Commercial Brand Director

Jane Forrest, Jane@houseandhome.ie

PUBLISHING

Distribution: Newspread

PHOTOGRAPHY

Shauna Lally, Elyse Kennedy, Marlene Wessels

CONTRIBUTORS

Róisín Carabine, Orla Neligan, Suzie Coen, Michelle Hanley, Pippa Loughrey, Juno Beirne

CEO

Karen Hesse

PRINTING

Boylan Print Group

GO DIGITAL

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House and Home is published by House and Home Publishing Limited.

All prices quoted in House and Home are correct at time of going to press, however readers are advised to check cost and availability before buying. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without prior written permission from the publishers.

House and Home magazine sells more copies on newsstands, nationwide, than any other Irish interiors title

When you have nished with this magazine please recycle it.

Something in the air

You know the feeling. The back door is left open for the first time in months, the sound of lawnmowers drifts in from down the road, and just like that, winter is over. I notice it first in the kitchen. Suddenly, I’m cooking differently, reaching for lighter, seasonal ingredients, and stepping outside with my morning coffee just to feel the sun on my face. It’s a small thing, but it changes everything. Spring makes you see your home in a new way, and the kitchen feels that shift the most. Light falls across the counters at a new angle, and the space that got you through the darker months starts to feel different.

Consider this your sign to do something about it, whether you're planning a full renovation, considering a new palette, or are simply ready to shake things up. Ireland’s top designers, tastemakers, and influencers share what really works when you want to breathe new life into your home as the seasons shift, what’s worth spending on, and what to skip (Get into the Mood pg 36).

Our biggest kitchen special yet covers every decision you might face, from layout and design (Kitchen Cool, pg 86), to budgets (Kitchen Upgrade, pg 100), and worktops (Counter Culture, pg 108). To show what’s possible (in real life), we visit three readers’ kitchens in Mayo, Cork, and Dublin (Kitchen Stories, pg 118), and tour three inspirational homes that we know will truly inspire you. You’ll find real budgets, honest decisions, and all their top tips and advice. We also sat down with Vogue Williams to talk all things home (My House and Home, pg 144), her style, her spaces and the design decisions she'd make again in a heartbeat. Every answer you need is somewhere in these pages. Dog-ear them and scribble in the margins for your 2026 projects, this one's a keeper.

SIVE O’BRIEN, Editorial Director

Let us know on Instagram what you loved in this issue, and what you’d like to see more of across these pages

Stylish and Contemporary kitchens from Kube.

This kitchen from Kube Balbriggan features lacquered fronts in Premium Honed Black, paired with a durable Dekton worktop and a laminate breakfast bar—perfectly combining modern style with practical design in a striking dark kitchen aesthetic. Kube Honed Black is a modern handleless design, featuring elegant Dekton Laurent worktops and a laminate Breakfast Bar in Milano Walnut be KitchenProud kubekitchens.ie Scan to find your nearest showroom

BY SIVE O’BRIEN

home, set

RELAX

Professional home organiser Hazel Burton from Thehomereset.ie shares her top three buys to get your home tidy and summer-ready.

1 Mustard Made magnetic notice boards are the perfect solution for the artistic creations constantly landing on your surfaces, €120, Aprilandthebear.com.

2 These are my go-to hangers, €3.50, Jysk. ie, for every wardrobe reset. 3 Stackable toy baskets with clear labels mean the whole family can join tidy-up time, from €14.99, Hm.com

Irish rug company Kukoon Rugs has collaborated with TV interior designer Peter Irvine of @thewhitehome on a six-piece limited-edition jute collection. Sustainably made, and super-cute, from €155, Kukoonrugs.com

MEET MUSA

Our favourite cool kitchen brand just got a serious upgrade. Smeg has collaborated with design studio Borromeo & de Silva on Musa, a re ned new built-in collection, creating something that feels as much like art as appliance. Ovens from €449, hobs from €499. Smeg.com

GREETEST OF ALL

Does this sound familiar? The room palette is set, the space is designed, and suddenly you’re stuck with art choices? It’s an often-overlooked part of a room refurb, yet people spend on the fixtures, furnishings, and paint colours, and artwork can be the glue that holds it all together.

Enter: Dublin-based illustrator and artist Aoibhne Hogan at Greet Street, who has built a serious reputation among Ireland’s design community and homeowners for creating artwork that shapes the visual experience of every room. Ready-made prints, from €70, to bespoke art pieces, Greetstreet.com

À TABLE!

As temperatures creep up and entertaining kicks back in, our thoughts turn to the table. Bloomingville’s new Paula collection has us completely sold: stoneware plates, bowls and mugs in a spring-ready palette of blush rose, dusty blue, warm terracotta and soft grey. Mix and match freely. From €13.90, Amberandwillow.com

FUTURE PERFECT

Could these be the cutest coffee table books you’ve ever seen? Pastel covers to complement interiors, and a fun astrology theme. Stella Andromeda zodiac books from Hardie Grant, €11.78 each. Dubraybooks.ie

DANES DO IT BEST Danish design lovers, this one’s for you. BoConcept’s most impressive Irish destination store yet has just opened: a sleek, architecturally-led showroom worth a day trip. Think modular sofas you’ll want to move into, smart home-office pieces, and accessories that make everything click. Highlights include pieces by artistic director Helena Christensen alongside fresh launches from Copenhagen studio Atelier Axo. Consider your weekend plans made. Boconcept.com

On the House and Home team’s

We’re hanging out at… Volumes. Dublin’s most anticipated new café hotspot has opened on George’s Quay. The idea is simple but bold: slow down, gather with purpose, and enjoy an achingly beautiful space to do so. Created by a dynamic trio intent on bringing the best of global coffee culture, delicious food and seriously-stylish interiors by Copenhagen’s FRAMA, to Dublin @volumesdublin

We’re (very) excited about… The Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai. A robot that vacuums AND washes your floors until the stain is completely gone. Using AI to identify almost 200 types of spills, it hoovers, mops, self-empties and recharges, all without being asked twice. Honestly, it does everything except make the mess. €1,199, Harveynorman.ie

We’re obsessed with… Zara Home’s new gym collection. Forget less-than-aesthetic-looking workout accessories; we’re matching our home decor with these new at-home workout buddies. From €32.99, Zara.com

WE’RE OBSESSED WITH... SKYFOLK

There is something so powerful about seeing a place you love from above. The stretch of a familiar coastline, the arc of a bay you swam in as a child, or an island you've always wanted to visit - everything looks different from the air. It feels so much more extraordinary. That’s the feeling Cork siblings Sara and Don have captured with Skyfolk, their collection of aerial fine art prints that show Ireland in a fresh, modern way. After years of living abroad,

they wanted artwork that truly meant something and reflected the Ireland they remembered. So, like any designloving duo, they decided to create it themselves. The results are wide, open, grounding, and deeply familiar prints of Ireland from above, feeling modern and nostalgic all at once.

Choose from an ever-growing range of locations across Ireland - Kerry, Kinsale, the 40ft, Barleycove, the islands, the seascapes - or commission

something entirely personal, such as a wedding location, a childhood beach, a place that means everything to someone you love.

Every piece is made to order in Cork on museum-quality, Hahnemühle fine art paper with archival inks, a very considered way of saying these are built to last a lifetime. As personal artworks go, we think these are hard to beat.

Skyfolk.ie; from €60

THE DETAILS

The Hoxton

Edinburgh, Scotland

Thehoxton.com/edinburgh

INSPIRING SPACE

The Hoxton, Edinburgh

A relaxed townhouse hotel in the West End where colour and character do the heavy lifting

THE SPACE Walking into The Hoxton, Edinburgh feels instantly familiar, but in a good way, like stepping into a particularly well-designed friend’s home. Set across a row of Georgian-style townhouses on Grosvenor Street, the hotel makes the most of its bones, keeping original features firmly in place while layering in colour, texture and plenty of personality.

The lobby is warm and welcoming, anchored by a statement chandelier and a large mural that sets the tone. A palette of teals, antique blues, soft pinks and muted ochres runs throughout, grounded with brass, blackened steel, textured glass, checkerboard tiles, parquet flooring and patterned rugs. We especially loved the tiny velvet-lined cinema, a tempting excuse to slow things down for an hour or two before hitting the West End or New Town on foot to check out all the gorgeous independent lifestyle stores close by.

INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HOME

The takeaway here is a lesson in how to be confident with colour and materials. Nothing is overly precious, yet everything feels considered. Two-tone walls, layered lighting and a mix of old and new furniture feel anything but formal. It’s a reminder that heritage interiors don’t need to be stiff: warmth, texture and a few unexpected details make all the difference.

DESIGN NOTES

TOWNHOUSE CHARACTER Georgian proportions, sash windows and original detailing are left to shine.

LAYERED COLOUR Rich teals and sage greens are softened with warm woods and brass accents.

RELAXED DETAILS Playful touches and tactile finishes keep the look approachable and lived-in.

PENDANT LIGHT Cream Caspian easyfit shade, €152.50, Next.ie

CHECKERBOARD TILES Grey and white square tiles, from €78.13 per sq m, Besttile.ie

BEDROOM MIRROR Large Odeon mirror in muted brass, €425, Orianab.com

OTTOMAN Rytm bench, €379, Woodesign.ie

ARMCHAIR Granite chair with solid ash wood in walnut finish, €395, Kavehome.com

COFFEE TABLE Mango wood Amma coffee table, €596, Next.ie

FOOTSTOOL Sofia blush pink velvet footstool, €99, Ezliving-interiors.ie

BEDROOM LIGHT Där lighting Bombazine 7-light, €449.28, Trinitylighting.ie

into the

MOOD

How do you breathe life into your home after winter? Seven experts weigh in

BY SUZIE COEN

HOW TO BRING SPRING INTO YOUR HOME

Lighten the mood After the heavier months of winter, a spring refresh can be as simple as rebalancing a space and letting light back in. Think lift, not overhaul.

Keep it considered A spring refresh isn’t about excess. Focus on styling, layered lighting, thoughtful colour and proportion, and your home will feel lighter, fresher and renewed.

TULLIO ORLANDI

@TULLIOORLANDI

Tullio Orlandi is a Limerick-based interior designer and founder of Tullio Orlandi Design. With significant experience leading commercial projects, Tullio is renowned for his bright, expressive interiors-style and is the go-to for major revamps in Limerick, including Bar Alexa, the Savoy Hotel’s bar and library, and the quirky Buttery restaurant.

Style, don’t commit Accessories are the easiest way to introduce colour without locking yourself in. Cushions, ceramics, books and decorative objects let you experiment seasonally.

Build from neutrals Neutral walls make the perfect base. Add depth with stronger joinery colours rather than bold paint everywhere. Muted tones feel more timeless,

Don’t fear the dark Darker hues can work brilliantly, especially as a backdrop. They allow furniture, art and accessories to stand out, adding contrast and confidence to a space. Make art do the heavy lifting A single, well-chosen artwork can anchor a room and set the tone. Scale matters - one oversized piece often has more impact than several smaller ones.

NIK DILLON

@NIKDILLONHOME

If you’re excited by real homes, colour, cosy corners and an honest reno journey, you’ll have fallen for Nik Dillon’s maximalist interiors Instagram feed like us. A model for a new generation of interiors obsessives honing their craft online, Nik has transformed her family home by blending bold colour, nature, and generous DIY creativity.

