For centuries, artists and writers have lived in Wicklow's secluded valleys, drawn by the idyllic landscape and the availability of postcard cottages to do up.

These "blow-ins" are like a breath of fresh air to rural communities, opening up craft shops and potteries which attract busloads of tourists. The more adventurous set up manufacturing companies and boost local employment.

Ros and Patrick Walshe fit perfectly into this category. From their factory in Rathdrum's stone railway buildings, the couple export printed candles and china mugs to New York and the UK.

There are no leprechauns and shamrocks here, although delicate flower-printed candles are popular on the home market. Since most of their products are made for foreign tourist markets, they print sketches of famous sights such as the New York skyline or Windsor Castle.

Ros, from England, met Trinity-educated Patrick when he was in New York for an art exhibition. After 10 years working as artists and designers in the US, the couple decided to put down roots in Ireland while their children were growing up.

When they moved to Galway in 1995, Ros continued to run her colour and textile inspiration business and Patrick imported furniture from Bali under the label "Hemisphere".

Because Ros spent a lot of time travelling back and forth to Dublin, they eventually decided to move to the east coast. By that time, she was "thoroughly sick" of the fashion business.

"My colour library made a lot of money and, since there were no overheads, it was a great gig. But it involved a lot of heavy physical work and the only future was to get even more involved."

After a "fairly easy" search, the Walshes bought their white-washed cottage overlooking Clara Vale in 1995. "It was essentially a tiny three-bedroom house - a family with six children lived here at one time. It's great for rearing our two boisterous boys, Liam who's six and Goggie, aged five," laughs Ros.

With a tight budget and a huge amount of flair, the cottage and adjoining outbuildings were turned into a very colourful family home. Their first job was to knock the adjoining barn into the main house, creating a large open-plan sitting/dining kitchen area with exposed beams and a traditional Rayburn range.

The polished plywood floors were a practical decision, says Ros, who wanted a living space where the family could relax. White walls are an effective backdrop for Patrick's dramatic oils and smaller paintings by artist friends from the US.

Their collection of Balinese furniture and art has transformed the traditional Irish cottage. Richly-hued Ikat batiks from Indonesia hang on the walls and rosewood chests have been given red, blue and green glass knobs.

The striking brightly-coloured window and door apertures is a design idea anyone could copy. Crimson, orange and indigo window and door edges make a splash of colour against the simple whitewashed walls. Thick rubber play-mats used as floorcovering in the boys' room is another useful tip. Plenty of space in the garden for the boys to play was a priority for Ros. "We brought back old beams from a subway in Brooklyn for the boys to play on. Dad built the water feature. He made the two stone heads and called them King Goggie and King Liam for the boys."

The design and planting of a formal parterre garden at the front of the cottage featured in a TV gardening programme. "The whole thing was a nightmare," says Ros, who was heavily pregnant with Goggie at the time. The result, though, is a very pretty introduction to the property.

Facing the cottage across a cobblestone terrace, stables have been turned into a work studio where Ros stores her fabric library. Its also a guest annexe where the grandparents stay when they visit.

The brightly coloured bathroom door and the carved sides of a loft bed were shipped home from Bali.

Almost run off their feet with work, making a profit is not easy says Ros. A new range of candles featuring Irish Euros could be her best idea yet. "We've had a great response for the Euro candles from the banks as corporate gifts," she says.

The decision to move to Wicklow was a good one, says Ros. "One of the best things about Rathdrum is the boys' school, St Saviour's. Three teachers to about 35 pupils - you couldn't get better if you paid a fortune," says Ros.

"There are lots of interesting people living around here from all walks of life. We rarely go to Dublin to socialise - in fact we never do.

"We got sick of never having holidays in America and came home.

"Now we have no money and no leisure time and I go to the US about 10 times a year."