Revealed: This is what Ireland’s dream living spaces look like

Check out the interiors that earned top ratings from the Irish users of the global design platform Houzz this year

An open-plan contemporary living and dining space, by Optimise Home. Picture: Ruth Maria Murphy

Playing house has always been an escapist pursuit — even for adults. And never more so than in the past year. Bored with being holed up in our own little caves — even if we’ve managed to revamp them twice or ten times over — we’re all in need of some glossy inspiration.

That’s mainly taken the form of gazing at pages of Irish Examiner Property & Home, or at screens — seeing as we can’t literally go press our snouts against neighbours’ panes and stare in their windows. Not that that activity’s advisable even in non-pandemic times, really.