HOW TO BRING SPRING INTO YOUR HOME

Start at the door Spring begins outside. A few well-chosen pots, lanterns or candles at the front door instantly sets the tone before you even step inside. Bring the outdoors indoors It’s all about introducing life and freshness. Blooms, bulbs and greenery can help reawaken a space and blur the line between indoors and outdoors.

Play with colour Spring colour should feel joyful, not permanent. Soft shades like yellow, blush and green work best in tablescapes, cushions and accessories; they’re easy to add, and easy to change.

Layer the details Candles, playful ceramics and pattern bring warmth and personality, while open windows do the rest, flooding rooms with natural light. Keep it effortless The key is to stay relaxed and seasonal. Focus on small details that elevate everyday moments, and let the house feel lived-in, light and full of life.

CARLA BENEDETTI

@DESIGNETC.IE

Designer and interior stylist Carla Benedetti gets to redecorate more often than most of us do. A serial renovator, she is on her fifth complete home renovation, living in each as the project progresses. And Carla’s homes were not just any old houses. One appeared in the first Home of the Year series, while two others, including her current home, featured on The Great House Revival

HOW TO BRING SPRING INTO YOUR HOME

Keep it relaxed Spring spaces should feel easy and unforced, as if they’ve come together naturally, even when every detail has been carefully considered.

Mix old and new Modern pieces feel softer when paired with vintage finds. Clean lines work best alongside timeworn forms, creating contrast and character rather than perfection.

Let craftsmanship lead One-off pieces bring soul to a room. I’m always drawn to character and craftsmanship, especially the beauty of patina and finishes that only get better with age.

Edit the colour To keep layered spaces calm, stick to a close, harmonious colour palette. A restrained range lets individual pieces shine without competing

Let it evolve The most successful homes aren’t finished, they grow and change over time. A considered, layered approach allows a space to feel personal, lived-in and more unique with every season.

CAROLINE FLANNERY

@INTERIORSBYCAROLINE

Caroline Flannery is the founder and creative director of Interiors

By Caroline. Based in Clontarf, she is widely noted for her original yet classic style, highly personal service, and over 20 years’ industry experience spanning projects in Ireland, the UK and Europe. She specialises in highly personalised, bespoke interior design as well as interior furnishings.

HOW TO BRING SPRING INTO YOUR HOME

Start with feeling One of the first questions I ask clients is how they want their home to feel. The answer is almost always the same: warm, inviting, soothing, and, of course, beautiful.

Light sets the mood Much of that atmosphere comes down to lighting. Layered lighting lets you balance ambience and function, shifting the mood of a space from morning to evening with ease.

Look again Approach your home with kindness and curiosity. Small updates can bring a surprising sense of renewal - whether that’s a fresh coat of paint in a colour you love, new hardware, subtle curtain trims, cleaned rugs, reframed photos or restored floors.

Let plants do the work Plants instantly breathe life into a space. Beyond their health and wellbeing benefits, they add texture, colour, drama and architectural interest, transforming even the most tired corners.

HOW TO BRING SPRING INTO YOUR HOME

MINGLE @MINGLE_IRL

Mingle was founded by Dearbhaile Gaffney and Gráinne O’Higgins after meeting at a mutual friend’s wedding in 2024 and realising something was missing in Dublin: relaxed, social dinners designed to help people genuinely connect. Six months later, they hosted their first supper club, and Mingle has since grown into a successful series of intimate dining experiences across the country. Ultimately, the goal of every Mingle dinner is simple: guests leave having met new people, feeling inspired to do things differently, and reminded that good food, good company and a bit of craic go a long way.

Keep it effortless The Mingle approach is all about atmosphere and ease. When it comes to entertaining, the goal is simple: relaxed, welcoming and quietly intentional. Let food do the talking Shared plates instantly break the ice, while seasonal ingredients keep things feeling fresh without trying too hard.

Style it loosely Locally sourced flowers, mixed tableware and a few thrifted or antique pieces add instant character. It’s about charm, not perfection. Set the mood Candles are non-negotiable. Add a good playlist, dim the lights and let the table feel warm and inviting.

Let it unfold The best gatherings aren’t over-orchestrated. Set the scene, then step back and let it all happen naturally.

NEATLY

@NEATLY.IE

Ann Teehan, owner of Neatly Home Organisation, is a certified professional organiser trained by Dilly Carter of BBC’s Sort Your Life Out. She specialises in transforming overflowing wardrobes, chaotic kitchens, or homes in need of a pre-move declutter into functional, organised havens.

HOW TO BRING SPRING INTO YOUR HOME

Start fresh Easter marks a natural reset. Brighter mornings and longer evenings invite a lighter, calmer way of living. A proper refresh isn’t about an overhaul, it’s about small, meaningful changes that make a difference to daily life.

Begin with the easy wins Put on some music and start smart. Skip emotional or sentimental items at first, they slow you down. Instead, tackle one counter, shelf or cupboard that feels manageable.

Build momentum Clearing small spaces help to build confidence and keeps you moving. One success leads to another.

Pace yourself This isn’t a sprint. Ten minutes a day, one drawer at a time, is enough to create real progress. Feel the shift Spring is about fresh energy and intention. By the end of the season, those small steps add up - leaving your home feeling lighter, calmer and you far more in control.

QI want to update my living room (or bedroom) without a major overhaul. What’s the easiest way to refresh a drab room and inject a bit of colour?

1 CLEAR COLOUR

ASK THE EXPERT

Dividing her time between Dalkey in Dublin and London, Zoe Willis is known for creating interiors that feel confident, layered and quietly bold. Her work blends classic architecture with a modern, intuitive use of colour, spaces that feel intentional rather than overworked. With a refreshingly practical mindset, Zoe champions fewer, braver decisions over trend-led decorating, helping clients unlock personality and warmth without unnecessary upheaval. Her rooms are designed to be lived in, Zoewillisdesign.com

THE PROBLEM Rooms can feel flat when colour is used too carefully and in lots of small, separate ways. There might be many ‘nice’ choices, but no strong direction.

THE FIX Begin by making one clear colour choice instead of many small ones. Painting is the fastest way to change a room’s mood, but the effect depends on where you use it. A bold wall colour, a painted ceiling, or coloured joinery can quickly add depth and purpose. After that, add colour with a few standout soft furnishings like cushions, lampshades, or artwork. Choosing fewer, stronger pieces will always look more finished than lots of safe options.

PERSONALITY

THE PROBLEM Neutral spaces can feel drab, not because they’re calm, but because they lack contrast and personality. Playing it safe often leads to rooms that feel lifeless rather than restful.

THE FIX Introduce colour in a way that feels intentional, not overwhelming. You don’t need to repaint the whole room to see a difference. A coloured lampshade, a patterned rug or a painted door or bookcase can act as a focal point and instantly shift the atmosphere.

3 LAYER COLOUR, LIGHT & TEXTURE

THE PROBLEM Colour is often added in a random way, like a cushion here or an accessory there, which can make a room feel scattered instead of refreshed.

THE FIX Focus on the trifecta: colour, light and texture rather than furniture. Choose one tone you genuinely love and repeat it in two or three places - on the walls, then echoed in artwork or upholstery. This creates cohesion without feeling themed. Colour is the most transformative tool we have because it changes how a room feels emotionally the moment you walk in. When it’s controlled and intentional, even small changes can completely transform a space.

REAL HOMES

Three Irish homes, each a study in beauty, function and fresh thinking

HOMEOWNERS

Kate O’Driscoll, her husband Cian, and children, Jessica and Matthew

THE HOUSE

A detached Tudor-style Victorian house in Rathmines, Dublin 6

History in the

Making

Renovation specialist Kate O’Driscoll reworks a Victorian house with quiet confidence, blending period integrity with the demands of modern family living

BY ORLA NELIGAN PHOTOGRAPHS ELYSE KENNEDY STYLING SOPHIE MCKENNA

When renovation specialist Kate O’Driscoll purchased her detached Victorian home at the end of a red-brick terrace in Ranelagh, Dublin, she knew two things right away: it was unlike the rest of the street, and it would demand time and a deft hand. Thankfully, she had both. With multiple renovations already under her belt, she saw the house as an opportunity to apply everything she had learned. This time, however, she wanted to do things differently.

Built in 1917, the Tudor-style house stands apartquite literally and architecturally - with its attic room, generous natural light and a south-facing garden that would later become one of its greatest assets. Yet designing her own family home while pregnant, and later navigating life with two very young children, proved to be Kate’s most challenging and personal project to date. “We lived here for almost two years before we even started planning,” she explains. “That year, especially postpartum, was about slowing down.” They sanded floors, painted walls, and made it comfortable but not fancy. “Living in the house gave us a real understanding of how it functioned and how we wanted it to support our lives.”

A warren of small rooms and a cramped kitchen made life with small children unnecessarily complicated. When it was time to renovate, Kate and her husband Cian turned to Wilson Hill Architects and Fitzpatrick Construction. Working together, they opened up the interior to suit modern living while remaining sensitive to the house’s period character and conservation constraints.

Kate’s previous renovation had leaned heavily into contemporary design trends of the time – Crittall-style glazing and a modern box extension – choices she now regrets. “It was nice to live in, but it wasn’t me,” she says. “This time I was very clear on my non-negotiables.” Those non-negotiables included timber sash windows, French doors, traditional detailing, and a home that respected its period origins while allowing for modern

PANTRY A dedicated coffee dock centres around a La Marzocco Linea Mini espresso machine, combining café-level performance with sculptural appeal

LIVING AREA The ‘Baltimore’ sofa by Finline, upholstered in Warwick Fabrics’ Plush velvet in Brick, anchors the space with rich colour and texture. Painted timber French doors and sash windows by Carlson, finished in RAL 9010, frame views outside and reinforce the home’s architectural rhythm

PREVIOUS PAGES HALLWAY Original features define the hallway, where a mahogany handrail and birch staircase have been restored by Kate and finished in Osmo Terra Oil. Limestone checkerboard tiles from Fossil Stone bring graphic impact, softened by a looped wool carpet from Fibre Flooring, sourced through Des Kelly Interiors. Walls in Little Greene Slaked Lime Mid provide a serene backdrop

family life. While working closely with her architect from an early stage, Kate remained firm in her vision, resisting short-lived trends in favour of longevity.

The original footprint of the house measured just 120 square metres. A modest two-storey extension added approximately 35-40 square metres, extending out from the return and upwards to create a generous master suite. It’s an addition which feels respectful rather than dominant, allowing the original house to remain legible. Uncovering the building’s fabric was less romantic. Unlike a previous Victorian renovation Kate had undertaken, largely untouched, this house revealed decades of poor DIY work. “The more we peeled it back, the more dodgy DIY we found,” she recalls. Floorboards had been cut and patched with paper catalogues, sash windows nailed shut, and original features buried beneath layers of carpet, foam-backed wallpaper and 1980s panelling. Still, salvage was prioritised wherever possible. Original cornicing in the front rooms was retained, and all intact front windows were carefully preserved. Where replacements were unavoidable, traditional replicas were installed, despite the additional cost and the realities of single glazing. “It mattered to me that the house felt honest, even if it was harder,” says Kate.

