This Victorian family home on Kenilworth Square has been injected with playful personality
The Dublin home balances its stately bones with a sense of fun, while storage has been added to keep up with busy family life.
A classic Victorian four-bed home situated on the beautiful Kenilworth Square in Rathmines, interior designer Sorcha Harman of Porcha Design explains that this house was in good condition.
“The house had undergone an uplift in recent years, so the beautiful architectural detailing had been carefully preserved and remained intact,” she says. “Structurally, it was in great condition, but it was very much in need of a personality shift. The owners have a wonderfully outgoing, expressive character, and it felt important that the house reflected this.”
With young children, storage was also a key issue. “There was a constant need to accommodate coats, toys and everyday clutter in a way that didn’t detract from the home’s elegance,” Sorcha explains. “They wanted a home that felt joyful, full of life and personality, with a worldly, collected feel.”
The owners also wanted the space to feel comfortable, playful, and lived in – somewhere where their children felt welcome, with no rooms that were off-limits.
Because the existing home was in good condition, Sorcha says that colour and print formed the cornerstone of her design. “Maximising joinery and cabinetry wherever possible was also essential to combat the storage issue.”
The entry hallway was brightened, with flooring stripped back and finishing them with a warm-toned stain and oil. This was completed by John from Reliable Flooring, while GOC Carpets installed a blush pink runner on the stairs.
“This was a bold decision, and not one taken lightly,” Sorcha explains. “We re-stained the handrail to a dark brown, almost black finish, it had been a mahogany stain with green full carpeting, which felt quite traditionally Irish. The hallway now has such a beautiful worldly aesthetic, bright, joyful and very welcoming. The softness of the pink runner, combined with Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball on the woodwork and refreshed finishes, reimagined the space completely. It feels cool and contemporary, and retains its original charm, with an added sense of playfulness and elegance.”
These kinds of soft tones are seen throughout the home – powder pinks, mauves, greens and blues. “In each room, there is always a standout colour moment,” Sorcha says. “For example, one bathroom features a green ceiling with white walls, while all the woodwork is painted a bright blue. The strong contrast feels striking with an element of surprise, and it brings a real sense of joy to the space.”
For the dining room, which is north-facing and naturally darker, the decision was made to lean into this natural moodiness. Drenched in Farrow & Ball’s Sulking Room Pink and given dark, rich fabrics and furniture, it feels grounding, yet with an unmistakable playfulness.
A favourite space of Sorcha’s is the room that doubles as a nursery and home office. “The combination of Farrow & Ball’s Lulworth Blue and Setting Plaster is incredibly fun and expressive, the contrast between the two is so playful,” she notes.
“Although it’s the smallest room in the house, I think it has the biggest personality! I think the joinery is especially beautiful. We chose to soften the space by draping fabric curtains within the joinery in place of traditional doors. This adds a wonderful sense of charm and gives the room an almost theatrical quality.”
Another particularly successful space is the front reception room, which connects with the adjoining kitchen beautifully. “They are both painted in Farrow & Ball All White, allowing the architectural detailing to speak for themselves, while the drama comes through layered furniture, joinery and carefully chosen pieces.”
Overall, the design has created a space that feels sophisticated yet playful, grand yet welcoming. “The clients fully understood the vision and were incredibly brave in embracing such a colourful, expressive approach.”
Photography Ruth Maria Murphy
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