Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie

Home Design & Renovation Professionals , Interior Designers
9 Reviews
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Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie
9 Reviews

Grey Gate Lodge - Derelict Cottage to a Boutique B&B

As a derelict cottage and a 'flip' project, located on a busy road in Mayo, this full scope reconstruction project was a challenge in finding the right local tradesmen and tackling the re-configuration of the floorplan, adding a 1st floor, sourcing finishes and installing all services to the site. Taking an old structure and overgrown, neglected site and making it an A-rated efficient hoe and well planned site, while infusing it with comfort and style. The final finish speaks for itself. A unique and charming exterior, inspirational and efficient interior make for a beautiful modern twist on a ‘Period-style' Grey Gate Lodge! From derelict cottage to an A-rated efficient home that functioned as a boutique B&B through Covid 2020-2021. A garden of nearly 8 acres was also a major construction project in itself.
Project Year: 2020
Project Cost: €200,001 - €500,000
Country: Ireland
Before, During and After photos of this ‘Period inspired Gate Lodge’
Online real estate Auction site photo. I was taken with the interesting Gable ends. Conpletely derelict inside and out!
Before
Before
A builder had started a renovation on an older cottage, expanding the footprint and starting a boundry wall. It became a NAMA owned property and was eventually put up for auction. Bought with 10 acres, on the N26 motor rute about 1.5 km from Foxford town. The property needed and house needed to be...
Grey Gate Lodge - Derelict House and Property bought at Auction
Before
NAMA owned property that had a renovation started by a builder a decade earlier.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The derelict inside and the original old cottage stove. Enthusiasm for the project ahead!
Before Interior & Auction Winner
Before
Interior ground floor layout being adapted, placing of staircase.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Sorting out the drainage around house, tie into new septic and stacks for 5 bathrooms, sinks and kitchen/laundry etc
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
New door, drainage for gutters.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
1st Floor layout to incorporate 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with skylights only (fire-egress) and new stairwell, wall and bathroom placement.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Unfinished 1st floor
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Became the upper master closet and eave storage, over the vaulted ceiling space for living room. Used spray foam insulation and insulated wallboard for double insultaion in roof.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Block walls reconfigured to have an open dining room to main hall on ground floor.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Interior ground floor with works started on re-configuring the layout
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
New opening for stairwell and walls laid out on 1st floor
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
New walls on 1st floor
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
All new triple pane windows & doors being installed.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
All new windows and chasing for electrical in vaulted living room.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Plastering and oak beams
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Underfloor piping
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Insulated wallboard and plastered walls now complete. Oak beams added in vault. Firebox with vent, screed installed over underfloor heating pipes.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Ground floor livingroom with new windows, plastered walls and oak beams.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Underfloor piping
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Plastering block walls
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Custom front entry door
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Screed on floor now dried and new oak stairs installed
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Spray foam insulation, insulated wallboard and piping for bathrooms and HRV system in eaves.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
Choosing exterior colours
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The first purchase for this project...a pair of tear drop chandeliers for hang over the kitchen island.
AQ pair of antique tear drop chandeliers
The original antique iron stair railings which were used in the closed door.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The original antique mahogany mantle, fire damaged and in pieces before restoration.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
This reclaimed mahogany mantle was in a sad state when I found it in a salvadge yard. Put back together and painted in a ‘Lamp Black’ by Little Greene it was going to be a major feature with it’s Gothic stylized carved woodwork.
Antique Mantle after re-furbishment
Design choices for the future kitchen. Quartz counter with a grey fleck, black interiors for custom cabinets and round, mother of pearl tile for backsplash.
Finishes for the kitchen
Tile choices for one of the guest room ensuites.
Tile for a family bedroom
Flooring choices for the ground floor. With underfloor heating this old cottage needed all new but with an 'old' look. Choosing a commercial grade, underfloor-heating friendly laminate. A brown tone and Chevron pattern, A5 quality. Paired with the warm ‘latte’ hue of a pillowed limestone. The...
