INTERIORS Past to Present

Past to Present

Restoring, refurbishing and styling a period property

words edel cassidy

Restoring a period home can be an overwhelming experience and can raise many unexpected issues. Owners are usually mindful of why they chose a period home in the first place, and will want to preserve as many of the original features as possible. Much of the value, interest and satisfaction associated with living in a period building lies in its history and character. However, when setting out a restoration plan, the aim should be to maintain the original style but without having to sacrifice the modern functionality that we all need in our homes today.

While living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms and, even in some cases, bathrooms, will not be radically different from the same rooms today, kitchens most definitely are different. The kitchen used to be a very modest and functional room where the servants or the lady of the house prepared meals – without refrigerators, dishwashers or microwaves, and certainly without smart technology.

Today the kitchen has become the most important room in the home and is no longer just used for preparing and cooking food. It is where families congregate for meals, entertain ‘The kitchen used guests and is also used for storing all to be a very modest sorts of gadgets and utensils. and functional room

Combining a clever restoration to incorporate modern conveniences where the servants or without interrupting the character of the lady of the house the original design can be a daunting task and is generally best left to an prepared meals’ expert, who the owner can trust to be their adviser and partner throughout the process.

The Victorian Kitchen Company, formerly known as the Victorian

Salvage and Joinery Company, was founded by Mark McDonagh in 1998. Back in the 1980s, he and his father, Niall McDonagh, set up the Architectural Salvage Company. As his grandfather was also

an antique dealer, Mark has the advantage of three generations of knowledge and experience in period restoration.

Mark’s expert knowledge of period buildings, history and furniture-making brought him to set up a service to provide quality period-style joinery, made with integrity by traditional methods, using sustainably sourced woods. Every single piece is uniquely made by hand and with love! A traditionally trained carpenter, he has, in turn, trained his team at the Victorian Kitchen Company to help clients maintain the original character of their homes, fusing seamlessly the old with the new to adapt to the times we live in. This is achieved by combining expert traditional craftsmanship with modern fittings and functionality to make beautiful timeless pieces of furniture to last well into the next century.

The versatile team at the Victorian Kitchen Company, in addition to kitchens, will also design and fit out bathrooms, bedrooms and sitting rooms. They make bespoke wardrobes, bookcases, alcove cabinets, doors and home office furniture, and are experts in finding a creative solution to a design dilemma or tricky space. They have gained a reliable reputation for quality period joinery that won’t break the bank.

Recycling and upcycling are the hottest new trends in interior design, but the concept is nothing new to the Victorian Kitchen Company, who have followed this ethos for over thirty years. Stocks of salvaged vintage flooring and quirky pieces including original antique baths are on display in the showrooms. Mark also considers lighting a very important element that can balance tradition with forward-thinking design and he loves to find and restore antique lighting and bring it back to life. He believes that lighting should stay true to the architectural roots of a period home, but also likes adding in accents that feel modern and fresh. The company’s title would suggest that their work is confined to period houses, but they welcome work from everywhere and every style of house, from contemporary apartments and new-builds to townhouses and even castles. They are sought after all over the country and have also been contracted for jobs in Britain and Europe. The Victorian Kitchen Company showroom is in Cloghran, Dublin, conveniently located close to Dublin Airport, and is well worth a visit as there is so much to see from their kitchens to bathrooms, lighting, flooring and exquisite joinery. It is a treasure trove for anyone considering restoring or extending an old house, or fitting out a new-build.

A second showroom has recently opened in Dundalk, Co. Louth. Another must-visit location, it is not just a space showcasing kitchens, but also a place to find unique and unusual furniture, lighting and decorative accessories.

For more information visit victoriankitchencompany.ie

Creating

Beautiful Places

The human soul is hungry for beauty; we seek it everywhere – in landscape, music, art, clothes, furniture, gardening, companionship, love, religion and in ourselves. No-one would desire not to be beautiful. When we experience the Beautiful, there is a sense of homecoming. Some of our most wonderful memories are of beautiful places where we felt immediately at home. We feel most alive in the presence of the Beautiful, for it meets the needs of our soul. John O’Donoghue

Abeautiful home is something most of us desire. While it’s important that a home reflects the personality and personal style and tastes of the owner, the services of an interior designer can also be invaluable. An experienced designer will help achieve a truly personal space and will strive to understand the way the homeowner wants to live, and endeavour to meet specific needs and expectations.

The following pages present some most stylish, influential, and innovative interior designers from around the country.

An award winning interior designer, Lana Dullaghan is passionate about colour and believes that colour has a huge impact on our wellbeing. When it comes to designing a home or an office she will always find the most artistic and creative solutions for her projects. Elegance, luxury and deep rich colours are the hallmarks of her style.

The team at Lana Dullaghan Designs offers interior design services for both residential and commercial projects, and not always with a high price tag. Their personal approach, with attention to detail, transforms concepts into reality, with the client’s unique style, personality and lifestyle to the forefront.

Believing that interior design can make a real difference to people’s lives and how they feel about their world, Rosemarie Carroll established RCD Design in 2009 when she was shortlisted for a design award.

She holds a Rhodec Advanced Diploma and a Higher National Diploma in Interior Design. Working on individual bespoke residential projects, Rosemarie is always on the lookout for beautiful things and inspiring spaces.

Now offering virtual consultations, she believes in empowering individuals to realise their home’s full potential, transforming and creating ‘the look’ they desire. No detail is unimportant. For Rosemarie, design is all about listening and a good rapport; it is a journey and a collaboration. It’s an approach to design that works as verified by her many five-star reviews.

Dromiskin, Dundalk, Co Louth I +353 87 6725598 lana@lanadullaghandesigns.com I lanadullaghandesigns.com

RCD Design

Glenageary, Co. Dublin +353 86 880 7879 rcddesigndublin@gmail.com rcddesign.ie

+353 86 2778796 jackie@jtd.ie I jtd.ie

Jackie Tyrrell Design

Jackie has passionately pursued a career in interior design for more than twenty years, combining her artistic and creative personality with her ability to be incredibly technically minded, producing original and practical interior design solutions. She lectured at the Dublin Institute of Design for eight years.

Sourcing and providing lighting and furniture for projects is something that excites her, and she has a beautifully curated, ever-changing collection in her Kildare studio. A selection of furniture, lights, mirrors and her newly launched Sea Salt and Oak Moss Scent Collection are available to purchase online.

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MAIN STREET, KILBEGGAN, CO. WESTMEATH, IRELAND, N91 FNK1 T: +353 57 93 32167 / +353 57 93 33946 F: +353 57 93 32978 I E: info@eganstone.ie

www.eganstone.ie