Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie

Name: Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie
Address: 2 Harbour Townhouses, Co, Mayo, Co. Mayo, F28 HE97, Ireland
Telephone: 087 438 7456
Rating: 5

9 Reviews

Interior Designers

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About Us

Industry Leading Interior Designers in Westport Quay, Ireland

Hello, Welcome to Karen Mackay Designs — Interior Designer, certified PMP (Project Manager), and founder of Wildatlantique.com and DesignIY.ie I have 23 years of international design/build experience delivering high-end residential and commercial interior design across three markets: Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the US. I have an AAS degree in Interior Design from the New York School of Interior Design, a dual BBA in International Business & Finance (St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, IN), an MBA (UCD Smurfit), and a PMP certification (2025) through PMI. In Ireland, over many years, I have brought all of my international experience in design/build/sourcing/energy efficiency to a market I know intimately: the realities of planning, the contractor landscape, real budgets, and what genuinely works in a home or hospitality space. In St Helier, Jersey in the Channel Islands, I designed for high-net-worth client's bespoke residential and commercial projects, along with retail clients, by developing a specialist fluency in unique product sourcing with my Wild Atlantique brand. Utilising unique vendor curation and product creation for clients who wanted the rare and distinctive. Living, working and studying design for many years in New York City, Fairfield County, CT, Westchester County, NY then Delray Beach, Florida, USA — some of the most demanding luxury residential and commercial markets on the US East Coast. I worked to high standards of interior design, real estate consultation (Coldwell Banker - Darien), formerly LEED certified while focusing on project management precision, from quality of finish to offering an attentive client service. Alongside my design and PM practice, I founded Wildatlantique.com 10 years ago — a curated Atlantic coastal lifestyle brand sourcing unique, sustainable, affordable-luxury pieces to clients who want something not readily found in the open market. That sourcing discipline is built into every project I take on. I am always pursuing the latest in new product offerings in finishes, materials and furniture, along with sourcing unique vintage pieces. Planning, sourcing and finally staging spaces for clients, while utilizing my prior real estate consultation experience to give clients the best metrics for investing, renovating and budgeting. Reach out for a free 30 minute initial consultation call at your convenience. I believe living well is within everyone's budget! Karen

Services Provided

3D Rendering, Accessible Design, Basement Design, Bathroom Design, Bedroom Design, Bespoke Bathroom Vanities, Bespoke Bookcases, Bespoke Cabinets, Bespoke Fitted Furniture, Bespoke Furniture, Bespoke Home Bars, Bespoke Kitchen Cabinets, Bespoke Kitchen Pantries, Bespoke Media Units, Bespoke Rugs, Bespoke Shelving, Bespoke Walk-in Wardrobes, Bicycle Storage, Boot Room Design, Complete Kitchen Renovation, Conservatory Design & Installation, Decluttering, Design Consultation, Dining Room Design, Downsizing, Drafting, Eco Homes, Entrance Design, Floor Plans, Furniture Selection, Garage Design, Garage Storage, Home Cinema Design, Home Office Design & Construction, Home Staging, House Plans, Interior Architecture, Interior Design, Interior Styling, Kids' Room Design, Kitchen Design, Lighting Design, Living Room Design, Made to Measure Blinds, Nursery Design, Pantry Design, Playroom Design, Project Management, Seasonal Decorating Services, Shower Room Design

Areas Served

Ireland, United States, EU, India, Middle East, Channel Islands

Awards

PMP Certified. AAS in Interior Design. MBA & BBA in International Business & Finance. Member of The Interiors Association of Ireland and The Institute of Project Management - Ireland. Former Member of ASID & former LEED certified in the USA.

Professional Information

PMP certified Interior Designer. Project Manager of Residential & Commercial Design Projects, Staging and Real Estate consultation. 22+ years experience with projects in Ireland, UK & USA. Based in Westport Co Mayo, Ireland. Open to remote and/or local interior design/build project management. Encompassing all past experience and educational achievements to bring inspirational, accessible and sustainable design to clients in Ireland, UK, and Worldwide.

