
By IMAGE Interiors & Living
26th Jul 2016
26th Jul 2016
Director and co-founder of Dublin store CA Design, Carol-Anne Leyden reveals her design inspirations and the best ways to relax in the capital.
Elbow Room
The one item?I wish I had designed is the Hans Wegner elbow chair. It nails a beautiful and simple aesthetic whilst also being incredibly comfortable. I love the detail of the lines of the exposed wood on the pared-back backrest, which is the perfect, minimal size to be supportive. hanswegner.com
Replica Hans Wegner Elbow chair
Georgian On My Mind
I love to visit any of the Georgian squares in Dublin because I adore this period and I’m always captivated by the sense of architecture, history and beauty of the buildings.
Georgian Dublin
Gray Matters
Eileen Gray is a major inspiration. She is a true design pioneer and her pieces are still relevant, beautiful and inspirational today. I also can’t help but admire an Irish female role model leading the way in mid-century design in a male-dominated environment.
Portrait of Eileen Gray by Berenice Abott
Modern Life
An ideal day off in Dublin would start with a long walk to clear the head, pushing my daughter in her pram. Morning is definitely my favourite part of the day, followed by a trip to Mink Hand & Foot Spa and then catching an exhibition or design show in the Irish Museum of Modern Art in the afternoon, before winding down in the evening with friends, dinner and nice wine.
The Irish Museum of Modern Art
On The Box
My favourite project I’ve worked on for CA Design was being a part of a Room to Improve episode. Dermot Bannon walked the homeowners through the shop, admiring our mid-century style pieces, which was really fun and flattering.
Clip shelf
Joie De Vivre
My favourite city is Paris. It has such a fabulous and heightened sense of fashion, architecture, culture and design, which is so exciting to absorb but it’s also so refined in a way that some frenetic cities lack. The Maison & Objet trade fair is one of my favourite annual trips. maison-objet.com
On The Waterfront
Ireland’s best-kept secret is The Waterfront Restaurant in Baltimore, Co Cork. The views of Sherkin Island are spectacular and the seafood is to die for. waterfrontbaltimore.ie
This article first appeared in the May June issue of Image Interiors & Living. In conversation with Sharon Miney.
cadesign.ie