Ground Floor commercial LVT and Pillowed limestone tile
A special feature wallpaper in the ground floor powder room is by 'Timorous Beasties.' Brass wall lights
The Powder Room
In order to protect the unqiue wallpaper from Timorpous Beasties, used a glass (backsplash) and brass faucet from Crosswater. Seagrass woven mirror and brass wall lights.
The Powder room completed
The finished Powder room (also a set of angled double closet doors into the Plant room. A wall hung WC and Pedestal sink. The full length mirror is from Restoration Hardware. There is a subtle pink antique finish on the mirror. Frosted glass on triple pane window.
Grey Gate Lodge - The completed Powder room
Four poster bed from US with Navy linen headboard, scandi style bedside tables and glass lamps with linen shades.
Ground floor Guest bedroom
Seagrass central ceiling shade, Navy linen drape.
Finished Ground Floor guest room
Fortuny silk ceiling fixture, Restoration Hardware credenza and weathered oak mirror. Paired with a Scandi style metal and glass table, DWR aqua blue chairs and linen dining chairs.
Ground Floor Dining Room
Design choices: Quartz counter with a grey fleck, black interiors for custom cabinets with are painted in 'Lamp Black' by Little Greene and round, mother of pearl tile for backsplash with brass brackets for glass shelves. Induction cooktop and the antique tear drop pendants. HRV extraction vent...
Grey Gate Lodge - Kitchen
Custom cabinets, quartz counters kitchen in process
Kitchen in process
Backsplash is a round Mother of Pearl mosaic, brass bracket for glass shelf, Note no upstand but quartz counter used for window sill.
Kitchen backspalsh
Grey Gate Lodge's Bronze metal sign
Added decorative cement moldings in a Gothic style over doors and windows, note Gable ends and custom gates and pillars. The property had a large parking area finished with multi-coloured loose stone.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
A new custom front door I designed (artisan made in Manorhamilton) incorporating antique iron railings I found, done in 3in thick teak, triple pane glass and decorative molding.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The custom front door colour was a particular feature. The architrave around door (cement rendering) and chimney finish added to the Victorian 'Gate Lodge' style. Topiaries, heather and lavender in pots. Added a Gothic style decorative feature to the peaks of all gable ends of the house, painted to...
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
A garden shed painted to match the front door. A custom bronze metal sign 'Grey Gate Farm'
Grey Gate Lodge - Garden Shed and Grey Gate Farm sign
A glass house for seedlings and shed for storage near the raised beds in the fenced organic garden area.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Raised beds in the fenced garden area. Cement pillars and wood slatting with wood gate fro an Organic garden. This area had been used as a dump site for a decade before the land was cleared and leveled.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Side entrance to property from a country lane.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
View from house to organic garden area. Lots of parking in the stone gravel with cement curbing to define the area.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Added decorative cement moldings in a Gothic style over doors and windows, note Gable ends and custom gates and pillars. The property had a large parking area finished with multi-coloured loose stone. These are the french doors into the kitchen. Note light fixture over door and topiaries in...
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Added decorative cement moldings in a Gothic style over doors and windows, note Gable ends and custom gates and pillars. The property had a large parking area finished with multi-coloured loose stone. Front aspect, East facing.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
West facing, rear of main house, note foundation to left for future studio.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Air Force Blue (Little Greene) on feature wall. Modern brass light fixture.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
A South facing office space for the Wild Atlantique brand.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Builtin shelving
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Note Barn slider door for ease of access for low mobility to ensuite.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Bathroom is low mobility accessible, no threshholds, has hand bars for WC and in shower.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Low mobility accessible, wall hung WC and sink cabinet, lighted mirror, rain shower and hand sprayer. Note grab bars and mosaic tile with dark grout.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Ground floor guest bath - accessible.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Custom cabinets with open shelves. Used this as the B&B serving area. Washer and dryer hidden. Small square Mother of Pearl mosaic backsplash, quartz counters and pillowed limestone floor.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Custom cabinets with open shelves. Used this as the B&B serving area. Washer and dryer hidden. Small square Mother of Pearl mosaic backsplash, quartz counters and pillowed limestone floor. Tear drop pendant fixture. Brass pulls in a modern style.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Antique mantle painted in Lamp Black (Little Greene) to match adjacent kitchen cabinets. Wood stove. Custom Oak beams in Adirondack lodge style with 'rustic' bronze leaf motif chandelier. Furniture is a mix of traditional and modern. Oly Studio coffee table and brass shelves. Wall lights over...
