House and Home May/June 2026

All Set for Summer

MORE THAN JUST A GARDEN SHED.

An exclusive collection of crafted garden buildings, designed for living as much as storing. From sheds to summerhouses, saunas to bars, each in bespoke countryside colours, creating a place to slow down and stay a little longer.

(045) 879 170

GARDEN BUILDINGS BY CARAGH NURSERIES

THE PAINT EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT.

SCAN TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

FLEETWOOD.IE/PRESTIGE

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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.

That’s what makes a Neptune home.

Over 30 stores across the UK and Europe neptune.com

May/June 2026

The

Real Homes

48 SCHOOLHOUSE ROCKS

A derelict Westmeath schoolhouse is transformed into a light-filled home blending old and new

64 THE GATEKEEPER

The RTÉ Home of the Year finalist: a onceforgotten gate lodge is transformed into a colourful retreat

A definitive guide to buying art for your home, the galleries to visit, and the artists to know, now

How much does it cost to build a 40sqm extension? QS Shay Lally shares all

Sive O’Brien chats to legendary American designer Jonathan Adler about his covetable

80 HOME OF THE YEAR: BLURRED LINES

The winning home of the RTE Home of the Year series and how to steal their style

90 INSIDE HER STYLE

Artist and designer Caroline Duffy’s coloursoaked, pattern-filled creative world

115 A PLACE FOR JOY

A once-ordinary bungalow overlooking the Waterville estuary is transformed into a vibrant, joy-filled family sanctuary

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

Elyse Kennedy, Shauna Lally, Lynda Kenny, Marlene Wessels

CONTRIBUTORS

Róisín Carabine, Orla Neligan, Jennifer Power, Nathalie Marquez Courtney

CEO

Karen Hesse

Summer Projects

96 GARDEN DESIGN BY BUDGET

Sun, style and a serious upgrade: the outdoor design ideas and buys our experts love

104 HOW TO PAINT OUTDOORS

Fences, front doors, sheds and decking; tackle outdoor paint projects with confidence with help from the experts, and tried TikTok hacks

122 SHOPPING

Outdoor living essentials: portable lamps, bistro tables, serving bowls

128 30 DAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME UNRECOGNISABLE

House in need of a glow-up? Your ultimate guide to a refresh in just four weeks

136 THE INSTANT GARDEN

Extract: The Instant Garden: Beautiful Plants + Perfect Combinations = a Garden Transformed by Henry Bartlam and Alexandra Hollingsworth

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.

Summer Loving

There's a particular kind of satisfaction that comes from making your home feel more like yours. It rarely requires a big budget or a major project. After putting together these 144 pages, I've learned, the details that matter most just need a bit of thought, some courage, and occasionally a spray can on a sunny summer afternoon.

Inside, we open the doors of five Irish homes from all over the country, the RTÉ Home of the Year winner in Kildare, a Kerry renovation, a Co Down gatelodge, a Westmeath schoolhouse, and a Dundalk artist's home that lives and breathes colour. Their owners shared the thinking behind every decision and the small details that ended up mattering most. So many clever takeaways, here are a few I recommend to breathe summer into your home.

YOUR PROJECT HIT LIST

1 HANG SOME LIGHTS If you do just one thing in your garden, RTÉ Home of the Year winners Lorcan and Adrian suspended cage lights from a tree, inexpensive and effortless - the type of thing that turns an ordinary Tuesday into a summer soirée. (Blurred Lines, pg 80).

2 CHANGE YOUR LIGHTBULBS Swap cool-toned for warm tones. The easiest way to fake a golden summer glow. (30 Days to Make your Home Unrecognisable, pg 128).

3 STENCIL YOUR PATIO It costs almost nothing, takes a weekend, and the results will genuinely surprise you. (Garden Designs on a Budget, pg 96).

4 GIVE ONE BELOVED OBJECT A MOMENT Jonathan Adler says a home should be autobiographical, pull out something collected, inherited and place it with intention. One meaningful object beats a refresh. (My House and Home, pg 144).

5 TEST BEFORE YOU PAINT Splash water on your fence first to see if the wood has been treated. If it sits on the surface, reach for a wood preserver first - the kind of tip that saves a wasted day. (How to Paint Outdoors, pg 104).

6 REHANG SOMETHING YOU ALREADY OWN Move a piece of art to a new spot and watch the room shift instantly. Hang it

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lower than you think, close to the furniture beneath it, and enjoy! (Art for the Home Reframed, pg 36).

7 CHANGE YOUR HANDLES New hardware is one of the easiest room lifts. All you need is a screwdriver and a good eye, just ask Home of the Year finalist Tara Lynn. (The Gatekeeper, pg 64).

8 SWAP IN ONE BOLD CUSHION Designer Caroline Duffy keeps her walls neutral so colour can do all the work. Follow her lead and go one shade bolder than you normally would. (Inside Her Style, pg 90).

9 SPRAY PAINT YOUR GARDEN FURNITURE Jill Leavy's mum painted the patio furniture red to match the roof. It's so effective. (Schoolhouse Rocks, pg 48).

10 GROUP YOUR PLANT POTS Cluster three together. No new buying or planting, just rearranging, the impact is immediate. (The Instant Garden, pg 136).

Every page of this issue is filled with insight from our brilliant writers, leading Irish industry experts, and homeowners who have truly lived it. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed creating it. Summer, we've been waiting for you. It starts here.

What’s on our radar right now: the new and the noteworthy

in the lead

These utilitarian products have earned a cult following, and with good reason. No longer something to hide, cables are now designed to be seen.

1 Who knew an extension lead could look so chic, Lola’s Leads, €48, Sonnysstore.ie

2 Allow your pendant to shine with a braided coloured cord, from €99, Industryandco.com 3 The humble garden hose gets an elegant upgrade, €95, Thepavilion.ie

BY JENNIFER POWER

QUIET LUXURY

Meet Pluto, our new fabric crush from Linwood. Tactile, flame-retardant, and woven in Italy, it feels luxe, but is totally up for the daily sofa sprawl. The best bit? Over 72 colours to play with, so you can mix and match, without hopping between a million fabric shops. Pouffes below in Mint Green, from €80 per sqm, Briansnolan.ie and Yourspersonally.ie

BUILT TO LAST Finline Furniture’s Cork showroom just got a serious refresh, and we’re here for it. Think 450 square metres of furniture paradise, in a renovated old mill warehouse, flooded with natural light. This is the type of destination store you go for a visit, and stay for an afternoon (we wanted to sink into every sofa and chair on a recent visit), Finlinefurniture.ie

VISUALISE IT We all know choosing a rug is one of those deceptively tricky decisions - too big, too small, the wrong tone, or texture. Rugs.ie’s room visualiser removes the guesswork, letting you see exactly how any rug will look before you buy. Just pick a rug (like this dreamy Röllakan Ruth by Layered rug, €750), hit ‘See this rug in my room’, and play around with sizes. It’s dangerously fun. Rugs.ie

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

We’re following these inspiring Insta accounts right now, delivering inspiration at every turn. Clodagh Thomas @clodagh.thomas (top). Nutrition may be at the heart of this food scientist’s passions, but it’s her recent Dublin home reno project that’s catching our eye. The internet’s forever girl crush, Lucy Williams @lucywilliamshome (above) has just bought a holiday home in Cornwall, and we are glued for renovation and interior updates, Bold, colourful, and design-led interiors are the first things that come to mind when scrolling through interior designer Elaine Verdon’s feed @leoandcici (left).

CHECK MATE Blue and green should never be seen - unless, of course, they’re reimagined in LNH Edit’s new chequered textile collection, where the pairing feels effortlessly right for summer entertaining. Gingham napkins from €32.50, tablecloths from €78, Lnhedit.com

BRING THE INDOORS OUT

Brendan Courtney’s new acacia wood outdoor collection for EZ Living Interiors looks so good, you might want to use it indoors, too. The collection includes five and sixseater sets made from durable, easy-to-clean materials. Each one is ideal for Summer gatherings. Shop the full collection, Ezliving-interiors.ie

On the House and Home team’s

this summer

WE’RE EXCITED TO Learn new skills at the Common Knowledge DIY tiling course, 27-28 June. Spend a weekend immersed in hands-on learning, while unwinding in the on-site accommodation - the perfect blend of productivity and relaxation, it might just be your dream weekend. Ourcommonknowledge.org

WE’RE SHOPPING AT

The newly opened Sonny’s store in Rathgar, Dublin, (above), is brimming with beautifully considered brands and homeware treasures. Think textiles, ceramics and lighting. It’s the kind of place you wander in for one piece and leave with a basketful, Sonnysstore.ie

WE’VE GOT TICKETS TO

The Summer Irish Pop-Up Collective, a curated selection of over 60 Irish-made products, perfectly suited to the season. Dun Laoghaire, May 17. Admission is free, @Irishpopupcollective

Our favourite garden festival, Bord Bia Bloom returns to Phoenix Park, May 28-June 1 - its 20th year. Highlights include inspiring balcony gardens designed for modern urban living and a strong line-up of expert talks, Bordbiabloom.com

Channel your inner Italian, la Dolce Vita starts at home 2 4 3 6 9 8 1 11

7 10 5 6

1 Bloomingville Fae serving plate, €74,90, Lnhedit.com 2 Clay olive oil decanter, €41, Oka.com 3 Tomato stripe plate, €18, Talkingtables.eu 4 Capri beach towel, €14.99 , Hm.com 5 Striped throw, €45, Marksandspencer.ie 6 Parasol Keldergig in dark sand, €50, Jysk.ie 7 Garden chair, €699, Westwing.de 8 Patterned plate, set of two, €2, Penneys 9 Limited edition Smeg X Dolce & Gabbana hand-painted fridge, to order, Smeg.com 10 Salt Pan azure ecru fabric, €15 per sqm, Abigailborg.com 11 Cotton cushion cover, 50 x 50cm, €39, Arket.com

WE’RE OBSESSED WITH... Garden Glory

For too long, outdoor cushions have been, let's be honest, a bit of an afterthought. Fade-resistant, yes. Wipeable, sure. Stylish? Rarely. Enter: Garden Glory, fulfilling our al fresco dreams. The brand was created by the Swedish designer Linda Brattlöf, who started Garden Glory after she couldn't find a single garden hose that didn't offend her eyes. That same refusal to settle for uninspired design runs through absolutely everything in the outdoor accessory collection.

Garden Glory has quietly become the go-to for anyone who believes the garden deserves the same level of consideration as the rest of the home. From sculptural parasols worthy of a Slim Aarons scene to inflatable rings and loungers in Instagrammable colours, this brand effortlessly elevates outdoor living.

But it's the cushions that really stop us in our tracks. The shell-shaped beauties are sculptural, tactile, and beautifully considered in their palette of earthy

terracotta, warm mustard, sage, and dusty blue. Paired with their classic striped rectangular styles, you can build an outdoor seating moment that looks genuinely intentional, for long leisurely dinners when the weather plays ball or a cosy chill-out spot wrapped in blankets, these pieces will definitely spark guest curiosity.

Nordic design sensibility, brought to your outdoor space. We're completely obsessed. Gardenglory.com

Stylish and Contemporary kitchens from Kube.

The macchiato finish, paired tone-on-tone with a matching wall panel and recessed handle, creates a calm, minimalist aesthetic. Combined with light wood décor, it delivers a refined, stylish look for sophisticated kitchen and living spaces. Kube Laser Macchiato features a true handle-less design to give a seamless look with handle track lighting also available. New Macchiato colour, available with a wide selection of accent colours.

Showrooms: Roscommon | Galway

Where natural materials meet modern design. Bespoke kitchens, thoughtfully designed and expertly crafted for how you live today.

THE DETAILS

The Henrietta Experimental London Henriettahotel.com

INSPIRING SPACE

The Henrietta Experimental, London

This Covent Garden hideaway brings together Italian romance and the unmistakable character of London

THE SPACE Set within two restored Victorian townhouses on Henrietta Street, the Henrietta Experimental stands out as a hotel that feels thoughtfully designed rather than simply decorated. Designer Dorothée Meilichzon has brought together buildings from 1874 and 1877 to create a cohesive, quietly theatrical space that highlights old London architecture with a touch of modern glamour.

The interiors reflect Italian romanticism, with moody colour schemes, rich satin bedlinen, freestanding baths, and statement headboards that could belong in a Milanese palazzo. Local influences are clear, from Covent Garden’s history to the nearby theatre district and the energy of London itself. Somehow, this mix comes together seamlessly, even though it might seem unlikely.

INSPIRATION FOR YOUR HOME

The main lesson from the Henrietta is that romance in design doesn’t mean everything has to match. Each of the 40 rooms is a little different, with its own view, layout, and mood, but the hotel still feels unified. At home, you can do the same by choosing one or two standout pieces, like a sculptural headboard, a statement bath, or bold wallpaper, and letting the rest of the room support those choices. You don’t have to match everything for your space to feel thoughtfully designed.

DESIGN NOTES

FREESTANDING BATHS, silky satin sheets, and deep, moody colours all create a sense of glamour that feels distinctly Italian.

EVERY ROOM IS UNIQUE Some have private terraces with views of the London Eye, while others look out toward St Paul’s Cathedral.

THE VICTORIAN STRUCTURE provides a backdrop for furniture and finishes that have a bold, continental, mid-century style.

