Viscount Linley's furniture has a room of its own in Dublin. Rose Doyle reports
The new room dedicated to Linley furniture and accessories at Louise Kennedy's emporium at 56 Merrion Square has high 18th century ceilings, white walls and a dazzling amount of light.
It's ideal in every way as a show place for such as The Dice Chair (as wide as it is deep), an inlaid bookcase, a lizard humidor in Macassar ebony and a cigar ashtray in walnut.
The room is in the charge and capable hands of Deirdre Carr who says she's "always loved and admired Viscount Linley's furniture" and that, if people want help about where to place Linley or any other furniture in their homes, she's the woman to advise them.
Carr spent almost a decade in Francis Street - first in Cookes Antiques and later in O'Sullivan Antiques. Chantal O'Sullivan's second shop in New York gave her opportunities to work in that city too.
In between times she did a four-year City and Guilds design course until, changing direction, she moved to the RHA Ashford Gallery for a couple of years. Then, antiques and furniture ever on her mind, she turned to freelancing, sourcing antiques and advising clients.
"I love furniture," she says, "always have - the shapes, design, style, everything about it. The Linley product embodies all I admire plus it's quality too.
"The way the pieces are constructed means they'll stand the test of time. Take the sofa we're sitting on . . ."
We've plumped ourselves down on €4,500 worth of creamy beige upholstery with a solid, beech frame and fully sprung back inspired by a 19th century design.
Deirdre Carr points to its "delicate refinement" and says "it's a thoroughly modern piece now".
Elsewhere there are coffee and console tables, occasional chairs, a walnut desk. And those accessories - the humidor costs €2,000 (it's lined in Spanish cedar), the ashtray €500 (in walnut and rosewood) and there's a jewellery box for €685, candle- sticks, picture frames, vases and fruit bowls.
"Everyone's welcome just to drop in, to see what we have here," she says. She will also go to people's houses, to advise on where furniture should be placed.
Deirdre Carr can be contacted at 01 6620056.
