Design/life: Clients’ lives provide the inspiration
I studied Environmental Design in Dublin, which is now known as Interior Architecture.
That was in 1986, when there was very little work in Ireland. I went straight to Australia, which was going through a boom at the time.
I worked for an architectural practice in Brisbane and we did some five-star hotels down on the Gold Coast. I set up the practice’s interior design department — they hadn’t had one before I arrived.
Besides Australia, I have worked in the US, Europe and the UK for large architectural practices, on projects for hotels, restaurants, night clubs, private jets and yachts.
I went out on my own 18 years ago. Since then I have worked with private clients and designed show houses for a small number of property developers.
I have been working with Wood Group Homes for years, and they get me on board at a very early stage — when they are talking about initial layouts, and what people want.
I deal with so many private clients that I bring that wealth of knowledge that I have about how people live their lives. I see the space from a different point of view.
What’s a typical work day like for you?
I have a custom-built studio beside my house and am at my desk at 8am at the latest.
I draw manually and also with CAD (computer-aided design) depending on the project requirements. I can spend hours if not days getting layouts right. If I have a project on-site, I try to leave the studio at 9am to avoid traffic.
Tell us about a recent or favourite design or project that you have worked on?
I designed an extension and renovation for clients whose needs were changing in life.
They needed a space for a wheelchair user. I loved the way the new area integrated eloquently with the old space and that the clients gained so much.
What’s your design style?
I am led very much by my clients’ preferences, and can incorporate most styles into good interiors.
I think people are a lot more informed now, but they don’t always know the specifics — because of things like Pinterest and Houzz, you can whittle down what they like a lot faster.
What/Who inspires your work?
It is amazing at the end of a project, when clients say: ‘this is exactly what I wanted’, so without being trite, my clients and how they live their lives — their priorities, their needs, wants, hopes and dreams — are my inspiration.
What’s your favourite trend at the moment (if you have any)?
I don’t follow trends, and I encourage my clients to forge their own path, that is, to find things that they love or are sentimental about and to use those items as a starting point for their style.
What’s your most treasured possession?
I have a ceramic statue by Ailbhe Large which was a gift from my husband — a standing girl with her hand to her face. She is all white except for her shiny red shoes. It is a sad pose but it’s beautiful.
Who would be your favourite designer, or style inspiration?
I love Eero Saarinen — more for his furniture than his buildings. I particularly like his dining table. It has the cleanest lines. He designed it because he didn’t want clutter under a table. It has a wine glass base. It’s oval so everybody is involved in the conversation. I have one. There is six in our family and we can easily get 10 at it and you are able to chat to everybody.
What would be a dream project/design for you to work on?
I love a challenge — I’m very good at manipulating spaces to capture light and views, and there are lots of older homes around Ireland that could be given new life if I got my hands on them!
Have you any design tips for us?
Please yourself — not your neighbour, your mother or anyone else.If you like something, go for it. If you have no idea what to do with a room, find something you love — an inexpensive print or a series of them — and build your colour palette from there.
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