Downstairs, the flooring became a defining element of the scheme. Kate chose Havwoods’ Mosman herringbone parquet, which flows continuously through the main living spaces, despite changes in level. Walls throughout the house are colour-drenched in tonal variations of Little Greene’s Slaked Lime, creating a sense of cohesion while subtly shifting the mood from room to room. South-facing spaces glow in Slaked Lime Mid while the north-facing front living room is enveloped in the deeper, cosier Slaked Lime Deep. Pocket doors connect the two rooms, making the tonal transition feel intentional and elegant.

Furniture choices reflect Kate’s love for timeless design and thoughtful restraint. An oval tulip dining table anchors the main living space, while a terracotta velvet Finline sofa, adapted with custom foam inserts to suit family life, brings warmth. Her much-loved replica cane egg chair, owned since before her first child was born, sits in the window and remains everyone’s favourite spot. “It’s my ten minutes with my coffee every morning, a non-negotiable,” she laughs. “I’ll never get rid of it.”

LOUNGE A rattan hanging egg chair from Sika Design introduces a relaxed note, while a painted pine Basu media unit by Woood offers understated storage. A Samsung Frame Pro TV doubles as both screen and artwork

DINING ROOM A mid-century Calacatta marble oval dining table from CA Design is paired with Hazel fabric dining chairs from EZ Living Furniture, their dark-stained birch frames adding contrast. Overhead, a Benjamin pendant by Frandsen casts a soft glow. An oil painting of the Poolbeg Chimneys by Elysia Hegarty adds a local note, while Mosman herringbone parquet flooring from Havwoods grounds the room in texture and warmth

constantly saying ‘what an interesting

READING NOOK A vintage bentwood chair and antique turned-wood lamp create a quiet reading corner. A glass and wood nest of tables from Jysk adds practicality, while black metal photo frames from Dunnes keep the look pared back

FIREPLACE The original Carrara marble fireplace, restored by Antique Fireplace Restoration, forms a refined focal point An antique teak demi-lune table and gilt mirror add patina, while a pendant light from Next introduces a contemporary edge

STOVE A Fireline cassette stove from Heating Distributors brings warmth, set against Milk Matt Mix porcelain tiles by 41Zero42, from TileStyle

EN SUITE Burlington Guild brushed-nickel brassware, by Soaks, sets a refined tone in the en suite, paired with a timber-framed oval mirror from EZ Living Furniture. An opal glass wall light by Astro Lighting, supplied by Dusk Lighting, provides a soft glow, while bespoke shower glass from Rathmines Glass and Taj Mahal quartzite bath surrounds from Stone Link complete the space

The kitchen was Kate’s most immersive design experience. Working with Savvy Kitchens in Thurles and inspired by her admiration for designers such as Suzie McAdam and Ash Wilson, whose work strikes a balance between tradition and individuality, it’s both dramatic and serene at the same time - the three-metre ceiling height called for bold decisions. After testing 10 different timber stains, Kate settled on a deep, richly toned finish with a nod to mid-century mahogany and teak. “The painter thought I was mad,” she recalls. “He kept asking me if I was sure.” An elongated island, positioned perpendicular to the main run and shaped like a dining table with a rounded end, becomes both sculptural and social. Topped with quartzite, chosen for its durability, it’s a centrepiece designed to age beautifully, as is the kitchen, which demonstrates Kate’s knack for making hard-working spaces feel elegant.

The renovation unfolded amid inevitable chaos: nail guns, snagging lists, and tradespeople sharing space with toddlers. Having taken on much of the work herself in previous homes, Kate chose to delegate more this time. Specialist painters Farrelly & Co completed the house in a single, focused phase. Moving upstairs, the main bedroom is intentionally dramatic with Belarte wallpaper on the pitched ceilings, creating a cocooning, hotel-like retreat. A cabin shower in the en-suite sits beneath the pitch of attic stairs that leads to a converted attic space for a home office. Outside, landscaping by Louise Checa completes the transformation with granite steps to the lawn, while a refurbished garden room now functions as a gym and home office, luxuries Kate missed in her previous home.

For Kate, it marks a line in her ongoing personal renovation journey: a home with just the right air of measured restraint, balancing modern family living and period elegance, one she’s truly happy with. “This time, I love everything; we ticked every box,” she says. Future renovations are firmly off the table, at least until the children are teenagers. For now, she’s happy swinging in her egg chair and watching the garden come into bloom. “I might consider doing it again,” she muses, “but maybe by the sea.” It might not be off the table after all.

Kate @victorianrathmines is the co-host of the Rip It Up podcast with @workerscottage and the force behind TheHomepage.ie, a new renovation platform built to simplify the process for homeowners

PRIMARY BEDROOM BelArte wallpaper introduces subtle pattern in the primary bedroom, paired with painted timber sash windows by Carlson. A black multi-arm chandelier from Made.com adds drama, while steel column radiators from Best Heating bring an industrial note

FAMILY BATHROOM Gloss porcelain zellige tiles in Avocado by Del Forno line the family bathroom. An oak vanity from Ikea is paired with brushed-nickel brassware from Soaks and custom glass by Rathmines Glass

KATE’S FAMILY HOME

RENOVATION TIPS

LIVE IN THE SPACE FIRST However certain you feel at the outset, your priorities will shift once you’ve experienced how a home actually works day-to-day.

DESIGN FOR THE FUTURE If you have children, avoid tailoring spaces too precisely to their current age. Needs evolve quickly, so flexible layouts and adaptable rooms will serve your family far longer.

BE CLEAR ON NON-NEGOTIABLES Identify elements and finishes you care about and lock them into your budget early. Balance spending by being flexible and shopping strategically.

NEVER CHOOSE PAINT BY PROXY A colour that looks perfect in someone else’s home may fall flat in yours. Always test samples in each room and observe them throughout the day.

TREAT THE GARDEN AS ANOTHER ROOM

Consider flow-through doors and overhangs, and invest in landscaping and outdoor dining with the same care you would indoors.

JESSICA’S BEDROOM Walls painted in Little Greene China Clay Deep form a gentle backdrop, layered with blush Hartford eyelet curtains from Harry Corry and a powder-blue distressed rug from Nicholls, Nutgrove. A whitewashed beech Leander Classic bed and vintage turned-wood lamp complete the space

MATTHEW’S BEDROOM Little Greene Slaked Lime Deep sets a calm tone, paired with Paros light-blue cotton curtains from Harry Corry and a multicoloured rug from Nicholls, Nutgrove. An Ikea bed, painted in Farrow & Ball Yeabridge Green, adds a playful touch

KATE'S TIP

1 LET THE HOUSE DICTATE THE FURNITURE STRATEGY Older homes with awkward corners rarely suit freestanding furniture Thoughtfully designed built-ins can tame nooks, maximise storage and make ideal spaces to curate shelves and accessories.

Textured flower vase, €42, Next.ie

Hanging egg chair €469, Kavehome.com

3 FUNCTION COMES FIRST Design around how you and your family actually live. Don't design a space because you love how it looks, instead lter decorating ideas through practicality and daily family routines.

€64.99, Jysk.ie

Pendant light, €289.90, Lights.ie

Wooden platter, €45, Stableofireland.com

, €21.95, Avoca.com

, €40, Thedesignerofthings.com

KATE'S TIP

2 PLAN FOR MESS-THEN HIDE IT

A discreet 'messy' zone in the kitchen keeps countertops clear and stress levels down. If open shelving doesn’t suit your lifestyle, skip it; beautiful design should support how you live, not ght it.

Sagar cushion cover, €84.90, Nordicnest.com

Nala solid wooden stool, €1.590,95, Casabranca.com

chair €219, Meubles.ie

HOMEOWNERS

Sinead and Sam Lynch, their four children, and two dogs

THE HOUSE

Three-storey Edwardian house overlooking the sea in Sutton, Co Dublin

In Living

Colour

An Edwardian family home by the sea gets a colour injection, giving it confidence, comfort and character

BY ORLA NELIGAN PHOTOGRAPHS SHAUNA LALLY

Perched above Dublin Bay, in the seaside suburb of Sutton, a threestorey Edwardian house has found its second wind. With uninterrupted views stretching from Ringsend to Dun Laoghaire, the five-bedroom, 282 square metre home doesn’t just look outwards; it sets the tone for a family life that’s busy, noisy, colourful, and unapologetically lived-in. This is the long-awaited forever home for Sinead and Sam Jennings, their four children and their two dogs, after years of temporary addresses in Ireland and Australia. “We knew we wouldn’t be moving again, so we wanted to get it right, even if it meant stretching ourselves a bit,” says Sinead.

The house itself already had good bones. The previous owner had completed a significant extension with the help of TV architect Dermot Bannon, bringing light and volume into what might otherwise have remained a traditional, compartmentalised Edwardian. Rather than reinventing the architecture, the renovation focused on reworking how the house functioned day to day and on injecting personality. “I wanted a functional house with storage that worked for a big family. My husband wanted something more creative and fun,” says Sinead. Enter interior designer Caroline Flannery, whom Sinead credits for steering the project through moments of doubt and decision fatigue. “Somehow Caroline managed to give us both.”

Working with Caroline meant the end result was a home that is unique, feels relaxed and familiar to the family after so much moving around. Every family member had an input, and together with Caroline and her team, the home truly reflects this amazing family’s individual personalities.

“We really didn’t intend to go as far as we did, but once we had replaced the kitchen, the rest of the house didn’t feel cohesive”

The project began with a simple wish list: a bathroom on the top floor, a refreshed outdoor space, and more colour. However, these goals quickly escalated as the renovation progressed. With five bedrooms and only one main bathroom, a new upstairs bathroom soon became essential. A former pantry and laundry room were sacrificed to expand the main bedroom, creating space for a home gym and sauna. While structural changes were minimal, the layout was refined room by room. “We really didn’t intend to go as far as we did, but once we had replaced the kitchen, the rest of the house didn’t feel cohesive.”

The real shift came with colour. After years of crisp white interiors in Australia, this house demanded something bolder. “There’s so much light here, you can afford to be braver,” Sinead says. She admits they panicked when they first clapped eyes on the punchy orange in the pantry and mezzanine. That bravery started in the kitchen with a set of characterful blue tiles. These weren’t even meant to be floor tiles. Found after countless tile shop visits, they became the anchor for the entire palette. Now, every room subtly references the kitchen, creating cohesion without uniformity. Dark blue in-frame cabinetry was custommade by joiner JC Specialists, delivering a high-end look without the eye-watering price tag. Upper cupboards were kept to a minimum to preserve light.

“The view of the ocean does the rest of the interior design work upstairs, the views and colours change constantly. You never get tired of it”

Porcelain worktops extend up the walls for a clean finish. Timber shelving softens the scheme. A walk-in pantry, painted in bright coral orange, does the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

Lighting – one of the most significant investments – was also one of the most complex decisions for the couple. The front living room needed scale without slipping into chandelier territory, and it took time (and budget) to land on the right piece. They eventually settled on a beautiful brass chandelier from Wilde Interiors. Elsewhere, Caroline pushed more unexpected choices: cardboard pendants over the dining table (initially controversial, now a favourite), sculptural marble lights in the mezzanine, and a circular fixture grounding the family space. “I was told I could have either a green front door or the cardboard pendant lights. I sacrificed the front door,” laughs Sinead.

