A modern home in harmony with its surroundings

Strong design, personal touches and stunning views have resulted in a house of dreams. Margaret O’Brien reports.

THE Spa is a very scenic location overlooking Tralee Bay, with the added benefit of a majestic mountain backdrop.

Maura Hennessy had set her cap on finding a site in this area just a few minutes drive from Tralee and succeeded in doing so, some years ago.

She bought a site replete with a 1970s style bungalow. Although she initially toyed with the idea of refurbishing the house, it was too far removed from her dream home, so she opted instead to have it demolished and to build from scratch.

She consulted local architect John Phelan of John Phelan Architects Tralee.

“He had a strong portfolio of one-off, self-build projects unlike many other architects who turned their back on that kind of work during the boom to concentrate on commercial work,” observes Maura.

Her brief to John was clear and simple: to design a modern home that works in harmony with its surroundings while also maximising the flow of natural light into the house.

While the original house was razed, Maura did her utmost to preserve the wonderfully mature garden, including the high hedges and trees that bestow a total sense of privacy on the site. As she points out, “Having an instant mature garden is a real asset”.

Her determination to save the garden has paid dividends. From the ground floor living quarters, the views of the lush, well-stocked garden are both relaxing and inspirational.

As with many modern designs, the splendour of the architecture is reserved for the owners and visitors, because the best views of both the house and its setting are to the rear of the property.

Sweeping glazed panels extend from plinth to roof level in two distinct volumes linked by a lower level, extensively glazed, copper-roofed lobby, which houses the stairs and also acts as a link from the main front door entrance to the rear of the house.

Both volumes feature striking balconies, located off the first floor bedrooms, which successfully connect the outside to the inside.

Maura has a love of all things modern, which is apparent from her choice of furnishings and fittings. Her large open plan living, dining room and kitchen is home to some cutting edge, quirky and contemporary pieces of furniture and fittings.

The crisp, white Schmidt kitchen with its clean lines, is fitted with state-of-the-art Miele appliances. Besides its sleek design, one of the things Maura likes best about her kitchen is the amount of storage space it offers.

Casual eating can take place around the island unit, while more formal meals are taken in the dining area around the sociable oval table with its matching, funky white tulip swivel chairs which Maura sourced at Objekt Design Space, in Newcastle West.

While several pieces attract the eye in the living space, it’s hard to see past the purple Stokke recliner chair. This Scandinavian piece is in a class of its own and acts as an elegant centrepiece for the room.

Another eye catcher is the fish tank (see Get the Look) with its racing red frame, which Maura notes doubles as a light by night! From the very trendy BiOrb range, Maura purchased it locally from Petmania in Tralee.

While there are many other noteworthy pieces in the room, the Eileen Gray classic glass and chrome side table is well deserving of an honourable mention. Maura confesses to having had this piece for a long time and being a fan of the iconic Irish designer.

In keeping with the owner’s penchant for bright, light finishes, large cream marble tiles run seamlessly throughout the ground floor. Also on the ground floor level is a home gym and children’s play room, two bathrooms and two guest bedrooms.

One of the guest bedrooms has a feature wall covered with a luxurious silver gray wallpaper with a raised motif with a tactile chenille type finish, that Maura admits, she just couldn’t resist! Also in this room is a ‘50s style sunburst mirror and cool glass and chrome side tables. All told, it’s a sophisticated guest bedroom.

The lobby area has a pair of velvet upholstered, comfortable chairs with a striped pattern in turquoise, taupe, grape and lime. The view from this tranquil seated area extends over the garden to the rear of the house. Also in this quiet corner is a gentle but very interesting collection of Japanese prints, which the owner bought while visiting Paris many years ago.

The corridor space between the two volumes is cleverly fitted with floor-to-ceiling storage units and there are two chic consoles set against the walls.

The stairs leading to the first floor has an almost industrial feel, but once again the architect was true to his brief to keep the house as light and airy as possible. The open treads ensure plenty of light filters through and the cherry wood steps add warmth to the steel frame.

Upstairs, the flooring is wide plank maple and again the use of blonde wood reflects the light.

At first floor level, one complete wing of the house is dedicated to the master suite. The door into the master suite leads into a generous lobby area, off which is an office, a capacious bedroom, a bathroom and steam room, plus an array of stylish floor-to-ceiling built-in units that afford ample storage space.

The bedroom alone is the size of a small apartment. Wall to wall glazing capitalises on the southern aspect and perfectly frames the splendid view over the bay across to the mountains. When you wander out onto the balcony, you can also enjoy the views over the mature garden and tennis court.

The joinery throughout this house is precise and perfect and the joiner in question is a local man, John Earley, who was assisted by Aidan Hennebery. Maura admits she has an eye for detail when it comes to joinery and woodwork. “John’s work is faultless I am really pleased with his work throughout the house, it’s great to find such talent locally.”

Her love of craftsmanship can also be seen in the bespoke bookcase that occupies a significant amount of wall space in the master bedroom. This particular piece was designed and handmade by Goose Island Workshop, near Castlegregory.

Across the landing, in the second wing are two children’s bedrooms, decorated as you might expect children’s bedrooms to be, in a riot of ‘favourite’ colours with bold prints and lots of fun and character.

The owner of this house took on a big task when she set out to have this house designed and built. While she hired an architect to design the house, create the plans and to advise, she took on the project management of the building work herself. She admits that at the time she didn’t fully understand what she was letting herself in for, and reflects that while she enjoyed the challenge, she wouldn’t necessarily recommend it to anyone else and is relieved that she won’t have to do it again!

While the architectural merits of this modern family home are undeniable, the interior’s also a great credit to its owner.

This house really feels like someone’s home, it’s full of individualistic, considered pieces of furniture that are distinctive and personal. Best of all, most of the furniture and fittings were locally sourced.