FIND SIMILAR AT

TABLE LAMP &Tradition Como SC53, from €208.90 Hickenlighting.com

BISTRO CHAIRS Walnut chairs, €258.28, Nisbets.ie

PENCIL PLEAT CURTAINS Grey blackout thermal curtains, from €52, Marksandspencer.ie

VELVET LOUNGE CHAIR Pols Potten Soft Fizz lounge chair, €990, Cadesign.ie

TERRAZZO TILES Black terrazzo-effect, matt porcelain tiles, 60x60cm, €34.99, Tilemerchant.ie

VELVET SOFA Made.com rust red velvet, left hand corner bench and dining table set, €1,990, Next.ie

WALLPAPER IdeaHomeDeco Tiger wallpaper, €16.66, Etsy.com

HOW TO

Get more fridge space...

... without changing your kitchen! We’re shopping bigger, cooking in batches and buying less often, but most of our fridges haven’t caught up. Here’s how to fix that without a renovation in sight.

OPPOSITE PAGE Bosch XL series 2 built-in fridge-freezer KIN96NSE0G RIGHT AND BELOW

Bosch XXL series 4 built-in fridge-freezer KBN96NSE1G with no-frost technology

The built-in fridge-freezer tends to be one of those things people live with rather than upgrade. Swapping it out feels like too big a job, who wants to replan a whole new kitchen space when they need a new fridge or more fridge space? The very good news is it doesn’t have to be that way anymore. Bosch’s Built-In XL fridge-freezer transforms your existing kitchen, giving you 11% more storage, that’s roughly the equivalent of three to four extra grocery bags of fresh food, without touching your cabinets or adding costs.

1 RETHINKING SPACE, VERTICALLY

Think about height, not footprint. We know how precious kitchen space is in every home, and a bigger fridge doesn’t have to mean a wider one – a smarter upgrade is a taller model like the Bosch XL, designed to transform your kitchen by creating extra capacity while fitting seamlessly into standard cabinetry, utilising unused cavity space within standard cabinetry. The result? 11% more storage, so that means more room for a full week of meals, without compromising your kitchen layout.

2 MAKE EVERY CENTIMETER WORK

Extra space is only useful if used well. The XL interior features adjustable shelves for tall bottles and the large roasting pots and pans that always need extra space

in any kitchen. The XXL model includes the MultiBox XXL, an extra-large drawer designed for storing fruits and vegetables. It provides plenty of space, making it easy to keep fresh produce organised and accessible.

3 DON’T OVERLOOK THE FREEZER

The freezer gains space from the extra height. With ‘No Frost’ technology, you never have to defrost it. It’s the kind of feature you really appreciate once you have it.

4 BUY FOR THE LONG TERM

A built-in fridge-freezer is not a purchase you want to revisit in three years. Invest wisely in your kitchen’s future. With Bosch XL, you get a five-year warranty and

renowned after-sales service in Ireland. When reliability and peace of mind matter most, choosing Bosch will ensure you enjoy your fridge-freezer for years to come.

5 PLANNING A RENOVATION? GO EVEN BIGGER

If you are planning a kitchen renovation, you can go one step further, and choose the Bosch XXL. The Bosch Built-In XXL is 16cm taller and 15cm wider than a standard model, giving you 45% more capacity, a whopping 383 litres in total. It does need a wider 71cm cabinet, so this is the appliance you’ll need to plan if you’re starting a kitchen redesign or renovation from scratch. Adding this as an option to your kitchen design early on is a really smart choice.

For more detailed information on Bosch XL & XXL cooling appliances, visit Bosch-home.ie or book your free product consultation at the Home of Innovation showroom in Dublin 12 today, visit Homeofinnovation.ie

ART FOR THE HOME

New faces of the game, galleries mixing things up, and the online markets changing how we buy art - a definitive guide

BY JENNIFER POWER

The art world can feel like a minefield for the uninitiated, what’s good art, where do you find it, and how do you shop for it? A new wave of artists, galleries and online platforms is changing the conversation, making it easier than ever to buy art you actually want to live with.

WHERE TO START

Art is deeply subjective. Trust your gut - some are drawn to a piece because it evokes emotion, recalls a memory, or complements their space. There’s no right answer, only what speaks to you.

KNOW YOUR LIMIT Decide what you can spend before you start browsing.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT Look up the leading galleries, visit their current exhibitions and talk to the curator about pricing and available works.

SIGN UP Make a habit of signing up for gallery newsletters. One to watch: the RHA Gallery in Dublin, with its 196th Annual Exhibition (May 25–August 9), a rare opportunity to discover emerging talent alongside established names. Join your favourite artists’ mailing lists too, to hear about upcoming shows and pop-ups.

TRUST YOUR GUT Don’t worry about what’s considered good or which artist is “one to watch.” The art will hang in your home, not a gallery, make sure you truly love it.

CURATE YOUR FEED Find artists on Instagram; it’s where they connect, share exhibitions and collaborations. As you like and follow, your feed will naturally fill with similar artists to explore.

GO DIRECT Many artists and photographers sell online or through collectives. Sites like Wondering People offer original, limited-edition works from emerging artists.

TREASURE HUNT Each autumn, artists gather at Russborough to paint and sell their work directly on-site; part art fair, part day out, and free of gallery mark-up. Russborough.ie

DON’T SETTLE If an artist has sold out of your favourite works, hold out for their next collection. Never rush to buy and never let a persuasive curator talk you into something that doesn’t move you.

SHOP SMART. Buying prints abroad? Purchase just the print and have it framed at home; far more economical, and a good framer will guide you well.

HOW TO HANG ART

There are no hard-and-fast rules, it’s a random science, unique to the space and the work.

PLACES, PLEASE A big empty wall can feel overwhelming. Start small: hang a decorative plate above a light switch, or arrange a few frames in a row. Once you fill the smaller spots, the bigger spaces will inspire you.

HIDDEN GEMS Art doesn’t have to come from a gallery. A child’s drawing, a favourite photo, a menu from a special meal, if it makes you smile, frame it.

BREAK THE LINE Avoid hanging art too symmetrically. Position each piece slightly higher or lower, offset left or right, and let some edges overlap gen-

tly for a more engaging display. Mixing shapes and sizes can add depth too.

IN GOOD COMPANY When hanging a single artwork, position it low above the furniture beneath it. A lone piece drifting in isolation looks lost, art feels best when connected to the elements around it.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX Not everything needs a frame. A bold painting can stand alone. Be brave with your choices, and remember you can always move it.

CALL IN THE EXPERTS Hanging a lot of art? Mark placements with painter’s tape first. If you feel overwhelmed, call a professional, try Hang-man.ie

TOP LEFT Art by Eryn Lougheed, Partnershipeditions.com TOP Art by Charlie Sheppard, 8hollandstreet.com ABOVE Art by Phoebe Howard, Partnershipeditions.com

OPPOSITE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Georgia Spray, founder of Partnership Editions; Art by Keziah Mornin, Art by Ali Bassett, ceramics by Noe Kuremoto, Partnershipeditions.com; Art by Luke Hannam, screen prints by William Turnbull, rug by Christopher Farr, all 8hollandstreet.com

ONLINE GALLERIES

8 HOLLAND STREET Eight Holland Street is more than a gallery and design studio - it is a masterclass in living with art. Offering bespoke services in art and furniture sourcing, curation, and interior design, the studio approaches each project with a collector’s eye and a designer’s sensibility. Every gallery space is conceived as a total work of art in its own right, setting a world-class standard for how art can be thoughtfully hung and beautifully lived with, 8hollandstreet.com

WONDERING PEOPLE Wondering People is a London-based art platform representing emerging and mid-career British and international artists. The collection reflects a spectrum of disciplines, including painting, photography, sculpture and mixed media, Wonderingpeople.com

PARTNERSHIP EDITIONS Partnership Editions is dedicated to making remarkable art accessible to all. With a growing roster of over 80 emerging artists, releasing limited edition art and printworks throughout the year, Partnershipeditions.com

IOTA EDIT A London-based curated shop and creative subscription service offering unique, artist-sourced home goods, ceramics, and artwork, Iotaedit.com

COLLINS & GREEN ART Positioning itself as an affordable source for antique and vintage artwork, Collins & Green is a must-visit for sourcing characterful, one-of-a-kind pieces with history and charm, Collinsandgreenart.co.uk

ETSY A global marketplace for handmade, vintage, and custom pieces, Etsy connects makers and artists with shoppers seeking distinctive, one-of-a-kind items for the home, Etsy.com

VINTERIOR Best known for its furniture and décor, Vinterior also offers itself as a destination for art for the home, with a thoughtfully curated mix of pieces that feel collected, personal, and far from mass-produced, Vinterior.co/art

OUTSET GALLERY Housing a gallery, interiors, botany and framing services, Outset offers a one-stop shop for sourcing, framing and styling art within the home. Be sure to catch Luke Reidy’s solo exhibition on July 11 at Outset Gallery, Outset-galway.myshopify.com

INVESTMENT PIECES

MAEVE MCCARTHY Maeve’s practice is deeply rooted in the ideas of home, care, and family. Working primarily in charcoal, her drawings are intensely personal and utterly breathtaking. Her upcoming exhibition at the RHA Annual is not to be missed; Maeve’s work truly demands to be experienced in person to fully appreciate its depth and emotional resonance and her solo exhibition at The Molesworth Gallery in December this year, Maevemccarthy.net

KATE ZIMMERMAN TURPIN Kate is a painter deeply inspired by the rolling landscapes of her surroundings, where light and nature inform her breathtaking art. Working primarily in acrylic and pastel on unprimed canvas, Kate explores the delicate balance between light, memory, and place. Following the success of her first exhibition earlier this year, Kate is now showcasing her work exclusively through the Megan Mulrooney Gallery, Katezimmermanturpin.com

HAIDEE BECKER A true investment piece at any scale, Haidee’s paintings are soft and feminine, offset by subtle injections of bold colour that lend a distinctly modern edge to her still-life subjects. From pansies to sardines, she strikes a delicate balance between gentleness and boldness, Patrickbourne.com

INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS TO KNOW

GEORGIA BEAUMONT Georgia burst onto the art scene a few years ago, with an intrinsically joyous mood to her artworks; their dancing botanical forms and Georgia’s intuitive brush strokes combine to offer up a celebration of life itself. So rich in colour and utterly mesmerising, drawing the viewer in and refusing to let go. With a solo show at a London gallery in May, and a group show with The Violet Hour in London in June, this one is one to watch, follow, swoon over, Georgiabeaumont.co.uk

CIAO CHIARA Chiara’s painting practice explores our emotional and symbolic connection to the natural world, where plants and celestial movements become sources of protection, guidance and quiet healing. Her print shop offers a rare opportunity to collect work you love while supporting meaningful causes, including her We Are Connected print, with 100% of proceeds going towards MAP Medical Aid for Palestinians and PCRF, the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, Ciao-chiara.com

MAX WANGER With an expansive, impressive portfolio, Max Wanger captures his subjects through negative space, allowing each image to tell its own story. Described as bold and whimsical, it’s easy to see why this photographer is so highly sought after for his distinctive style, Maxwangerprintshop.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Waikiki No 6, Maxwangerprintshop.com; We Are Connected print, Ciao-chiara.com; Hydrangeas by Maeve McCarthy, Maevemccarthy.net; Georgia Beaumont seated among her prints, Georgiabeaumont.co.uk

Colour, architecture, design, and geometry converge in the work of artist John Redmond, forming a visual language that is both structured and contemplative. He describes his practice as a meditative state, akin to yoga, an approach that quietly underpins and animates his paintings. John’s inaugural sculpture show is happening on May 31 at Gormleys, Dublin, Johnredmondart.ie, Gormleys.ie.

ARTISTS

TO

MEET AND BUY IN PERSON

NCAD Undergraduate shows, 1st years exhibition runs from 7-11 May. Final year is on from 5-13 June, Ncad.ie

Belfast College of Art BCOA along with NCAD, are some of the best places to snap up original art for a steal. This year’s undergraduate shows are running from 5-20 June inclusive, Ulster.ac.uk/bsoa

Markets Weekend markets such as the People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire and Marlay Park CoCo, Saturdays 11-4, Bushy Park, Saturdays 10-4.

