Meet Joanne Mooney, one of Ireland’s most influential home interiors creatives

Eve Kelliher discovers how Joanne Mooney pivoted from a career as a dental nurse and where she gets her design inspiration

Joanne Mooney: 'Everyone thought I was mad when I gave up a secure pensionable job.'

We often think of the “side hustle” as a relatively recent concept.

One of Ireland’s most influential creatives, Joanne Mooney has garnered 44.8k followers on Instagram thanks to her zesty dopamine décor and vibrant roomscapes.

Joanne’s first stepped across the threshold of the working world as a dental nurse. She would spend the nine-to-five attending to patients in the chrome and white of the surgery before slipping back into her technicolour artistic life in the evening and at weekends. “I worked with the Health Service Executive for 15 years,” she says. “Everyone thought I was mad when I gave up a secure pensionable job.”

That was in 2005 when she decided to set up her own craft business. “I resigned from my job as a dental nurse to work from home — but I had already built up many clients by doing my crafts as a side hustle,” she says.

“I had been going to markets every weekend and was selling loads on my new website, so, I left the HSE and I have never looked back.

“I love my job. I’m super busy and feel so lucky to make a living for being creative.”

Home is a five-bedroomed semi-d in north county Dublin. Joanne shares the 19-year-old house with her husband Gary and two daughters, Rachel, 19, Isabel, 18, and her shih-tzu Rocky.

“Geographically, home is Swords. But truly, home is where I feel happy,” she adds. “I don’t think every house has that feeling and it’s hard to get it. But I know I have it. I made and decorated my home and filled it with creativity and personality to achieve this.

“I would describe my home as colourful, containing objects, textures and art. My home is eclectic — filled with things that have a story to go with them.”

The tale her winter accessories have to tell is a comforting one. “I love staying indoors at the best of times. My home is my sanctuary. So, when the weather changes I’m in hibernation. Things that ease me into winter include lighting candles, layering by adding soft furnishings, throws, rugs and cushions and using lots of lamps.”

The space that makes Joanne most content all year round is her studio. “It’s my favourite room. I spend most of my time in there. I love it. I always tell my family I’m on an important Zoom call and warn them not to disturb me (just so I’m left alone). I do all my admin work here plus my creative work. I go into hyperfocus when I’m in this room. The time flies by and before I know it it’s 6pm.

“I love how this room is decorated. There was no holding back. I have wide pink and white stripes on the ceiling and all my art is hanging on the walls. It looks out to a big green space out the front and the sun shines in here most of the day.”

As for her favourite colour? Anyone who’s ever taken even a passing glance at her Insta feed will know Joanne’s answer before she blurts it out. She is also renowned for her Joules yellow velvet Chesterfield sofa which she designed for DFS. “I have it in my living room. It’s like sunshine in my home all year round,” she says. “I also love a pop of yellow in all my rooms — it’s very subtle, like a yellow tea towel beside the oven or a yellow hand towel in the loo. It instantly makes me happy.”

Joanne speaks of “creativity and wonder” a lot – and she says she wants her website and her work to inspire others, including children.

“My mother was always making and creating. She’s a seamstress and made all our clothes and we wore knitted cardigans she made for us. I think my love for creativity comes from my mother,” she adds.

“We used to sit around the kitchen table painting and making golly dolls from wool. My mam taught knitting to the children in my primary school.

“I am content when I am creating. It takes me back to my childhood. At first, I set up an online shop called Tinythings (since rebranded to joannemooney.ie) selling personalised handmade artwork for children, your home and special occasions.”

Being creative “is like therapy for me”, she says. “It’s the reason I do workshops,” adds Joanne. If I can give that nice warm feeling to others — that feeling I get when I am hyperfocused making something — that makes me happy.”

Punch-needle art, a form of embroidery which uses a large needle-like tool to punch loops of yarn into fabric, is one art form that Joanne adores.

Joanne Mooney’s Punch Needle Extravaganza Exhibition sponsored by DFS in association with Alone takes place this weekend at Hen’s Teeth, Blackpitts, in Dublin.

“Last year I was lucky to design a room set at the Ideal Home Show for DFS. As part of my room design, I wanted to hang colourful art so I decided to make my own punch-needle art.

“I made two large pieces. One was a portrait of Frida Kahlo (who I love) and the other was a lady called Cherry Sue — a picture of a girl blowing bubblegum built with cherries made from pompoms on a yellow background On the first day, I sold both pictures. The interior designer Susan McGowan, from Ashen & Cloud, said I should do an exhibition of my work — and the seed was planted.

“This exhibition features art that I would buy myself and hang in my home to feed my eyes and imagination.”

QUICKFIRE Q&A

Best bargain ever for you?

Wool in Dealz or the Euro Shop is always good as you can create magical things from it.

Biggest extravagance at home?

Attic conversion. I took a bedroom for my studio so we needed an extra room. The attic in our house is really big. About 10 years ago we converted the attic. It’s a bedroom and the space is huge. I love it. My daughter sleeps there. When she moves out I think I’ll move up there.

Favourite household chore?

I hate household chores!

Are you a DIY whizz?

I wouldn’t call myself a DIY whizz. I will try my hand at anything (except electrics or plumbing). I don’t have any fear around DIY. I’d try it and if I fail (which I have in the past) I learn from it and move on.

Favourite-ever project?

Painting floor tiles in my ensuite. I didn’t think I would pull it off but I did. And they still look great to this day.

Favourite-ever project?

When I get bored of furniture in my home I like to give pieces a new look. I recently added a tassel cord trim to the base of an old navy velvet sofa I had and I was shocked at how gorgeous it turned out. It’s like a new sofa. This is one of my favourite projects to date.

What would your superpower be?

Creativity! It’s running in my veins. I couldn’t work in an office or any other job other than what I’m doing now. I feel so lucky to get to use my superpower every single day.

Can you share a key design secret?

Don’t be afraid to use colour in your home.

How did you and your husband meet?

I met my husband when I was 16 and we’ve been together ever since.

Joanne will hold two punch needle workshops on January 14 and 27, 2024, see https://joannemooney.ie 

Instagram.com/joannemooney_ 

Joanne Mooney’s Punch Needle Extravaganza Exhibition sponsored by DFS in association with Alone takes place this weekend at Hen’s Teeth, Blackpitts, Dublin 8, D08A9FD. See www.hensteethstore.com