9 Projects

Before, During and After photos of this ‘Period inspired Gate Lodge’

120

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

Foxford, County Mayo

5 Mile River Rowayton - 1862 Barn to a Modern Rustic Style

Norwalk, USA

Seaview Townhouse (former Salt Warehouse)

9 Reviews for Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie

Newest first

5.0|9 reviews

Work Quality

5.0

Communication

5.0

Value

5.0

Clara A

We had the absolute pleasure of working with Karen from Wild Atlantique during our major house renovation, and we couldn’t be more impressed with the service she provided. From the very beginning, Karen delivered a truly first-class experience. Her interior design expertise, combined with her ability to source high-quality materials, made what could have been a stressful process feel seamless and well-managed. She took the time to understand our vision and translated it into beautifully designed spaces that perfectly balanced style, practicality, and quality. Karen’s attention to detail was exceptional. She carefully sourced bathroom fittings, finishes, and materials that not only suited the overall design of our home but also met a very high standard of craftsmanship and durability. Her knowledge of suppliers and products saved us an enormous amount of time and ensured we had access to options we would never have found on our own. Just as importantly, Karen liaised extremely well with our tradesmen throughout the project. Her ability to communicate the design requirements clearly and coordinate with the people carrying out the work helped everything run smoothly and ensured the final results matched the vision perfectly. Throughout the renovation, Karen was professional, responsive, and incredibly organised. Her guidance and recommendations were invaluable, and her ability to coordinate the design and sourcing elements helped keep everything moving efficiently during what was a large and complex project. We would highly recommend Karen and Wild Atlantique to anyone undertaking a renovation or looking for expert interior design support. Her creativity, professionalism, and dedication to delivering outstanding results made a huge difference to our project.

18 April, 2026

Caitriona Coleman

I had Karen help me with interior design and choices for our house when we did a make over on our kitchen in March 2020. The work started during covid in 2020. Karen was so accommodating and easy to work with. We were very happy with her recommendations, colour choices and communications. I would highly recommend her.

19 March, 2026

Comment from Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie:

Thank you for your kind review. So happy to know it has all worked out so well!

HU-90526800

We had an excellent experience working with Karen and would recommend her without hesitation. Starting with our existing house floor plans, Karen turned around a revised layout within just four days that was significantly better than anything our previous engineer and contractor had proposed. What really stood out was how carefully she listened to what we actually needed from the space. For example, we specifically wanted a large, functional utility room that would work for a busy household. Rather than pushing for a small utility tucked away behind the kitchen (which we had been previously advised to do), she designed a proper, practical utility space that genuinely fits how we live. Karen also approached the design very thoughtfully from a technical and cost perspective. She worked hard to minimize disruption to existing load-bearing walls and made smart use of current water points, which will help keep construction costs down. At the same time, she brought real creativity and aesthetic insight to the design — introducing features like a vaulted ceiling in the entryway and elegant arches leading into the dining areas, which immediately elevated the feel of the house. What impressed us most was how she balanced beauty, practicality, and long-term thinking. She considered how the house will evolve as our family grows, incorporating flexible ideas such as a dressing room that could later function as a nursery, while still protecting the home’s resale value. Throughout the process Karen shared draft floorplans, Ideabook images, and notes that made it easy to visualize ideas and collaborate on the design. Her approach feels very much like a full design-build service: thoughtful planning, practical problem solving, and a clear design vision all in one place. Karen will save you money, design around your real needs, and guide the aesthetic so that the final result is both comfortable and beautiful. We couldn’t recommend her more highly — 10/10.

12 March, 2026

Comment from Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie:

So lovely working with you on your renovation plans! So thrilled to know I have helped you on your home journey.

HU-738057478

Karen’s ideas (and particularly drafting and floor plans) have been unbelievably helpful as we plan a renovation/possible extension to our first house. She really listens to what you love/don’t love, incorporates it into the design, but also gives you new ideas and perspectives on things you hadn’t considered at all. We really appreciate her depth of knowledge and experience, and how much comes through in the notes. 100% would recommend her!