Antique dealers or antique shops or via dealers, like Whytes.ie

Molesworth Gallery An acclaimed gallery representing some of Ireland’s finest artists, ideal for investment pieces whether you’re starting a collection or adding to one. Curator Ronan Lyons has a tip for new buyers: “Go to degree shows, every artist showing with the Molesworth had one, where their work could have been bought for a few hundred euros.” Watch out for upcoming solo shows from Cristina Bunello and John Kindness. Molesworthgallery.com

Gallery print shops Leading galleries like Tate Modern sell highquality prints of iconic works, some of which appreciate over time. Seek out limited editions, look for small runs like 1/50, and always verify credibility if buying outside the gallery directly. Buy for enjoyment first though; investment returns are the exception, not the rule, Tate.org.uk

Doorway Gallery Drop in and explore at this welcoming spot, with bi-monthly exhibitions showcasing its resident artists. Founder Denise puts it simply: “Start by looking around galleries to understand what resonates with you. Lean into what you love, not what’s trending. After all, you have to live with it.” This season, catch Kate Beagan (May 7–20) followed by Karen Wilson (May 21–June 4), Doorwaygalleryprints. com

Gerard Byrne Gallery Self-taught artist Gerard boasts an expansive portfolio spanning cityscapes, charcoals, seascapes, and figurative works. Best known for his striking florals and lush foliage, a visit to this new gallery location is a must, offering viewers the opportunity to immerse

themselves in his richly varied body of work. His newly opened, Gerard Byrne Gallery is an impressive 2,000 sq ft commercial space located in the heart of Dublin city, well worth a visit, Gerardbyrneartist.com

Sparknet Co-founded by artists Steve Bradbury and Olena Kasian, SparkNet is Ireland’s first true hybrid gallery - a place to buy art, showcase art and create art, all in one. Founder Steve advises new collectors to “start with smaller original works or limitededition prints, trust your instinct, and don’t be afraid to ask artists or galleries questions. A good piece of art should grow with you over time, not intimidate you.” Sparknet.ie

Abhainn Studio An independent fine art print shop, with a bespoke framing studio situated along the Wild Atlantic Way. Featuring work such as ‘Fantasy Art Farm’, Ro Dillon, €90, Abhainnstudio.com

The Horse Dublin A vibrant, experimental hub for contemporary art in the heart of Dublin 1. Unlike many traditional galleries in Ireland that primarily showcase established or commercially driven work, The Horse champions emerging, underrepresented and boundarypushing artists, giving voice to creative practices that often sit outside the mainstream, Thehorsedublin.xyz

Graphic Studio An essential part of the city’s cultural fabric, Dublin’s first fine art print gallery boasts the largest collection of fine art prints in the city. With frequent exhibitions and live print demonstrations, its catalogue spans an impressively wide range of printing processes. Graphicstudiodublin.com

ABOVE Vico Views by Steve Bradbury, Sparknet.ie LEFT Hold Fast by Louise Leonard, Graphicstudiodublin.com RIGHT Art by Tom Climent (available at Outset Gallery, Galway) hanging in the home of and designed by interior designer Lynne O’Loughlin, Lynneoloughlin.com.

WHERE TO FRAME

Any good framer worth their salt will guide you on best practices and mounting styles to enhance your pieces. Some trusted framers are:

Fox Dublin, Co Dublin, Foxframing.ie

Copper House, Dublin 8, Thecopperhouse.ie

Baggot Framing, Dublin 4, Baggotframing.ie

Fráma, Co Kildare, Frama.ie

Outset design & framing, Galway, Outset-galway.myshopify.com

Abhainn Studio & Framing, Sligo, Abhainnstudio.com

IRISH ARTISTS TO KNOW

Ireland is awash with fresh talent, from painting and embroidery to fine art photography, all reshaping the landscape. With something for everyone - and every home - there’s plenty to admire, starting from entry-level pricing right up to the pieces that are more aspirational. Here are a handful catching our eye of late:

SARAH O’DEA Decorative artist and calligrapher, Sarah has creativity baked into her DNA. The daughter of two wellknown, established artists, she has clearly inherited an exceptional eye and a natural flair for her craft. Long admired for her elegant penmanship and much-loved workshops, O’Dea now turns her attention to the art world with a striking collection of gouache botanical prints, Sarahodea.ie

NIAMH MORAN Striking pencil drawings and archival pigment inks make this artist incredibly unique and set her apart from others. Known for her outdoor bath series and vivid neon colour palettes, Niamh has developed a practice that is so refreshing and distinctive. Her work is often described as spontaneous and quirky, @niamhmoranartist

LOUISE CHERRY From her studio in sunny Wicklow Town, Louise Cherry’s Purple Rain collection is a quietly ironic triumph, layered abstract shapes and saturated colour that feel both atmospheric and deeply expressive. Each artwork is available as a limited-edition print. Catch

her at Art Source in November. Purple Rain IV print from €350, Louisecherry.com

GAVIN DOYLE Self-taught and climate conscious, Gavin reuses and recycles old canvases, boards and frames to create his moody, expressive paintings. His work carries an old-world sensibility with a contemporary edge, lending itself beautifully to interior spaces, Artistgmd.com

JIMMY KILGALLEN From his base in County Sligo, Jimmy captures everything from sweeping coastal vistas to the rich textures of rural life, Abhainnstudio.com

LUKE REIDY Sharp lines meet translucent pigments of colour to create architectural structures and shapes that are so striking. Luke has mastered his craft in screen printing perfectly, Lukereidyartist.wordpress.com

LIZ RACKARD Liz began her artistic career dyeing and weaving silk before later picking up a paintbrush and truly starting her journey with portraiture and landscape. Today, she creates exquisite miniature portraits, each set in vintage glass bubble frames for an intimate, heirloom quality, a forever keepsake, Lizrackard.com.

LOLA DONOGHUE Based in Galway, Lola is best known for her large-scale abstract paintings. Her work carries a

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT A storm outside print, Gavin Doyle, €110, Artistgmd.com; Mabel in red dress print by Doreen Kilfeather, from €500, Instagram.com/ dkilfeather; Artist Domino Whisker, in her studio; Eoghan by Liz Rackard, €1,000, Lizrackard.com. She Reclines, Lola Donoghue.com

diffused, ethereal atmosphere, set against a quiet tension between space and colour. Lola’s next series will be released this autumn and made available online exclusively to subscribers of her mailing list, Loladonoghue.com

DOREEN KILFEATHER Doreen is a raw talent with an extraordinary eye - her photography is drenched in light and movement, capturing moments with a cinematic elegance that feels effortlessly fashion-forward, @dkilfeather

DOMINO WHISKER Domino’s work is unmistakably her own, layered with depth, meaning, and an undeniable pull. Drawing on themes of grief and memory, everything she creates feels deliberate and deeply considered, though it is her birds that truly captivate. Domino sells smaller works directly through her website and regularly exhibits in Dublin, she also occasionally accepts commissions, Dominowhisker.com

SUPERFOLK The stalwarts of the lino print world are this husband and wife team Gearoid Muldowney and Jo Anne Butler. Their latest collection is a body of work that feels fresh, tactile, and deeply connected to the natural world. Their newest offering is Murmuration, (pictured above), a large-scale, two-panel work inspired by the collective rhythmic flight of starlings over Lough Carra, near their studio in Mayo, Superfolk.com

How much does it cost to build a 40sqm extension? QS Shay Lally from Houses to Restore opens the books on what builders won’t always tell you, because ‘it depends’ isn’t good enough when you’re spending upwards of €140k.

DEMOLITIONS AND SITE CLEARANCE

Knock out back of house and support it with an RSJ and 2 steel posts,

WINDOWS & DOORS

Allowance to supply and fit a slider, €10,500.00

TOTAL €10,500.00

INTERNAL WORKS

Supply and fit 102.5mm insulated plasterboard to include skimming, €7,146.42

Insulation between joists, €2,043.00

Supply & fit an airtight membrane, €1,589.00

Supply and fit plasterboard to ceiling, €2,043.00

Skim ceiling, €1,589.00

TOTAL €14,410.42

INTERNAL FINISHES

Supply and fit timber engineered floor, €6,356.00

Supply and fit skirting, €635.60

Allowance to paint the extension internally, €1,872.75

Timber engineered rates based on a PC sum of €102 per m2 to supply the floor and underlay or glue

TOTAL €8,864.35

ELECTRICS AND PLUMBING

Allowance to wire the space based on 30 points in total to include any works required to fuse board, €5,221.00 Allowance to add a new circuit to the existing heating system and supply and fit two rads, €5,107.50 (PC sum of €500 allowed for each rad)

TOTAL €10,328.50

LANDSCAPING AND DRAINAGE

Provisional cost for upgrade works / alterations to drainage, formation of pavement / patio along the back of house, (provisional cost, subject to existing drainage)

TOTAL €8,512.50

PRELIMINARIES

Preliminaries allowance, €9,661.69

TOTAL €9,661.69

€11,917.50

Clear and prepare site for ground works, €3,972.50

Skips, waste allowance on the above, €1,362.00

TOTAL €17,252.00

GROUND WORKS

Excavation of soil and laying of ground works to include steel mesh, insulation, a DPC & radon barrier, €20,430.00

Building rising wall 900mm high, €1,949.00

Laying a 38mm screed, €1,702.50

TOTAL €24,081.50

SUPERSTRUCTURE

Build up cavity walls,

€8,557.90

Render external walls, €3,248.37

Fit a flat roof complete with fire glass finish, €20,430.00

Allowance to supply and fit a rooflight, €3,927.50

TOTAL €36,163.77

TOTAL BUDGET

Demolition & site clearance, €17,252.00

Groundworks, €24,081.50

Superstructure, €36,163.77

Windows & doors, €10,500.00

Internal works, €14,410.42

Internal finishes, €8,864.35

Electrics & plumbing, €10,328.50

Landscaping & drainage, €8,512.50

Preliminaries, €9,661.69

TOTAL €139,774.73

COST per m2 €3,492.99

Shay Lally, Houses to Restore @houses_to_restore

REAL HOMES

Inside four Irish homes that get it just right; beautiful, functional and full of ideas

HOMEOWNER

Chartered accountant, Jill Leavy

THE HOUSE

A renovated 1932 schoolhouse in Coralstown, Co Westmeath

Schoolhouse Rocks

A derelict Westmeath schoolhouse is transformed into a light-filled home blending old, new, and family history with clever design. As seen on RTÉ's The Great House Revival series

BY ORLA NELIGAN PHOTOGRAPHS ELYSE KENNEDY

“Hugh Wallace was wonderful. He took one look at the plans and knew what would work and what wouldn’t, encouraging me to make the glass link a ‘wow’ feature"

It was a harried evening negotiating a postwork yoga class in a busy shopping centre with buses and traffic that finally gave Jill Leavy the proverbial ‘push’ to leave Dublin and return to her roots in Westmeath. Her dad had his eye on an old schoolhouse building near their home and urged her to ‘come see it’. Built in 1932, the rural schoolhouse served its local community for decades before closing in 2007. What followed was a familiar fate for many rural institutions: abandonment, gradual decay and neglect. Electricity had been off since 2012, the windows were gone, and inside, mattresses covered the old stone floor. But beneath the decay, the bones were good, and importantly, the roof was intact. But the clincher for Jill was the story. “It’s the primary school my dad and all my aunts and uncles went to. I managed to even salvage my dad’s old coat hook, which now hangs in my kitchen. It felt less like buying a building and more like adopting a slightly feral family heirloom,” she laughs.

Rather than radically altering the character of the original building, the design maintains its proportions and openness while introducing a new extension for the home's more private areas. The most significant structural change was the removal of a clumsy 1980s flat-roofed rear extension, which she replaced with a new three-bed extension, allowing the original schoolhouse classroom to function as a dramatic openplan living space. Kitchen, dining area, and sitting room now share the generous volume of the former classroom, where large windows and high ceilings continue to flood the interior with natural light. A glass link joins old and new, serving as both a physical connector and a moment of pause within the home. It is a transitional space that gently marks the shift from the communal heart of the house to the more private wing beyond, and one that was encouraged by the late Hugh Wallace, who helped Jill find her feet with the project when she became part of the TV renovation series on RTÉ, The Great House Revival “Hugh Wallace was wonderful. He took one look at the plans and knew what would work and what wouldn’t,

A view from the open plan living room into the kitchen and dining area. The dark wooden dining table was purchased on Facebook Marketplace and upcycled by Jill’s mum. Around it sit mismatched chairs, some found in a skip in Dublin, and reupholstered. The kitchen was designed by Studio84. The pendant is from LightPoint, which Jill sourced in Copenhagen. The task lights over the hob and sink are from Rotaliana

“It’s the primary school my dad and all my aunts and uncles went to. I managed to even salvage my dad’s old coat hook, which now hangs in my kitchen. It felt less like buying a building and more like adopting a slightly feral family heirloom”

encouraging me to make the glass link a ‘wow’ feature by increasing the window size and removing the original steps between the snug and the kitchen. It would have made the two adjoining door frames at the wrong heights, and getting rid of the bathroom off the kitchen, which has allowed me to include two big windows for light.” Two small front porches, once practical school entry points, have also been cleverly repurposed – one becoming the main entrance hall and the other a utility room.

The new home now measures 230 sq m, up from its original 138, and sits somewhere between Japandi calm and Irish common sense, marrying old and new in a beautiful way. “I started out with a strong wabi-sabi vision,” she says. “But renovations have a way of humbling you. I guess you could call it Scandi-Japandi on a budget,” she laughs. The palette is intentionally restrained: soft off-whites, warm neutrals and natural textures, interrupted by small but deliberate flashes of colour. The most striking detail might be the Jung light switches, hand-sprayed in a deep terracotta shade called L’ocre Rouge. “They were completely unnecessary,” Jill admits cheerfully. “But they make me ridiculously happy every time I turn on a light.” Furniture has been sourced with equal parts

OPPOSITE PAGE Another view of the open plan kitchen/living/dining area. The concrete floor is a seamless sweep in keeping with the Japandi-style interior. The wood on the ceiling of the glass link was Hugh Wallace’s idea to enable you to see the exposed concrete from the original 13inch-thick mass concrete walls.

patience and practicality. The dining table and green upholstered chairs came via Facebook Marketplace. A stack of wooden chairs once used in a parish hall now sits around the kitchen island. Another set of dining chairs was rescued from beside a skip in Dublin. The effect is relaxed and unpretentious – curated without trying too hard.

There are plenty of conversation starters in the home, but the floor is probably the most talked about. Originally, Jill had budgeted €17k for polished concrete and was prepared to take the plunge until her dad suggested they ask around. “There was a lot of head scratching about aggregates and finishes. My dad kept reminding me that it was ‘just concrete’, so we went to the local concrete yard in Mullingar and just got ‘straight up concrete’ which my mum, dad, and I then worked on with a matt sealer. It worked a treat.”

