Houzz Tour: Cool Retro Style in a Rustic House in Southeast Ireland
Modern, open-plan living and colourful retro finds have transformed this timber-framed house in County Wexford
Lara Sargent
25 June 2016
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience writing for national magazines, newspapers and websites.
Houzz UK contributor. Freelance interiors journalist with over 20 years' experience... More
This airy, timber-framed house, set against the rural backdrop of County Wexford in Ireland, is a world away – design-wise – from the owners’ previous new-build property, but the couple fell in love with the open-plan space and ecofriendly architecture as soon as they set eyes on it.
The house was designed by eco architect Colin Bell, and built in 2001. The original owners wanted to make it as ecofriendly as possible. It has triple-glazed windows, works in conjunction with solar gain and is super-insulated. “My clients loved all of these features and purchased it in 2006,” says Ann-Marie Carty, the project’s interior architect. “It had such great light, and all the mature hedgerows had been retained around the boundary of the property.”
A plumbing accident caused substantial damage to the house. Carty was able to help the owners restore it and, at the same time, tailor it more to their needs.
The house was designed by eco architect Colin Bell, and built in 2001. The original owners wanted to make it as ecofriendly as possible. It has triple-glazed windows, works in conjunction with solar gain and is super-insulated. “My clients loved all of these features and purchased it in 2006,” says Ann-Marie Carty, the project’s interior architect. “It had such great light, and all the mature hedgerows had been retained around the boundary of the property.”
A plumbing accident caused substantial damage to the house. Carty was able to help the owners restore it and, at the same time, tailor it more to their needs.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here A family with three children
Location County Wexford
Property A timber-framed, detached house
Size 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Designer Ann-Marie Carty of Stuart Design Studio
This open-plan living space makes up the central core of the 1,800 sq ft home, with four bedrooms wrapped around the back and side of the ground floor.
“The clients wanted to make a number of changes following a plumbing accident,” explains Carty. “It caused substantial damage to the house, so they had no choice but to remodel the kitchen, dining space and living room.”
It was the perfect opportunity to make changes to suit their needs, including relocating the stairs from the middle of the house to the side, which created space for a cloakroom, a small utility room and an extra bedroom.
“It also allowed them to ‘de-pine’ the house,” says Carty. “The living room felt like a giant sauna, as there was pine everywhere – doors, ceiling and floor!”
Who lives here A family with three children
Location County Wexford
Property A timber-framed, detached house
Size 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Designer Ann-Marie Carty of Stuart Design Studio
This open-plan living space makes up the central core of the 1,800 sq ft home, with four bedrooms wrapped around the back and side of the ground floor.
“The clients wanted to make a number of changes following a plumbing accident,” explains Carty. “It caused substantial damage to the house, so they had no choice but to remodel the kitchen, dining space and living room.”
It was the perfect opportunity to make changes to suit their needs, including relocating the stairs from the middle of the house to the side, which created space for a cloakroom, a small utility room and an extra bedroom.
“It also allowed them to ‘de-pine’ the house,” says Carty. “The living room felt like a giant sauna, as there was pine everywhere – doors, ceiling and floor!”
“The clients love flea markets and vintage furniture,” says Carty. “They’d been collecting since they met, so had quite a few pieces, but were sure to only buy things they really loved. They had some rules: it had to be a bargain, it needed to have a story, and there needed to be elements of quality.
“I enjoyed mixing up these finds with cool little things I found in local craft shops, some artwork and a bit of Ikea for good measure. These items tell a story and bring life, colour and soul to the home.”
The leather chairs were bought by the couple at a local garage sale and the G-Plan coffee table was picked up at a second-hand shop years ago for around £45.
See inspiring ways to light up wooden beams and barn-style ceilings
“I enjoyed mixing up these finds with cool little things I found in local craft shops, some artwork and a bit of Ikea for good measure. These items tell a story and bring life, colour and soul to the home.”
The leather chairs were bought by the couple at a local garage sale and the G-Plan coffee table was picked up at a second-hand shop years ago for around £45.
See inspiring ways to light up wooden beams and barn-style ceilings
“Since it was a blank canvas after the plumbing accident, I wanted to give the clients a space that would change and grow as they did,’ says Carty. “I kept it simple and started with all the fitted finishes in black and white, which was softened by the natural oak beam structure running through.”
The beautiful solid acacia wood flooring has a brown-black stain and creates a sleek, neutral backdrop together with the white walls.
