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Jan 14, 2025 | 
independent.ie | Orla Neligan
Returning home after living away for many years, Kieran Conway and his wife Alma were determined to rescue his childhood home and turn it into a modern family retreat — but the derelict 1950s cottage had other ideas... There are few places that walk the line between peaceful and temperamental/state of flux as rural Ireland. Perched on a hill overlooking the Sperrin Mountains in Derry, Northern Ireland, Kieran and Alma Conway’s recently restored farmhouse embodies this contradiction perfectly.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
independent.ie | Orla Neligan
From modern museums to old-school luxury and timeless purchases, the Dublin florist shares his favourite people, places and thingsFavourite placesInis Oírr, one of the smaller islands of the three Aran Islands in Galway. I love it for the swimming in crystal-clear waters, windswept walks, and the wild, barren landscape. It was where our parents took us on holidays as kids and it evokes lovely memories of this every time I return.
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Jan 7, 2025 | 
image.ie | Orla Neligan
The kitchen is undoubtedly the hardest working room in the house and calls for considered design choices as well as materials that will not only stand the test of time but add personality and style to what is the most dynamic space in your home. There is nothing like a natural stone worktop and backsplash to create a wow factor, says interior designer Emma Lamb of Lamb Design.
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Dec 10, 2024 | 
independent.ie | Orla Neligan
10 great gift ideas for interior design loversFrom budget to blowout choices, our expert shares her favourite Christmas present ideasSome pretty picks for interior enthusiasts:
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Dec 3, 2024 | 
independent.ie | Orla Neligan
From her go-to shops for wacky presents to her favourite Christmas Eve haunt and most treasured heirloom, Walsh shares her favourite people, places and things with an eye for designFavourite places: Ballymoney Beach in Gorey, Co Wexford. I first went down to Wexford as a child and my memories are of long, hot summer days, the smell of Ambre Solaire oil, ice cream cones and sunsets on the beach.
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Nov 26, 2024 | 
independent.ie | Orla Neligan
The complete revamp of an ‘uninhabitable’ 200-year-old list property in Glasson, Co Westmeath, was full of challenges for an Irish family moving back from LondonThe romance of an old home is seductive to the average interior enthusiast, whom, if asked, would jump at the chance to get their hands on the ultimate fixer-upper. It’s either a case of salvaging what original features you can and using a little imagination or living with it in all of its creaky and sometimes haunting glory.
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Nov 19, 2024 | 
independent.ie | Orla Neligan
From a Mallorca hotel to pancakes in Dublin and some bespoke Waterford Crystal, the designer-turned-wellness-coach shares some of her favourite places, people, and thingsFavourite hotelThe most unforgettable place we have stayed in recent times is Ol Lentille, a luxurious Kenyan safari lodge rooted in community. With 15 Jordans in tow, we had the run of the place and were kindly included in a Massai wedding.
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Nov 12, 2024 | 
independent.ie | Orla Neligan
A lick of paint is all it takes to transform a cool summer space to a cosy, moody room ready for winter, especially when you opt for the ‘full drip’, painting skirtings and ceilings the same colour to maximise height and cocooning. The great thing about paint is that it can be easily changed if it doesn’t pan out and is cost-effective, making it an accessible solution for when you want to make a seasonal change.
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Nov 5, 2024 | 
independent.ie | Orla Neligan
After tripling their budget, hands-on Cork couple Denise and Fiachra Sinnott transformed their drab and dated 1980s chalet bungalow into a light-filled modern family home, writes Orla NeliganWhen Denise Sinnott tells me it took three weeks to renovate her home in the Bandon hinterland in Co Cork, I think I’ve misheard her. Surely not.
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Oct 29, 2024 | 
independent.ie | Orla Neligan
Growing up, Cork native Saoirse Fitzgerald could see Youghal lighthouse from her bedroom window so when the opportunity came to buy the cottage, she jumped at it. It took just five months to renovate the 200-year propertyAs kids, we have a wonderful ability to imagine our futures without boundaries; we want to be astronauts, own a pet elephant or live in a lighthouse.
