A four-bedroom house in Limerick is transformed into a light-filled and sociable space for all the owner’s family by interior designers Marina Slattery and Barbara Houlihan
Words: Nikki Walsh | Photography: Jessica Glynn
The client of this house had lived at the property for many years and was now in a position to renovate it into her dream home. She wanted to make it more comfortable for her and her grown up family; with the creation of larger and more sociable spaces for family and friends.
They called in interior designers Marina Slattery and Barbara Houlihan who re-imagined the footprint of the existing kitchen, knocking down walls to open up the room. To read more details of this stunning renovation, check out the January/February 2025 issue of House and Home. First, though, here's Marina's top five renovation tips.
1. When you choose your interior designer look to someone who will consider layout before finishes. It really is all about the layout. Sometimes homes don’t need additional square footage, they need spaces that function and flow better.
2. Consider all storage possibilities – use panelled secret doors to make storage areas less obvious.
3. Choose your kitchen appliances early, they dictate the layout of your kitchen.
4. When designing any space, lighting plays a crucial role. Adding dimmer switches will give a soothing, warm ambience to any space. Always allow for flexible lighting controls, enabling you to adjust the mood and atmosphere to suit different times of the day or occasions.
5. Make sure to budget for even the smallest items right from the beginning. It’s easy to forget essentials, such as exterior lighting. I break everything down on a spreadsheet at the start, from the big ticket items to the door knobs and work from there.
You can be reading on in seconds with a digital copy of the January/February issue of House and Home. To purchase one, head here. Also, don't forget you can get more ideas and inspiration from the House and Home team on Instagram