11 March, 2026

Comment from Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie:

Thank you so much for your kind comments and letting me be a small part of your new home journey! Wishing you the best!

claremaguire

We couldn’t recommend Karen highly enough. From start to finish, she was flexible, hardworking, and genuinely invested in achieving the best possible outcome for us. Her creativity was matched by an exceptional understanding of construction which made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Karen consistently offered smart, cost-effective solutions and helped us save money without ever compromising on design quality or detail. She listened carefully, interpreted our brief beautifully, and elevated it with thoughtful, well-considered ideas. Professional, reliable, and a pleasure to work with — the end result exceeded our expectations in every way.. we have worked with Karen on several projects both in Ireland and the US and will continue to do so.

18 January, 2026

Comment from Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie:

Thank you so much for the incredibly kind review! Working with you both on a number of projects now has been a great collaboration and a real joy! Wishing you many, many years of happy enjoyment of this current home!

Fiona OConnor

Karen was amazing from start to finish! She came into my home and immediately started throwing out ideas that were both realistic and cost effective. Through some small changes (e.g. repositioning couches/armchairs around in the sitting room), picking rugs or larger such as replacing wood with glass panels in internal double doors, Karen transformed the space. I would highly recommend Karen who is both practical and inspiration at the same time!

8 January, 2026

Comment from Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie:

Thank you Fiona, it is always wonderful to chat about design with you! Your home is an inspiration!

Robin Eekhof

Karen - unlike many decorators Karen enhancnes and encourages your personal style while suggesting a fresh approach and flare to every room-- creative selection on furniture, paint colors and accessories. In addition she managed to stay within my budget without any issues.

2 March, 2020

Comment from Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie:

Thank you Robin! It was a pleasure working with you as you transitioned to a new life and a style completely your own! Helping someone with such wonderful taste was easy and the collaborative process a lot of fun! Wishing you a serene space to call home your whole life!

Cindi Cook

As the former Senior Editor at New York Cottages & Gardens and Hamptons Cottages & Gardens magazines, I worked with Karen Mackay on more than one occasion. She is incredibly intelligent, has a fantastic sense of style, and a keen eye for proportion and detail. Karen has been the owner of her own firm for many years and is a true entrepreneur. Her nonstop energy and smarts will bring any project, large or small, to light, always producing a gorgeous result! I would highly recommend Karen for any form of residential or commercial work.

27 February, 2020

Comment from Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie:

Thank you Cindi! Always a pleasure touching base with you as you are a true connoisseur in all matters of taste! I loved working with the Cottages & Gardens brand (CT, NY and the Hamptons) and always look for inspiration in its pages. Thank you for providing contacts and references in the Design/Journalism/Editorial industry. I greatly appreciate your support!

Damian Walker

Karen, was a pleasure to work with on my projects. She was able to provide very valuable and knowledgeable insight to several real estate deals. She designed floor plans and structural placement, with a keen eye for aesthetic and budget consciousness. I engaged her to manage a full on build of an 1867 home on the coastal waters of Ct USA. It was done in 2 stages, which was particularly good for me as I could live in the first part comfortably while the second was being built. I would of course highly recommend her.

26 February, 2020

Comment from Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie:

Thank you for choosing me to work on some of your Connecticut based Purchase/Renovate/Sale projects. I so appreciate the trust you put in me to 'manage, design, consult, sell' and wish you all future success in similar real estate endeavours!

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Business Details

Business Name

Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie

Phone Number

087 438 7456

Website

www.wildatlantique.com

Address

2 Harbour Townhouses
The Quay Westport
Co, Mayo
Co. Mayo
Ireland

Typical Job Cost

€100 -

Followers

18 Followers

Socials

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Credentials

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30 Ideabooks

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5 Comments

Commented: Beautiful cabinet color. Can you share the paint color?Yes please share this colour? Thank you

8 April, 2026

Commented: design of this roomHi Sonia, I have developed the 1st floor for your son with a wood slatted feature wall in the bedroom and the office/guest room. I created a sleeping nook under the eave with a pull out 2 seater sofa ...

2 March, 2026

Commented: will it give sufficient light?Unless I get notice I can drive on my international license. Waiting to hear

18 October, 2020

Commented: this is our preferred panellingIt is but a bit more expensive. These are raised panels with moulding, grooves etc. We could talk to Larry and see if there was a way to do a more subtle raised panel. Sometimes you can find manufactu...

11 October, 2020

Karen Mackay Designs - DesignIY.ie