That family space is where the house comes into its own. Oversized patchwork sofas from Caseys in Limerick are designed for sprawl, not styling. The oak dining table, once squeezed against a wall, finally has room to breathe. Built-in joinery - window seats, bookshelves, and storage units - contains chaos without feeling clinical. Architectural fins in the open kitchen/ living/dining replace an overbearing glass door, subtly zoning the extension.

Upstairs, the main bedroom deliberately dials things back. White walls, soft textures, and armchairs in the bay window create a calm counterpoint to busier spaces below. “The view of the ocean does the rest

SITTING ROOM Artwork by Niamh Flanagan and Deirdre Hayden brings colour and character to the walls. An Eames-style chair and footstool, sit alongside bespoke bookcases and bay window seat designed by Interiors by Caroline and made by JC Specialists. The New Zealand wool rug is by Fubula Living from CA Design. A election of patterned cushions are from Dealz. The multi-arm pendant light is Corrientes by Eichholtz from Wilde Interiors

“Colour is emotional, I go with my gut and think about the mood I want to create”

of the interior design work upstairs, the views and colours change constantly. You never get tired of it,” says Sinead. A bright yellow bathroom counters the muted bedroom. “I thought we’d gone too far,” she laughs, referring to the sunny tiles and walls. “But it’s actually a favourite room now.” Outside, the garden was tackled early to avoid mud indoors. What was once rubble is now a practical, family-focused space with a patio, artificial grass, trampoline, football area, and a workshop converted into a family office and hangout. The renovation brought challenges: indecision, delays, and a last-minute Christmas rush made the result feel hard-won. "I’m a GP, my husband is a surgeon. We’re not that creative. I just knew what I didn’t like. Now I’m confident making good choices." As a result, the house doesn’t just accommodate family life; it celebrates it.

Interior design collaboration with Interiors by Caroline, Interiordesignerdublin.ie @interiorsbycaroline

SINÉAD’S TIPS

RENOVATING WITH BOLD COLOURS

1 HAVE A GENERAL PLAN FOR THE HOUSE so that colours don't overwhelm each other. A good rule of thumb is the 60-30-10 rule: 60 per cent neutral, 30 per cent secondary colour, 10 per cent bold colour. We stayed neutral in our hall, stairs, landings and family area, and then added stronger colours to the laundry, pantry, and mezzanine floor.

2 IF OPTING FOR INTENSE COLOURS on the walls, the furnishings should be sympathetic so everything doesn’t clash.

3 IF A ROOM HAS LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT, you can afford to be braver with darker colours, which can often make a space look bigger. We found this with our porch, which we painted a very dark green.

SINÉAD'S TIP

1

IF YOU ARE MAKING A BRAVE COLOUR DECISION make sure everyone is on board. We had a lot of differing opinions in our family and quite a few eligible voters, so it meant you had to have strong convictions if you wanted to get your colour choice over the line.

Oak bedside table, €539, Kavehome.com

Aqua vase, €68, Siobhainsteeleceramics.com

SINÉAD'S TIP

3

USE ACCESSORIES like cushions, rugs, and artwork to incorporate accent vibrant colours without overwhelming the space.

GET THE LOOK

SINÉAD'S TIP

2 IF YOU CAN, HAVE A ‘CAROLINE’ (Caroline from Caroline Designs) to guide you. In our case, if she okayed the decision, we knew we were on track.

Nordicnest.com

Hm.com

EXCLUSIVE FURNITURE DESIGNS

J&B Furniture is an Irish company with over 15 years of experience, bringing exclusive European furniture to Ireland. We offer a wide range of furniture, including bespoke beds and sofas, and work directly with renowned manufacturers in Ireland, Poland, and the UK to ensure exceptional craftsmanship. We also provide efficient nationwide delivery.

Build your sofa from scratch, choosing every detail, including stitching and legs. Create it in any size, shape, or colour with over 300 fabric and leather options, including Italian leather and easyclean, pet-friendly materials. Create your sofa in any size you need: Build your sofa in the size and shape that fit your living room perfectly. Add the features you want, such as a bed, electric recliner, cooler, storage, hidden drawers, laptop table, or phone charger, perfectly tailored to your living room.

INSIDE HER STYLE

Kim Gray’s calm, soulful sanctuary home

Kim Gray’s approach to home begins with how a space makes you feel. Originally from Cape Town, now based in Dublin, she brings an intuitive lens to both interiors and wellbeing, believing our environments shape our energy and everyday rituals. This ethos carries through her family home and into Kim Gray Lifestyle, Kimology.shop - her curated online store rooted in natural materials, thoughtful design and calm living. Everything she creates is designed to connect on more than a visual level.

BY SIVE O’BRIEN PHOTOGRAPHS MARLENE WESSELS

LEFT Dining chairs Hay Design, from Industryandco.com; Tablecloth and enamel jug, Kimology.shop; Turkish rug, Louloom.com; Basket and ceramics, all collected over the years on Kim’s travels TOP Olive green desert chairs, Fermliving.com; Leather pouffe was picked up in Marrakesh; Vintage quilt in camel, Kimology.shop; Lemon tree and Bergs Potter pot, Howbertsandmay.com; ABOVE Enamel bowls and body brushes, Kimology.shop; The Chommies basket was picked up while travelling in South Africa

ABOVE Cactus cushion covers, Kimology.shop; Kim’s dress and trainers, Toa.st; Emily Dillon ceramic nug, Scoutdublin.com BELOW RIGHT Rug under Scout, (the French Bulldog), is from South Africa

A SENSE OF PLACE Kim Gray describes her interiors style as quietly rooted in the Southern Hemisphere. Her home is designed to feel calm, nurturing and grounding. It is a place her children want to be in now and return to in years to come.

THE FEELING ON ARRIVAL Crossing the threshold, Kim wants her home to soften the nervous system immediately. Minimal and considered, the space is layered with warmth through Danish-inspired hygge touches. Quilts, candles and generous rugs create a sense of being held. Relaxed and contained is the emotional brief she returns to again and again.

DECORATING WITH INTENTION Natural materials and pieces with soul are non-negotiable. Kim works from a clean, minimalist base of white walls and calm lines, then introduces colour and pattern through rugs, cushions and soft furnishings. This approach allows the home to evolve intuitively while maintaining clarity.

“My children once described our style as calm and ‘very South African’, and that really stayed with me”

“I want our home to feel nurturing, calm and somewhere my children want to be in and return to”

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN Kim traces her design sensibility back to her parents’ home in Hermanus, South Africa. Her grandparents’ house was renovated slowly and thoughtfully over time. White floors and walls form a canvas for eclectic layers including Kilim rugs, sisal carpets, abundant plants and collected art. It is a real labour of love. Everyone comments on the energy, and Kim believes deeply that our homes are an extension of ourselves.

DESIGNING FOR THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

As a breathwork practitioner in-training, Kim has long understood how the environment impacts wellbeing, even before she had the language for it. With four children, three of them boys, calm does not happen by accident. Simplicity, order, and gentle tones help regulate the home’s energy while still allowing her children’s personalities to emerge.

EVERYDAY

RITUALS OF CALM Scent, texture and a clutter-free environment are essential to daily balance. Seasonal rituals such as gathering herbs for the kitchen counter ground the home in rhythm and nature. People travel or spend a lot to experience calm. Kim tries to create that feeling every day.

A ROOM THAT REFLECTS HER Kim’s bedroom most closely mirrors her personal style. Soft neutrals and a calm palette dominate, balanced by a playful corner for her inner magpie with a curated display of bags and jewellery.

OBJECTS WITH MEANING Baskets are a recurring theme throughout the home. Functional, sculptural and deeply aligned with Kim’s values - handwoven and sustainably made,

ABOVE Lampshade, Mifuko.com; Kelim cushions, Louloom.com; Leather chair, from South African travels; Side locker, Mustardmade.com; Baskets and quilts, Kimology.shop. Gold children’s shoes, Angulus, Thelittlewoodenpeg.ie. BELOW Black basket bag, Mifuko.com; Small Hay bag from Industryandco. com; Large bag, Hay.com; Trench coat, Slowstreet.ie; Beaded necklaces all collected from travels

TOP Tea towel, tray with smudge stick, candle holder with candle and Wilder Botanics tincture, all Kimology.shop; Felt animals, Fiona Walker, Thebluedoordirect.com

RIGHT Bed, Ikea.ie; Floral quilted cushion, Kimology.shop; Side table, Mustard Made, Kidstore.ie; Jelly Cats, Thelittlewoodenpeg.com; Play kitchen accessories, Sostrenegrene.com; Microwave, Aldi.ie; Sequinned basket from travels in Morocco

“I want to create a home that supports my nervous system, even when life feels anything but calm”

often supporting women-led initiatives across Africa. Used for storage, shopping or picnics on the sidelines of football matches, they embody conscious living and craftsmanship.

BOLD CHOICES AND DREAM PROJECTS

One of Kim’s bravest decisions was replacing grey patio tiles with herringbone-laid terracotta, instantly transporting the garden to Italy beneath the olive trees. Looking ahead, she dreams of transforming the bathrooms into Moroccan-style wet rooms.

FOREVER INSPIRED BY TRAVEL Morocco continues to call her back. From the rituals of tea pouring to the richness of rugs and tiles, it is a style that speaks equally to neutral lovers and colour maximalists. Bali holds a similar place in her heart. She feels grateful to bring parts of these experiences home.

CREATING A HOME WITH SOUL Kim believes people often overthink decorating. Her advice is simple. Focus on how a space makes you feel. Let a home be lived in before rushing to renovate. She believes you should ask yourelf one guiding question - how do you want to feel? For her, it is relaxed, inspired and grounded. These words act as creative anchors. Pieces collected on travels, such as a leather pouffe from Morocco, a cotton rug from Portugal and art from South Africa, transform the home into a living archive of memories, stories and personal evolution.

Shop Kim’s homeware edit, Kimology.shop

forbesandlomax.com

KITCHEN COOL

KITCHEN TRENDS

kitchen cool

BY RÓISÍN CARABINE

The cabinet colours, surface materials, storage ideas and must-have kit you need to know about in 2026, according to industry experts

CONCEALED COFFEE DOCKS

Want to elevate your kitchen from everyday functional to quietly fabulous? Add a coffee station.

“Coffee

docks can be fully integrated - tucked behind cabinet doors - or as a stand-alone feature,”

says Catherine Donnelly, senior kitchen designer at Aloco, Dublin. “If you’re planning one, consider placement – ideally near the fridge - available worktop space, and how the doors will open. Bifold doors offer greater accessibility without blocking workflow, while custom details, like oak veneer internals, will make it feel special.” Inframe, painted solid ash kitchen with quartz worktops, Alocokitchens.ie

POCKET DOORS

From a clever little trick to go-to design move, pocket doors are fast becoming nearstandard in contemporary kitchens. Sleek, seamless and space-saving, they’re the cabinetry equivalent of a well-timed ‘tah-dah’ in the way they conceal, then reveal. While they work in most kitchen layouts, David Dempsey, designer at House by Noel Dempsey Design cautions:

“Pocket doors are heavier than a bi-folding setup, which can make them harder to open for some users.”