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Custom Oak beams in an 'Adirondack style' with a bronze leaf motif chandelier in the vaulted living room.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Reclaimed antique mahogany mantle, painted with trimmed panel above. Fire stove and Neptune wall lights.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The view from vaulted living room into Kitchen.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Custom cabinets in Lamp Black (Little Greene), Quartz counters, brass pulls, antique tear drop pendants, the barn slider goes to a shallow depth pantry that accommodates a lot of storage space. Mother of Pearl mosiac backsplash with brass brackets and glass shelves. French doors to back garden and...
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Custom cabinets in Lamp Black (Little Greene), Quartz counters, brass pulls, antique tear drop pendants, the barn slider goes to a shallow depth pantry that accommodates a lot of storage space. Mother of Pearl mosiac backsplash with brass brackets and glass shelves. French doors to back garden and...
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Entrance hall and oak staircase. Decorative board & batten on walls with seagrass wallpaper above.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
A French designed hanging fixture 'Volieres - the Bird cage' over the stairwell.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Master bathroom with custom designed vanity and shower. Note feature 'scalloped' tile in shower, shower seat and mirrored wall over sink cabinet. This bathroom is fitted into a tight space under eaves but feels much bigger with a spacious shower and large fitted cabinet.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
A bathtub would not fit in the ensuite but was a priority so it was given the alcove with a round light well 'window' over and a feature of scalloped tile on wall. Note the use of display space under the fire-egress skylight. Brass metal 'basket' light fixture.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Master Bedroom with closet area.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The alcoved tub with light well over. Note the featured scallop tile in white and soft blue/green colour. The floor tile is a pillowed limestone in a brick pattern.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The master closet area is open to the bedroom. Maximized the space (from the angle of the vaulted ceiling in the living room on the ground floor. Custom drawers and shelves. A 'pop open' hidden door at end for under eave storage. Brass door and drawer hardware.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Built under the eaves with a triple pane fire-egress skylight. The ensuite is built under the gable pitch so the Sink is wall-hung, in the bedroom on an angled wall with lighted mirror. Blue linen headboards and dresser.
Grey Gate Lodge - 1st Floor Twin Bedroom
Twin bedroom ensuite with Carrera Marble tile in subway and mosaic. Wall hung WC and rain shower.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The family guest room on 1st floor could accommodate two adults and two small children. Seating area and ensuite.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The family guest room on 1st floor could accommodate two adults and two small children. Seating area and frosted door to ensuite.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
1st floor family bedroom seating area, South facing skylight.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
1st floor family bedroom ensuite with wall hung WC and sink (Crosswater). Rain shower with white subway tile and feature patterned tile on floor. An efficient use of eave space under gable end.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Custom teak door with antique stair railings.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Even a new home for the birds!
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The table set for B&B guests.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The Powder room wallpaper by Timorous Beasties.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Entrance hall display cabinet.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
A house in the country.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
'Dream, Wish, Believe'
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
When found objects become decor... Candle sconces...
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Timorous Beasties cushion and faux fur throw for texture and pattern.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Design is in the details
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The front door
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
The finished house from above.
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Aerial view with studio structure in process
Grey Gate Lodge - Modern Victorian Gate Lodge Style
Before
This house has sat for almost 10 years, new roof & Exterior Walls. Gutted inside with block walls formed. No Windows. Derelict shed adjacent. Property is 9.5 acres on the main Ballina Rd road near Foxford. Few miles from Mount Falcon.
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Foxford Auction House
Karen Mackay
Grey Gate Lodge