Houzz Tour: At Home With... Alex Carberry of The Interior DIYer
Continuing our series visiting interiors bloggers at home, Alex Carberry opens up her Irish flat and talks about her inspirations
When, after a less-than-ideal experience renting a tiny, noisy flat in central Dublin, blogger Alex Carberry stumbled across this two-bedroom flat slightly further out, she jumped at it. A month later, she and her husband, Robert, were moving in. “The move was just short of being accompanied by harp music playing softly in the background,” she laughs.
Eight years and plenty of DIY later, Alex has upcycled, crafted and created a space that suits her tastes and the needs of the family. Her next project – getting the spare room ready for the arrival of their first child.
COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
To celebrate some of the most creative and inspiring UK & Irish bloggers and their homes, we ask each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift that reflects their personal style. Alex has chosen a Cabbage Leaf Crooked serving bowl from Article as this month’s prize. All you have to do to enter is comment below, telling us what you love about this home.
Eight years and plenty of DIY later, Alex has upcycled, crafted and created a space that suits her tastes and the needs of the family. Her next project – getting the spare room ready for the arrival of their first child.
COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN
To celebrate some of the most creative and inspiring UK & Irish bloggers and their homes, we ask each blogger in this series to choose a giveaway gift that reflects their personal style. Alex has chosen a Cabbage Leaf Crooked serving bowl from Article as this month’s prize. All you have to do to enter is comment below, telling us what you love about this home.
What made you start blogging?
I started blogging in 2010 as a way to share my design finds and interiors projects during the recession here in Ireland. At the time, I was in the middle of doing my BA in Interior Design and it seemed as if a career in design was impossible, so I started a design blog and, six years later, I’m still writing and creating for it. I love my silly blog as it pushes me to carry through with a project if I have one in mind.
I’d really recommend blogging to anyone who has a passion, no matter what it is. Never in a million years did I think I’d still be writing mine six years later, never mind meeting like-minded people and being offered opportunities because of it. It’s been such an exciting and unexpected journey.
I started blogging in 2010 as a way to share my design finds and interiors projects during the recession here in Ireland. At the time, I was in the middle of doing my BA in Interior Design and it seemed as if a career in design was impossible, so I started a design blog and, six years later, I’m still writing and creating for it. I love my silly blog as it pushes me to carry through with a project if I have one in mind.
I’d really recommend blogging to anyone who has a passion, no matter what it is. Never in a million years did I think I’d still be writing mine six years later, never mind meeting like-minded people and being offered opportunities because of it. It’s been such an exciting and unexpected journey.
How long have you lived here and how did you and your flat meet?
We’ve been renting this place for almost eight years now. We were previously living in the centre of Dublin, in a shoebox-sized one-bed flat, and paying a crazy amount of rent. It was very noisy, old and quite unsafe, now I think of it.
I found our current flat online one morning and within a month we were living in a quiet, safe, roomy and secure home in a far better area of Dublin city. It’s a far cry from what we lived in before.
We’ve been renting this place for almost eight years now. We were previously living in the centre of Dublin, in a shoebox-sized one-bed flat, and paying a crazy amount of rent. It was very noisy, old and quite unsafe, now I think of it.
I found our current flat online one morning and within a month we were living in a quiet, safe, roomy and secure home in a far better area of Dublin city. It’s a far cry from what we lived in before.
What was the flat like when you first moved in?
It was in a good overall condition, but it was very basic. The previous tenants didn’t put much love or care into it when they lived here, so it was in need of a power-wash, new paint and lots of touch-ups and repairs.
The skirting boards and doors had yellowed over the 15 years since they were first painted, so I took it upon myself to sand and repaint all of them in crisp white. It took me a couple of months, but the final result has made me stupid levels of proud.
It was in a good overall condition, but it was very basic. The previous tenants didn’t put much love or care into it when they lived here, so it was in need of a power-wash, new paint and lots of touch-ups and repairs.
The skirting boards and doors had yellowed over the 15 years since they were first painted, so I took it upon myself to sand and repaint all of them in crisp white. It took me a couple of months, but the final result has made me stupid levels of proud.
What’s your favourite spot in the flat and why?
That would have to be the oversized chair in our living room; there’s a good view of the room and through to the kitchen from there and it’s comfortable.
Browse compact living room ideas
That would have to be the oversized chair in our living room; there’s a good view of the room and through to the kitchen from there and it’s comfortable.
Browse compact living room ideas
Do you have a design rule you live by?
I don’t really have a rule per se, but I try to buy second-hand or nearly new items as often as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I love new pieces and won’t deny myself if something catches my eye, but if I’m on the lookout for something generic (such as a dresser), I’ll go nearly new as often as I can to reduce the environmental impact and demand for new pieces to be made.
I don’t really have a rule per se, but I try to buy second-hand or nearly new items as often as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I love new pieces and won’t deny myself if something catches my eye, but if I’m on the lookout for something generic (such as a dresser), I’ll go nearly new as often as I can to reduce the environmental impact and demand for new pieces to be made.
Would you like to win this quirky Cabbage Leaf Crooked serving bowl? Just leave a comment below and you’ll automatically be entered into the prize draw.
What do you think is the next big interiors trend and why?
I’d like to think that sourcing previously owned pieces of furniture, fittings and décor will be the next big trend.
Designer Emily Henderson is such an inspiration when it comes to market gems, thrift shopping and buying second-hand. Her home is filled with antiques, flea-market finds and charity-shop scores and it looks incredible. You find so much character with previously owned pieces, as well as real one-of-a-kinds.
