A TIMELESS LIVING ROOM

Clients: Lorna and Seamus Mulqueen

The House: A detached house in rural Co. Limerick, built in the last decade, and shared with their two children with one on the way.

The Brief: The Mulqueens, like many of us, used their larger living room as ‘dumping room’ and made do with the smaller sitting room for their rest and relaxation. With the baby’s arrival imminent they decided to refresh the living room with the help of Interior Designer Geri O’Toole Glynn. The couple had no clear idea of what style they wanted for the space except for it to be classic, timeless and most importantly, comfortable for their growing family.

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During Lorna and Seamus’ initial consultation with Geri, they were not too fixed on one particular style, but as Lorna found Geri via her Instagram feed, Geri knew that once she didin’t veer to much from her own personal style, the couple would be happy with the finished design.

“It can sometimes be tricky to establish a starting point with clients when they are not too sure  what style they are looking for”, says Geri. “In this case though, as Lorna was already familiar with my style via Instagram, I knew we were already on the same page.”

Keeping in mind the need for comfort in the large space, Geri started with designing the sofa: an understated roll arm style, a nod to the grander sofas typically found in countryside homes, but given a 21^st century kick with a simple, pattern free piped linen. Made in Ireland, the solid beech wood frame comes with a 15 year warranty, the perfect antidote to a house with three kids, while the cushions feature a foam, fibre and feather filling for maximum comfort and longevity. The sofa is complemented by a selection of cushions from the Browsers Collection.

Luckily for the couple, Seamus is a carpenter and was readily available to fit the floors, but Geri guided their choice of finish.

“The initial plan was to get boards in a charcoal shade, but I advised they opt for a warm oak laminate instead, a much more forgiving shade in terms of longevity. Seamus also did a fantastic job on the panelling which I designed – we painted it in Serpentine by Little Greene Paints, a slightly darker shade than the walls to highlight Seamus’ handiwork.”

The room proved to be slightly awkward in shape, quite long and cut in half by the door. To alleviate this problem, Geri added another sofa to the back wall and two rugs to create two distinct areas; the sofa closer to the TV and the sofa closer to the bookshelf. Of course to avoid any TV hogging, the TV was attached to the wall on a jointed arm so that it can be viewed from anywhere in the room. The hand-woven rugs feature a simple trellis design in a light grey that tie in beautifully with the sofas.

Having sourcing the perfect fire place for the room, its simple design urged Geri to start adding a bit more personality into the space.

“Over time, the rugs and the cushions can be replaced to create a new look without breaking the bank. Similarly freestanding furniture gives you the option of changing up when necessary. I found this rustic shelf unit during my travels and, along with the coffee table, they add a touch of informality to the space.”

For added comfort Geri designed a large upholstered ottoman for the ‘reading corner’ neatly accessorized with a locally sourced sheepskin for cooler evenings.

The opposite alcove offers more discreet storage with a Neptune Henley in-frame cabinet painted in Smoke. The Brompton wall lights and Carter oak framed mirror are also from Neptune.

The print was selected from the Browsers Collection.

“I always know when a design project is coming to an end when I get to pick the art. The right piece can bring all the themes in a room together, and really give a space a personality, which is why we have such a large collection in the Browsers showroom.“

Ultimately the clients were overjoyed with the result, which exceeded their expectations. They now have a multi functioning space that suits all members of the family, including those who are on their way!

Geri O’Toole Glynn is available by appointment, please call 086 814 8002 or email geri@geridesigns.ie for more information.  You can find Geri’s Instagram at @geri_designs