While the interiors lean into calm and neutral, the exterior makes a far bolder statement. The new extension is finished in pink sand-and-cement render, created by blending sand, cement, and brick dye for colour, and is paired with a bright red, pitched roof of corrugated metal. This is an unexpected choice in a landscape dominated by grey plaster houses and slate roofs. But that’s exactly the point. “Ireland is grey enough already,” she muses. The plaster was left deliberately textured rather than smoothed. The plasterer, she recalls, was less than thrilled. “He thought I’d completely lost the run of myself.” But the result is charming rather than shocking: a warm, cheerful building that feels entirely at home against the green of the Westmeath countryside.

The school’s limestone plaque, originally embedded in the concrete walls, had to be recreated when insulation made it impossible to remove. A replica now sits proudly on the exterior, acknowledging the building’s history. Elsewhere, small creative gestures nod to the renovation itself. Sculptures made from leftover thermal blocks by an NCAD student dot the interior, turning construction waste into artworks. Jill lives alone in the house, but solitude was never the point. “The whole aim was to make a home where people feel comfortable immediately. “Shoes off, kettle on, stay as long as you like,” she says. Don’t mind if we do.

ABOVE LEFT The old door was rescued from the old school, sandblasted, treated and reglazed by Lakeland Interiors

“The whole aim was to make a home where people feel comfortable immediately. “Shoes off, kettle on, stay as long as you like”

THIS PAGE The wooden stairs were made by Aiden Gorry, and the handrail is by Mick Dunne. The Jung light switches were hand-sprayed in L’ocre Rouge. The concrete sinks are from Etsy, the rest of the sanitaryware is SDR Ceramiche from Next Gen Energy Concepts. The wooden vanities were custom-made by Studio84

OPPOSITE TOP The bed linen is from the Secret Linen Store. The custom-built wood furniture is by Lakeland Interiors

JILL'S TIPS FOR

RENOVATING

GET ORGANISED EARLY AND STAY THAT WAY

A renovation involves an astonishing number of decisions, and they rarely arrive one at a time. I found that keeping a spreadsheet, a working budget, and a live list of quotes, timelines, and decisions prevented small things from snowballing into expensive ones. It is not glamorous, but it saves both money and sanity.

USE TRUSTED LOCAL PEOPLE WHERE YOU CAN

Having local tradespeople who came recommended made a huge difference. They understood the realities of building in the area, knew local suppliers and, in many cases, already knew the other people on site. That kind of familiarity helps things run far more smoothly.

COMPARE QUOTES AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO NEGOTIATE On a renovation, every euro has another job waiting for it. Comparing prices properly helped me spot what was fair, inflated, and where I could save without compromising the overall look.

BE FLEXIBLE, BUT NOT VAGUE Have a clear sense of what you want, but don't get too attached to everything unfolding perfectly. Renovations throw up surprises. Try not to catastrophise every little thing. Often you adapt, work around it, and move on, and sometimes the thing you were worried about ends up becoming a nice little "feature".

A DEADLINE CAN BE SURPRISINGLY USEFUL

Having a finish line helps enormously. The looming TV cameras kept me honest; there’s nothing like knowing your half-finished decisions may one day be televised to sharpen the mind.

DON’T OVERLOOK SIMPLER ROUTES TO THE SAME LOOK I loved the look of polished concrete, but the cost would have been huge, so I went with a screeded floor instead and sealed it myself with my parents, using three coats of matt concrete sealer, in one day. It saved me tens of thousands of euro and gave me the clean, minimal finish I wanted, just without the exposed aggregate.

Follow Jill's renovation journey @oldschool.newhome

OPPOSITE PAGE The exterior – a pink sand-and-cement render with red roof makes a bold statement. “Ireland is grey enough already,” says Jill

LEFT The patio furniture was upcycled by Jill’s mum, sprayed red to match the roof. The utility room cabinetry was custom-made by Studio84

JILL'S TIP

1

LIGHTING ADDS A WHOLE EXTRA

LAYER Because the house is quite minimal, lighting became really important to me. It softens things, adds atmosphere and stops simple spaces from feeling flat. Good lighting is one of the easiest ways to make a house feel calm, warm and quietly interesting.

Arona cushion, €36.90 Nordicnest.com

Holt table lamp, €29, Woodesign.ie

Nuura Miira large pendant, €479, Hickenlighting.com

Labo serving jug €32, Article.ie

JILL'S TIP

2 INVEST IN THE BIG-TICKET PIECES that really matter. Choose the items that will define the house - the kitchen, the sofa and the switches - and give those real thought. Once those anchor pieces are right, you can be more relaxed and resourceful with the rest.

Porcelain vase, €70, Ecrustudios.com

JILL'S TIP

Gots organic cotton throw, €265, Consciousconvert.com

Brick red tile, €110 per sqm, Tilestyle.ie

Cher side table, €229, Seasalt.ie

Maryam Keyhani x Freifrau Ziba pouf, €930, Maryamkeyhani.com

9 Yard Ceramics bud vase, €30, Irishdesignshop.com

Hay chair J42, €499, Industryandco.com

3 LET THE HOUSE EVOLVE Style can change so many times during a project, partly because of budget, partly because of availability and partly because materials don’t always turn out exactly as you imagined. Allowing the house to develop naturally often leads to something more personal and ultimately more interesting. BY MARLENE WESSELS

- Sandyford - Kylemore - Cork

090 6424000 - info@tubstiles.ie - tubstiles.ie

INTERIOR DESIGN CONSULTATIONS BATHROOM DESIGN 3 D - Galway - Kilkenny - Limerick - Tralee - Ennis - Sligo - Wexford - Navan - Athlone

HOMEOWNERS

Tara Lynn and her basset hound Betty

THE HOUSE

A 65 sqm gatelodge on her father’s farm in Co Down

the

The RTÉ Home of the Year finalist: a once-forgotten gate lodge is transformed into a colourful retreat where bold colours, pattern and plenty of personality shine

BY ORLA NELIGAN PHOTOGRAPHS ELYSE KENNEDY

For homeowner Tara Lynn, her dream house was right under her nose – a tiny 65sqm gate lodge at one end of her dad’s farm in Co Down. Once occupied by a gamekeeper, it had been left empty for years, gradually falling into disrepair.

“I’ve always loved old houses,” she says, having had her eye on it for some time. “For me, it was about celebrating that charm while making it feel fresh and lived-in again.”

What followed was a thoughtful revival that took nearly 18 months to complete. While the footprint remained modest, the scale of the intervention was anything but. The roof was entirely removed and rebuilt, with steel beams introduced to strengthen and subtly reshape the interior. In the kitchen, a onceawkward split-level arrangement – complete with a cramped bedroom above – was stripped away, allowing the space to breathe for the first time in decades, a decision that proved transformative. What had been enclosed and disjointed is now open and light-filled, with a sense of flow that belies the home’s compact size. An extension off the kitchen further enhances this, with a living area that elevates the cottage from rudimentary to refined.

Crucially, the renovation never strays into pastiche. Tara worked alongside architect Donna Collins of DOT Projects. The brief was clear: preserve the integrity of the original structure while allowing it to evolve. Early discussions explored a more contemporary extension, but Tara insisted on continuity. Once the brickwork was carefully restored and shot-blasted, the new addition settled in as though it had always been there. This result is a testament to both patience and craftsmanship. Local stonemason Stuart Edgar played a key role.

Inside, the house unfolds with a sense of charm and individuality – equal parts English country charm and spirited self-expression. Described by Tara as playful, warm and timeless, that balance is evident throughout. There’s a clear nod to cottagecore, but it’s pushed further through bolder, more confident choices.

THE KITCHEN Inspired by deVOL kitchens, Tara recreated a more affordable version with Function Design. Shaker doors are hand painted in ‘Gilford Hunt’ by Porters Paint with inlay colour Biscotti. The sink was an original feature in the house. The blinds, sink café curtain, and booth fabrics were sourced by Herbert Gould while the kitchen chairs were from Tara’s granny’s house. Tara sourced much of the furniture for the house from Facebook Marketplace including the kitchen table which she bought for €50 and stained ‘The Tobacconist’ colour by Coat Paints. A terrazzo speckled floor from Ceramica adds a modern retro touch

“I’ve always loved burgundy and a good stripe. I could have added even more, but I had to stop myself”

Colour is used liberally, but always with intention: red panelling meets dreamy cherub wallpaper from Lucy Alice Homes in the bathroom, vintage wardrobes are inlayed with patterned curtains and coloured stripes make an appearance regularly on corridor walls, in the kitchen and a dining room banquet – it’s as though you’ve tiptoed into a doll’s house, albeit one with flair. Wallpaper, in particular, plays a defining role, especially in the living room, where a striking print wraps the space, creating an almost indoor-garden feel. It’s a choice that raised a few eyebrows during the build. “I must have been asked ten times whether I was sure,” Tara laughs. “Every time I said yes, they just shook their head. Now it’s one of my favourite features.” Her instinct for ‘big personality’ interiors could easily tip into excess, but here it’s handled with enough restraint to feel both expressive and considered.

Elsewhere, smaller details reinforce the home’s character. Replica windows, crafted by Declan Stewart Joinery to match the originals, lend a subtle, storybook charm. Inside, curved doors – inspired by a stay in New Zealand – soften the architecture, gently breaking from the more traditional cottage language. At the heart of the home sits the kitchen, anchored by a twodoor Aga in a cheerful shade of pink, with a distinct nod to deVOL. It’s a reference that ties back to Tara’s childhood, where the Aga was the natural gathering point. “I love deVOL, but their kitchens come at a hefty price,” she says. Instead, she worked with a carpenter at Function Design in Killinchy to translate the look into a bespoke piece, achieving a similar finish at a fraction of the cost. Colour and pattern were key to bringing the space to life, although Tara admits she had to rein herself in.

KITCHEN TOP LEFT Tara’s collection of vintage plates are displayed in the kitchen cabinets KITCHEN LEFT A view from the kitchen/ living room to the bathroom and its bright yellow arched door.

DINING AREA Stripes play a starring role throughout the house. The striped yellow and white banquet is Warner House Holkham stripe from Herbert Gould, which sits beautifully with the vintage table and chairs. The kitchen sconces are from Pooky

“It’s part of the charm of living in a small home, it forces you to be creative. I even have shoe storage in my kitchen cupboards – it’s my nod to Carrie Bradshaw”

“I’ve always loved burgundy and a good stripe. I could have added even more, but I had to stop myself.” Paired with earthy tones, the result is a kitchen that feels classic yet playful, timeless, but full of personality.

As with any home of this size, storage presented challenges. In the bedroom, plans for a mezzanine dressing area were ultimately abandoned when they threatened to compromise light and ceiling height. It was a difficult decision – trading practicality for atmosphere – but ultimately the right one. The room now feels open and calm, even if it requires a little creative compromise elsewhere. “It’s part of the charm of living in a small home, it forces you to be creative. I even have shoe storage in my kitchen cupboards – it’s my nod to Carrie Bradshaw,” Tara says.

Custom furniture is key to making the space work. Curved edges, floating forms, and playful materials, including a pink marble surface, ensure functionality never sacrifices personality. The most indulgent detail is the bath at the end of the bed, inspired by a Cotswolds hotel, a small gesture that adds everyday luxury.

The gate lodge is, in many ways, exactly what Tara wanted from the start, a ‘doll's’ house for an adult’. The finished result closely matches what she imagined before work even began. She wanted it to be memorable, with quirky details and personality. “I was almost nervous to move in at first,” Tara admits. “It felt too perfect. But now, seeing it filled with life, my dog running around, and making memories in the space, it feels completely real and wonderfully homely.” A doll’s house, perhaps, but one that’s very much alive.

WC Red panelling in the bathroom meets cherub wallpaper from Fraiche Design. A yellow patterned café curtain from Fermoie, yellow check tiles from Ceramica and a Pooky wall lamp all work for a playful palette

a

TARA'S TIPS ON THE

FINISHING TOUCHES

LIGHTING Spotlights can flatten a room while layered lighting transforms it. Combine soft table lamps, sconces in cosy corners and a statement pendant to keep a space both practical and inviting. Feature wall lighting works even in minimal spaces, and mirrors placed thoughtfully will reflect light and colour, making rooms feel instantly brighter and more spacious.

FEATURE HANDLES A small detail that can make a big difference. Designer handles, like the star-shaped ones from Matilda Goad, add instant personality to any room. Kitchens, living rooms, and bedrooms all benefit. Once you try them, you might wish you had updated every room.

ACCESSORIES WITH CHARACTER Second-hand pieces bring personality and story that brand-new items rarely match. Facebook Marketplace, charity shops and family hand-me-downs are worth the hunt - a kitchen table, a dresser, a set of chairs reupholstered to suit the space. The nicest items aren't always the most expensive.

CREATE FLOW Even with bold wallpaper, statement colours and quirky details, a home should feel cohesive rather than chaotic. Choose a limited palette of around eight colours and repeat them across rooms in different ways - a tone on a bedroom wall reappearing in a cushion or a piece of furniture elsewhere. This continuity gives you the freedom to take risks; it makes the bold choices feel more intentional.

MAIN BATHROOM The en suite is a bold combination of striped red and white tiles and pink tiles from Ceramica. They are softened with a mahogany vanity, mirror unit from Wayfair and wall sconces from Soho Home

TARA'S TIP

1

PERSONAL TOUCHES Styling a home doesn’t happen overnight. Collect and hunt for pieces – from a charity shop, online, or when travelling that feel most memorable and personal, when a little thought and effort has gone into finding them, the result should feel playful, layered, and full of character.