I’d like to think that sourcing previously owned pieces of furniture, fittings and décor will be the next big trend.
Designer Emily Henderson is such an inspiration when it comes to market gems, thrift shopping and buying second-hand. Her home is filled with antiques, flea-market finds and charity-shop scores and it looks incredible. You find so much character with previously owned pieces, as well as real one-of-a-kinds.
What do you love to do on Sunday afternoons?
I really love lazy Sunday afternoons, especially ones that have no specific agenda, so we can relax at home and see where the day takes us. If the weather isn’t in our favour, my favourite thing to do is to take my time and work on my latest project at home.
I really love lazy Sunday afternoons, especially ones that have no specific agenda, so we can relax at home and see where the day takes us. If the weather isn’t in our favour, my favourite thing to do is to take my time and work on my latest project at home.
What’s the first thing you do when you get up in the morning?
Honestly? I wish I could say I don a long, flowing dressing gown, effortlessly put together an Instagram-worthy breakfast and Robert and I eat it calmly on our (imaginary) rooftop balcony, but the truth is the first thing I do is empty the cats’ litter tray! It has to be done and I don’t like doing it, so I get it over with first thing in the morning. That way, my day can only get better.
Honestly? I wish I could say I don a long, flowing dressing gown, effortlessly put together an Instagram-worthy breakfast and Robert and I eat it calmly on our (imaginary) rooftop balcony, but the truth is the first thing I do is empty the cats’ litter tray! It has to be done and I don’t like doing it, so I get it over with first thing in the morning. That way, my day can only get better.
What’s your next big decorating project?
My next task is our spare bedroom. We’re expecting our first baby in October (actually on our wedding anniversary!) so my nesting fever is now in overdrive. I’m itching to start working on the room and, while it’s not going to be a ground-breaking nursery, it’ll take a lot of preparation and planning. The exciting kind of preparation and planning!
What’s your proudest DIY achievement?
It’s a small project, but I’d have to say the upcycled pendant light that’s currently in our spare bedroom. It’s made from the leftover cord from my parents’ vacuum cleaner after it broke. The cord itself was in perfect working order, so with some electrical help from my dad (“Dad DIYer”), we changed it into a bedside light.
I’m really proud of that project, as it used something that would otherwise have been destined for landfill and transformed it into something useful instead.
Browse 10 creative ways to personalise a rented bedroom
My next task is our spare bedroom. We’re expecting our first baby in October (actually on our wedding anniversary!) so my nesting fever is now in overdrive. I’m itching to start working on the room and, while it’s not going to be a ground-breaking nursery, it’ll take a lot of preparation and planning. The exciting kind of preparation and planning!
What’s your proudest DIY achievement?
It’s a small project, but I’d have to say the upcycled pendant light that’s currently in our spare bedroom. It’s made from the leftover cord from my parents’ vacuum cleaner after it broke. The cord itself was in perfect working order, so with some electrical help from my dad (“Dad DIYer”), we changed it into a bedside light.
I’m really proud of that project, as it used something that would otherwise have been destined for landfill and transformed it into something useful instead.
Browse 10 creative ways to personalise a rented bedroom
Do you have a mantra you live by?
I first saw one of William Morris’s quotes close to 10 years ago and it’s still something I live by every day – “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
The idea behind it applies to so many situations, not just to what you choose to keep in your home. It applies to who you decide to socialise with, the projects you take on and how you choose to spend your time. I’m learning as I’m getting older that it’s OK to be a bit more selfish with how I use my time.
I first saw one of William Morris’s quotes close to 10 years ago and it’s still something I live by every day – “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
The idea behind it applies to so many situations, not just to what you choose to keep in your home. It applies to who you decide to socialise with, the projects you take on and how you choose to spend your time. I’m learning as I’m getting older that it’s OK to be a bit more selfish with how I use my time.
Is there anything you couldn’t live without?
Oh, my husband and our cats.
Are you a UK or Irish interiors blogger? Talk to us! If you’d like to submit your home for this series, please send details to ukeditor@houzz.com or irelandeditor@houzz.com.
Visit Alex’s blog.
Oh, my husband and our cats.
Are you a UK or Irish interiors blogger? Talk to us! If you’d like to submit your home for this series, please send details to ukeditor@houzz.com or irelandeditor@houzz.com.
Visit Alex’s blog.
COMMENT TO WIN
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is post a comment below on what you love about Alex’s home. A randomly drawn entry from all comments that were submitted in the contest period and approved by Houzz UK Ltd will determine this month’s prize winner. Approved comments will be included in the draw automatically. The prize winner will receive a Cabbage Leaf Crooked serving bowl from Article. If out of stock, a gift voucher will be issued. Closing date 23.59pm on Saturday 13th August 2016. View the full competition T&Cs here.
All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning is post a comment below on what you love about Alex’s home. A randomly drawn entry from all comments that were submitted in the contest period and approved by Houzz UK Ltd will determine this month’s prize winner. Approved comments will be included in the draw automatically. The prize winner will receive a Cabbage Leaf Crooked serving bowl from Article. If out of stock, a gift voucher will be issued. Closing date 23.59pm on Saturday 13th August 2016. View the full competition T&Cs here.
Who lives here Alex Carberry, her husband, Robert, and their two cats, Juniper and Toshi
Blog The Interior DIYer
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Location Islandbridge, Dublin