Rethinking the décor after an extension required marrying old and new, whilst ensuring the personality of the family who lives there felt tangible.
The owners of this Guinness-built, end of terrace home in Terenure had lived there for 10 years when they decided to update it. Having extended to add kitchen and dining space and create a better connection to the garden, interior designer Deirdre O’Connell of Deirdre O’Connell Interiors explains that this addition was not without its challenges.
“The extension lengthened the house and although it offered wonderful light, it created that dreaded darker middle room connecting the front sitting room and new kitchen dining extension, a challenge for furnishing and lighting,” she explains. “The extension also brought the issue of marrying the older, original rooms with the contemporary structure of the kitchen and dining space.”
The homeowners wanted the ground floor to feel more considered, with a natural flow between them. “They wanted a warm, beautiful aesthetic, liveable yet aspiring, as a place to relax and entertain.”
In the kitchen and dining space, Deirdre’s design complements the natural stone floor. “A terracotta island in Little Greene’s Tuscan Red anchors the space,” she explains, “with shaker detailing and a marble worktop bringing character and polish. The dining nook, wrapped in timber and cushioned seating, is inviting and intimate. Botanical prints and a vintage world map add charm, while baskets, bar stools, and natural linens layer in comfort and relaxed sophistication throughout.”
The sitting room, now in the middle of the house, was colour drenched in an olive green – Farrow & Ball’s Blue Gray – which helps it feel warm and intimate. “Decorative cornicing and painted panelling lend classical structure, while the soft linen upholstery on the sofa and armchair, and a woven rug, are relaxed. Sculptural lighting, wall shelves, and accessories bring contemporary, Scandi design cues.”
The front room is Deirdre’s favourite space. “Elegant, charming and so so comfy, we mixed the elegant architectural features with layers of texture and tone, the original honeyed timber floorboard and doors lend warmth and authenticity. Burnt ochre velvet armchairs by Neptune and a buttery mustard occasional chair add a rich, autumnal depth and contrast. Laid back blue alcove cabinets in Selvedge by Farrow and Ball carry items of personality and character. Timeless, inviting and effortlessly composed – a room designed as much for conversation as for comfort and contemplation.”
When it came to making this house really feel like a home, Deirdre is clear about the importance of incorporating the family’s possessions into the design. “No house is a home without the value of sentimental family curios, from travels, hobbies, milestones and those handed down through the generations,” she notes. “The objects were in abundance for this busy family, which we spent time curating for display and styling. “Slipway”, the landscape acrylic painting on canvas by Cork artist Paul McKenna is a dreamy inclusion, setting the tone and colour scheme for the middle living room.”
The considered design means that these spaces all flow easily, feeling connected whilst still having their own distinct identities. “There is success in the nuanced connection of the interconnecting rooms, through a sense of elevated design, décor and detailing,” Deirdre says. “There is now a feeling of warmth and contentment spending time here, with each space offering a subtly different aesthetic appeal.”
Photography Shauna Lally
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