Kingsmill Lane project by Housekitchens.ie in collaboration with Orianab.com. Slim shaker kitchen with dark oak interiors and Infinity porcelain worktops, Housekitchens.ie

DECORATIVE LIGHTING

This year, kitchen lighting is shedding its supporting role. Expect designs that blur the line between sculpture and function with bold shapes, unexpected materials, and unapologetic decoration that demands attention.

“Whilst cooking areas, counter spaces and cupboards need to be well illuminated with task-based lighting, other areas, such as over the kitchen table, a breakfast bar or prep table, are the perfect spots for more decorative statement lighting,”

says Hollie Moreland, creative director at David Hunt Lighting. “Table lamps too, more traditionally seen in living rooms, will make the space feel more intimate.” David Hunt Astrid fluted pendants, from €230 each, Hickenlighting.com

WINE-COLOURED CABINETRY

Burgundy, claret, maroon and merlot – fashion’s favourite wine-dark ‘neutrals’ have been quietly decanting themselves onto kitchen cabinetry since last year. Wondering how to style the look? Pair with a striking splashback in a dynamic chequerboard. Rob Whitaker, creative director at Claybrook suggests using

“glazed tiles for practicality, in either horizontal runs or vertical rows, opting for mid-tone shades over dark, which can often show up stains and splashes.”

Wall tiles: Formella in Plum and Natural, from €208.21 per sq m, Claybrookstudio.co.uk

CURATED PANTRIES

The biggest flex in kitchens right now is a well-organised, well-stocked pantry. To take yours from chaotic to chic, Kim Fitzgerald of A Sorted Affair, Dublin recommends you first edit before you organise, then.

“Treat the pantry like a mini shop. Create clear zones for baking, snacks, breakfasts and everyday essentials. This makes restocking quicker, reduces overbuying and keeps chaos from creeping back in.”

She also advises labelling shelves as well as containers to ensure everyone in the household puts things back where they belong as this will “keep the system working long after the styling moment.” GoodHome oak effect Caraway pantry larder, Diy.ie

LUXURY UTILITIES

Utility rooms are finally stepping up, with custom cabinetry transforming these once-forgotten workhorses into stylish, thoughtfully designed spaces.

“From

double-height laundry cabinets for your washing machine and dryer, to bespoke cupboards for brooms and back-of-door racks for cleaning bottles, there are so many ways to make a laundry space functional and luxurious,”

says Neptune’s design director Fred Horlock. “Stop the space feeling too utilitarian with rattan baskets, for storage, and a lamp on the worktop for those early mornings when the main lights feel too harsh.” Chichester cabinetry painted in Rhubarb, Neptune.com

the SMARTER Kitchen

Sara Cosgrove is one of Ireland’s most respected interior designers, with two decades of high-end residential and hospitality projects to her name. Here, she shares her kitchen dos and don’ts and explains why the NEFF vented hob is changing how the best kitchens in Ireland are being designed

Join us for an unmissable event

THE DOs

DO design around your appliances from day one. “Treat appliances as architectural components, not afterthoughts,” says Sara. Specified early, the right products shape your layout positively, with tighter footprints, safer circulation, and cleaner lines. Leave them until the end, and you’ll be compromising from day one.

THE DON’TS

DON’T chase trends at the expense of practicality. Open shelving, handleless cabinetry, oversized islands, beautiful in theory, maddening in practice. “The most common mistake I see is designing for how a kitchen looks rather than how it works,” says Sara. Ask the harder questions first: who cooks, how often, and what this kitchen actually needs to do.

Come and meet Sara Cosgrove and the House and Home team for a special event at the Home of Innovation showroom on April 18. Tickets, €15 TheSpringMasterclasswithNeff. eventbrite.com Secure your spot now!

DO consider a vented hob. NEFF’s vented hob combines a powerful induction hob with integrated extraction in one sleek unit, drawing steam and odours away at source, no overhead hood required. The result is a cleaner ceiling, uninterrupted sightlines and a kitchen that feels as open as it looks. The Automatic Air Sensor continuously monitors air quality and automatically adjusts ventilation, so nothing interrupts the flow of cooking or conversation. DO think carefully about the details you interact with every day, they matter more than you’d think. NEFF’s new matte black vented hob - just launched - is subtle, sophisticated and engineered to blend seamlessly into a contemporary scheme. Easier to clean than standard gloss, with fewer visible fingerprints, no streaks and a crisp, intuitive interface.

DON’T let poor appliance placement ruin your renovation. Ovens too low, fridges isolated from prep zones, dishwasher doors blocking circulation, avoidable frustrations that compound daily. Design must respond to behaviour first. Aesthetics come second.

DON’T let extraction dominate your design. A traditional overhead canopy interrupts sightlines, complicates lighting, and limits island placement. In the open-plan kitchens most Irish families live in today, that compromise is no longer necessary.

DON’T treat lighting as an afterthought. A row of pendants is not a lighting strategy. Layer task lighting, integrated cabinet lighting, ambient and accent lighting, or even the most expensive kitchen will fall flat.

NEFF’s Home of Innovation showroom in Dublin 12 is the best place to experience the full range of NEFF appliances, including the new matte black hob. Book a free expert consultation before you commit, Homeofinnovation.ie

CONSIDERED CURVES

Soft, playful curves aren’t typically associated with kitchens, but used appropriately they bring a quiet sense of calm and welcome.

“The best way to introduce curves in a kitchen is to play with the diameter - slender arcs on full height units, broader sweeps on an island, or vice versa,”

says Mary Orr, creative director at McNally Living. “Here, curves help to de-emphasise the solidness of a three-metre tall unit and gently downplay the scale of the supersized island.” Leicht Topos Nordic Oak cabinets with Vero Glass units; island in a painted Mohair finish with Botticino Terrazzo laminate slimline worktop, from €40,000, Mcnallyliving.ie

GLASS-FRONTED CABINETS

The chicest way to showcase and store your cookware right now? Glass-fronted cabinetry.

“Including glass doors in a kitchen can enhance the sense of space, amplify natural light and introduce visual relief by breaking up solid runs of cabinetry,”

says Neil Conway, sales & marketing director at Burbidge & Son. “If you prefer to keep things concealed, fluted or frosted finishes offer alternative levels of transparency to clear glass.” Burbidge Otto

reeded glass doors, Panellingcentre.ie

SMART STORAGE

Every year a smart new way to organise kitchen storage emerges. This year the focus is on solutions that hide their brilliance in plain sight. “Really clever kitchen hide storage where you least expect it, says Séan Hartnett kitchen designer at Mark Lohan Kitchens.

“We’re designing secret drawers built within cabinetry, slim endpanel compartments that act as discreet drop zones for keys and post, plinth drawers that turn dead space into practical tray storage and ‘under-island’ niches that house a robot vacuum with its own hidden docking station.”

FLUTED FINISHES

Textured kitchen cabinetry continues to trend this year with fluted finishes the preferred choice of surface decoration –introducing rhythm, tactility and depth without taking over. According to Lorraine Stevens of Lomi Design the secret to design success is all in the depth and frequency of the groove.

“Slim,

WOODEN WORKTOPS

Wooden worktops are working their way back into favour as homeowners seek kitchens that feel warm, tactile and genuinely lived in.

“Solid hardwood worktops come and go in popularity, but for me, they’re a great material and can look invariably better the more they’re used,”

says deVOL’s creative director, Helen Parker. While maintenance can be a downside, Helen argues that “with regular oiling and a respect for wood’s limitations, it will reward you with many, many years of use.” The Real Shaker Kitchen by deVOL, from €14,000, Devolkitchens.co.uk

infrequent flutes prevent smaller kitchens from feeling overwhelmed while deeper, tighter grooves are better suited to larger rooms or as a striking accent on a feature island, where they create a bold visual statement.”

Miuccia kitchen by TM Italia shown here in velvet blue lacquer with polished copper handles and Volakas marble worktops, available exclusively from Lomi.ie

STAINLESS STEEL KITCHENS

Stainless steel is having a real moment in kitchen design right now - and not just on worktops, but wrapped around cabinets and islands too. If you’re tempted to lean into the trend, you need to accept that steel will age, says Charlie Smallbone, founder of UK-based Ledbury Studio. His advice?

“Choose a higher-grade steel and ensure that it is properly sealed to minimise fingerprints and surface scratches. Also, a brushed or satin finish will disguise everyday wear better than polished steel.”

Oxford kitchen with brushed stainless steel cabinets, brass handles, Carrara marble sink and worktops, from €80,000, Ledburystudio.com

QUIET LUXURY, REIMAGINED

Quiet luxury kitchens aren’t a new idea, but we love how designers have been channelling the trend lately to shine a spotlight on timeless quality craftsmanship, refined materials and calmer tonal palettes.

“I think if your goal is ‘quiet luxury’ you need to stick to a few complementary materials that aren’t overly patterned. This look is all about subtly and picking finer details that are elegant,”

says Ed Rhatigan, co-founder of Rhatigan & Hick. Handcrafted, hand-painted in-frame shaker kitchen with Silestone worktops and custom stainless steel and brushed brass canopy hood over the Aga, Rhatiganandhick.ie

PERSONALISED DECORATION

Our appetite for personalisation shows no sign of slowing this year, with homeowners increasingly determined to craft kitchens that feel unmistakably theirs. One of the easiest and most affordable ways to add a personal touch is with paint.

“Our self-priming Intelligent Paints are perfect for kitchen cabinets, being water-based, hard-wearing and totally washable, with satin fi nishes formulated to resist moisture and withstand regular cleaning,”

says Ruth Mottershead, creative director of Little Greene. Ceiling: Slaked Lime; upper wall: Light Bronze Green; highlight stripe: Nether Red; splashback: Elysian Ground; cabinets & Woodwork: Book Room Green, Littlegreene.com

Bespoke, handmade kitchen by Holbein.ie, designed by Geridesigns.ie, featuring a four-metre

KITCHEN

In need of a new kitchen? We got you. Four looks, all different price points, plus tips on how to make one each work

BY RÓISÍN CARABINE

THE BESPOKE KITCHEN

A bespoke kitchen is the ultimate one-off, made just for you, right down to the last hinge and handle. Often created in collaboration with a designer, it is characterised by exceptional craftsmanship, thoughtful details and premium materials. Imagine cabinetry tailored to your exact proportions, top-of-the-range appliances, (discreetly concealed, of course), storage so well considered it feels almost intuitive and layouts shaped around how you actually cook and live, all illuminated in the best way possible.