Scallop oatmeal ceiling shade, €120, Mavericksoulinteriors.com

Stoneware mug €3.46, Sostrenegrene.com

TARA'S TIP

3

TILES I think tiles are such a fun way to get creative and completely transform a space. Whether through pattern or colour, they can really become the star of a room.

crisscross table, €437, Hedgeroe.com

Borastapeter Blomsterhav Grand wallpaper 9781W, €21 a roll, Furnishing.ie

GET THE LOOK

TARA'S TIP

2

LAYER UP When working with bold fabrics and statement wallpaper, the styling needs careful consideration so nothing clashes or feels too busy. The key is to let the materials speak for themselves while building in personality through collected pieces - think a busy mantle or a feature wall filled with plates, art, and personal photographs gathered over time.

Villeroy & Boch Old Luxembourg side dish, €49.90, Brownthomas.com

Text-motif porcelain plate €4.99, Hm.com

Seoul dining chair, €715,

HOMEOWNERS Lorcan Burke (right), founder of

THE HOUSE A 2,500sq ft, three-bed, garden-focused self-build on a halfacre Kildare site.

HOME OF THE YEAR

blurred lines

Looking for inspiration on how to bring the outside in? Learn from the best - the winners of RTÉ Home of the Year, Lorcan Burke and Adrian Sharp who share their secrets for opening up your home to nature, both visually and physically

BY RÓISÍN CARABINE PHOTOGRAPHS SHAUNA

CREATE A TRANSITIONAL OUTDOOR SPACE

‘We wanted the relationship between inside and outside to be very fluid. Nestled in our garden among the ferns, the tea house is our go-to place but also feels like an extension of the house. We built it ourselves, almost entirely from the leftover waste from the house construction.’

1 Emboidered bolster cushion, €48, Marksandspencer.ie 2 Melacia lampshade, €65, Cusacklighting.ie 3 Flamant Renske bench, €175, Theorchard.ie 4 Tuscan olive groves linen cushion, €50, Frenchbedroom.co.uk 5 Reeve throw, 140x200cm, €205, Theorchard.ie 6 Vincent Sheppard Lloyd armchair, €1,595, Strandroadireland.com

STICK TO LOCAL, SUSTAINABLE SOURCING

‘While we don’t really have a particular decorating style, sustainability is very important to us. We both grew up with fathers with a ‘that will come in handy one day’ mentality. We made the chandelier over the dining table from cage lights and have repurposed an old trolley (that Adrian’s dad made) into a gin trolley. A lot of our furniture and accessories are preloved, storied pieces with history, picked up at Straffan Antiques and Mullen’s Auctions, that help to add to the story of our home.’

THE TEA HOUSE GARDEN ROOM The structure was fashioned by Lorcan and Adrian from building waste left over from the construction of their house. Nestled among the garden ferns, it’s the couple’s retreat. Woven chairs picked up from Mullen’s Auction House, Bray are accessorised with cushions and throws. A pretty vintage China tea set from Vision Ireland adds to the sense of occasion

OPT FOR A NEUTRAL COLOUR PALETTE ‘We didn’t want colour to be the main story inside the house, so we decorated in a neutral colour palette throughout. We choose subtle shades that reflected nature, to blend in with the surrounding landscape and sky.’

IN THE GARDEN A rattan swing chair introduces an element of fun and escape. Caged lights suspended from the tree add depth to the garden while creating an atmospheric glow, all from Absolutely Fabulous Flowers

OPT FOR AN OPEN PLAN LAYOUT ‘Open plan living in Ireland wasn’t really a thing when we designed this home 20 years ago. Creating a sense of space was really important to us. We wanted to be able to walk around freely in a home that didn’t feel claustrophobic; there are no doors downstairs and all rooms run into one another. It’s a different way of living but it’s great for your head and energy and encourages calm. The downside to everything being on display however is that you have to keep it clean and tidy.’

EXTERIOR Designed by Patrick Kerr Architecture. Lorcan and Adrian’s home is orientated to take advantage of the sun and light GARDEN Potted plants from Absolutely Fabulous Flowers LIVING ROOM A calming space, painted in a soothing Colourtrend green. A low-slung Natuzzi leather sofa from McDermott’s, Castlebar and slim profi le coffee table from Life Store, Straffan add comfort and luxury without interrupting the views outside

1 Gold velvet cushion, €15, Dunelm.ie 2 Togo basket, €425, Theorchard.ie 3 Ming two-drawer chest , black lacquer, €512.02, Shimu.co.uk 4 Stag head glass decanter, €70,95, Annabeljames.co.uk 5 Wild whispers grassland fringed velvet cushion, €210,95, Thecuriousdepartment.com 6 Dara lambswool throw, €132, Foxford.com

LET IN THE LIGHT ‘The house is designed around a weeping willow tree, grown from a slip taken from the banks of the River Thames and is orientated to make the most of the light and site. A mix of skylights, low level windows, double height glazing and 11 sets of French doors that go from floor to ceiling help to pull the outside in and allow natural light to flood the place.’

DON’T BE TEMPTED TO OVERFURNISH

‘Often in open plan spaces there’s a temptation to overfurnish but you don’t want to feel hemmed in when trying to connect to the outdoors. In the living spaces either side of the hallway, we’ve tried to create balance with a mirrored layout. Raised fireplaces and low slung furniture on legs arranged around a coffee table keep sightlines open and the atmosphere light and airy.’

ADD DOUBLE HEIGHT WINDOWS

‘One of our best design decisions was adding double height windows in the atrium over the dining table. They look out onto a beautiful Italian-style, west-facing garden surrounded by a 12foot-tall hedge, which gives the feeling of being cocooned in nature. They let in so much natural light and pull the sky right into the house. We deliberately didn’t dress the windows as that only creates a barrier to the outside.”

CONTINUE THE SAME FLOORING THROUGHOUT

‘The entire downstairs is floored in Crema Marfil marble tiles with subtle mottled veining, inspired by hotel stays in Italy. We wanted a floor that would make the space feel more expansive and was timeless. To create flow between inside and out, we kept floor levels and thresholds flush and tiled outside in a similar-coloured cream granite.’

THE KITCHEN From Cash & Carry Kitchens, with simple, slab-style base units topped with wooden worktops DINING ROOM The double height windows allow maximum natural light to flood the interior. The multiple pendant chandelier was designed by Lorcan from caged lights sourced from Absolutely Fabulous Flowers. Similar dining table and chairs from Meadows & Byrne

1 Pacifi c onyx tile, €35 per sqm, Houseoftiles.ie 2 Le Creuset Kone kettle, €57.50, Arnotts.ie with walnut bowl , €999, Kitchenaid.ie 3 Helen Faulkner terracotta bowl , €28, Irishdesignshop.com

4 Arc rustic oak 2m dining table, €999, Ezliving-interiors.ie 5 Raze industrial cage pendant , from €75, Mullanlighting.com 6 Handmade decorative scalloped vase, €95, Dwellbyeilishrickard.com

USE NATURAL MATERIALS IN EVERY ROOM ‘For the guest bedroom we kept the décor simple. It’s inspired by holidays in Africa, with natural materials adding texture while enhancing the connection to nature: sheer curtains, rustic wooden furniture, wool throws, cow hides and walnut flooring.’

CURATE AND CELEBRATE VIEWS ‘This house didn’t come with views, we had to create them. A lot of people build a home and never relate it to what they’re looking at outside. They spend a fortune on the interior but don’t give the garden the same attention, yet what’s on the other side of the window is as much a part of your home as what’s inside. For us it wasn’t enough just to see the views, we also wanted to enjoy them and have created moments to do so; a carefully positioned bath under the en suite window, a sofa on the upper bridge walkway and bench seating in the utility.’

EN SUITE A perfectly positioned tub, just under the window, in the en suite is the ideal spot to soak in all that nature has to offer GUEST BEDROOM (TOP) The Afrohemian-inspired guest bedroom is a soothing blend of natural shades, rich textures and cultural artifacts. The cushions were sourced from Absolutely Fabulous Flowers; the lamp is from Mullen’s Auction House, Bray MASTER BEDROOM (RIGHT) Skylights above the bed allow the couple to see the stars at night while low level windows mean they can enjoy views of the garden when lying down

MAXIMISE CEILING HEIGHTS ‘The master bedroom is a sizeable room that takes up one side of the house, and incorporates a sitting area, walk-in-wardrobe and large en suite with a double shower and double sink. We increased the ceiling height here with a pitched roof which really enhances the sense of space and openness.’

Watch RTÉ Home of the Year, Season 12 on RTE Player and follow Lorcan and Adrian’s home and gardens on Instagram @the_botanicalhouse

Fabric you can clean with just water

INSIDE HER STYLE

Artist and designer Caroline Duffy’s coloursoaked, pattern-filled creative world

Caroline Duffy’s approach to design begins with nature and ends with joy. A graduate of the National College of Art & Design in Dublin, she spent a decade creating surface and textile designs for studios in New York, London and Sydney before returning to Ireland to build something of her own. Today, from her studio in Dundalk, she designs and produces Caroline Duffy Designs, a collection of original art, printed silk dresses, scarves, cushions and throws, all rooted in her lifelong love of colour, pattern and the natural world.

BY SIVE O’BRIEN PHOTOGRAPHS MARLENE WESSELS

LEFT Caroline in her living room wearing a Caroline Duffy Designs printed apron; original art on walls from Caroline’s collection for sale; leaf glass vase, Oriana B; vintage sideboard, Anteak.ie; Solid oak dining table and leather chairs are from Ez Living Interiors TOP Original art by Caroline, Wisteria & Rose ABOVE Original art by Caroline Duffy Designs from Wisteria & Rose RIGHT Upholstered chair from Ikea; abundance blanket and cushion by Caroline Duffy Designs; linen table runner; all at Wisteria Wood

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN Caroline didn’t plan to be a textile designer. At art college she assumed she’d go into paintinguntil a week-long textiles elective changed everything. Painting onto fabric, working patterns into repeat, she was immediately hooked. “I always loved repeat patterns. I just hadn’t put two and two together until then.”

A LIFE IN COLOUR After college she headed to New York, joining a design house of 15 designers from across Europe. London followed, then two years in Australia, where her love of bold colour really took hold. “In Australia, it’s the weather and the atmosphere that just make everything so much more colourful and fun. I think that’s where it all began.

BUILDING THE BRAND Caroline launched her website in 2019 and began posting work on Instagram. Small paintings started selling. When the pandemic ended freelance work overnight, she took it as a sign. The scarves came next, though she held

“In Australia, it’s the weather and the atmosphere that just make everything so much more colourful and fun...”

the first sample for six months before a mentor intervened. “She said: what? You need to do something with these. And that was it.”

THE COLLECTION The collection now spans silk dresses, kimonos, palazzo trousers and tops, all printed on Italian silk and made in Ireland. The most recent fashion drop nearly sold out in a week. The homeware strand runs alongside: printed throws and interchangeable velvet cushions that are, she says, “very giftable” and quietly unstoppable. One throw design has been a bestseller for three years running.

THE HOME Walls and larger furniture pieces are kept deliberately neutral, a calm base for colour to do its work. “I like to keep walls and furniture neutral enough so I can pop in colour as I need it,” she says. “With cushions, and artwork that’s always changing.” The sitting room, once a full-scale playroom, drum kit, train set and all, has been transformed into a cosy, colour-drenched retreat with deep green walls and pink accents. Caroline’s own prints and throws are scattered throughout: a bestselling blanket draped over the sofa, velvet cushions in bloom-bright florals, art propped on the walls until it sells and is replaced by something new. Even the small details carry her hand, she painted the tops of her side tables pink herself. “The house is always evolving. When one art piece gets sold and taken off the wall, I paint another to replace it until that sells, and on it goes.”

ABOVE LEFT As before ABOVE RIGHT Enchanted Garden blanket by Caroline Duffy Designs from Wisteria & Rose BELOW Made.com glass coffee table; patterned rug, Joanne Hynes; red arm chair, Ikea; the grey sofa is from DFS; the silk and velvet two-sided cushions are by

“The house is always evolving. When one art piece gets sold and taken off the wall, I paint another to replace it until that sells, and on it goes”

A CREATIVE HOUSEHOLD The house moves through the day in layers of light and colour - dark, enveloping greens in the hall, a softer shade in the sitting room, brightness flooding the extension at the back. The influence of her work is everywhere and unselfconscious: her own floral prints on the cushions, her throws on the chairs, her paintings on the walls. The love of flowers that drives so much of her work traces back to childhood - Sunday drives to garden centres with her father, summers spent in the garden watching things grow. Georgia O’Keeffe, she says, has always been a touchstone. “There’s so much feminine symbolism in Georgia O’Keeffe florals. It’s just so interesting.” You can feel that same quality in Caroline’s own prints - bold, joyful and unmistakably in bloom.

WHAT’S NEXT A trip to Première Vision in Paris earlier this year was about finding manufacturers who can handle bigger volumes as the brand grows. The focus now is on doing what’s working and doing considerably more of it. Watch this (supercolourful) space.

Caroline Duffy Designs at Carolineduffydesigns.com

GARDEN DESIGNS

on a budget

Sun, style and a serious upgrade: the outdoor design ideas and buys our experts love

BY RÓISÍN CARABINE

A €500 BUDGET

WHAT TO DIY Save money on hard landscaping by reusing old slabs to create a stepping stone path, use recycled materials and scaffold boards to make planters and treat tired furniture and fences to a lick of paint.

