Peek Inside an Architect’s Bright and Open Modern Home
In this episode of Houzz TV Live, architect Denise O’Connor of Optimise Home takes viewers through her renovated 1950s open-plan home in Dublin. She tells Kiya Kelly of the Houzz communications team how she knocked down walls to connect the kitchen and living areas, and added sliding glass doors to connect the interior to a spacious garden.
A mostly white palette – white kitchen cabinets, walls, ceiling and porcelain-tiled floor – enhances the natural light that floods in through the glass doors, a large skylight and a window behind the hob. Subtle but significant black accents add a graphic element to the crisp backdrop, creating a timeless black-and-white colour scheme.
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I love absolutely everything about this renovation and could move right in.
Would you mind to share the brand and specific tile you chose? We currently have to choose the flooring for our next home and I find it incredibly difficult to decide on probably THE most important and longest lasting part of the interior design. Your tile looks beautiful - neutral but not bland and the finish is just right. Thank you!
I love the black and white selection and the amazing big windows. The indoor/outdoor connection is fabulous! Thank you for sharing your beautiful home with us!
Pleas can you tell me the window supplier? I love the open corner and narrow frames!
It's a gorgeous space - feels calming, as she intended, yet fresh and young.
What finish is on porcelain tile and color? Lovely job, enjoy!
Beautiful!
What a delightful space! The open large glass doors are my favorite! So inviting and fresh. The blatant connection of inside and outside..... simply beautiful!
Beautiful. Lots of natural light has always been a "must" for me. The skylight and the windows along the wall with the sink and stove are so original and truly complete the overall look and feel of this modern space. Everything ties together perfectly. One of the BEST on Houzz. Such a pleasure to meet the home owner/designer. Thank you!
Gorgeous space.
Wonderful design. Thanks so much for sharing the thought process that went into it.
What's the sliding door system and skylight manufacturer/ brand and model series that was used please?
Please share the brand and model of the sofa. thanks!
Absolutely love it. So simple and functional. I want to copy it.
Hi Denise, Such a beautiful renovation. Bravo! I am also particular to white. It's clean, bright and opens up space. But with white, there is always the challenge of cleaning and keeping it white. Do you have any tricks you can share to keeping everything clean and white? Thanks in advance. Sharon
love this feature-and would like the source for the dining chairs
BEAUTIFUL !!! love everything esp the floors!
Absolutely beautiful.
Your contractor was so right to say add a bigger extension! Best decision ever and such an amazingly beautiful design!
Amazingly fabulous and beautifully presented.
A beautiful renovation indeed
Wonderful kitchen design. Agree 100 percent with the decision to place the sink and range on the outside wall, leaving the island pristine. And thanks for talking about the need for window shades. Too often, here on Houzz, the subjects of glare and heat gain are not addressed.
As much as I admire the serene austerity of the kitchen design, there is no way I could live with so little color in the rest of the space.
This is the most perfect extension!!! Such thoughtful practical design about how they are actually going to live.
I totally agree with the decision to not put the sink or cooktop on the island. You get more living space and it is easier to keep clean. We did the same on our 4x8 island ...
This is an extremely well thought out space. Denise clearly put in the time to review her materials, think about how she wanted to use the space and anticipate need. My highest compliment to her for a job well done.
Perhaps unusual for Ireland, but a fairly standard tract house design in the US, particularly on the West Coast, whose milder climate allows large glazed areas, bringing outside in, etc. etc. The "uncluttered" appearance of the kitchen may not survive daily life. The TV set seems to be quite high on the wall for comfortable viewing, but at least it's not neck-wrenchingly above a fireplace, the common US mistake. As a design choice, combining living/dining and kitchen creates problems for sonic and visual interference and privacy when many people occupy the space and more than one activity is being done, as architects forced to stay at home, often of their own design, during COVID are finding out. I hope she evaluates her experience over time and seasons and reports again later.
Well, I think you did a delightful renovation. I live on the West Coast of the US (soCal) and think it's beautiful. It might not be my exact tastes, because I'm not a white cabinet kitchen person. I still think it's beautiful. The window between the cabinets is awesome and the large sliding system is fabulous. I am a person who likes big sinks and would have preferred more sink area, but that's me. I also am a person who wants the television lower. Still, what a phenomenal design. Enjoy your reno and addition and don't let any naysayers make you doubt yourself. I appreciate the info on the reasons behind what you chose to do. Great job!
Wow this is extremely classy - well done. We are just about to begin our build, we are also having sliding doors with a slim profile so we can enjoy our garden view! Love the electric blind idea, to help with the glare, where did you source these? Many thanks 😊
One lifestyle does not fit everybody. We are all different and use our homes differently. Which may be impossible to realize when you sit on a particularly high horse.
Excellent renovation. Where did you get the electric blinds from?
Would love to know where the glazing / sliding doors and blinds are from as look amazing and just about to start our project.
Very unusual for a house in Ireland, and how fabulous it looks. Absolutely lovely space, very similar to exactly the style that I am thinking for our build in Australia. Love the skylights and also the black frames, Some great questions with regard to why decisions were made, ie underfloor heating, the opening window by the hob, sliding doors over bi-folds.
I would like to know where the ceiling lights over the kitchen counter is from, please? Beautiful!
amazing
Loved how she put so much thought in making it functional and minimalistic.
The architect certainly met the client's brief and the final product looks spectacular, although personally I'm over the sleek white look.
very informative.
Great video, really informative. Your renovation looks amazing, I hope you and your family enjoy it.
I’d like to know the name of the glazing company too
Well done to Optimise Design! Can you advise on name of glazing company please? We have to replace ours (in our 5 year old home!). Thank you.
Despite not being a fan of white nor open plan living, I do like what has been done here such as the roof light and window 'splashback'. Lovely to hear Denise expound the thought processes behind this renovation....
Please could you tell me where to get these floor tiles? Thay look perfect for my new kitchen.
great
Beautiful ...
Great
Amazing home.
please can you tell me were are the doors from and the Electrical The Window blindss from
nice renovation
hello, I love this house. please tell me where you got the floor tiles, electric blinds and any tips you have when doing an extension. please let me know
Amazing place and design! Bravo!
Hello I want to know where you got your sliding doors are so lovely and slim I just want to know what company you got that from
Just wondering what lighting you used for this renovation? Looks like lighting over the island and dining table only? Is this because the light from roof and windows was considered to be enough? Thank you.
The house is so beautiful
I love the ideas and arrangements
And how the colours have been mixed 😍
Please could you tell me where to get these floor tiles? They look perfect for our new kitchen.