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by Megan Burns
26th Aug 2024

Avenue Interior Design has worked with the beautiful period features of this home to create a space that’s stylish yet welcoming.

The owners of this Dublin home had admired its features such as period detailing, and the size and proportions of the rooms, but the finishes were not to their taste. They enlisted Avenue Interior Design to transform it into a space that felt more true to them.

Niamh Maguire, lead designer on the project explains that, “While it was a very well-maintained house and no structural works were required, the clients wanted to put their own stamp on it. Our brief was to align it with the clients’ needs, working with the overall aesthetic – contemporary meets classic, with warm tones throughout.”

The owners have a young family, so it was also important that the design fit in with their lifestyle. The result is a warm, welcoming home that feels both stylish and relaxed.

“The overall vision for the living and dining room,” Niamh explains, “was to enhance the amazing period features of the property such as the high ceilings and cornicing, while also staying true to the brief of a warm and welcoming space. 

“We introduced statement pieces like the Random Light II ceiling pendant by Moooi in the living area, and the stylish Carl Hansen & Sons CH25 Lounge Chairs. The stunning velvet rust sofa and ottoman from Soho Home is stylish but comfortable working with the warm brown tones on the walls which really enhanced the space. We also added a table and floor lamp for atmospheric evening lighting.”

The space was updated with joinery that combines open shelving and closed storage. “We also introduced window treatments in a sheer linen fabric keeping everything light and bright using high quality fabrics,” Niamh explains. 

Original pocket doors connect the living and dining spaces, and these were retained. To create a contrast with the living room colour, the dining space was painted in a more neutral, although still warm tone. 

“The key piece here was the Ethnicraft 8-seater dining table sourced from CA Design paired with dark oak Muuto dining chairs,” Niamh says. “A large area rug was added to the underfoot, and a stunning mid-century Gubi sideboard from Maven, with table lamps from Heathfield, to again create that soft atmospheric lighting. To maximise circulation space between the living area and kitchen, we added a sofa and two armchairs centred with a coffee table.” 

For the master bedroom, the aim was to create a calm elegant space, making the most of the natural light flowing in from the bay window. “We used soft blues as the main palette, paired with subtle orange tones in the headboard and accessories,” Niamh says. “Maximising the space of the room with its high ceilings and generous layout, we added large bedside tables from Hedgeroe Home, bedside lamps from Oka and a lovely Saarinen Womb Chair and Ottoman in the bay window. We also added a bespoke storage bench at the bottom of the bed upholstered in a lovely Churchill patterned fabric.”

Storage wasn’t an issue, Niamh explains, as the previous owners had installed built-in wardrobes, so these were given a refresh in the same soft blue tones as the walls. The blinds were replaced with Roman blinds in a warm neutral fabric. 

Overall, the home now uses colour in ways that feel calming, yet not boring – there is a sense of all the considered details coming together in a way that puts you at ease, yet there are interesting points of focus in each space. 

Photography: Jamie Hackett

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