WHAT TO OUTSOURCE Hire an electrician to hardwire a PIR motion sensor light outside your back door for around €200 for installation.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY Interiors and DIY blogger Hayley Stuart of @iamhayleystuart is worth a follow for achievable, budget garden projects, including how to make a tiled water fountain or stencil a patio for a new look.

THE SHOPPING EDIT

1 VonHaus charcoal BBQ, €100, Therange.co.uk 2 Mesa tabletop fi re pit , €99, Theorchard.ie 3 Rechargeable lamp, from €57, Marksandspencer.ie 4 Dalripa side table, €70, Jysk.ie 5 Sunbeam parasol , €30, Habitat.co.uk 6 Lounge chair, €54.40, Sostrenegrene.com

1 Dynamo outdoor wall light , €114, Cusacklighting.ie 2 Cruz hammock , €139, Bloomingville.com 3 Steel garden bench, from €480, Laredoute.co.uk 4 GoodHome Sagami BBQ, €670, Diy.ie 5 Ninja artisan electric pizza oven, €349.99, Theorchard.ie 6 Ilderheuse garden chair, €60, Jysk.ie

Living Otte firepit €609,

A €2,000 BUDGET

WHAT TO DIY If reseeding the grass isn’t working, lay rolled turf. Check the condition of the ground first – it can’t be frozen or waterlogged – and prepare with a good top soil before laying.

WHAT TO OUTSOURCE Tree pruning – it can be dangerous work, plus the professionals have all the tools.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY Garden designer fees vary widely but if you’re prepared to do the work yourself you can pay for plans only. Claire Hawker of Gardendesigndublin.ie charges €295 for a planting plan on gardens up to 10m sq and €650 for full design plans on a courtyard garden up to 50m sq.

A €10,000 BUDGET

WHAT TO DIY Got the skill level to match your budget? Have a go at building your own outdoor fireplace. You’ll need to consider wind direction, placement (away from neighbours) and chimney height for effective draw.

WHAT TO OUTSOURCE Patio and decking installation is best left to the professionals, especially for more complex designs or where drainage is required. Expect to pay around €50 to €120 per sq m. With this budget you could pay to have your outdoor lighting hardwired.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY “Lighting design timing is everything; it’s imperative you do this at concept stage rather than later,” says Rocky Wall, lighting designer at Wink. For more tips follow @wink.lighting.

1 Grillstream Sanctuary outdoor kitchen, €2,296, Jonesgc.com 2 HAY Palissade sofa & cushion, €1,244.90, Wearemaven.ie 3 Gubi Satellite outdoor pendant , €699, Hickenlighting.com 4 Ruhua bowl , €650, Rochebobois.com 5 Magis Baguette dining table, €2,400, Lostweekend.ie 6 Ethnicraft Jack outdoor lounger, €2,678, Cadesign.ie

€9,967.90

THE SHOPPING EDIT

1 Saparella settee, from €5,572, Ligne-roset-dublin.ie 2 Fontana Marinara pizza oven, €2,833.92, Directstoves.com 3 Nereo concrete table, from €1,683.82, Arteriorshome.com 4 Zuiver Vondel table, €1,179, Woodesign.ie 5 Tresse outdoor rug, €2,760, Roche-bobois.com 6 Ethnicraft Bok dining chair, €669, Cadesign.ie

TOTAL €14,697.74

Garden pods from €19,500, Podology.ie

EcoSmart Chaser 38 firepit, €2,570.95, Limelace.co.uk

A €20,000 BUDGET

WHAT TO DIY Repurpose the shed into a home bar; cut a hinged serving hatch, add some shelving and paint the interior and exterior.

WHAT TO OUTSOURCE Get the professionals in to help plan and install your outdoor kitchen. Expect to pay around €10K for an entry level modular kitchen; plumbing and electrical connections costs extra.

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY Garden designer or interior designer? “Interior designers have a unique perspective on the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, and hiring one means your garden isn’t just an afterthought,” says Katharine Deas, founder Oriana B. “As designers we approach outdoor areas with the same care and emotional depth as interiors, creating spaces that carry the heart of the home outside.”

How to outdoors

paint

Fences, front doors, sheds and decking; tackle outdoor paint projects with confidence with help from the experts, and tried TikTok hacks

BY RÓISÍN CARABINE

MASONRY WALLS

OPPOSITE PAGE Walls painted in Bancha Exterior Masonry Paint, Farrow-ball.com; ABOVE LEFT Walls in Colourtrend Sweet Caper, Weather Exterior Masonry, Colourtrend.ie ABOVE RIGHT Wall in Heat Intelligent Masonry Paint, Littlegreene.com BELOW Wall in Stock Intelligent Masonry Paint; door in Invisible Green Intelligent Exterior Eggshell, Littlegreene.com

RUTH MOTTERSHEAD

Creative director, Little Greene

Ideal weather Avoid painting in full sun or on surfaces that are already warm as this will affect the way the paint dries.

Prep Remove any flaking paintwork or loose material. If the surface has become powdery, treat with a masonry stabilising solution before painting. Treat areas with fungal growth with a fungicidal wash or 25% solution of household bleach, followed by thorough cleaning.

Prime Apply a primer coat of masonry paint with a 5 to 25% addition of clean water, depending on the porosity of the substrate.

Tools On smooth surfaces, use either a high-quality, synthetic bristle brush or a short nap, wool blend roller. For textured surfaces, select a roller with a longer nap length.

Product Select paint that complements the masonry and provides durability. Our Intelligent Masonry Paint is extremely durable and highly dirt resistant with antifungal properties.

Application Apply two coats for full depth of colour, allowing four hours between each coat. Keep brush strokes all in the same direction and never go over paint that has already begun to dry.

Littlegreene.com

“New brushes should be conditioned by first washing them in clean water and thoroughly drying with a clean, lint free, cloth”

FRONT DOOR

FRONT DOOR FIXES

Add these decorative touches for a warm welcome

1 Ma Maison chequerboard doormat, €26, Oliverbonas.com 2 Brass Pentagon door knob, €100.95, Pushkahome.com 3 Solid brass dragonfly knocker, from €44, Beautifulbrass.com

AILEEN HOGAN

Upcycling DIY ambassador, Fleetwood Paints

Ideal weather Aim for a dry day when the temperature is between 10 to 20 degrees. High humidity can slow the drying process while direct sunlight can cause blistering.

Prep Clean the door thoroughly with sugar soap, repair any damage, then lightly sand.

Prime Priming is crucial, even if the paint you’re using contains a primer. PVC doors are non-porous and require a primer with good adhesion, like Fleetwood Pure Grip. For teak doors, use a shellac-based primer to prevent any nasty tannins bleeding to the surface.

Tools I recommend a four-inch micro fi bre roller and a two-inch angled Sash Pro-D brush.

Product The door’s material will influence your choice of paint. A multi-purpose paint, like Fleetwood Advanced, in satin or gloss, can be used on both wood and PVC.

Technique For panelled doors, use a brush to paint around the edges of the panels fi rst, then the panels itself. Next use a roller to paint the inside verticals, then inside horizontals and fi nally the two long verticals. Apply paint thinly, lightly sanding between each coat. Fleetwood.ie

“Most front door paints require at least 24 hours to dry to the touch but full curing can take up to 28 days”

JANE WITTER

Cuprinol colour consultant

Ideal weather Rain-free days are key to getting each coat to dry perfectly, and avoid streaks. Avoid painting in conditions below five degrees and above 80% humidity.

Clean Begin by brushing off loose dirt or debris and cleaning down the surface. Use a fungicidal wash if any mould or algae is present. Lightly sand rough spots and fill any cracks.

Prep Check if the wood has been treated. You can apply some water on the fence to test this, (use your hands to splash it on directly). If it absorbs, there is no treatment present, if the water sits on the surface, you will need to apply a wood preserver.

Tools Start with a smaller brush for tricky corners or inlays and then switch to a roller to sweep over the larger sections easily.

Product Cuprinol Garden Shades includes both calm neutrals like Willow or Urban Slate for a relaxing feel and brighter tones like Forgetme-not for a cheerful pop. Cuprinol.ie

FENCES

#PAINTHACK

Use a sponge to apply paint; this viral TikTok trend promises a smoother fi nish and quicker results

PVC WINDOWS

#PAINTHACK

Forgo masking tape for masking liquid. Apply a thick layer directly onto the window with a brush before painting, then simply peel

KATHRYN TORMAY

Head of product, Crown Paints

Prep Clean the frames thoroughly with sugar soap or a dedicated PVC cleaner, then rinse and allow to dry completely before lightly sanding for better paint adhesion.

Product Choose a product that’s been specifi cally formulated for use on plastic surfaces, such as Sandtex 10 Year Exterior Multi-Surface Satin. It’s more flexible than traditional oil-based paints - something that’s key when painting a material that can expand with higher heat levels. UV resistance is also a must for windows that face south or west, so choose an all-round paint that has that UV resistance built in.

Application A good quality synthetic angled brush gives the best control and allows you to cut in neatly around the glass. Work in sections and maintain a wet edge to avoid visible brush marks. While spray application can give a smooth fi nish, it requires masking all the glass and surrounding areas, and you’ll need proper ventilation and safety equipment.

Crownpaints.com

TOP Window painted in Sandtex 10-Year Exterior Multi-Surface Satin, Gentle Blue, Sandtextpaints.com

LEFT Window in Bancha Exterior Eggshell; Walls in Bancha Exterior Masonry, Farrow-ball.com

OUTDOOR FURNITURE

ANNIE SLOAN

British designer & colour expert

Clean Before starting, give your furniture a quick wipe down to remove cobwebs, dirt, and dust. If furniture is rusted or has old paintwork peeling, remove this before repainting.

Prep Chalk Paint paints everything and you can usually paint it straight on without prep; metal and plastic furniture however might require a light sanding.

Application Apply the paint in very thin coats, so make sure not to overload your brush. Leave plenty of drying time between coats to allow the paint to really affi x to the surface. You may fi nd this means applying three coats of paint to achieve density of colour.

Colour Being bold is easy outdoors. Colour clashes bring joy and interest, which is perfect in the garden.

Finish A sealant top coat is your furniture’s best defence against peeling paint but also UV rays. Our Chalk Paint Lacquer, contains UV protection, as well as having water resistant qualities.

Anniesloan.com

DECKING

Decking

LAURA DOLLIMORE

Head of decorative, flooring & tiling at B&Q

Assess If your deck has layers of previous paint, sand using a belt or palm sander. This works best for smooth boards, not grooved ones. With a newly laid deck, leave it to weather naturally for about six months before painting.

Prep Give your deck a good brush and use a decking cleaner to remove any mould or algae. Rinse off thoroughly with water, and allow to dry for 24 hours before painting.

Product Specialist paints like Ronseal Rescue are perfect for filling in cracks and locking down splinters. Stains are less opaque than paint so you’ll still be able to see the natural wood grain, while oils penetrate the timber, waterproofi ng it, and won’t crack as the deck expands or contracts.

Application Stir the paint before applying to get a consistent colour. Start in the furthest corner to ensure you have an exit path and work your way back.

Finish A decking protector will prevent your deck from getting grey and weathered, and being translucent it won’t change the appearance of the wood.

Drying Allow the deck to dry for at least 24 hours, or longer, before walking on it.

Diy.ie

“We recommend leaving new decks to weather naturally for about six months before painting, or using a decking cleaner”

Introducing the Cedral Collections. Four unique collections designed to help bring your home to life. Based on research into the latest colour trends, they offer a suite of stunning contemporary options, that can be viewed in situ with our Cedral Visualiser app. FIND THE PERFECT FACADE FOR YOUR HOME. EXPLORE THE COLLECTIONS AT WWW.CEDRAL.WORLD by

GARDEN SHEDS

CAROLINE THORNBOROUGH,

Director of design, Thorndown

Ideal weather Avoid painting if rain is forecast within the next 12 hours, or longer if heavy rain is due. Even if the paint feels touch-dry, it will still be curing and bonding to the surface for hours afterwards.

Product Not all outdoor paints perform in the same way. Some fence paints don’t have the same waterproof, protective coating of those created for garden buildings. High-performance shed paint can be used on a fence, but the reverse is not always true.

Pigment Pigment quality matters too. Strong, exterior-grade pigments that are lightfast and weather-resistant will help the colour stay looking fresher for longer, rather than fading after a season or two..

Application People often assume a sprayer is the easiest option, but it can create more problems than it solves. Rollers can be useful on fl atter areas, but they don’t always push the paint deep enough into the gaps, around knots or over nail heads. A good brush gives more control and allows you to work the paint properly into vulnerable areas.

Thorndown.co.uk

“Roof edges, ledges and other fl at areas usually need more coats than vertical boards, simply because rain beats into and sits on them for longer”

HOME RENOVATION

A place for Joy

A once-ordinary bungalow overlooking the Waterville estuary is transformed into a vibrant, joy-filled family sanctuary, brought to life by Nathalie Vos and Justina Gruzdyte of Edit Design Studio

BY SIVE O’BRIEN PHOTOGRAPHS LYNDA KENNY

THE PROJECT

Henry Hunt and Lorraine Casey are the husband-and-wife team behind The Smugglers Inn, (Smugglersinn.ie) a beloved hotel on the Wild Atlantic Way in Waterville, Co Kerry. The hotel was recently refreshed by Edit Design Studio co-owners Nathalie Vos and Justina Gruzdyte. When it came to transforming their own home - a bungalow overlooking the estuary that needed to grow with their young family, Catherine, 7, Lily, 4, and baby Harry, 3 - they turned to the same trusted team. “After the hotel, they completely trusted us,” says Nathalie. “That relationship made everything possible.”

