The Christmas tree has been decorated for weeks in Denise Downey's townhouse at Bray, Co Wicklow. Garlands drape the mantlepiece and Victorian-style Christmas stockings hang from each end of the fireplace.
Denise is currently "snowed under" producing Christmas hampers for Brown Thomas - this has undoubtedly given the seasonal atmosphere a head start in the Downey household.
Spiced oils in curvy jars and pots of humbugs wrapped in gold net add a festive look to the kitchen. The Christmas tree in the livingroom is artificial because Denise is passionate about protecting nature. "I get upset even using paper," she laughs.
Opulent purples, reds and gold dominate throughout the house. Colour is important to Denise and the eastern-themed interior is unrecognisable from the conventional townhouse which Denise moved into six years ago.
She has added silk-sequined cushions and embellished a ceiling rose with copper and gold leaf. The lighting is almost entirely from fairy lights threaded through willow.
Mosaic - one of trained artist Denise's many hobbies - is used to extraordinary effect in the two bathrooms and the kitchen.
"My sister Jedda found the house for me. I was renting in Kiltegan but it was too far from work. I've been collecting stuff for years and needed a home for them. When I came in here, I said 'this is the house for me'. A sale was already agreed with someone else, but it fell through."
"Gutting" the perfectly good Shaker-style kitchen was a priority for Denise. She caters from a professional kitchen for all the Slane concerts and tries out recipes at home, so a serious cook's kitchen was a must.
Splashing out on a magnificent steel Fisher and Paykel electric and gas range, a computerised dishwasher and a giant American-style fridge was essential. For easy access, she installed free-standing steel racks to hold cooking oils and spices and china.
Two clocks tell the time in Ireland and Australia, a sentimental reminder of Denise's former home. The gleaming pots and pans hanging from a steel rack were made in Ireland. "If I can possibly buy Irish I do", she says.
The eclectic interior of the house reflects the family's migrating lifestyle, says Denise, who spent much of her life in Perth and Sydney.
"My wonderful Irish mother was like a gypsy - dragged us everywhere. She had superb taste in decor. She'd buy a derelict house and do it up and just when we had it furnished, we'd move. Australia is the basis for my cooking. It's so multi-cultural - an amazing place to learn to cook.
"I'm an unconventional chef. When I did my first gig at Slane, everyone thought I was mad. But cooking for 10 is the same as for a thousand, just more food. I would hate a nine to five job.
"When we did U2 at Slane, I was cooking backstage for two weeks. You meet really interesting people and everyone seems to know everyone else. I love it, though you're only as good as your last gig."
Her aunt - who painted the house while Denise was at a "gig" in Slane - chose saffron for the kitchen walls. Four kitchen chairs bought in Buy and Sell for £25 were hand painted in funky patterns - even the brush handles have been transformed.
Work is under way on a mosaic wall-mural depicting sea, earth and sky. Rows of cookbooks are propped up by Balinese heads and jars of lollipops.
"This is the first time I've had my own kitchen. The cooker cost nearly £5,000. A lot of money, but its what I do - I make all my samples here."
Around the house, gold Buddhas - found mostly in Ireland - flank doorways and recline on mantlepieces and worktops.
"The 'throne' chair was bought in Bray - it's the best place in Ireland for shopping," says Denise. "Twisted willow wrapped with fairy lights is the most amazing way to have a lamp. The sequined cushions I bought for The Media Awards. The Green Room at The Point is a horrid room and BT's cushions were on special offer so I decided to spend."
The three Downey sisters are particularly close and "bounce off each other", she says. Caroline is the wife of concert promoter Denis Desmond and fundraises tirelessly for several charities. Jedda works for Today FM.
"Caroline's the rock, Jedda's brilliant with computers and I'm more creative - I'm the lunatic," laughs Denise. "I don't do anything by the book. When you're self-taught, you do it your way. I started making hampers for friends and found I loved doing it. Delivering them is my favourite part."
"I really like my house and the neighbours are okay. There are lots of business women in the complex who are really nice. I'm so happy here," adds Denise, heading out to her prized landcruiser for another Christmas delivery.
