See how Geri O'Toole linked a Cork cottage to its landscape with a clever use of light
Geri O'Toole in the kitchen of the West Cork cottage. Pictures: Jessica Glynn
We don't need an aversion to alarm clocks to know that waking to sunlight boosts the mood by regulating our circadian rhythms.
So look and learn — because I sure sat up and paid attention when I saw how interior designer Geri O’Toole worked with light to draw up her plan for a revamped West Cork property.
“Typically, Irish cottages are built with thick walls and smaller windows to conserve heat. We came up with three layout options for our client to choose from. Throughout the day, the changing light animates the interior,” says Geri.
“Morning light filters gently into the kitchen, while the golden evening light enters through the west-facing openings, tying the rhythm of the home to the landscape outside.
“The master bedroom overlooks the back garden and surrounding hills, while the front windows look out onto beautiful surrounding farms.”
And if you weren’t already looking forward to waking up to the views — pinch yourself, this dream home has its very own whiskey room. Accommodation also includes a living room, kitchen, WC, two children’s bedrooms and a family bathroom — and the uber-trendy pantry and utility or mudroom.
Geri and her Limerick-based company, Geri Designs, worked with building contractor Martin O’Sullivan on this project, which was completed in June 2024. She’s also just recently completed work on transforming the Howth home of Vogue Williams, and as we’d expect from a designer on speed-dial to high-profile clients across the globe, Geri is discreet.
When pressed, she stops short of favouring one spot over another in this Cork cottage, which she describes as “gorgeous”. (Spoiler alert: The whiskey room and the kitchen are strong contenders.)
The interiors are, according to the designer, “a gentle nod to the past”. This is evident in the exposed wooden beams, stone walls, and low ceilings that create a sense of comfort and shelter — and, right now, are right in keeping with the craze for cozymaxxing.
“Every corner whispers stories of simpler times, yet the space feels effortlessly inviting — a place where you can breathe deeply and slow down,” says Geri.
The surrounding Bandon hills lend themselves to the property’s finish. “I think the setting definitely informed the design,” says Geri. “The use of local stone and the building’s low profile were clearly influenced by the surrounding hillside.”
The brief was to restore the country cottage as a holiday home for a couple and their two young daughters. “Our clients, originally from Northern Ireland and now living in the Bahamas, dreamed of creating a peaceful retreat for their young family,” says Geri.
"With two daughters and a demanding travel schedule, they longed for a quiet Irish haven — a place to reconnect with loved ones, unwind, and immerse themselves in the culture they hold dear.”
Step through the bespoke Dutch-style front door (which Geri says she designed to lend the property a “quaint character”) and you’re in the whiskey room, designed as a “warm welcoming nook”, according to Geri.
“It has rich finishes and inviting lighting, and is a space for a quiet drink, good conversation, and offers the comforting feeling of being home,” she says.
Here you’ll find the old cottage wall, which brings an authentic feel to the space. “We added a tumbled limestone floor and discreet John Cullen lighting to bring warmth and a glow to the otherwise dark room by adding the spots into the window reveals,” says Geri.
The living room, just off the kitchen, is the heart of the home — perfect for relaxing in front of the TV after a day exploring the countryside. One of the standout features is the antique rose pink fireplace — sourced and selected by Geri — framed by antique brick from France.
The kitchen is in a “classic cottage aesthetic, thoughtfully updated for modern family life”, according to Geri. Limewashed cottage-style doors feature here.
“This gentle, timeworn look creates an atmosphere that’s warm, lived-in, and deeply welcoming. We added arches to give the eye a soft detail that pulls you through to the mud room and pantry,” says the designer.
“Overhead, original timber beams — beautiful relics of the home’s past — were given new life. We painstakingly stripped them back to their bare bones, revealing the grain and imperfections that only time can create.”
This unexpected detail adds “depth and drama, turning the ceiling into a design statement all on its own”, while celebrating the history etched into the timber, says Geri.
Hand-cut and laid tiles form a beautiful backsplash that anchors the space, and a natural marble with vein adorns the worktops.
Just off the back of the cottage, the mudroom “blends utility with thoughtful design”, adds Geri. “We selected a warm ochre palette for the walls and cabinetry — a tone that feels both grounded and welcoming, while also beautifully offsetting the green-painted windows and doors,” she says.
The result is a space that feels connected to the garden through the bespoke Dutch-style door and beyond, with tones inspired by nature and textures that invite you to slow down.
“It’s a hardworking room, yes — but also a cheerful threshold where boots are kicked off, coats are hung, and the outside world pauses before you step into the calm of the cottage,” says its creator.
The girls’ bedrooms, upstairs, are designed to grow with their occupants and feature custom-designed bunk beds, reading nooks, and cosy corners for playing or stowing treasures.
The master bedroom is a peaceful, grounding retreat designed with subtle elegance and a sense of timeless calm. “The ceiling, wallpapered in a delicate, enveloping print, draws the eye upward and creates a cosy, cocooning effect,” says Geri.
“At the centre of the room is a bespoke headboard upholstered in an antique, aged-look fabric — from Pierre Frey. Carefully chosen to feel storied and soft, with just the right patina to reflect the history of the home.
"It’s these kinds of textural choices that anchor the space and bring a tactile richness to the room.”
A copper bath adds a luxe touch to the bathroom.
Geri adds: “Our mission was clear: to restore and enhance the cottage while preserving its authentic charm and breathe new life into its bones while preserving the cosy, low-ceilinged intimacy that makes this cottage so special.”
The spaces were tight to work with, but the team “got the maximum possible in”, according to the designer. “The biggest challenges were making the most of the little bedrooms and creating bespoke, dream bunk beds for the clients’ little girls.”
Throughout the renovation, the team focused on bringing light, warmth, and a sense of calm into the space. “Natural materials, a soft, muted colour palette, and traditional finishes complemented carefully chosen modern comforts.
"The result is a home that feels both timeless and deeply personal — built for lazy summer evenings, fireside winters, and family memories for years to come,” says Geri.
Con Brouder created the joinery. “The whiskey room, pantry, utility, and children’s bedrooms all feature custom joinery, carefully designed to maximise space and create generous, well-hidden storage. Built-in cabinetry blends seamlessly into the fabric of the cottage, marrying form and function with understated elegance,” adds Geri.
For lighting, Geri Designs worked with Visual Comfort and Pooky. “For the family, this cottage is more than a holiday home; it’s a sanctuary, a place where two young girls can roam and imagine, and where a hardworking pilot and his wife can recharge in the serenity of the Irish countryside,” says Geri.
The clients say the finished cottage “far exceeded” their expectations: “Geri is, without a doubt, the most talented designer we’ve come across — not just in Ireland, but could stand up against the world’s best.
"We first heard about her through my brother and a few friends, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the recommendation. Her ability to bring colours, textures, designs, and layouts together in a way that felt uniquely ‘us’ was simply amazing.”
- See geridesigns.ie
- Instagram: @Geri_Designs
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