Cush Interiors transformed this new build home into a dark, luxurious space.
When faced with a new build home, it can be hard to put a unique stamp on its often blank design, and rarely do you see one that feels so unique as this home in Enniskerry.
Its owner approached Michelle Burnett of Cush Interiors with a brief for a dark, moody and glamorous look. Michelle knew she needed to create a truly bespoke space. “I’ve always been passionate about supporting Irish artists and craftspeople,” she says, “and so I try as much as possible to source locally from the enormous talent pool of Irish makers.”
The high ceilings in the home meant that Michelle used her expertise in designing bespoke cabinetry to add both character and useful storage throughout the home.
In the living area, panelling was added on two walls. “These form a double shadow-frame for commissioned monochrome art that purposely dominates the room,” Michelle explains.
“I wanted to emphasise the scale and exceptional proportions of the building. Dublin based artist Debbie Chapman was commissioned to create something striking. Both paintings are almost two metres tall, for which the canvases had to be specially made.”
A custom rug for the room was made by Ceadogán Rugmakers, designed by Jenny Malsen. “I simply described the room scheme dominated by the oversized art, and Jenny started sketching, creating a unique design of sweeping paintbrush strokes and paint splashes,” Michelle says.
“Using various tones of red, wines and blacks to tie in with the colour scheme, the artisans at Ceadogán then added flecks of silk threads to create subtle highlights for heightened luxury within the deep pile wool rug.”
Lighting in the space comes in the form of an art deco style chandelier and a bespoke light made by Shane Holland. “It spreads shadowy waves on the ceiling when the room is transformed into a social space after dark,” Michelle says.
Sharkskin by Paint & Paper Library was chosen for the walls, while Michelle designed all of the custom cabinetry which includes an off-black media unit to house the television, and also has a secret cocktail bar that pops open to reveal its contrasting deep red grenache interior. To add a focal point for this enormous block of cabinetry, a floating fire 1.5 metres wide adds warmth and edge.
Michelle also designed the side-tables which are off-black cubes with inner panels of oak stained in Dock Blue by Little Greene to quietly link with the blue fabrics of the custom upholstery. The ottoman is clad in snake embossed leather and doubles as a coffee table.
In the kitchen, the client wanted a wine cooler installed, so Michelle decided to base the design around a large island that could serve as a cocktail bar. The cabinets are sleek and black, in a handleless design, with natural stone worktops in Equinox by Cosentino, fitted in a waterfall format, allowing the shimmering effect of the stone to catch the light from multiple angles.
The main bedroom has a vaulted ceiling, over five metres tall at its highest point. To create a moody space, petrol blue was chosen for the walls. One particularly dark corner that had no power source for a lamp was given a Debbie Chapman piece, this time mostly in white to reflect light.
“The main pendant lighting for the bedroom is a series of large iridescent glass balls which were nick-named ‘Daft-Punk’,” Michelle says, “and a retro feel followed with a custom-made raspberry recliner lending a 1960s vibe. The custom headboard with floating lockers has concealed lighting for ambient glow as well as wall-lights and reading lights to allow for plenty of options on the moodiness scale as required.”
A fun aspect of the design Michelle says, is the downstairs bathroom. “I wanted it to give people a giggle when they enter,” she explains.
“Designed to feel like a nightclub, once you close the door, it’s dark, very sparkly, and RuPaul is glaring down at you from a huge painting which is a parody of the famous Manet painting “A Bar at the Folies-Bergère”. The floor was tiled in Bisazza mosaics and the walls are papered in blue with a zebra pattern that’s embellished with crystals.
Michelle loves the effect of moving between the different spaces in this home. “The entertaining space on the ground floor is so unexpected when guests arrive and see the monolithic block of stone island with its waterfall sides encasing the dark kitchen, but when they round the corner into the living space is when the real ‘wow’ happens as there’s so much to take in – from the enormous art panels to the custom rug, and the floating fire.”
Photography: Ailbe Photography
This article was originally published in November 2023.
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