In a few short years, Wioleta Kelly has managed to turn a trio of hobbies into three impressive careers – one of which couldn’t be more evident throughout her Limerick home
My husband always jokes that he’ll see something new every time he opens a door,” Wioleta Kelly laughs. But that’s to be expected if your home is, literally, your design portfolio. Party planner, photographer (Iliveinireland.photoshelter.com) and interior designer: the multi-skilled Wioleta is a force to be reckoned with, and her home is the result of her talented attentions.
KITCHEN The kitchen has seen a major revamp. Walls were knocked to create an open plan space, making the house feel larger and brighter. Wioleta got her bar stools from Caseys Furniture, and the light fixtures are Rotterdam Cosmo lights from Poland. “The cooker is on the island, so it’s so much more social. I often work on my laptop here too,” she says.
Her interior design journey took off when she started blogging on Interiors PL, a blog which garnered serious recognition in Poland, her home country. Voted as one of the top ten most-influential Polish interior design blogs, Wioleta’s current business, Abbeyfeale Interior Design grew from there.
Realising she had the knack, she went on to do a diploma in theLimerick College of Further Education. “I started to do quite a lot
of eDesign for clients,” she adds.
To say Wioleta brings her work home would be an understatement. The interior designer lives and works in this bungalow in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick with her husband, Denis Patrick and their two dogs, Rubee and Holly. A look around her home will tell you that she has a very clear design vision – albeit one that’s changing constantly.
LAUNDRY ROOM: For proper utility storage, old kitchen cabinets were introduced, then painted in Neptune’s Aqua Blue. The barn door, leading into the utility room, is painted in Neptune’s Powder Blue.
DINING AREA: The mossy coasters from Browsers on Wioleta’s dining table add a pop of subtle colour to her neutral scheme. Try Harvey Norman for a similar dining table. The light fitting is from Rockett St George.
On Instagram (@wioleta_kelly), Wioleta often shares before and after photos of her home – and it takes some convincing to realise that the shots are from the same angles or are of the same rooms. No stranger to DIY, her creations and upcycling projects include laser panelling, refurbished and repurposed windows and of course, lots and lots of paint.
Right now, Wioleta is leaning towards neutral shades from several paint brands; Colourtrend, Benjamin Moore, Dulux and Neptune all feature, which just proves that her taste is wide and ever-changing.
“The house was newly renovated last September, but it’s like a nnever-ending story. It used to take me about two years to brainwash my husband into accepting an idea,” Wioleta jokes. Thrifty and smart, her regular go-to stores include Rockett St George, Caseys Furniture, Sostrene Grene and Homesense.
BEDROOM There’s another stroke of genius here. “I wanted something for the wall but didn’t want to hang pictures in the traditional way. My mother-in-law loves bingo and this inspired me to buy 18 clipboards for my botanical prints,” Wioleta reveals. Colourtrend’s Mussel was used on the back wall. Dramatic and standout, it works when matched with the white walls and ceiling.
BATHROOM: A dab hand at DIY, Wioleta painted the tiles white and attached panelling to the lower part of the wall. A smart move away from the much-feared magnolia that once graced this small bathroom.
HOME OFFICE As Wioleta works from home, a cool home office that supports her creativity is key. Here, she upcycled old window frames and used them to hang her greenery. Her lampshade is from IKEA; the Nymö is similar.And she doesn’t shy away from second-hand stores or car boot sales, either. “Right now, I’m waiting for the perfect art to buy – I don’t want just anything, I want it to make my heart jump,” she says, wisely. Living proof that a design eye and hard work are the makings of turning a passion for interiors into a fully-fledged career, Wioleta makes short work of juggling three jobs. She makes it – and creating a happy, modern and beautiful home – look easy.
Personalisation makes a home: this cute name sign puts her stamp on the kitchen.
A pop of pink against a neutral backdrop ensures the shade sings.
That’s handy: we like how Wioleta stores her keys in the hall.
Not your average laundry room: tough textures work well in this utility space.
With this display, it comes as no surprise that Wioleta collects Ks – for Kelly, of course.
A cosy cream enamel stove makes the living space warm and inviting.
WIOLETA'S TOP TIP:
“Interior decorating and styling is all about making triangles. In a world where symmetry plays such an important role, asymmetry adds visual interest, character and playfulness to otherwise boring and predictable rooms,” Wioleta says
PHOTOGRAPHY PHILIP LAUTERBACH | WORDS ANNA SHELSWELL-WHITE
