This Co Kildare home has been refreshed with added storage and a warm palette
A beloved family home, it’s been given an update that works closely with the needs of its inhabitants.
Deirdre O’Connell of Dtale interior design explains that this Co Kildare home was in need of some changes when its owners first approached her. “A long sought desire to redecorate their family home after 15 years of busy living, our clients took a gentle push from a trusted friend to engage our design services.”
Although it had generous proportions and a contemporary layout, she explains, “The interior had dated and some rooms didn’t function as they could, nor look as well as their potential. Storage was an issue for this busy family with a myriad of hobbies and interests. Though the house had large rooms, previous storage decisions and spatial layouts hadn’t hit the mark to satisfy the needs of the family.”
For example, Deirdre explains that the kitchen didn’t serve as a space to sit and chat. “Our clients wished for a room with the inclusion of a more informal dining and gathering space, alongside an elegant, relaxing dining area. A connecting TV room lacked character and didn’t appeal as a space to unwind.”
The design included a redesign of the ground floor, with the aim to bring a sense of calm and elegance to the space.
While the original hallway felt bland, simply a throughway, Deirdre explains how they addressed this. “We replaced the marfil crème floor with a warm oak hardwood, and we added proportion with colour and palette, using Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue on the lower wall panels contrasting softly with an off-white above and across the ceiling. A hollow, dull corner portion was redesigned and built out to add congruence and balance to the hallway, and in doing so created a valuable, disguised tall storage room.”
The WC off the hall was small, and had cream floor and wall tiles that lacked warmth. “We painted the walls, skirtings and coving in the rich terracotta of Farrow & Ball’s Picture Gallery Red,” Deirdre says, “with ogee panels adding texture, quiet sophistication and depth. An ornate tall, slim mirror framed in antique silver reflects the gentle glow of two elegant wall sconces. A classic checkered black-and-white tiled floor grounds the room. The reaction of surprise from guest to this little room is a real standout.”
The new kitchen is an elegant blend of soft tones and textures. “Soft cream hand-painted cabinetry by Newtown Woodworks in Kildare wrap the room in an inviting glow, while the illumination from elegant pendant lights and sconces casts a tender, evening-like warmth over every surface,” Deirdre explains.
“Every detail – soft lighting, natural wood tone finishes and materials, gentle colours – come together to create an elegant family space, with a sense of generosity in the plans, room to move, gather, relax and cook. The adjoining utility echoes this sentiment, extending the kitchen’s aesthetic. It functions as the concealed engine of the home, yet it maintains the design of the primary spaces. Storage feels seamless with a sense of order, a brightly lit area which easily supports daily living and access.”
While these are the functional spaces, in contrast, on the other side of the house is a cosy snug. “The atmosphere is cocooning yet refined, soothed in the soft, warm beige of Farrow & Ball’s Cord. Our furnishings and upholstery follow a cohesive, organic theme with nods to nature and botanicals. A sculptural ceiling light adds a subtle modern glamour, while the floor-to-ceiling curtains and fabric roman blind in a creamy neutral frame the window, filtering light. The room feels comfortable and contemporary, with warmth, calm and a subtle elegance.”
Overall, the design has created flow and warmth where it was lacking before. “The design blends contemporary elegance with understated comfort, resulting in a space that feels as effortlessly stylish as it is deeply welcoming,” Deirdre says. “As ever in design, the best work is a collaboration with the homeowners, the building team and the designers. Our clients sought an interior that calmed the mind and body, bringing a sense of being at ease. While incorporating the best of contemporary refinement, the results are a warm, cohesive and timeless décor.”
Photography Tristan Hutchinston
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