PREVIOUS PAGE Dining table and chairs are the clients’ own. The Licia wooden sideboard is from Kave Home. Medley Terrazzo tiles run through the hallway, kitchen and living space

ABOVE AND RIGHT Henry Hunt and Lorraine Casey at the island, Henry is the also the head chef at The Smuggler’s Inn, so the kitchen design was a priority. The kitchen was made by EDS, finished in a rich, deep red reminiscent of ripe cherry, brings warmth and energy to the oak kitchen stained in a walnut finish. Terra Red glossy tiles are from The Mosaic Factory; the organic ceramic Nakaii pendants are from Mullan Lighting. The Yanet rope stools are from Kave Home; Pols Potten Zig Zag stool from Ca Design; and the canvas print is from Desenio

“We always start by deciding how we want a space to feel,” says Nathalie. “For this young, energetic family on the Atlantic, it had to be joyful.” The setting, with its views of the Waterville estuary, guided the approach. “We draw from outside: colours, light, landscape.” Once the visual language was established, repeated tones and patterns unified the home, while each space kept its purpose.

THE LAYOUT

The bungalow’s original layout lacked flow. The front door opened to a boot room that led straight into the kitchen, no hallway, no transition. Beyond, a warren of angled corridors and underused spaces. “It was a funny rabbit warren,” Nathalie says. “Lots of dead ends.” The team reconfigured the ground floor, combining rooms, removing walls, and rerouting traffic. The large attic, once just storage and uninsulated, became a master suite and home office. All changes were internal or at the rear, so planning permission wasn’t needed.

THE COLOUR STORY

Lorraine discovered a love of colour during the Smugglers Inn renovation and approached this project with commitment. Nathalie recalls, “She didn’t just embrace it, she said, ‘This is me.’” Colours are bold, warm, and purposeful throughout, with repeated tones connecting the spaces. The long ground-floor corridor, previously dead space, is now painted in bright hues and unofficially serves as the children’s racetrack. Justina says, “You can hear them charging up and down it.” A play and seating area was added to the kitchen, keeping the children in sight while giving adults space to breathe. Nathalie says, “Kids want to be where the adults are. We design for that.”

THE FAMILY HOME

Henry lived in the bungalow before Lorraine moved in. For Lorraine, this meant inhabiting someone else’s bachelor pad. Nathalie says, “There was nothing of her in it.” Marriage, kids, and good intentions couldn’t fix that; the house remained stubbornly someone else’s. “It was a space where stuff lived.” At the project’s start, Henry and Lorraine had one daughter; by the end, they had three children under the age of seven. “Two more came along quickly,” Justina recalls with a laugh.

THE CHALLENGES

A challenge, but a good one, was Henry’s reluctance to discard anything that could be useful. Anything that could be recycled or upcycled was, the old kitchen units and worktop were reconfigured as the boot room and utility. Joinery from the master bedroom was repainted for the children’s rooms. “Nothing was just thrown away,” Justina notes. Spend focused on bespoke joinery, quality window dressings, and a few investment pieces; the rest was sourced from reliable suppliers and high-street finds.

THE TAKEAWAY

After two and a half years, the house is unmistakably a home. The master suite, with its walk-in wardrobe leading to the bathroom, is a calm retreat at the top of the house. Justina calls it her favourite space: “It just makes such sense for them.” Nathalie prefers the kitchen, the heart of the project and the home. When the designers visited after completion, the family was already well settled. The play area bustled with use, toys neatly in baskets beneath the window seat, children underfoot. Nathalie says, “That’s what you want to see. Joyful. That’s the only word for it. This home now truly reflects the life and happiness within its walls.”

YELLOW KIDS BEDROOM Chest of drawers from Kave Home. The table lamp from Oliver Bonas adds charm, the rug is from Linie Design while the check wallpaper from Coordonné brings a fun touch. Bespoke headboard by Jaybee Sofaworks

RED AND BLUE KIDS BEDROOM Bespoke pendants by JM Lampshades; wood and cane trunks are from Sklum; bespoke headboard by Jaybee Sofaworks

ENSUITE Marble Apuano tiles and a Toledo DE FST freestanding bath from R.T. Large

MAIN BATHROOM The scallop rug is from Oliver Bonas with custom-made wavy mirrors

SOURCEBOOK

Window dressings and cushions, Chamuel.ie

Bench and headboards, Jaybeesofaworks.com

Furniture, Kavehome.com, Cadesign.ie, Rvastley.co.uk, Zarahome.com, Sklum.com Lights, Mullanlighting.com Bespoke pendants Jmlampshades.com

Rugs, Liniedesign.com, Oliverbonas.com

Canvas print, Desenio.ie Sofa, Finlinefurniture.ie Fabric, Linwoodfabric.com, Lucan Fabrics, Designersguild.com Tiles, Themosaicfactory.com

Paint, Dulux.ie, Colourtrend.ie Wallpaper, Coordonne.com Bath, Rtlarge.ie

MASTER The walls and ceiling are painted in the soft off-white Subtle Muslin from Dulux. The bed features a headboard upholstered in Designers Guild Vezzano Grass fabric, layered with cushions in Liberty’s Persian Voyage. Lichen and soft throws from Cleo Gallery, Kenmare, add warmth and texture. The plug-in wall light is the Olympia from Kave Home; Amur bedside table from RV Astley

DRESSING ROOM Fabric used inside the custom-made wardrobes is Ticking Stripe Sap from Lucan Fabrics

Nathalie Vos & Justina Gruzdyte, Edit Design Studio Editdesignstudio.ie, @editdesignstudio

SOFT GLOW

Move the mood outdoors with portable lamps casting a warm, easy glow anywhere

Flanaganharheninteriors.com

House in need of a glow-up? Your ultimate guide to a refresh in just four weeks to make your home unrecognisable days

BY NATHALIE MARQUEZ COURTNEY

JOBS FOR THIS WEEK

START WITH THE PAIN POINTS

If you feel like you’re fighting the space rather than living in it, start by digging into that friction. Walk through each room and write down the one thing that bothers you – whether it’s a layout that never quite worked or a piece of furniture that feels too big for the space. This allows everything else to fall into place more easily.

NOTE DOWN HOW YOU WANT TO USE THE SPACE

Do you love cosy movie nights on the couch? Enjoy crafting at the kitchen table? These answers should drive every decision.

GATHER YOUR TREASURES

Pull out any pieces you’re attached to and want to keep, as these become the anchors your new direction has to work around.

LEFT Fjunklocka cushion cover, 50x50cm, €4, Ikea.ie BELOW FROM LEFT Bondi Beach print fabric, from €70.30 per sqm, Camengo.com; Swatch from Briody bed headboard in Tweed Pebble, from €389, Harveynorman.ie; Casamance fabrics, Briansnolan.ie

Week 1

DEFINE YOUR VISION

First things first: step away from the Pinterest board and ignore all those Instagram saves. Defining your direction – creating a north star that will guide every other decision – is ultimately about how you want to feel in the space.

“Understanding how you live and how you want to live, more so than aspiring to an aesthetic, is crucial,” says Elaine Verdon, creative director at interior design studio Leo + Cici. “I always ask, ‘What way do you want to feel when you walk in the front door?’”

Nailing this down allows you to focus on addressing each room’s functional needs first. If you want your living room to feel calm and welcoming instead of messy and chaotic, a tell-tale sign is that more storage could be key. When you do make a moodboard, make it less about a loose vibe and more about creating a rock-solid profile of what materials and finishes you like. These are the touchstones for your space. Having just one fabric, material, wood type, metal accent, tile and accent colour you love, having all these things work well together, is far more useful than endless streams of aspirational imagery.

Week 2

STORAGE AND FLOW

This step is all about reducing visual noise. This could be as simple as decluttering surfaces or as involved as moving furniture around or investing in better storage solutions. Start by assessing each area’s layout and flow to make sure it’s functioning properly. “As fun as it is to pick colours and trims, if you don’t get the layout right, it’s always going to be a problem, and things are never going to work,” says Elaine Verdon. “Everything follows that, the size of your furniture, the type of furniture, your rugs, your lighting.”

Grainne Cassidy, founder of Dublin furniture store Pieces.ie, recommends consolidating your storage into a single hardworking unit, especially if the room needs to hold a lot of toys or books.

“A

well-chosen wall unit, with closed storage, but still with space for a lamp, photos and display accessories, can solve so many problems and become the centrepiece of the room, eliminating lots of scattered small pieces”

STORAGE BOXES

FROM TOP Patterned storage box, €5, Sostrenegrene.com; Muuto felt restore storage basket, €87, Finnishdesignshop. com; House Doctor Ramla seagrass storage, set of two, €139, Woodesign.ie

JOBS FOR THIS WEEK

EDIT WITH INTENTION

Decluttering is an essential step in the design process, helping you create rooms that breathe, but also ensuring that what’s there is intentional.

BEWARE OF THE RE-CLUTTER ZONE

Do the same areas tend to get chaotic over and over again? It might be time to re-evaluate your storage solutions.

BALANCE VISUAL WEIGHT

“Having a focal point or big, heavy piece is fine if it’s balanced with a lighter one elsewhere,” says Grainne. “Otherwise, it closes the room.” This might mean pairing a big, modular sofa with a more delicate coffee table instead of a chunky footstool.

THINK IN SOLUTIONS, NOT INDIVIDUAL PIECES

“Want more light? A floor lamp positioned behind the sofa, removes the need for that side table, freeing up floor space,” says Grainne.

LIGHTING & TEXTILES

FROM TOP Plisée Verdura lampshade, HK Living, €129, Industryandco.com; Frandsen Thomas Albertsen Ami portable lamp, €149, from Finnishdesignshop.com; Catskills velvet cushion, €89, Boconcept.com; Camila striped cushion, €47.90, Pieces.ie

JOBS FOR THIS WEEK

SWAP OUT ANY COOL-TONED LIGHT BULBS

“Warm lighting not only feels warmer, but it instantly feels more luxurious in the way the light hits the space indoors and outdoors,” says Lesiele.

LOOK FOR WAYS TO MIX AND MATCH

Mix up textures and contrasting prints.

GET CREATIVE WITH LIGHTING

You don’t need to rewire for light in the perfect spot. Portable, rechargeable lights (often with easy-to-use sticky pads) let you set the mood.

Week 3

ELEVATE THE SPACE WITH LIGHTING AND TEXTILES

“While we’ve moved on from ‘the big light’ and lighting is definitely becoming much more integral, it can still be overlooked,” says Elaine. “It’s important to layer your lighting based on how you’re going to use the space – you don’t want to feel like you’re being operated on when you sit down to watch TV.”

For stylist Lesiele Juliet, founder of Sable Studios, this means creating three different layers of lighting: “You have table or floor lamps, your down-lights (a necessary evil at times, but don’t cover a beautiful ceiling in them), and your accent lighting. Each plays a role in creating warmth and atmosphere.” Another key way to elevate a space is through texture. In her Dun Laoghaire photography and styling studio, Lesiele has done this by keeping the palette neutral but mixing up her textures.

“The

space feels warm and cosy, but it’s not loud,” she says. “Subtle shifts in texture – maybe a stone base on a lamp or a fringe on a cushion – can feel very textural and luxurious”

Week 4

ADDING A SENSORY LAYER

Now comes the part, where you get to refine the details and the small, subtle but impactful touches that will create a polished look and pull the space together. “I love to add plants to a space,” says Lesiele. “A large beautiful plant like a fiddle leaf fig can work double duty, adding texture and creating a sculptural focal piece.” For Grainne, what really finishes off a space is those quirky elements that make it uniquely yours.

“A showroom has everything matching – but that’s exactly why it doesn’t feel like anyone lives there

Di erentiating between matching and consistency is crucial because rooms can match without perfectly matching every piece”

JOBS FOR THIS WEEK

EDIT YOUR ON-DISPLAY BOOK COLLECTION

Remove the covers from hardback books. Often you have these beautiful fabric covers underneath.

LOOK FOR DIFFERENT WAYS TO INCORPORATE SCENTS

Reed diffusers are good for bathrooms, while essential oil diffusers work in bedrooms and workspaces, where you can tweak the blend depending on your mood.

MATCH SCENT TO SPACE

Match your scent to the room. “I like lemon, zesty tones in clean spaces like kitchens, but more moody, warm and luxurious ones in the living room,” says Lesiele.

ADD LAYERS

FROM TOP It’s a Mood, Cara Woodhouse, €40, Aprilandthebear.com; Flora vase, €109, Boconcept.com; May the toad rise to meet you candle, €34, Mamolife.ie; Stone vase, €4, Penneys

Garden the Instant

Beautiful plants, perfect combinations, a garden transformed

BY HENRY BARTLAM AND ALEXANDRA HOLLINGSWORTH

The Instant Garden is about (respectfully) skipping the faff and getting straight to the good bit – a garden that looks great from the start, not many summers from now. It’s for people who love the idea of gardening but don’t necessarily have the time they think is needed to really ‘commit’ to it. It’s also here to show you that you don’t need a horticultural degree or lots of spare time to

create something brilliant with your outdoor space.