GET THE LOOK

1 Athens, 18-light, glass globe chandelier, €2,632, Mullanlighting.com 2 Farley oak counter stool , €249, Meadowsandbyrne.com 3 Smeg X La Pavoni Diamantina semi-professional espresso machine, €4,999, Lapavoni.com 4 Speed up dining table by Sacha Lakic with Carrara Statuarietto Brilliant marble top, from €7,740, Roche-bobois.com 5 Dornbracht Vaia pot filler cold water valve in brushed Durabrass (23K gold), €3,132.20, Arenakitchens.com 6 Touché Zebre, porcelain mosaic wall tiles, from €38 per sheet, 30x34cm, Tubstiles.ie

1 Alba red striped ruffle pendant shade, from €57.11, Oliverbonas.com 2 Scallop wooden tray, €12, Penneys 3 Everhot 100i range cooker in Clay, from €14,500, Globalvillage.ie 4 Handwoven Afghan Kilim rug, 295X205cm, from €1,000, Rugs.ie 5 Embossed cherry plate, from €2.90, Bmstores.co.uk 6 Bobbin side table, €90, Amberandwillow.com

at

in

and

THE UNKITCHEN KITCHEN

Not a fan of the shiny showroom aesthetic? The unkitchen kitchen is for you. Coined by home design expert and author Sophie Donelson, the unkitchen or ‘uncommon kitchen’ as she calls it in her book Uncommon Kitchens, is a personality-packed, informal space that feels like the rest of the rooms in your house – and is decorated as such. This look combines branded, built-in cabinetry with vintage furniture, open shelving, repurposed elements, skirted sinks - and the unexpected. Think rugs, papered walls, framed artwork and table lamps atop of butcher’s block worktops.

From €12,000

SHOPPING LIST

Cabinetry (mix of semi custom and salvaged), €5,000

Solid wood worktops, €2,000

Branded appliances, €3,000

Ceramic sink, €600

Installation, €2,000

TOTAL From €12,000 - €20,000

Divinesavages.com

THE SMART KITCHEN

From fridges that talk back to smart ovens that preheat themselves, motionsensing taps and intelligent lighting that adapts to the time of day, the smart kitchen is a tech lover’s playground - convenient, intuitive, controllable. But the real magic isn’t just in the gadgets, it’s in the design. To get the look, keep things clean and unfussy: handleless cabinets, integrated appliances, smart storage and luxurious materials. The whole space should read as quietly highfunctioning. Named brands are key here and a guarantee of quality.

From €40,000

SHOPPING LIST

Handleless cabinetry, €20,000

Smart appliances, €10,000

Engineered worktops, €450 psm

Adaptive lighting, €3,000

Installation, 20-35% of total cost

TOTAL From €40,000+

GET THE LOOK

1 Cusinart rechargeable automatic wine opener with vacuum sealer, €51.90, Amazon.ie 2 KitchenAid Artisan tilt head 4.7L stand mixer (evergreen) with walnut bowl, €999, Kitchenaid.ie 3 Joseph Joseph space folding handle, non-stick frying pan, 30cm, €116, Arnotts.ie 4 Grohe Red L-spout boiling water tap in brushed sunset, from €2,811, Grohe.ie 5 Joseph Joseph, Extend steel expandable dish drawer, €105, Organisedstore.ie 6 Aged copper sink , from €1,000, Devolkitchens.co.uk

1 366 Concept Petite Sideboard 1050, €1,730, Cadesign.ie 2 Oscar dining chair, €99, Ezliving-interiors.ie 3 Two-pack deep plates, 19.99, Hm.com 4 FSC certifi ed acacia wood chopping board, €10.44, Sostrenegrene.com

5 All-in-one saucepan, 28cm, €40, Marksandspencer.ie 6 Laura Ashely Isaac antique brass pendant, €94.40, Stillorgandecor.ie

From €5,000

SHOPPING LIST

Cabinetry (fl atpack), €2,000

Laminate worktops, €600

Budget appliances, €1,000

Stainless steel sink, €180 Installation, €1,200

TOTAL From €5,000 - €8,000

THE OFF-THE-SHELF KITCHEN

The affordable kitchen for buyers on a budget. Off-the-shelf kitchens come exactly as described: off a shelf. They’re typically fl atpack with all the necessary components (doors, drawers, panels, shelves) already predesigned, precut and prepackagedready for your fitter or you (if you want to save money) to assemble. Available in a wide choice of styles, colours and finishes, cabinet sizes are standardised, which may not always suit awkward layouts, although with a bit of ingenuity they can usually be adapted to fit. Worktops are usually laminate and appliances are entry level brands.

Counter Culture

The workhorse of any kitchen, your worktops will get put to the test all day, every day, but just because they have to be practical, does not mean they can’t be pretty

BY RÓISÍN CARABINE

OPPOSITE PAGE SieMatic Classic kitchen with worktops in red onyx, sourced from the Atlas Mountains, Arenakitchens.com

ABOVE Sensa Itara, Brazilian Verde Esmeralda quartzite worktop and splashback in stain-resistant fi nish, Cosentino.com

BELOW LEFT Henley cabinetry topped with Italian Calacatta Crestola marble, paired with a large Suffolk larder customised with Henley-style mouldings, Neptune.com

BELOW RIGHT The Classic English Kitchen by deVOL with Belgian Blue Limestone worktops, from €35,000, Devolkitchens.co.uk

NATURAL STONE

Favoured for its unique good looks, natural stone, with proper maintenance and sealing, can make excellent kitchen worktops

MARBLE A super-luxurious statement surface, but it can be vulnerable to staining and scratches in a hardworking kitchen, even when sealed. Opting for a heavily veined stone can help disguise any wear.

GRANITE The go-to natural stone kitchen countertop for many. Favoured for its incredible durability, heat, moisture and scratch resistance. Comes in a wide choice of finishes including honed and leather.

LIMESTONE Being a soft stone it can be easily shaped and cut, which is a real advantage, however it can vary greatly in strength and porosity.

ONYX A top-tier, semi-precious stone with a price tag to match. Characterised by a natural translucency which offers an opportunity for backlighting. A worktop in this natural stone requires regular sealing to make it durable.

QUARTZITE Love the look of marble but hate paying a premium? Quartzite can be a great alternative. It’s also denser and less porous than granite.

“All natural stone has advantages and disadvantages; it’s important to know the features of each type before making your selection. Limiting its use to an island is a good way to reduce cost while still making a statement”

DAVID RAFTER, director, Arenakitchens.com

OPPOSITE PAGE Neolith Calacatta Roma, ultra hygienic, UV-resistant worktop, perfect for indoor and outdoor applications, Neolith.ie

ABOVE Dekton Laurent black worktop with gold veining, available in matte or marble effect fi nish and four thicknesses, Cosentino.com

BELOW LEFT Silestone Lime Delight Urban Crush, reminiscent of Marbella limestone, available in a suede fi nish and choice of thickness, Cosentino.com

BELOW RIGHT Milano Ultra cabinets in Cashmere Satin and Milano Elements island in Terrazzo White matt with quartz worktops, Wrenkitchens.com

ENGINEERED STONE

Boasting all the qualities of natural stone, only more robust, lighter and non-porous with less maintenance required

SILESTONE Developed by Cosentino and made from 90% quartz, it is virtually stainproof, scratch and impact resistant, and comes with a 25-year warranty.

DEKTON This ceramic-hard, waterproof surface is highly resistant to thermal shock, UV rays, scratches, stains and most household chemicals. Requires professional installation.

NEOLITH An ultra-compact, eco-friendly, resin-free, sintered stone. Its appeal lies not just in its beauty but its indestructible reputation. Impervious to burns, scratches or stains; you can even chop directly onto it.

QUARTZ Non-porous, stain, scratch and heat-resistant, it costs less than natural stone, with none of the maintenance.

PYROLAVE Crafted from natural volcanic lava stone and available in 6,000 colours. Naturally non-porous, so doesn’t stain easily, and resistant to heat, acids and corrosion. It can be more expensive than granite or quartz.

“Today’s advanced mineral surfaces are redefining how materials are used in kitchens and interiors. The wide range of thicknesses, colours and applications, gives designers the freedom to create cohesive, expressive spaces, while addressing expectations around durability”

ITAN GARRIDO, head of marketing, Cosentino.com

OPPOSITE PAGE Caesarstone Antikella, Calacatta marble-inspired porcelain worktop, stain, scratch and heat-resistant, from €504 per sq m, Caesarstone.co.uk

ABOVE Matte concrete-effect ceramic cabinet fronts and worktops, scratch, stain and heat resistant, Noeldempsey.com

RIGHT Grespania Coverlam Top – Cuarzo Reno – a white marble-effect porcelain worktop, available matte or polished in various thicknesses, Noyeks.ie

BELOW A bold green island topped with a Hi-Macs Maui, non-porous worktop backed by a 15-year warranty, from €380 per linear metre, Lxhausys.com

MAN-MADE MATERIALS

Acrylic, laminate, ceramic… here’s why these well-loved worktop materials are worth checking out

PORCELAIN Harder than granite, it can withstand high temperatures and is resistant to stains - ideal for avid cooks. Like ceramic, it can mimic the appearance of natural stone, without the maintenance.

CERAMIC Known for its durability; scratchimpact- and heat-resistant. While less expensive than natural stone it can be pricey to install.

CORIAN Can be thermoformed into any shape (in any colour choice and surface finishes) without joins – and even incorporate the sink for a truly seamless look. An environmentally-friendly option, it contains low VOCs and is renewable.

HI-MACS Made from acrylic, minerals and natural pigments, it can be moulded into any shape with virtually invisible seams. Stain resistant and repairable, it’s available in various colours, including translucent.

LAMINATE Pocket-friendly, and available in a wide choice of designs, including faux marble. Heat, water damage or direct cutting can cause scratches and peeling.

“Always look to buy a branded worktop from a reputable supplier. Unbranded

surfaces

carry real risks for homeowners, from a lack of independent performance testing to uncertainty around long-term durability and legislative compliance”

JONATHAN STANLEY VP of marketing, Caesarstone.co.uk

bamboo veneer worktop, 246x2.8cm, €195, Ikea.ie

BELOW LEFT Tuscan Red 11x11cm ceramic wall tiles, Chroma Collection, from €136.04 per sq m, Marlboroughtiles.com

OPPOSITE PAGE Kitchens by Buster + Punch, off black cabinets with black frame and stainless steel worktops (similar available from Delvo.ie), Busterandpunch.com

BELOW RIGHT Bespoke birch ply cabinets by Niall Russell, painted in Farrow & Ball Railings with lightly polished concrete worktops, Concretedesignstudios.ie

ALTERNATIVE SURFACES

Dare to be different with a nonstandard worktop material that reflects your personal style

STAINLESS STEEL Hygienic, easy to clean and heat resistant. While scratches and dents are inevitable, a higher grade steel in a brushed finish can help to disguise them.

TILES Budget-friendly and easy to DIY. Porcelain tiles are more durable than ceramic with vitrified porcelain superresilient and more forgiving to chips.

BAMBOO Eco-friendly, inherently antimicrobial and naturally good looking. However, not as durable as other materials and requires regular resealing. A veneered laminate bamboo is a good compromise.

CONCRETE Gorgeously tactile and solid, concrete’s big plus is that it’s highly customisable, making each surface oneof-a-kind. Being naturally porous, spills can leave stains if not properly sealed. Professional installation is required.

COPPER Naturally antimicrobial and easy to maintain, available in natural, satin, aged and antique finishes. Being softer than other metals it is susceptible to scratches and requires regular upkeep.

