This home is rooted in the client’s Irish heritage,’ says interior designer Ash Wilson of the early Victorian house, which is a celebration of Irish craftsmanship and design. The sprawling three-story property is located on one of Dublin’s most prestigious streets – one the clients had always dreamed of living on – where homes rarely come up for sale.
Because the house is landmark-listed, all the renovation work had to be approved by the conservation department. Architectural detailing was carefully restored to honor the home’s heritage – coving was reinstated, reclaimed fireplaces reintroduced, and the original windows repaired by hand. ‘En-suites had been installed in some of the bedrooms, which made the rooms feel very unbalanced,’ says Ash. ‘So we were allowed to remove one of them to highlight the grand proportions of the fireplace in the bedroom and center the bed.’
Ash describes designing the quietly luxurious interior as something of a journey. ‘Like many of our clients, they had two slightly different approaches to personal style – one of them prefers a very modern, luxurious hotel aesthetic, while the other is an antiques collector. We explored what they wanted, what would suit the house, and how we could execute it.’
The natural surroundings heavily influenced the design. ‘The house is surrounded by mature trees – it’s very private, and the views are beautiful,’ Ash explains. ‘The greenery and nature played a strong role in our core design. We didn’t want the home to feel overdesigned, but rather collected, with a juxtaposition to the Victorian architecture. We introduced effortless styling in biophilic tones, which came through in our material choices, wood finishes, and antique pieces. It all comes together to create a calm living environment.’
The design vision for the home began with the kitchen, one of the most challenging spaces due to a large window and a chimney breast. ‘This was the most important room to get right – it tells the story of the home and sets the tone and style for the rest of the house,’ says Ash. ‘We wanted the kitchen to have a parlor vibe and feel as if it had always been there, but the clients also wanted to incorporate a casual dining area.’
Ash devised a chic solution: a cantilevered Calacatta Borghini antique marble surface set atop the Verde Tipo marble kitchen island, which connects seamlessly to the wooden dining table.
As well as adding indulgence, the marble introduces another natural element and is used throughout the house to add texture and movement. ‘The counter and table needed to feel sculptural so the space wouldn’t look too busy. The rest of the kitchen had to be sleek, with everything either having a place or being hidden behind doors.’
Plaster molding was added above the stove. ‘Most people think it’s an original feature – we’re very proud of that,’ says Ash. Moody green windows and shutters add drama, tie in with the Verde marble, and connect visually with the outdoor landscape. The palette for the ground floor and the adjacent TV room is also rooted in natural tones inspired by the green marble.
Biophilic accents are carried throughout the house, with rich, grained woods paired with fabrics that reference nature, including a botanical mural in the daughter’s bedroom. Natural elements feature prominently in the dining room as well, where a bar – housing the client’s impressive whiskey collection – has door panels papered with an exquisite botanical scene featuring cheetahs and exotic plants. ‘It’s very organic, which is what we wanted,’ Ash says.
Unlike many period houses, this home has an airy, open feel, thanks to a neutral backdrop. ‘The client wanted their home to be very bright, so we worked with cleaner, lighter wall colors and then introduced textured materials,’ Ash explains. ‘We love to play with color and make statements, but with cleaner, brighter walls, every addition to the room had to balance the space and make it feel cozy, warm, textured, and layered.’
The calm and carefully curated interior, with its emphasis on biophilic design, has breathed new life into the property – bringing a touch of the 21st century to a distinguished period home.
