Project Description

ROSALIA TERRACE

THERE IS NO PERFECT DESIGN PROJECT…OR I SHOULD SAY, THERE IS NO IMPERFECT PROJECT.

Every brief holds challenges and potential, and if you work in design, you know that this is where the magic can lie.

When I was approached by new clients via email to work on their new home away from home, a period semi-detached in the centre of Limerick City, I knew that it would hold challenges, as any old house does, but also enormous potential. Limerick has a wealth of period buildings over-due sympathetic renovations, so it is a pleasure to be part of the city’s renewal, and I couldn’t wait to get started on this home.

It was clear from our initial meeting at the newly bought house that a high standard finish was expected. I began with floors, sanding and staining some and replacing others, each finish complementary to the rooms’ eventual design. The bathrooms each needed a complete overhaul, and proved to be the most time consuming element of the renovation: vibrant encaustic tiles, solid oak cabinetry and designer sanitary ware appear in each. We overhauled the kitchen cabinetry and replaced the island, opening up the space more to the family living areas.

I chose the highest quality in the furniture, such as the sofas, cabinetry and beds, keeping the aesthetic fairly neutral for longevity, and adding a layer of simple modern accessories to give the space a fresh appeal. Upholstery, mirror, and walls were also kept minimal to maximise on light. To finish, I trawled art auctions and galleries to start a curated collection of antique and modern original art for the clients.

It was on one of these antique hunts that a design problem was resolved: different sized alcoves around an original fireplace needed different sized, but complementary consoles. I had yet to find the perfect set, yet here were two beautifully aged, original side tables waiting for this very house. A little bit of design magic.