The paintings are by two favourite local artists – Paddy Lennon and Karla Enright.
Walls painted in Brilliant White Softsheen, Dulux. Stanley stove, Waterford Stanley.
The beautiful solid acacia wood flooring has a brown-black stain and creates a sleek, neutral backdrop together with the white walls.
The paintings are by two favourite local artists – Paddy Lennon and Karla Enright.
Walls painted in Brilliant White Softsheen, Dulux. Stanley stove, Waterford Stanley.
The open-plan living space has a double-height ceiling with skylights to allow light to flood in.
The solid oak table is surrounded by white chairs from Ikea (which have since been discontinued, but BoConcept does similar), while the striking Norm 69 pendant light by Normann Copenhagen adds a retro touch.
Norm 69 pendant light, Design 55.
The solid oak table is surrounded by white chairs from Ikea (which have since been discontinued, but BoConcept does similar), while the striking Norm 69 pendant light by Normann Copenhagen adds a retro touch.
Norm 69 pendant light, Design 55.
The mezzanine above the kitchen was originally just a big, empty space, but Carty kitted it out with shelves and a chair, and it’s now a library and reading nook.
Schelly chair, BoConcept.
Schelly chair, BoConcept.
The monochrome kitchen was designed to be as practical as it is good-looking. It was built by local joiner Chris Dempsey and has handleless, vinyl-wrapped doors that are child-friendly and easy to clean.
“Function was very important for the clients. The mother and daughter love to bake and spend lots of time in the kitchen,” explains Carty. “I zoned the area for functionality and to make optimum use of the space: one side is dedicated to prep work, tea-making and cleaning, the other to cooking, and the back part is storage.”
The red wall units were brought in to add a little colour and quirk factor to the kitchen: the left side is for stashing teacups and the right for tea and coffee storage. “I chose red high gloss as it was the complete opposite to the matt finish of the black and white, and thought it went with the playfulness of the fridge art,” says Carty, referencing the unusual comic strip decals.
A baking cupboard to the right of the built-in oven has a concealed microwave above it, while the drawers underneath store glass, plates, crockery, food platters, bowls and baking trays. “They’re all placed there so they’re just one step from the dishwasher,” the designer adds.
TopPlus laminate worktops, Topform.
Check out 10 beautiful Irish kitchens
“Function was very important for the clients. The mother and daughter love to bake and spend lots of time in the kitchen,” explains Carty. “I zoned the area for functionality and to make optimum use of the space: one side is dedicated to prep work, tea-making and cleaning, the other to cooking, and the back part is storage.”
The red wall units were brought in to add a little colour and quirk factor to the kitchen: the left side is for stashing teacups and the right for tea and coffee storage. “I chose red high gloss as it was the complete opposite to the matt finish of the black and white, and thought it went with the playfulness of the fridge art,” says Carty, referencing the unusual comic strip decals.
A baking cupboard to the right of the built-in oven has a concealed microwave above it, while the drawers underneath store glass, plates, crockery, food platters, bowls and baking trays. “They’re all placed there so they’re just one step from the dishwasher,” the designer adds.
TopPlus laminate worktops, Topform.
Check out 10 beautiful Irish kitchens
The owner ideally wanted a black fridge to finish off the monochrome kitchen, but rather than replace their existing white one, which was still in good condition, she did it up with some comic book stickers from Bricorama, a DIY chain in France.
The overhead cupboards above the fridge are used for incidental storage, for items that don’t need to be accessed on a day-to-day basis: spare jars for making jam, extra cups, a fondue set, teapots and birthday party equipment.
Fridge stickers like this one are also available at Wall Sweet Home.
The overhead cupboards above the fridge are used for incidental storage, for items that don’t need to be accessed on a day-to-day basis: spare jars for making jam, extra cups, a fondue set, teapots and birthday party equipment.
Fridge stickers like this one are also available at Wall Sweet Home.
The kitchen leads through to one of the bedrooms at the back of the house. “This room was a little TV nook that we relocated last year to the mezzanine,” says Carty. “It’s now an extra bedroom for the clients’ growing family needs.”
Porcelain floor tiles, TileStyle. Range cooker, Rangemaster.
Porcelain floor tiles, TileStyle. Range cooker, Rangemaster.
The master bedroom is at the front of the house, with an en-suite just behind it. It’s a bright, south-facing room with a wrought-iron bed – given to the clients as a housewarming present – and a vibrant green rug.
