This Rathfarnham house has been turned into a bright, contemporary space
While previously dark and dated, a fresh scheme and details such as bespoke furniture have made it feel polished and welcoming.
When Margaret Mallon of Power2design first saw this home in Rathfarnham, Dublin, it felt dated due to dark floors, lots of pine, and lots of dividing walls. “It lacked the modern conveniences of a new build, such as open plan spaces, up to date kitchen and cooking facilities and walk-in wardrobes,” she says.
What the owners wanted was an open plan space that felt bright and comfortable. “However, with their busy lives they didn’t want to spend time trawling through interior and decor stores,” Margaret explains. “We were able to dedicate our time to understanding their approach, and change and customising all the furniture to their needs as a family, whilst also getting a sense of their style.”
A key part of this design was not just buying pieces of furniture off the shelf, but creating bespoke pieces that fitted exactly into the space. “Our goal was to give them the comfort they wanted by designing bespoke pieces of furniture for every space in the home according to their requirements,” Margaret says.
The living space was central to the home. “They love family, friends and entertaining so we wanted to maximise the seating areas throughout the home. In the midst of this entertaining space we positioned a little seating area in front of the large sliding wall of glass doors so they could relax with a coffee in the morning before work and overlook the garden. We also wanted to prioritise the natural light from this large south facing garden. Large floor tiles were extended out to the patio large area to merge the inside and the outside entertaining spaces.”
The kitchen continues this sense of light and flow thanks to a classic Calacatta Marble on the worktops, and a dramatic double height space above the custom dining table and chairs, accentuated by Italian Lodes chandeliers, sourced from Linealight.ie.
This natural palette continues throughout the home. “We wanted to embrace this neutral palette throughout, while injecting colour and depth in the standout features such as the backsplash and island cabinets,” Margaret points out. Colours including Pavilion Gray, Skimming Stone, Purbeck Stone and Hardwick White from Farrow & Ball create a warm but neutral backdrop, while the furnishings introduce texture and colour such as wood, nickel and brass, complemented by burnt orange and soft blue accents for warmth.
Margaret’s favourite aspect of the finished design is the cohesiveness of the home. “It combines shape, form, space, texture and comfort with a simple sophistication and a sense of openness with an integration of the natural light. The clients got exactly what they wanted with a stunning open plan space that is comfortable for and practical for everyday living.”
Photography: Jordi Casamiquela
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