Philippa Buckley’s Dublin Semi-D In Milltown, Transformed

Studio 44′s Philippa Buckley has transformed a Dublin semi-D into a bright, modern home

Philippa Buckley and her family moved into this semi-detached house more than 31 years ago. Since then, the property has gained a second extension, a larger kitchen, an ensuite bedroom and lots of light – thanks to floor-to-ceiling glass doors with views of Milltown Golf Club. An upstairs box room was converted into a home office, and the entire house is now a series of light-filled rooms – painted in Dulux’s Brilliant White – and decorated in a style that Philippa calls ‘classic contemporary’.

Philippa’s living room.

Specialising in domestic design, Philippa relishes every part of the planning process. “Good planning and design are essential. When people ask me for advice on renovating their homes, I always tell them to spend their money on the bones of the house; to really think about space, light and insulation. If you have an amazing space, you don’t need an amazing sofa – that will come later. Decoration can wait.” She also likes to think green. “I have installed an iLight system, which allows you to control energy output,” she says. “These kinds of details are important.”

The floors, which run throughout the house, are by Design Loft. The kitchen is by Snaidero. The sofas are by Kingcome and the dining set by Habitat. The swivel armchair is from Roche Bobois.

With Philippa being a keen collector of all things classic, the house contains a carefully edited collection of furniture, including chairs by Philippe Starck and a Roche Bobois sofa. “My favourite pieces are contemporary but I like to add something old every now and then. I always say to clients, “Don’t go looking. Wait and collect things you love.?”

The bedroom, like the rest of the house, is painted in Dulux’s Brilliant White. The bedlinen is by Sheridan, from House of Fraser. The four prints are from the book Unseen Vogue, which Philippa framed herself using mirrored frames from Dunnes Stores.

Philippa?s advice

* Good storage is a must for every home. When assessing it, remember to consider how often you need to access your things and what your living style is like – bare minimalist or cosy clutter – and design accordingly.

* Often a home does not need more space – just better space. A home can be full of untapped potential such as oversized rooms or a poorly designed area. Reconfiguring your interior space can be an efficient and cost-effective way to create the home of your dreams.

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Photography Nathalie Marquez Courtney | Words Nikki Walsh

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For another designer’s creative home concept, check out Suzie McAdam’s Blackrock abode.

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