Houzz Tour: A Lofty Penthouse Apartment With a Simple Scandi Vibe
A pared-back look mixed with some homely touches helps to pull the high proportions of this modern flat together
It was the middle of lockdown when Rosemarie Carroll’s client first got in touch with her via the Houzz Concierge service. He was in the process of buying a penthouse apartment in Dublin and, while the purchase was going through without a hitch and the structure of the property was sound, there was just one issue Rosemarie would need to address if she were to take on the project – he and his wife were expecting a baby in a couple of months, so the flat had to be ready to move into well within that timeframe.
Rosemarie accepted and the race was on – and so was the challenge of completing a project at breakneck speed in the midst of a pandemic.
Rosemarie accepted and the race was on – and so was the challenge of completing a project at breakneck speed in the midst of a pandemic.
“It’s a beautiful apartment and, as well as the views, the main advantage is the sense of space,” Rosemarie says. “But even though it’s a penthouse with three bedrooms, and it feels big because of the double-height ceiling, on the ground it’s actually quite limited. I did a lot of surveys and drew up everything to scale to work out what would fit.”
The couple favoured Scandi-style furnishings – and were keen to point out that their pet dislikes were velvet and clutter – so Rosemarie got working on some moodboards to develop a pared-back look with neutral tones that would go with the existing engineered oak flooring.
Looking for someone to help with your home? Find local interior designers on Houzz.
The couple favoured Scandi-style furnishings – and were keen to point out that their pet dislikes were velvet and clutter – so Rosemarie got working on some moodboards to develop a pared-back look with neutral tones that would go with the existing engineered oak flooring.
Looking for someone to help with your home? Find local interior designers on Houzz.
“The big question was how to deal with lighting,” Rosemarie says. “Usually with a [double-height space], you’d want to put in some sort of pendant, but we couldn’t because of the way the glass and beams were.”
The pale walls and high windows looked amazing, but Rosemarie was keen to warm up the contemporary space. “I didn’t want it to look like a foyer or something – it needed to feel comfortable and personal,” she says.
For the living area, she chose floor lamps to supplement the lights in the kitchen (which forms part of the space and is under the mezzanine) and add a cosy glow in the evenings.
Floor lamp, Kave Home.
The pale walls and high windows looked amazing, but Rosemarie was keen to warm up the contemporary space. “I didn’t want it to look like a foyer or something – it needed to feel comfortable and personal,” she says.
For the living area, she chose floor lamps to supplement the lights in the kitchen (which forms part of the space and is under the mezzanine) and add a cosy glow in the evenings.
Floor lamp, Kave Home.
As lockdown restrictions were in place, only one tradesperson at a time could go into the property, so Rosemarie had to coordinate and prioritise work as it needed to be done.
An added complication was the fact that the couple weren’t able to view any of the artwork or furniture before making their final choices, and time before the baby’s arrival was running out.
“We had about three site visits and there were a lot of emails going backwards and forwards – but it’s not like we could go to a shop together,” Rosemarie says. “There was something really fun about that, though – we were overcoming the situation and obeying the rules, but we were also getting something done.”
An added complication was the fact that the couple weren’t able to view any of the artwork or furniture before making their final choices, and time before the baby’s arrival was running out.
“We had about three site visits and there were a lot of emails going backwards and forwards – but it’s not like we could go to a shop together,” Rosemarie says. “There was something really fun about that, though – we were overcoming the situation and obeying the rules, but we were also getting something done.”
Getting the layout and zones right with the restricted floor space involved keeping furniture proportions in check, even though it might have been tempting to go for a much larger sofa. Rosemarie opted for an L-shaped corner design to create a chill-out zone in the room without introducing extra pieces of furniture.
Sofa, Made. Rug, Rug Vista.
Sofa, Made. Rug, Rug Vista.
With the double-height ceiling creating expansive walls at either end of the room, Rosemarie was concerned that the upper and lower levels were making it look like a room of two halves. “I decided to go up the walls with the artwork, as I didn’t want it to be a flat space you just looked up to, but wanted to unite the mezzanine with the lower floor area,” she says.
She mapped out a gallery wall and then blended the TV in at the bottom. “It’s one of those TVs you can have a picture on, so it doesn’t stand out like a big black box,” she says. “It’s integrated into the room and in sequence with the pictures, so it just ‘disappears’.”
Artwork, Desenio. Tripod lamp, Woo Design.
Artwork, Desenio. Tripod lamp, Woo Design.
At the other end of the room, the problem was complicated by a bulky air vent for the extraction system. “It’s a real eyesore, so I decided to use strong, sculptural pieces to tie it all together and disguise it,” she says.
Underneath it she hung a carved mandala headboard, and above she added two circular pieces of wall art with bold silhouettes to distract the eye.
PlayaVilla carved headboard, Etsy.
Underneath it she hung a carved mandala headboard, and above she added two circular pieces of wall art with bold silhouettes to distract the eye.
PlayaVilla carved headboard, Etsy.
The couple were moving in with a grey bed they already owned, so Rosemarie used it as the starting point for the muted tones in the bedroom.
The colour of the existing dark purple carpet jarred. “We replaced it with an oak laminate to match as closely as possible with the laminate on the landing outside the room,” she says. She then opted for a toning grey on the walls.
Walls painted in Backdrop, Dulux Moda.
The colour of the existing dark purple carpet jarred. “We replaced it with an oak laminate to match as closely as possible with the laminate on the landing outside the room,” she says. She then opted for a toning grey on the walls.
Walls painted in Backdrop, Dulux Moda.
She added in plenty of wardrobe space to help the couple keep the space clutter-free.
Mirror, Kave Home.
Mirror, Kave Home.
Rosemarie made the bed the focal point in the room, and added warmth to the grey with the artwork, lighting and wooden elements.
“I wanted to tie the bed down visually and define that space, so everything else flows from it,” she says.
Artwork, Desenio. Bench; bedside tables; lamps, all Kave Home.
“I wanted to tie the bed down visually and define that space, so everything else flows from it,” she says.
Artwork, Desenio. Bench; bedside tables; lamps, all Kave Home.
Within six weeks the project was complete, and the couple could move in before the little one arrived. “It was one of the fastest projects I’ve ever done, but it was also really fun,” Rosemarie says. “The pressure meant the couple had to make decisions quickly, and it helped that we worked so well together.
“They’re really happy with the way it turned out,” she says. “They love the Scandi design, and how it’s both minimalist and practical.
“I love the feel of it – the simplicity,” she adds. “A lot of apartments feel very contained, but this one feels very open – and it’s just so peaceful looking out over that view.”
Tell us…
What do you like about how Rosemarie has decorated this apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
“They’re really happy with the way it turned out,” she says. “They love the Scandi design, and how it’s both minimalist and practical.
“I love the feel of it – the simplicity,” she adds. “A lot of apartments feel very contained, but this one feels very open – and it’s just so peaceful looking out over that view.”
Tell us…
What do you like about how Rosemarie has decorated this apartment? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
Who lives here? A young professional couple and their baby
Location Merrion, Dublin
Property A duplex penthouse apartment with a mezzanine
Size Three bedrooms and three bathrooms
Designer Rosemarie Carroll of RCD Design
The standout feature of the flat was the incredible floor-to-ceiling windows in the open-plan living area, which overlook a golf course and offer stunning views as far as the eye can see. As it’s a dual-aspect apartment, over on the other side, the bedroom windows look out over a modern residential development, and out towards the coast.