The Co Down home of Marianne Smyth, aka @smythsisters, is just as stylish as you’d expect
Combining an Edwardian redbrick with a sleek, contemporary extension is no easy task, but it has been achieved effortlessly in Marianne Smyth’s home.
Along Co Down’s north coast, down a sweeping drive, sits an Edwardian house surrounded by beautiful gardens. Its owner, Marianne Smyth, recalls how she fell in love with it right from the start. “It was just so special, a gorgeous redbrick home with the most magical surroundings. The lady that lived here before had such an eye for the gardens, and I’m so thankful we inherited them.” Marianne and her partner were on the lookout for their forever home, after painstakingly renovating a small mid-century house that they loved, but wasn’t suitable for them and their children long term.
Although they adored the home’s original rooms with tall ceilings and generous proportions, half of the house was a more recent addition, and had low ceilings and smaller spaces, so it was decided to demolish this part and build a modern extension. With open spaces and large windows to make the most of the beautiful surroundings, it was designed by ADO architects. Once work began, Marianne explains, Roskyle Construction realised the original house needed more work than they had anticipated.
“We had planned to just re-skim that side of the house, but there was rot right through to the joists, so we had to take it back down to brick and mortar.” Details such as the original cornicing were lost, but this was carefully recreated to keep the character of the old home, while anything that could be salvaged, was, such as the stained glass in the front hallway. Although lengthening the project duration and adding costs to their budget, this setback did mean, Marianne concedes, that they were able to add insulation. “It was a blessing in disguise, because now the whole house is warm.”
Although the new extension is incredibly sleek and minimalist, the two sides of this home flow. The same wooden floor runs everywhere except the kitchen, where there is poured concrete, and the ground floor walls, ceilings and radiators are all painted in Strong White by Farrow & Ball. Sliding doors were added between the new kitchen and living space, and the original dining room, to create flexibility, giving the option to choose an open layout, or separation. Subtle differences delineate the old and new, such as cornicing, deep skirting boards and traditional radiators in the original house, in contrast to the cleaner extension, where underfloor heating and a more minimalist finish were used.
“I’ve always been drawn to open-plan living,” Marianne says. “I like to see the children: they can sit and do their homework on the island when I’m making dinner, or run around when all the doors are open. But I do love the option of closing in the spaces, and being able to hide away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life with the drag of a door.”
Built-in joinery throughout the home was key to the design, and this cohesive feeling. “Back when I was moodboarding, I always knew I wanted the whole house to flow,” Marianne explains. “Light oaks, clean spaces, where the furniture doesn’t feel like it’s sitting in the room, but is part of the room. Once I was happy with the kitchen joinery, we ran with that design in the rest of the house, right up to the bedrooms.”
Known for her Instagram account, @smythsisters, where she shares glimpses of her enviable sartorial style, it’s no surprise that this strong aesthetic sense would carry over to Marianne’s home. She’s thankful that her partner shares a taste for pared-back spaces, which meant that they were usually in agreement, but she notes that when it came to making so many decisions, it was important not to be sucked in by trends online.
“I think you have to stay true to your own style. It’s very easy to get swept up on social media, because you’re seeing new things constantly. I always go back to what we love, and what our needs are for the house.” In many ways, she points out, the material choices they’ve made allow them the flexibility to change the feel of the space in the future, or add new pieces in.
Having lived in the house for several years before work started, the couple really appreciate the value of taking their time with this home, and have designed it for longevity. “When we moved in, I said I wanted to go slowly with the furniture. We made the mistake before of ordering everything before you’re actually in the space. So room by room, we’re slowly accumulating pieces. I don’t think you’re ever done.” The result is without doubt, a forever home to treasure.
Photography Ruth Maria Murphy
This feature originally appeared in the spring/summer 2025 issue of IMAGE Interiors. Have you thought about becoming a subscriber? Find out more, and sign up here.
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