“Tiled worktops work best when treated as a feature. Limiting them to a contained surface, like an island, and framing them in timber, which is what I’ve done in my own kitchen, stops them from overwhelming the space –especially if you’ve opted for a patterned tile”

MELISSA WARNOCK, content creator, @honeybeeandhollie

Dublin from Wild Atlantic to the

PHILIP JOYCE’S DREAM KITCHEN

When product designer Philip Joyce left city life behind for the wild beauty of the Beara Peninsula, he longed for a kitchen that would suit one of Ireland’s most stunning views.

“Kube was the only company who really got my vision, a pared-back, simple kitchen that let the surrounding landscape do the talking”

After years of gathering ideas and visiting nearly every kitchen company in Dublin, Philip finally found the right fit with Kube. He worked closely with designer Nick Cogan, making it clear from the beginning that he wanted a kitchen that matched its surroundings - a wild and open landscape, with mountains meeting the Atlantic and ever-changing light. “The view from the window is the real highlight, and nothing inside should try to compete with it.” Philip says,

THE RIGHT FIT The design solution was one of restraint - simple and pared-back. No tall cabinets blocking those views across the peninsula, no fussy details pulling the eye away from the mountains and coastline outside. Just clean

lines, considered materials, and a deep green that doesn’t so much sit against the landscape as quietly disappear into it.

THE DETAILS THAT MADE IT For Philip, the drawers were key. He chose wide, handle-less, metre-wide double drawers that matched the thoughtful design of the rest of the kitchen. A Bora Pure hob with a built-in extractor meant there were no overhead units to block the view, and a Quooker boiling tap saved space on the worktop. Philip worked closely with Stone Surfaces to pick the Silestone worktops and island.

HIS ADVICE TO ANYONE STARTING OUT? Rely on your kitchen designer as much as you can. “They know all the small details you’ll inevitably forget or miss,” says Philip. “And when it comes to finishes and materials, go as good as you can afford.” The kind of kitchen that earns its place against a backdrop like Beara isn’t built on trends; it’s built to last.

Kitchen Stories

From a 1790s Dublin home to a Mayo self-build and a Cork new-build, three kitchens, three families, and the stories behind them

BY SUZIE COEN

SINÉAD COSGROVE

CO DUBLIN

When your home was built in 1790, the kitchen renovation plan is clear: respect the original character while making it work for a busy modern family of six. For Sinéad Cosgrove, this meant finding a designer who understood both needs. She found that in Emma Webb, whose biophilic style, bringing nature in through colour, materials, and shapes, fitted perfectly with her vision for a calming, thoughtful, and truly livable family space.

The finished kitchen fits right into the old house but doesn’t hide its newness. There’s natural stone on the backsplash, herringbone floors, and subtle brass touches in the lighting and hardware. Every choice was made to last. The fluted island, with its Bora hob and plenty of seating, is now the centre of the home, where homework happens, meals are cooked, and everyone gathers. The custom window seat, built into the original bow window with storage underneath, is a detail that makes you wish every kitchen had one. Layered lighting - wall lights, overhead, inside cabinets, and above them - sets the mood, easily changing the space from busy mornings to relaxed dinners. This kitchen works as hard as the family does, and still looks great.

SOURCEBOOK

Designer Emma Webb Interiors, Webb.ie

Kitchen units Onovo.ie

Timber flooring Havwoods.com

Worktop and splashback

Thestonestudio.ie

Light fittings Wink.ie

Counter stools Aprilandthebear.com

Furniture, lights and rug Curated.ie

Plants and pots Hoplessbotanics.ie

Paint Kraftsmann.com

SOURCEBOOK

Kitchen MLK.ie

Worktop Stonefacings.ie

Lighting Bo-ha.uk and Hestiaco.co.uk

Appliances Keanscm.ie

in aluminium and finished

Tiles @inspiretilesandstone

Callie bar stools Buyitdirect.ie

ZARA HENEGHAN CLAREMORRIS, CO MAYO

Zara and Alan Heneghan live with their three young children in a self-build in Hollymount, Co Mayo.

When the couple set out to design their forever home, the kitchen was never going to be an afterthought. From the very beginning, they put the open-plan kitchen and living space at the heart of the house and built around it - creating a place where family life would actually happen. The brief was clear: make it striking, make it practical, and whatever you do, keep it clutter-free.

They successflly achieved all three goals with expert help from Mark Lohan Kitchens. The bold mix of dark and light colours looks great in photographs and feels even better in person. The generous island, with waterfall quartz worktop and seating for four, is the centrepiece of the room; the skylight above helps to highlight its importance while filling the space with natural light. Behind closed doors there’s a separate pantry, a built-in wine cooler, a robot vacuum dock, and a coffee station. The appliance list reads like a wish list: boiling-water tap, downdraft induction hob, two dishwashers (yes two!), a full-size integrated fridge and freezer, oven, microwave, and plate warmer. Everything here has a place, and nothing is on show that shouldn’t be. It’s the kind of kitchen that makes you want to start cooking.

The Kube kitchen features black oak cabinetry with discreet top-mounted handles and luxe Silestone Calacatta gold worktops. The fluted glass pendants above the island and brass-armed wall lamps, are from Lightplan; tan leather and metal bar stools are from Enhance Interior Design

CHLOE DINEEN

Chloe Dineen lives with her husband Declan, their one-year-old daughter Kate and seven-week- old baby Robbie in a new-build in Cloyne, Cork.

When it came to designing her forever home kitchen, she knew exactly what she wanted: it had to be stylish enough to love for years, and practical enough to handle life with a toddler, a newborn, and whatever comes next. “Something timeless,” she saysnothing she’d get bored of easily. The team at Kube made it happen.

The result is a sleek, modern kitchen that earns its good looks through clever details rather than showboating. Handleless, or almost handleless; the handles are there, just beautifully hidden, the cabinetry stays fingerprintresistant, which, with two small children in the house, is less a luxury, more a survival strategy. The walk-in pantry is the feature Chloe can’t stop talking about: everything in one place, completely out of sight, completely under control. Ceiling coving with integrated LED lighting boosts a simple design strategy without complicating it. A boiling water Quooker tap, a considered layout and a design process that began with interior designer Ellen O’Shea from Enhance Interior Design, Cork meant the budget was clear from the start, and the result never seemed like a compromise. This is a kitchen built for the long haul, and it showsorganised, streamlined, timeless.

SOURCEBOOK

Design Ellen O’Shea, Enhanceinteriordesign.com

Kitchen and hob Kubeinteriors.com

Tap Quooker.ie

Worktops Dtops.ie

Appliances Philosullivanelectrical.ie

Lighting Lightplan.ie

HIGH STYLE

Pull up a seat with these stylish counter and bar stools

Set the mood in your kitchen with pendant lights that bring the wow factor

Aprilandthebear.com

Industryandco.com

BOIL POINT

Old Wood new mood

BY MICHELLE HANLEY

— BRITANY ARNESEN Britdotdesign.com

INLAYS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR Rattan and cane webbing are everywhere right now, and for good reason. Texture is key, whether it’s woven panels, fabric inserts or clean, geometric lines created with wooden grids.

THE EXPERT Britany Arnesen of Britdotdesign.com is worth bookmarking for smart, achievable DIY. Her office makeover beautifully demonstrates how inlays elevate simple pieces, using window grids and linen-lined curtain rods to turn Ikea Billy bookcases into high-end furniture.

TOP TIPS Skip pin nails and save time with glue or a staple gun. Let inlays stand out as a statement piece; they shine when paired with contrast trims and bold paint, like this wardrobe (pictured above) by interior designer Sean Symington.

INLAYS TO LOVE

FROM THE TOP Fabric, from €83.95 per metre, Coloursofarley.com; Cane webbing, 35cm x 50cm, €7.98, Amazon.ie; Wave recess pull, €33.95, Matildagoad.com; Fabric, from €83.95, per metre, Coloursofarley.com

“I love anything with a bit of pattern, and decorating is all about having fun with shapes and repetition”

— GENEVA VANDERZEIL Collectivegen.com

TRIMS

WHAT TO LOOK FOR Scallops and bobbin finishes aren’t going anywhere, but new shapes are entering the mix thanks to designer collaborations like Camilla Hampton x Kate Guinness. Look out for softer wave profiles and flat-edged trims inspired by medieval crenellations - graphic, unexpected and very current.

THE EXPERT Geneva Vanderzeil’s Collective Gen blog is a go-to for confident, achievable DIY. Her step-by-step scalloped wardrobe tutorial is a great place to start. Feeling inspired? Her Furniture Upcycling course covers painting, sanding, staining, sealing timber and basic upholstery, Collectivegen.com

TOP TIPS MDF mouldings are surprisingly easy to work with; wood glue is all you need. Get creative with placement: trims aren’t just for wardrobes, they work beautifully on shelf edges, console tables, dressers, chests of drawers and even as architrave detailing.

TRIMS TO LOVE

FROM THE TOP Parma gray paint, €44 for 750ml, Farrow-ball.com; 100 pcs half wooden beads, €20.38, Amazon.ie; Wooden scallop trim, €6.65, Etsy.com; Kate trim, €35.95, Miami swirl trim, €120.95 & Coco trim, €31.95, all Camillahampton.com

PAINT

WHAT TO LOOK FOR This year’s paint palettes are playful but refined. Brands like Lick, Farrow & Ball and Mylands focus on soft ochres, elegant duck egg blues and deep, moody tones - think wine, hickory and mossy greens - best finished in matte for a modern look.

THE EXPERT If you’re ready to move beyond block colour, decorative artist, Tess Newall is your creative guide. Her Create Academy course (€147) brings farmhouse charm to furniture painting with 32 lessons and a downloadable workbook.

TOP TIPS Use round-edge brushes on wood and masking tape for crisp lines and to protect surfaces. Don’t rush drying - allow two to four hours between coats in Irish temperatures for best results.

“Decorated

mirrors, jewellery boxes and chairs are all small projects which can transform a room and give unloved pieces a new lease of life”

— TESS NEWALL Tessnewall.com

HARDWARE TO LOVE

FROM THE TOP The easy pull handle, €58.95, Beataheuman.com; Vintage brass, cute ceramic knobs, €6.87, Etsy.com; Scallop knob set, €27.95, Maisonflaneur.com; Clover backplate, €15.95, Matildagoad.com; Bow handles, €64.95, Beataheuman.com

“… believe in yourself. You can make any space better by your own hand”

— KATHERINE ORMEROD @katherine_ormerod

HARDWARE

WHAT TO LOOK FOR Details matter. Beata Heuman’s hardware - bows, batons and rope - feels current, while ‘70s-inspired bamboo handles return. Art Deco halfmoons, recessed pulls, and tassel designs add character, and Matilda Goad’s playful backplates come in clover, fish, star and diamond shapes.

THE EXPERT Katherine Ormerod, fashion journalist, committed crafter, and author of Your Not Forever Home, is a big advocate for updating furniture you already own, using paint, hardware and simple, DIY fixes. Her Instagram (@katherine_ormerod) is full of smart, budget-friendly ways to refresh existing pieces - kitchen cupboards, wardrobes, the front door - proof that thoughtful updates can be just as impactful as buying new.

