After a five year stint in Australia, Colette and Ultain came back to Ireland with house plans to build on an elevated site in Bandon Co Cork. Moving in four years ago, they were determined to bring as much light as possible into the home. Their architect and friend, Seán Hennessy understood exactly what the couple were looking for and utilised the light that came from the east. The result is a well-thought-out, bright and airy family home.
Colette admits that she doesn’t have much time to go out searching for interiors finds, yet a walk around this house would make you think otherwise. It’s the mix of old and new pieces that gives this, relatively new house a certain depth and history of their time together. When Colette does find the time, she has a few favourite spots, and picks up bits and pieces at Style 25, Kramer’s Furniture, Paul and Co. and in Cork’s various charity shops. The Old Mill Stores in Leap is another favourite of Colette’s: “It’s just so well curated. I could buy everything in there.”
A dog lamp by Abigail Ahern for Debenhams sits above a stack of brightly painted wood
Unfortunately, with the children being so small, rugs can be tricky obstacles. “We’re looking forward to getting more rugs once the kids are a little older, at the moment they’re just too small and tend to trip up on the ones we have!” Upon entering the house there is a large rug from Rugs.ie that invites you to sit by the fireplace, pick up a book and relax.
White walls are the perfect backdrop for the many carefully chosen and colourful pieces of furniture and décor that reside inside this home. But uniformity and relation doesn’t stop there; the clean lines of the exterior carry through into the interior, proven through the stairway design. The table is from Kramers Furniture in Bantry. Painted in Cute Pixie gloss by Colortrend, the look is finished off with a drawer knob from Anthropologie. The rope lamp is from Style 25 in Cork.
Colette’s kitchen is from David Kiely Kitchens in Carrigaline. The white oak is complemented by the white quartz island, which is Blanco Zeus by Silestone. The appliances are Neff with integrated fridge by Liebherr. “On a day off, I could spend the whole day in the kitchen. It’s a great space for the kids. Everyone can do their own thing,” Colette says.
Colette’s bathroom cabinets were made by west Cork cabinet maker Toby Hatchett. The wood is Iroko, which is used for building yachts, so it’s extremely durable. The sinks and taps are Porcelanosa from International Traders, Cork, as is the bath tub.
The lion and fox prints in kid’s bedroom are by Swedish artist, Ingela P Arrhenius and can be found, online, at The Kid Who
Colette and Ultain constantly have their next project in mind; a bunk bed for four-year-old Noah’s room is next. “We still have family in Australia, so it’ll be ideal for when we have them as guests. A piano is also on the agenda, so every year we’re doing a bit more,” says Colette, who played piano up until her Leaving Certificate, so she’s eager for her children to learn.
Words: Helen Devine - from our November/December 2015 issue of House and Home
Styling: Clare Carlos
Photography: Joleen Cronin