Whether you’ve got a tiny patch, a few pots, or a whole border to play with, this is a shortcut to plant-based joy. Not a cheat, not a compromise – just a smarter, simpler way to create and grow a garden that suits you, your preferences and your taste. Here are a few ways to create an instant garden.

A WILD POT TRIO

Beautiful, nature-first plant combinations for pots and planters.

Pots are incredibly versatile, work anywhere and can transform even the smallest space in an instant. But it’s not all plain sailing; choosing the right combinations and quantities of plants for a pot is a delicate balance between the end product looking rather empty and sad, or so busy and chaotic that you might need a lie down having admired it. These more natural plant configurations work very well in pots made from terracotta as well as wooden ones.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED • 3 x pots • Soil mix – we recommend a 70/30 split between topsoil and peat-free compost. Adding in some gravel or hydroleca balls will also help with drainage • Some larger stones/ broken pots • Your wild plants • A hand trowel • Watering can or hose for watering.

PLANTING AND POSITIONING YOUR POTS

1 It’s a good idea to get the pots into their final positions before you start planting, as they can get heavy once full of soil. Positioning them close to each other as a trio makes a real statement, but they work beautifully individually as well.

2 For each pot, place a few larger stones in the base of the pot to help with drainage and then fill the pot approximately two thirds with the soil mix

3 Position all the plants in the pot, using the colour-coded plan (in the book) for guidance. They will be tightly packed together, but this is fine as the plants’ roots and growth will be restricted by the pots.

4 When happy with the position of all the plants, remove them from their pots, tease out the roots and then simply in-fill the pot with more soil mix. The base of the plants should only be a couple of centimetres (an inch or so) beneath the rim of the pot.

5 Make sure the groundcover plants are trailing over the edge of the pots as this softens the edges and creates a more natural feel

6 Water the base of each plant really well (a good guide is 10 seconds per plant) – don’t water the leaves as you’ll lose some of the water to evaporation.

PLANTS REQUIRED FOR A MEDIUM POT

All the plants listed below will be needed for this size of pot. Don’t forget to use flowering and trailing annuals to fill any gaps – they’re a great solution to unwelcome patches of mud.

SUN ASPECT

1 Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’ (Structure) x 1

2 Leucanthemum ‘Banana Cream’ (Shape) x 2

3 Erigeron karvinskianus (Groundcover) x 2

SHADE ASPECT

1 Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Munchkin’ (Structure) x 1

2 Armeria maritima ‘Alba’ (Flow) x 2

3 Viola cornuta ‘Alba’ (Groundcover) x 2

PLANTS REQUIRED FOR A SMALL POT

All the plants listed below will be needed for this size of pot. Don’t forget to use flowering and trailing annuals to fill any gaps - they’re a great solution to unwelcome patches of mud.

SUN ASPECT

1 Achillea ‘Apple Blossom’ (Height) x 1

2 Briza media (Flow) x 1

3 Erigeron karvinskianus (Groundcover) x 2

SHADE ASPECT

1 Actaea simplex ‘White Pearl’ (Height) x 1

2 Heucherealla ‘Sweet Tea’ (Shape) x 1

3 Vinca minor (Groundcover) x 2

“Choosing the right combinations and quantities of plants for a pot is a delicate balance between the end product looking rather empty and sad...”

EXTRACT The Instant Garden: Beautiful Plants + Perfect Combinations = a Garden Transformed. By Henry Bartlam and Alexandra Hollingsworth, Quadrille, €27, Hodgesfi ggis.ie

PLANTS REQUIRED FOR A LARGE POT

All the plants listed below will be needed for this size of pot. Don’t forget to use flowering and trailing annuals to fill any gaps – they’re a great solution to unwelcome patches of mud.

SUN ASPECT

1 Philadelphus ‘Belle Etoile’(Structure) x 1

2 Helenium ‘Sahin’s Early Flowerer’ (Height) x 2

3 Briza media (Flow) x 2

4 Fragaria vesca (Groundcover) x 2

SHADE ASPECT 1 Sambucus nigra (Structure) x 1

2 Thalictrum ‘Fairy Wings’ (Height) x 2

3 Allium ‘Lavender Bubbles’ (Flow) x 2

4 Epimedium x versicolor ‘Sulphureum’ (Groundcover) x 2

RAISED MEDITERRANEAN BED

A relaxed, aromatic and vibrant Med-style flower bed. Easy to create, easy to appreciate.

Raised beds are relatively easy to build and can be created from many different materials (wooden railway sleepers, brick, stone and even metal) to suit your style and taste. Moreover, you can be more in control of the soil type and quality and their raised height makes it easier to maintain and tend to the plants. Perhaps most importantly, a raised bed really suits the Med style. With its relaxed feel and natural combinations, plants can merge, flow and cascade over the edges. These plans will provide instant impact right from the start but will need two to three months for the plants to really settle in and fill the space.

TOP TIP These planting plans can also work beautifully in ground-level flower beds too. We’ve created a planting plan for three different sizes – you’ll see that mostly the same plants are used across all three sizes, just in different amounts. Don’t worry if your bed or space doesn’t match the sizes here – just use these as a guide. Finally, when buying the plants, look for perennials in 2–3 litre pots, and shrubs in 3–5 litre pots. SMALL – 100 × 40 cm (40 × 15 in) MEDIUM – 180 × 60 cm (71 × 24 in) LARGE – 240 × 80 cm (94 × 31 in)

WHAT YOU’LL NEED • A raised bed, planter or flower bed • Soil mix – we recommend a 70/30 split between topsoil and peat-free compost. Adding in some gravel or hydroleca balls will also help with drainage • Your Med plants • A hand trowel • Watering can or hose for watering.

PLANTING UP

1 Fill the raised bed or planter with the soil mix, until around 5cm (2 in) from the top. If using an existing flower bed, ensure the soil is well weeded and dug through and consider digging in a layer of peat-free compost for extra nutrients.

2 Lay all the plants out in the bed in their position, using the colour-coded plan as your guide. It’s not a perfect science, but you’re aiming for around 15–20 cm (6–8 in) of space between the plants to give them space to grow into.

3 Once you’re happy with the plants’ position, start planting from the back of the bed –planting the largest plants first and working your way to the front.

4 Dig a hole the same size and depth as the plant in its pot, remove the plant from its pot, tease out the roots and place the plant in the hole, using your hands to firm the soil around it. Continue this until all plants are in the ground and you are happy with their position.

5 For a raised bed or container, use peat-free compost to in-fill around the plants, so there’s only a 2–3 cm (3/4–1 in) gap between the soil and the top of the bed/container.

6 Water the base of each plant really well (a good guide is 10 seconds per plant). Don’t water the leaves as you’ll lose some of the water to evaporation.

TOP TIP To finish the look, consider placing a layer of fine bark mulch over the soil and around the base of the plants. Not only does this look super professional, but the mulch helps retain moisture and prevents weeds from growing.

TOP TIP We often use ‘bedding plants’ to provide even more colour and impact from the start. These are usually annuals (which means they only last one garden season) and come in small ‘plugs’ or 9 cm (3 1/2 in) pots so they can be dotted in amongst the larger plants. Try flowering plants such as Viola, Lobelia, Pansy and Nemesia in blues and whites to match those Med vibes.

PLANTS REQUIRED

FOR

A MEDIUM RAISED BED

All the plants listed below will be needed for this size of planter.

MEDIUM – 180 × 60 cm (71 × 24 in)

SUN ASPECT

1 Pinus mugo ‘Mops’ (Centrepiece) x 1

2 Stipa tenuissima (Flow) x 2

3 Verbena bonariensis ‘Lollipop’ (Height) x 2

4 Thymus ‘Silver Queen’ (Groundcover) x 2

5 Gaura ‘Karalee White’ (Shape) x 2

6 Perovskia ‘Little Spire’ (Structure) x 1

7 Stachys byzantina ‘Silver Carpet’ (Groundcover) x 3

SHADE ASPECT

1 Phillyrea angustifolia (Centrepiece) x 1

2 Carex testacea (Flow) x 2

3 Salvia ‘Viola Klose’ (Height) x 2

4 Geranium ‘Azure Rush’ (Groundcover) x 2

5 Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’ (Shape) x 2

6 Aster ‘Little Carlow’ (Height) x 1

7 Omphalodes ‘Cherry Ingram’ (Groundcover) x 3

AN EXOTIC POT TRIO

Transform your terrace into an exotic haven with these vibrant plant combinations.

Pots are incredibly versatile, work anywhere and can transform even the smallest space in an instant. But it’s not all plain sailing; choosing the right combinations and quantities of plants for a pot is a delicate balance between the end product looking rather empty and sad, or so busy and chaotic that you might need a lie down having admired it. Contemporary pots, in terms of shape, style and colour, work particularly well with Exotic style plants that are all about size and impact.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED • 3 x pots • Soil mix – we recommend a 70/30 split between topsoil and peat-free compost. Adding in some gravel or hydroleca balls will also help with drainage • Some larger stones/ broken pots • Your exotic plants • A hand trowel • Watering can or hose for watering.

PLANTING AND POSITIONING YOUR POTS

1 It’s a good idea to get the pots into their final positions before you start planting, as they can get heavy once full of soil. Positioning them close to each other as a trio makes a real statement, but they work beautifully individually as well.

2 For each pot, place a few larger stones in the base of the pot to help with drainage and then fill the pot approximately two thirds with the soil mix

3 Position all the plants in the pot, using the colour-coded plan for guidance. They will be tightly packed together, but this is fine as the plants’ roots and growth will be restricted by the pots.

4 When happy with the position of all the plants, remove them from their pots, tease out the roots and then simply in-fill the pot with more soil mix. The base of the plants should only be a couple of centimetres (an inch or so) beneath the rim of the pot.

5 Make sure the groundcover plants are trailing over the edge of the pots as this softens the edges and creates a more natural feel

6 Water the base of each plant really well (a good guide is 10 seconds per plant) – don’t water the leaves as you’ll lose some of the water to evaporation.

PLANTS REQUIRED

FOR

A MEDIUM POT

All the plants listed below will be needed for this size of pot.

Don’t forget to use flowering and trailing annuals to fill any gaps –they’re a great solution to unwelcome patches of mud.

SUN ASPECT

1 Nandina ‘Obsessed’ (Structure) x 1

2 Carex ‘Ice Dance’ (Height) x 2

3 Campanula ‘Blaue Clips’ (Groundcover) x 2

SHADE ASPECT

1 Fatsia japonica (Structure) x 1

2 Hakonechloa macra (Flow) x 2

3 Geranium ‘Rozanne’ (Groundcover) x 2

PLANTS REQUIRED

FOR

A LARGE POT

All the plants listed below will be needed for this size of pot.

Don’t forget to use flowering and trailing annuals to fill any gaps –they’re a great solution to unwelcome patches of mud.

SUN ASPECT

1 Fatsia japonica (Structure) x 1

2 Heuchera ‘Silver Scrolls’ (Shape) x 2

3 Pachysandra terminalis (Flow) x 2

4 Muehlenbeckia compexa (Groundcover) x 2

SHADE ASPECT

1 Fatsia japonica (Structure) x 1

2 Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ (Height) x 2

3 Hakonechloa macra (Flow) x 2

4 Vinca minor ‘Atropurpurea’ (Groundcover) x 2

MY DESIGN ETHOS… More, more, more, more, more! I began as a potter, expecting to spend my life selling wares at rain-soaked craft fairs. As my career grew, I designed furniture, hotels, countless pots, and now blinds and curtains. I’ve always wanted to get my hands on gorgeous old British and Irish windows. Window dressings are like art for your windows, a way to introduce a note of pattern or colour where there is none.

MY HOUSE AND HOME

Sive O’Brien chats to legendary American designer Jonathan Adler about leprechaun humour and his first Irish window dressing collection

WHAT’S ON MY HOME WISH LIST…

It’s not sexy, but I need a new kettle - ours finally died. I’m also hunting for vintage Dansk for my collection, and a KitchenAid stand mixer could take my baking game to the next level. Apparently, I’m firmly in my kitchen era.

I LIVE… Between Palm Beach, Florida and Shelter Island, in the Hamptons. I live in those places, because of nature. On Shelter Island we have a bald eagle nesting in the tree, and in Palm Beach, bananas fall from the trees. When there’s a cold snap, the occasional frozen iguana falls from the trees, too.

WHAT MAKES IT A HOME IS...

The people (and pets). It’s the worn grooves - the divot on the sofa where we watch TV, the chipped teacups, the stains on our priceless rug courtesy of our beloved mutt FoxyLady - that I look forward to seeing when I return from a business trip.

MY FAVOURITE THING TO DO AT HOME IS… Mock my long-suffering husband, Simon. We’ve been together 31 years, and we’re guys, so mockery is constant. He’s Irish and not exactly tall - neither am I - so leprechaun jokes abound. My bald spot and clumsiness give him endless material.

The Hillarys & Jonathan Adler collection is available now, Hillarys.ie

HOME IS… Simon, FoxyLady, and I, loving the life we’ve built, and bickering over who made the last cup of tea.

MY HOUSE STYLE IS…

Autobiographical. I’ve made things my whole life and love living with them. My husband, Simon Doonan, was the legendary Barneys window dresser, so wonderful, weird ephemera abounds - a papier-mâché Prince head, wild paintings, props. Eccentric, eclectic, personal. That’s the vibe chez nous.

LINWOOD Pluto

The essential semi-plain

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

littlegreene.ie