“The chair and little blue suitcase were found by the owners at a flea market, and the little carved pictures over the bed came from their time spent in Mozambique,” explains Carty.
Noresund bed (discontinued), Ikea.
“The chair and little blue suitcase were found by the owners at a flea market, and the little carved pictures over the bed came from their time spent in Mozambique,” explains Carty.
Noresund bed (discontinued), Ikea.
With vivid fuchsia walls, the girls’ bedroom is certainly a statement. It’s also kitted out with bold Ikea bedding and a polka-dot rug. The fitted furniture was handmade by Stuart Design Studio.
Wall painted in Flamingo Pink, Dulux.
Wall painted in Flamingo Pink, Dulux.
Stairs lead up from the living area to the second floor. On the upstairs landing, a striking runner adds personality and colour, along with the cool, retro Invader Pod chair and long woven artwork on the wall by Terry ‘The Weaver’ Dunne.
Invader Pod chair, available from Fenton Furnishings. Runner, Ceadogán Rugs.
Invader Pod chair, available from Fenton Furnishings. Runner, Ceadogán Rugs.
“The office is the only room upstairs in the house,” says Carty. “It was originally going to be a spare room for guests, but it turned out to be too far away from the bathroom, so it became an office instead. It’s close enough to the rest of the house, but quiet enough to provide a productive work space,” says the designer.
Browse contemporary home offices
Browse contemporary home offices
“I made the desk out of MDF and wrapped it in black leatherette,” explains Carty.
The desk lamp and chair are vintage pieces from Geneva. “The Quick 1500 desk lamp dates from 1935 and is by Alfred Müller, a Swiss Bauhaus designer. The chair is a Swiss-made Gyroflex 82 Pascal, manufactured in the early 1980s, which appeared in white on the BBC’s Parkinson show for a number of years.”
TELL US…
What do you think of this timber-framed home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
The desk lamp and chair are vintage pieces from Geneva. “The Quick 1500 desk lamp dates from 1935 and is by Alfred Müller, a Swiss Bauhaus designer. The chair is a Swiss-made Gyroflex 82 Pascal, manufactured in the early 1980s, which appeared in white on the BBC’s Parkinson show for a number of years.”
TELL US…
What do you think of this timber-framed home? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Related Stories
House Tours
Houzz Tour: Warm Tones and Luxurious Surfaces in a City Townhouse
An earthy colour palette, hidden storage and well-placed texture add character and practicality to this London home
Full Story
Room Tours
Kitchen Tour: A Gorgeous Extension With a Leafy Glasshouse Feel
By Kate Burt
When the owners of this terraced house extended, they were keen to retain its period feel and highlight the garden
Full Story
Gardens
Garden Tour: A Bare Roof Terrace Becomes a Pretty, Sociable Space
By Kate Burt
A retired couple got help transforming their large rooftop into a gorgeous, welcoming, multi-functional retreat
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Smart Layout and Genius Storage in a Victorian Home
Flipping the standard layout and carving out excellent storage have turned this tired house into a brilliant family home
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Victorian House Brought Impressively Up to Date
By Jo Simmons
A cohesive layout and warm colours combined with energy-efficiency measures thoroughly modernise this terraced home
Full Story
Kitchen Tours
Kitchen Tour: An Open, Airy Space Made for Entertaining
Combining two separate rooms has improved flow and created a sociable open-plan kitchen, dining and seating space
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A Family Home Inspired by its Seaside Location
Coastal colours and practical design combine to create a house that will adapt as the family grows
Full Story
Kitchens
5 Inspiring Before and After Kitchen Transformations
Whether you want to boost storage, incorporate original features or maximise your space, take ideas from these designs
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: An Airy, Scandi Finish for a Tall Victorian House
By Kate Burt
From a tricky inherited bath to a sticky-out staircase, on-site problem-solving led to a seamless update for an old home
Full Story
House Tours
Houzz Tour: A 17th Century Cottage Gains Warmth and Character
The clever use of colour and pattern has revived this old building while creating a 21st century family home
Full Story
@julesberry... In Ireland we have a system where a large water cylinder to heat hot water is stored in the attic, this had a seal on it where the element to heat the water is inserted. The seal on the element failed and unfortunately, in this instance, substantial damage to the building fabric was caused leading to the renovation works. @susandoyle1111... Beams are natural, there is no staining on them. Thanks for all your kind comments guys, its wonderful to have such positive feed back.
What a lovely home! You've done a great job in "de-pining" the interior to create a light and airy family home with lots of personality and style. Well done!