TOP TIPS Measure twice, especially when lining up backplates, and take your time. Mixing and contrasting, whether through colour, shape or texture, is an easy way to inject personality and give your furniture a considered, custom feel.

theNatural world

EXTRACT: The Nature of Decorating by Jenny Rose-Innes, photography © Abbie Mellé Quadrille, €49, Hodgesfiggis.ie

Jenny Rose-Innes has spent a career decorating, renovating and building homes with one guiding principle, bringing the outside in. Her new book is part inspiration, part practical guide, illustrating her favourite homes, including this one by Butter Wakefield

BY JENNY ROSE-INNES PHOTOGRAPHY BY ABBIE MELLÉ

There’s an exuberance to Butter Wakefield’s approach to life and design that is quite beguiling – you can tell that she’s deeply in touch with nature, and probably has been her entire life. I was so keen to meet Butter in person and experience her house and garden – I loved that nature has found its way into

every single room in the house, and virtually every object has some sort of element of nature attached to it. And I particularly love the fact that even in the middle of London, she has managed to create a meadow in her back garden –there’s something so romantic yet deeply authentic about that.

CAN YOU FIRST TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF? I grew up on a little farm outside Baltimore, Maryland. My love for dogs, ponies and all things outdoors taught me at an early age the responsibility and hard work that accompanies these pleasures. My mother, aunt and grandfather were all keen and accomplished gardeners. I loved wandering around their gardens when I was a child, and my appreciation for beautiful surroundings and passion for gardening is a family inheritance running deep in my veins. I used to work as an interior design assistant at Colefax and Fowler; it was there that my love of the creative process took hold as I learnt about scale, texture, pattern, colour and the principles and practices of design. I then trained at the English Gardening School and, more recently, at the London College of Garden Design. Butter Wakefield Garden Design is a small design studio, and I have more than 15 years’ experience creating gardens of all sizes in London and beyond.

I’D LOVE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT YOUR EARLY MEMORIES OF NATURE. My dad was a great man of the land and, as children, we spent a lot of time outside

with him, doing chores, walking the dogs, picking up sticks off the lawn and filling the bird feeder. He loved his birds, and loved watching them from his chair at the kitchen table. He was also very keen that we could identify trees on our farm even without leaves in the wintertime, which is, of course, very difficult to do – we generally never got it right! He was one of the first landowners in the area to turn his small arable farm into a set-aside scheme, specifically to help create habitat for wildlife. He has inspired me hugely, and although he is long gone, I run my little life with him always firmly at the front of my mind.

COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR HOUSE? I live in Shepherd’s Bush, West London, and have done so for the last 32-plus years. We raised our four children here and, even to this day, the house feels full of their childhood memories and their comings and goings. The Victorian house was built in or around 1900; the house itself is an integral part of my sense of happiness and wellbeing. My darling children are all grown up, some raising their own children, so I live here now by myself together with my border terrier Wafer (who, by the way, I’d be lost without).

“I used to work as an interior design assistant at Colefax and Fowler; it was there that my love of the creative process took hold as I learnt about scale, texture, pattern, colour and the principles and practices of design”

Oddly, my house really feels like the family member who hasn’t gone and is often the provider of much solace and big warm virtual hugs when I seem to need them the most. I also think there is still so much to do, and so many areas that still need more work; I have grand ideas and plans. I wonder if I will ever feel it’s completely ‘done’. I certainly hope not. I also hope to remain here until the bitter end.

HOW DOES NATURE FIND ITS WAY INTO YOUR HOME? Nature plays a huge role in my everyday life. My bedroom overlooks the garden at the rear of the house, so it is always the very first thing I look at when I wake up. It’s the perfect start to the day. I am also forever dragging bits and pieces of the garden inside, whether it’s freshly cut flowers, pots of seasonal scented bulbs, lovely abandoned nests that I have found and rescued from the ground (I have a dear little collection of them in my downstairs loo) or the odd beautiful lichen-covered twig that I stick somewhere to remind me that the simple things are often the most emotive and inspirational. All of these tiny treasures make me feel grounded and connected to the outdoors. I also have a reasonably healthy obsession with the small selection of songbirds and insects I have in the garden. I love watching them come and go as they feed from the feeder or bathe in my water bowl, or flit about from flower to flower in my wildflower meadow and through the borders.

ARE THE COLOURS YOU USE INSPIRED AT ALL BY NATURE? Curiously, the colours I am drawn to in the garden originated from, and were inspired by, the colours I have running through the house. Green is my absolute favourite colour of all time; I have a bright green hall, a green bathroom, a green front door and garden gate. The other colour I adore is orange; it can be found in a rather subtle way (well, as subtle as orange can be) around the drawing room.

I have it on some cushions, a couple of chairs, some lampshades and it is also painted on the inside of my bookshelves. Orange features throughout a lot of the artwork I have collected over the years too. As such, I grow a lot of orange flowers in the gardens; Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ and G. ‘Prinses Juliana’, Lilium martagon ‘Peppard Gold’, Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Emily McKenzie’, and a gorgeous thug-like Crocosmia (I am not sure of the variety) I

inherited, which I have to be a bit brutal with occasionally to keep it in check. My dear friend Robin Lucas has inspired me to try lots of lovely things in the garden, like the lilies. I also adore an orange and apricot tulip and think the drawing room really sings when I have big jugs of them about the place.

ARE THERE ANY INTERESTING PIECES OF DESIGN ADVICE YOU HAVE PICKED UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US? I do like to link the colours on the inside to those on the outside. With clients, I always ask for their paint and fabric colours and choices so when we plan the colours of the garden borders they blend beautifully.

CAN YOU HAVE TOO MUCH NATURE OR TOO MANY NATURE-INSPIRED PIECES IN A HOME? HOW DO YOU GET THE BALANCE RIGHT? Well, not if you’re a maximalist like I am. I don’t think I have ever once thought to myself, ‘Oh now, that is just a bit too much, too many flowers or too many pots of bulbs’, never once, ever. More is more, and more nature on the inside of the house only helps make it a lovelier place to be when you can’t be outside.

IN NATURE, ALMOST EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER. DO YOU THINK THAT’S TRUE IN INTERIORS WITH NATURE-INSPIRED ELEMENTS? I have a passion for interiors, but really am a novice. I worked just

long enough at Colefax and Fowler (to be a danger to myself, ha ha!) to know a scraping of what there is to know, so I can’t speak with a huge amount of authority, but I do believe getting the colours and fabrics right on the inside is very tricky. I have the utmost respect for my interior designer friends; they have real talent and there are ridiculous levels of detail that they have all had to master.

When combining a varied palette of colours outdoors, it somehow seems a bit easier. Nature is far more forgiving and generally I think this is because there is so much green in the garden that somehow

tempers all the other bold splashes of colour. Having said that, I do think if there are too many opposing colours in the garden it can feel unsettling and jarring, so I suppose there are a few golden rules we stick to. For instance, I don’t often put red and yellow together. Separately, I love yellow (particularly early in the year) but find red (unless it’s a red full of wonderful rich blue hues) a more difficult colour to manage in the garden. A double red, lateflowering camellia springs to mind – I am definitely not a fan. Like interiors, plenty of the same colour in different flower forms always works well, so if in doubt, add more of the same colour and flower.

WHAT EFFECT DOES NATURE HAVE ON YOU? After a long busy week, I wake up on Saturday and often feel a bit blue. I know it is just the adrenaline of the work week wearing off, but nonetheless, Saturday morning can be a tricky one for me to navigate. Over the years, I have come to understand this, and the cure-all to what ails me the most seems to be a spin around

the garden first thing in the morning while I am still in my dressing gown, brandishing a beautifully strong cup of coffee. It doesn’t take long before I am planning what flowers to pick for the house, or what jobs need to be tackled most urgently. I then feel content to get dressed and ready myself for a lovely long walk along the river with Wafer.

The river has a truly magical effect on me, and there is always something to distract me, always something going on: rowing, sailing, the tide to appreciate when it is either exceptionally high or low or somewhere in between. There is always a view, a horizon to focus on, the sky unfolding before me as I pad along. It’s a wonderful thing and has often fixed me when I feel at my most feeble and vulnerable. I finish my Saturday jaunt through Chiswick House, a splendid 1720 Palladian beauty designed by William Kent for Lord Burlington, set in approximately 65 acres of beautiful parkland and woods. I make a point of always following the perimeter of the grounds, where it is the

least busy and the leafiest overhead. The magnificent trees have a calming effect on me and when I finally hit the high street, I generally feel right as rain again, ready to buy my groceries and wander on home to the garden.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO RE-

ESTABLISH A MEADOW IN YOUR GARDEN, AND HOW DIFFICULT HAS THAT BEEN? My wildflower meadow has had two iterations – the first was shortlived as it ran up against the brick edge of the borders, so it made tending them very difficult; the second one exists today and runs down the middle of the garden. As my garden is small, I was able, without too much expense, to order wildflower meadow turf, which arrived in rolls on palettes. The existing lawn was stripped off, and the meadow turf rolled out like any other lawn turf. I did not sow the seeds myself so maybe it is a bit of a cheat, but it worked almost immediately without any trouble and has brought countless joy ever since. It changes every year; some years there is more red campion (she is a pretty robust competitor) and other years the ox-eye daisies that come later seem to have a stronger foothold. What I really love about it is I can’t really control it, and as I have a pretty healthy dose of OCD, it helps to remind me that there are a few things I simply cannot manage to any significant level. It amuses me, as it definitely has the upper hand.

“More is more, and more nature on the inside of the house only helps make it a lovelier place to be when you can’t be outside”

I LIVE… Between London and Howth, the two homes feel pretty different. Howth is much more beachy, with muted tones and a really light base throughout. London is probably where I’m a bit braver, it’s brighter, bolder, and I’m more inclined to play around with colour.

WHAT MAKES IT A HOME IS…

The complete chaos! I have three kids, and there are always people running around, playdates happening, doors opening. I want my house to be the kind of place people feel they can drop into - no formality or fuss. I love having people over for food, for chats, for company, that’s when my house feels like a home, it really comes alive.

MY DESIGN ETHOS… Do what makes you happy. Everyone wants something different from their home, a different feeling, a different vibe, and the most important thing is to get that right for you. You’re the one living there, after all, so it should reflect how you want to feel when you walk through the door.

MY HOUSE AND HOME

Sive O’Brien chats to Irish media personality, Vogue Williams on family chaos, comfort-first design and creating homes that feel lived-in as she launches her first furniture collab with EZ Living Furniture

THE SMALLEST THINGS COUNT...

Rituals diffusers make the house smell amazing, and I’m taking my time choosing Lick paint colours that I know will work long-term. I’m trying to be more considered now, especially with our forever home on the horizon.

MY FAVOURITE THING TO DO AT HOME IS… Absolutely nothing. I love being at home more than anything and just being with the kids, playing, pottering, doing very little. Honestly, being in bed at half seven is one of my greatest joys, and I’m no longer pretending it’s not.

WHAT’S ON HOME WISH LIST…

I’m dying to get the Kenmare olive green sofa from my collab collection with EZ Living Furniture, but I’ll have to hold off because we’re about to embark on building our forever home.

HOME IS… Where your family is. Where you feel most comfortable, most relaxed, most yourself.

LINWOOD

Titania Embroidery

New Collection

‘In the Garden’

Eight cultivated wallpaper designs inspired by National Trust gardens

Order samples and a complimentary colourcard, or find your nearest stockist at littlegreene.ie Colour Consultancy service available nationwide and online

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