A Period Home Fit For Three Generations

This exquisite Dublin period house is home to interior designer Aine Sweeney, her husband?Mick, their three children, and?Aine’s?father Tim. Built in 1912,?the house needed renovation and the couple extended to create a home that offered family rooms as well as private spaces to retreat to.?

First impressions are everything and entering the hallway is a step into the grandiose Victorian era with parquet?flooring buffed to a gleam and timber panelling. The staircase is a nod to?the Arts and Crafts movement which ran from 1880-1910 and introduced a return to simple craftsmanship and medieval folk style decor.

Aine likened the original building to a faded lady, and out of respect, created an?extension that would?fit seamlessly rather than’dominate the space. The new build introduces light and space with double height picture windows. Materials are layered,?from the large leather furniture to the kitchen’s marble island. The timber double apex is itself a beautiful feature.

The heart of the home, a dividing wall has been carefully placed in the open plan kitchen to create functional areas – cooking; eating; living. This is a clever yet subtle solution that doesn’t compromise the light or space.

Aine retained the house’s original dining room which features stunning glass art deco style doors. The room is opulently furnished with leather upholstered chairs and a teak dining table; antique pieces that celebrate and serve to bolster the home’s inherent history.

The bathroom is a spacious and serene retreat from modern life. The free-standing bath with its claw feet are a marked contrast to the clean lines of the Art Deco style taps. This clever pairing of old and and new is echoed throughout the house.

Aine’s interior ethos, ‘casual elegance with modern practicality,’ underscores the’master bedroom. The room boasts a m?lange of textures offset with vibrant pops of teal that suit both’masculine and feminine tastes.

RTE’s?Home of the Year?is looking for new applicants. If you feel your home has what it takes, apply online now at?rte.ie/homeoftheyear. The closing date is Monday, 18th July.?All images by Verona McQuaid, Verona Photography?for RT’s?Home of The Year,?which can be viewed on the?RT? Player.