A revamp that gives a tiny apartment 'more storage than a three-bed home'

How Cork interior designer David O'Brien gave this Ranelagh pad a whole new lease of life

Sun, 03 Dec, 2023 - 20:07

Eve Kelliher - Home Editor

HIS creative use of a grand piano for cooking prep as well as entertaining earned this Cork interior designer headlines across the globe.

The sleek space in which the unique “kitchen island” sits and the other considered rooms in the house won David O’Brien a runner-up spot in RTÉ’s Home of the Year series.

David O'Brien in the kitchen in Ranelagh.

And David knows what it takes to ensure every element of a small space hums in harmony — as per his brief when he started work on a bijou Dublin apartment.

The kitchen seen from the sitting area. Photograph Moya Nolan

“This was my client’s first home — and as the client is a young professional who had rented for a long time they really wanted to put their mark on the space,” says David, who works on homes across Ireland and is also project manager and creative director with his family business, RJ O’Brien Building Contractors Ltd.

“My client loved the idea of creating a bright, airy and eclectic space with some antiques and vintage pieces sprinkled into the mix to add interest.”

The bathroom at 132 Ranelagh Road. Photograph Moya Nolan

The apartment is located in a Ranelagh building that was constructed in the 1980s. “But it’s deceiving as the facade is very much in keeping with the period buildings that surround it,” adds David. “It’s a one-bedroom apartment on the first floor of a three-storey building.”

Paul O’Connor of Constructive Attic Conversions Ltd was the main contractor on the renovation, which took place from March 2022 to May 2023.

Oak engineered parquet flooring at 132 Ranelagh Road with interior design by David O'Brien. Photograph Moya Nolan

The Ranelagh design project was a complete home renovation of the 45 sq m space. “We started by knocking the wall between the kitchen and sitting room to create a large bright and airy open-plan room,” says David.

The bedroom at 132 Ranelagh Road. Photograph Moya Nolan

“We added a pop of colour with a gorgeous green kitchen and chevron oak floor which is continued throughout the home.”

One major concern for the client, as with many people in smaller spaces was storage. “Storage was really an issue in this home so we added a full wall of floor-to-ceiling storage,” says David.

Entertaining in confined quarters can also be a challenge. “Our client loves to have guests but as this is a one-bedroom home we wanted to be able to create a separate space without having to make the room feel smaller, we added this floor-to-ceiling curtain to gently divide the space and the pink sofa folds out into a double bed,” adds the designer.

The Kitchen seen from the sitting area with a recessed track for the curtain which seperates the room when guests are staying on the sofabed at 132 Ranelagh Road with interior design by David O'Brien. Photograph Moya Nolan

“The vibrant pink velvet sofa transforms into a full-size double bed for guests.

“The apartment needed to be fully renovated as it had not been modernised in some time, including dry lining, rewiring and plumbing.

“Originally there was a wall dividing the kitchen and sitting room so we knew this would need to be removed to open up the space, luckily it was not a supporting wall.” Inspiration images were key, he adds.

“I always ask clients for some inspiration images before we start the design process, so I can get a good idea of their style and the feeling they would like to create. Sometimes a common theme is evident and in this case, I could tell my client wanted to create something fresh and playful,” says David.

Kitchen unit handle detail at 132 Ranelagh Road with interior design by David O'Brien. Photograph Moya Nolan

“I think both the owner’s and my favourite space is now the kitchen, it was previously very dark and is now at the heart of the home and is flooded with natural light and perfect for entertaining.”

When working on a smaller home, it’s important to call in the professionals, David believes. “Interior designers will help you get the most out of the space. With builders/trades a recommendation is really worth its weight in gold as was in this case where Paul went above and beyond to finish the project to a very high standard,” he says.

Storage cupboards in the kitchen area at 132 Ranelagh Road. Photograph Moya Nolan

“Storage was also hugely important to my client, so we designed floor-to-ceiling cupboards in the hall, kitchen and bedroom. I think this apartment has more storage than most three-bedroom homes. We were also able to move the washing machine into a previous water storage space in the hall.

A framed painting disguises a drawer unit in the bathroom at 132 Ranelagh Road. Photograph Moya Nolan

“One of my favourite storage spaces in the home is the secret drawer in the bathroom which is hidden by an antique piece of art. It’s a quirky fun feature to show guests but also a very handy drawer to house all of your bathroom essentials."

Choosing plants and softer “softer” decor elements at the very end is one of David’s favourite aspects of the job. “I love shopping with the client for plants, in particular. Ferns seem to thrive in my own home. I set the alarm once a week to water my own plants!” he says.

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But there’s only one item that sparks conversation in his own home. “It’s so funny — the piano is still the main talking point. It’s a Marmite piece. People love it or hate it,” says David.