Design/life: Eva Byrne, Architect, House Consultant & Interiorista

"When you are thinking about making changes to your home, don’t go straight to solutions," says Eva Byrne.

Sat, 29 Oct, 2016 - 01:00

Interview Aileen Lee

What’s your background?

I’m an architect. I qualified from DIT Bolton Street in 1988 following which I worked in practices in Ireland and Seville, Spain. I also had my own practice in Dublin before launching my house consultation service in 2005.

I specialise in house consultations to help people maximise space, light, and storage in their home. Basically, it’s an opportunity for people to get their hands on an architect.

What’s a typical work day like for you?

I generally meet clients in their homes on weekday mornings and early afternoons. I think of each consultation as having three stages.

The first thing I do is sit down with the client to discuss their issues in terms of space, light, and storage. We then look around the house together, using the list of issues as an agenda.

The main part of the consultation involves generating ideas, either by means of measured, scaled plans that I create on the day, or notes about materials and finishes on a room by room basis.

I aim to leave clients with a clear idea of what they can achieve and how they can go about making it happen. Whilst I see people at many different stages of building projects — before, during, and after — the same approach applies.

I also write articles for various publications, most recently for the website Houzz.

Tell us about a recent or favourite design or project that you have worked on?

My service is advice-based, so I do not normally see projects through to completion. Last year, however, I had the pleasure of assisting a client with the renovation of a tiny one-bedroomed apartment in Dublin, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

It was an opportunity to execute a lot of ideas that I had been suggesting to clients over the years and that I have been working on as a house consultant. I was involved with every last detail, down to choosing the furniture and artwork.

What’s your design style?

For myself, I gravitate towards a contemporary style with a Scandinavian influence. But I’m not dictatorial when it comes to dealing with clients.

I actually think ‘style’ is way down the list when it comes to making the most of your home. The best layout for a room or a house can be interpreted in a variety of styles.

What/Who inspires your work?

I actually ‘invented’ my house consultation service myself. It offered a way for me to balance work and life when my children were at primary school. Now that they are teenagers, it still works well, for myself and for homeowners in need of advice about their homes.

What’s your favourite trend at the moment (if you have any)?

I am not a lover of seasonal trends: I seek to help people create homes and interiors that will last. I like to see money well spent.

But I do like the way in which we live in our homes today, with the kitchen/dining/family room at the heart of family life. That is a ‘trend’ that has been with us for about 15 years now.

What’s your most treasured possession?

Two paintings by my late aunt, Una Watters — she was a very talented painter with a cubist style who died young, sadly.

I inherited one piece, a painting of the GPO, and bought another at auction in 2005, entitled Meditation. I think that art, well placed, is a wonderful addition to any interior.

Who would be your favourite architect, or style inspiration?

I am inspired by interiors that are fresh, bright, and welcoming. I love classic 20th century furniture and fittings, and am generally at home anywhere Scandinavian.

What would be a dream project/design for you to work on?

Whilst I do not take on projects, part of me hankers after designing a new home from scratch, as a way of bringing together in one place the ideas I have been sharing with clients for years.

We were fortunate to build our own home in Dublin in 2003. Perhaps it’s time to think about doing it again!

Have you any design tips for us?

When you are thinking about making changes to your home, don’t go straight to solutions — try to think firstly in terms of your issues.

For example, creating more space in your home might possibly be achieved by making better use of what you have, as opposed to the obvious ‘solution’ of an extension.

My website, housology.ie, is full of tips about making the most of every room in the home and about the whole construction process, from start to completion.