Kate Bowe turned her home over to a designer for 15 weeks. Eoin Lyons finds out what happened.
CLIENT Kate Bowe, who owns a PR firm, bought her two-bedroom house in Clontarf, in north Dublin, four years ago.
DESIGNER Karen Stafford recently set up Renovate (087-2677798), offering project-management and interior-design services.
BRIEF "When I moved here first I did a basic decorating job," says Bowe, "but I never entertained, because I wasn't happy with how the place looked. I asked Karen to create a sociable space that had an open feeling but keep it cosy at the same time. I don't do old houses, so the style had to be contemporary, and it had to be easy to keep. More money was to go into the rooms downstairs and the bathroom upstairs - for the moment we just did a new-carpet-and- paint job on the bedrooms."
APPROACH "This house had no redeeming features and no character," says Stafford, "so there was nothing to dictate the style. It needed an identity. I wanted to make it a pleasure to be here. We didn't want hard minimalism, where if something is out of place the effect is ruined."
SERVICE Last year Bowe spent 15 weeks working in Venice, during which time Stafford did most of the renovation. "The whole thing was headache-free," says Bowe. Stafford draws on a pool of reliable, competent builders and tradespeople, including Tom Madigan (087-9401364), who did the building work.
RESULT "With the same budget I wouldn't have been able to do half of what Karen has done," says Bowe, "and it would have taken me two years. She understood what I wanted and has a great way of opening up and reconceptualising space. It's such a lovely place to be now that I've started entertaining. The other night six girlfriends came over, and family have started visiting more often, too - and staying longer."
BATHROOM
It's important in a small bathroom to keep as much as possible off the floor - toilet and sink here have discreet pedestals, and the cistern is hidden. "The more floor you can see, the bigger the room will seem."
Stafford found the mirror in an antiques shop and painted it cream. The 1930s-style lights on either side are from Lighting World (01-6717788), on James's Street, in Dublin 8.
The new kitchen called for reorganisation of the space. A door from the hall was closed in, a window was turned into double doors to match those in the dining area, and an island was created to divide the space and provide storage. "I tried to make the flow of the space work around the island and also outside the double doors to the deck," says Stafford.
Maplewood (01-4730579), in Dublin 8, made the units to her specifications. There's an American atmosphere to the room: off-white units are set against Farrow & Ball's Stony Ground paint on the wall behind; hanging glass lamps from Ikea above the island have a Nantucket vibe, as do simple panelled doors.
"The open shelving on the back wall isn't as imposing as a row of presses might be, and the island holds the dishwasher and washing machine," says Stafford. "Because Kate doesn't cook a lot it's all easy to maintain."
The doors and skirting boards throughout the house were replaced. "They give a sense of substance and quality to a room," says Stafford. "Woodworkers, in Harold's Cross [ 01-4901968], have a very good selection of doors. Ask for Ken; he's a real authority."
The floors, supplied by the same company, are French marine pine. Bowe didn't want a dark floor, but Stafford didn't think a light one would anchor the room, so this in-between shade is a happy compromise.
A dated fireplace was removed and the hearth raised from the floor; a gas fire now sits in a marble recess. The chimney breast was widened, and three alcoves created, providing space to display some choice objects. The frameless mirror above the fire was designed to fit the space.
On the opposite wall is a childhood photograph of Bowe. "Karen asked for a few old photos, and the result was a great surprise - I love it." The photograph was enlarged, tinted and put between two specially treated sheets of glass by Fire (01-4784088), a graphics company on Synge Street, in Dublin 8.
Almost every other piece of furniture in the room, including the soft cord couch, glass coffee table and low TV unit, was bought at Living, a shop with premises on South William Street, Dublin 2 (01-6751898) and in Bray, Co Wicklow (01-2828905). The rug was found at B&Q (01-6299499). "They have some nice rugs at very low prices, but it does take a bit of searching," says Stafford. The living area runs through to dining area, which features an oak table and cream leather chairs, also from Living.