For most of the 20th century, this south Dublin home was originally an extra wing for the adjoining house, with a large stable area on the lower part of the split-level ground floor. This has resulted in a home full of character, nooks and crannies and without a single straight wall. “Someone with OCD just couldn’t handle this house,” Greg and Sarah joke.
The stylish couple, who met almost a decade ago in London, were the ideal candidates for this house renovation. Their attention to detail, appreciation of quality and cool, contemporary swag has culminated in a home brimming with style and personality.
Irregularly-shaped rooms can indeed be challenging. The use of small-scale contemporary pieces and quirky family heirlooms mean all corners of each room are transformed into a handsome yet practical moment. Along with the red industrial floor lamp, the wing armchair in the living room injects some warmer tones into this otherwise pastel-coloured space. The contemporary shape of the couch and the mid-century nesting coffee tables eliminate the threat of the space becoming too twee. The traditional leafiness of the Farrow and Ball ‘Feuille’ wallpaper is nicely balanced by its fresh colourway. To contrast with the fabric on the furniture, Sarah has whizzed up some printed cushion covers. “Sometimes I miss the hands-on creative work I used to do on TV sets in London. So I take it all out on my sewing machine!”
In the living room sits another lucky nab; the wing armchair Sarah’s parents received as a wedding present. The couple had it recovered in a classic tweed fabric by Mia’s Upholstery. The unusual angling in the living room gives the space an intimate, cosy feel. The sofa is the ‘Flynn’ model in ‘Persian Grey’ from Made. The original timber in the hallway and living area was stripped and treated in the same lacquer, giving the house’s ground level a uniform look.
The in-frame kitchen cabinetry was custom-made by Tuite Kitchens and finished in the same duck egg colour (look to Dulux's Duckegg Delight) as on the walls. Sarah can’t praise carpenter John Tuite highly enough, stating that “he’s exactly what you want a carpenter to be- so handy and obliging.” The continued use of duck egg blue throughout the cabinetry and walls, combined with its simple galley configuration, gives the kitchen a spacious feel.
The unusually-sized occasion chair is the AGAM children’s chair from IKEA.
The IKEA FABRIKOR display cabinet houses the couple’s glass and crystal collection
The clear-lacquered oak flooring in the kitchen and dining area was laid in a herringbone pattern, in-keeping with the Edwardian period of the house, by Chetham Timber.
The solid oak ‘Jenson’ dining table is from Made, and can extend to sit eight people. Around it sit a set of white wire dining chairs from Bend. After deliberating for several months, they eventually decided to go with their gut and order them. Thankfully, they were able to source them through a Dutch supplier, Milestone Interior Management, which helped keep costs down. “We love them so much; they’re definitely a life-long investment. They’re what we hope to pass on to our children, grandchildren and so on. And eventually somebody will look at them and say “Ew. What were you thinking?!”. Isn’t that just how it goes?” laughs Sarah. The brass rise and fall pendent above the dining table is from Hicken Lighting.
Perhaps the standout feature in Greg and Sarah’s home is their energetic, whimsical and sometimes profane gallery wall. Having worked in the London advertising business, the couple befriended a talented bunch of artists. On one wall hangs an original Robinsons Squash ad their old flatmate designed. Beside it, an original Charlie and the Chocolate Factory illustration by Sir Quentin Blake. Other prints on display include some quirky yet patriotic finds from Jam Art Factory and a piece from Japanese artist, Nara Yoshitomo. Dublin and London, the two cities the couple have lived in, are paid homage to by home-grown artists me&him&you.
The vintage cast iron bed is made comfortable with linens from John Lewis.
Despite growing up in South Wales, Greg’s family descend from India, Scotland and Ghana. The couple are lucky enough to have inherited furniture, trunks and other leather luggage items from each of these countries. These pieces are dotted throughout the home and serve as additional storage.
The crafting area is also used as a cosy reading nook. Above the ‘Chou’ sofa bed from Made, a simple set of IKEA bookshelves house the couple’s large book collection. The punchy colours used in the bedroom/ hobby room give it a fun, energetic feel. The yellow blinds are from Scion’s Mr. Fox collection, available at John Lewis. An Eames DSW chair sits at the retro yellow table she salvaged from her grandmother’s house. Around this table, Sarah’s dad and his siblings ate morning, noon and night as children, making it all the more sentimental for Sarah to work from.
The bedroom furniture is from the ‘Jonah’ and ‘Penn’ ranges at Made and the floral bedding is ‘Coral Belle’ by Jigsaw Home.
The vanity unit in the bathroom was custom-made by Tuite Kitchens and accommodates a picnic basket. Who says practical bathroom storage had to be ugly!
It is obvious that this is a house rid of any items that do not hold meaning to the couple. Artwork and family heirlooms bring with them reminders of Greg and Sarah’s past. The modern pieces they chose themselves will serve them well as they begin their lives as a young Dublin-based family. The quality and style of their finds are likely to give them the longevity required to one day become heirlooms of their own.
This house is available to rent on Airbnb for €450 per night. The house is located in Dublin’s bustling Ranelagh area and can accommodate six people in its three bedrooms.
Words and styling Louise Dockery Photography Paul Sherwood
