Irish Interiors Magazine 2009

THE DESIGNER TOUCH
Interior designer Tanya Lyons takes us on a guided tour of a five-bedroom showhouse she recently completed at Barton Grange, a small and exclusive development in Straffan, Co. Kildare.

Mission Statement
A showhouse is a great project to work on, as it allows you full scope to create an interior without any compromise. It is a good showcase for clients and people to see that you can push the boundaries of colour and design, yet still have a very traditional type room. While respecting successful design, it is not a pastiche to past design.

This house is an example of successful design, executed in a way that challenges the way we think about colour and design. We live in a three dimensional world and this should expand into our homes. I believe that we need to constantly challenge our thoughts and trust in someone that provokes already accepted ideas.

Design Objective
I wanted this house to be very luxurious with beautiful textures and shimmers throughout. My aim was for people to walk through the front door and be instantly captivated and inspired, as well as subconsciously drawn to the house.

The look I have used, traditional design, rewritten with new finishes and ideas to create a contemporary house for modem living. The space is luxurious with traditional and contemporary sitting very comfortably beside each other. With its velvet textures, white carpets and shimmers of gold and silver throughout, it also exudes an air of glamour and sophistication.

Hallway
Behind the glossy red door with stained glass detail is an impressive hallway where dark wooden floor is teamed with a stunning pearlised gold damask wallpaper. The mirrored console and mirror reflect the architectural angles, enhancing the feel of light and space, and adding an elegant touch. What is most beautiful about this area, however, is a Swarovski crystal chandelier suspended form the ceiling. Its crystal reflects a myriad of colours that can be seen from every room upstairs.

Landing
Up a flight stairs with white velvet carpet, the landing is a bright space where the window is embellished with folds of sumptuous silk in a Roman blind. Standing proudly beside this is a tall black filigree chair with simple yet stylish purple silk upholstery.

Lounge
I wanted this room to reflect an understated yet elegant aesthetic but was keen to show that you don't have to pay homage to an all-cream room to achieve classic elegance. Here, I have opted for simple clean lines alongside idiosyncratic pieces to reveal individualism while creating a 'lived in' look. A white velvet carpet, which runs fluidly through to the interconnecting dining room, provides a neutral base and works well with a putty and white damask on the walls. It's a fresh clean look that is just awaiting an infusion of colour and texture to make It all come alive. The sofa, in its plush aubergine and gold cut velvet stripe, sits beautifully with its crisp lines, adjacent to two large circle-back, silver leaf Louis chairs. The furnishings' contrasting styles are linked by the plush velvet coverings. Again, using clean lines, I have placed French cherry furniture that adds depth and character to the room. To add a touch of simplistic luxury, I have used plain oyster silk curtains trimmed with a glass bead. These drape with motion to the ground.

Other pieces in the room include a silver leaf mirror and crystal lighting which complements the Louis chairs. The artwork, meanwhile, is a mixture of bold contemporary and architectural flavour.

Dining room
This room has a dramatic feel to it, with its striking wall of Como flock set amidst textured silver walls. Two bold black and beige carver chairs mixed with four aubergine velvet chairs conjure up images of fine dining and entertaining. A coloured crystal chandelier hangs over the centre of the table, while a silver leaf mirror and contemporary artwork finish this room off beautifully.

Conservatory
This room is a favourite of mine. Its traditional octagonal shape and high ceilings capture the very essence of a conservatory while the room exudes a warmth and appeal that draws you in to your own private space. The conservatory is finished with vaguely traditional air, although the furniture and furnishings are predominantly contemporary and include some very modern curved glass tables which reflect the many green plants. A beautiful Schonbek, mined rock crystal lantern hangs with a statement from the ceiling.

Kitchen
I wanted to create a very attractive kitchen with colour, life and dimension, so I used a beautiful green embossed wallpaper to offset the oak units. A modern lighting system has been installed around the room which provides both functional and atmospheric lighting.

A light stone Amtico floor adds a brightness and space with its bordered detail. Furnishings, meanwhile, comprise a contemporary Italian table and chairs - an ideal choice for modern living with classical admiration.

TV room/study
This versatile space leads directly off the kitchen, so it was important to give it an everyday design that works well for both office and leisure use. A black cherry French bureau and a sizeable console take centre stage in the room where they are complimented by assorted accessories and details including a pair of gilded lamps with boldly striped shades and a tripod director’s lamp which stands beside the fireplace.

A beautifully curved mahogany mirror softens the room's decor and draws directly from a mahogany coffee table. A large green two-seater adds plenty of warmth and is enlivened by a selection of striped and luxuriously embroidered silk cushions.

Bathroom
In Ireland, we have a somewhat clinical and over-practical approach to bathrooms. I like to develop and execute a luxurious design. This room, with its exotic gold textural wallpaper, gives the space a unique identity. I wanted to give this bathroom structure and form, so I set the bath into a bespoke panelled unit and surrounded it with mirrors which serve to enhance the feeling space and reflect the many plush textures used in the room. The floor is a magnificent black marble that offers grandeur in this small space.

Master bedroom
The master bedroom is a large space with an en-suite and walk-in dressing room. A gold velvet carpet expands the space and draws upon Eastern influence. A large plush velvet headboard provides an additional touch of luxury and sits in contrast to the cool wallpaper.

This room is all about fusing textures with softer lines in the furniture. Two mahogany wave bedside tables begin to add form to this room, and are complemented by a stylish ottoman. Its wool seat cushion offers a contrast in both texture and palette to the silk cushions and throw adorning the bed. A bespoke pagoda-inspired mahogany chest of drawers adds an additional influence to the space.

I wanted the room's curtains to be dramatic yet exude a classical elegance. The gold silk designs, trimmed with taupe silk bead, hang with great fullness to the floor, finishing the ambience off perfectly.

Front room
This room offers a more contemporary feel with its use of textures and colours. A pearlised wallpaper gives the space Its own identity and works well against a white velvet carpet. This relatively neutral backdrop provides the ideal foil for luxurious cream silk curtains which dominate this room with their striking fuchsia ribbon fringe and tiebacks. Other touches include a putty and fuchsia cut-velvet headboard, a richly coloured ottoman, assorted cushions and a throw.

Small girl's room
This room is young and feminine with its use of colours. Its patterns are classical, however, allowing greater longevity in its deliverance. A sumptuous teal silk roman blind accentuates the angle of the window, beside which the tall pink and gold brocade headboard stands out. An oversized silver framed mirror sits atop an Art Deco cherry dressing table. Other touches include a starburst lamp that twinkles beside a teddy bear, waiting for ownership.

Large back room
A tonal silk stripe curtain sets the tone and provides a masculine touch in this room with its shades of black, grey and caramel. The visual effect is made all the more dramatic when seen against a calming backdrop of cream walls and a neutral velvet carpet. Sitting in the window is a quirky diamond-back chair in silver leaf and black lacquer. It has been upholstered in a vibrant red linen which echoes the unmistakably plush, red silk damask cushions on the bed.

Small back room
A sumptuous gold silk throwover draws us into this room from the landing as it shimmers quietly in this elegant space amidst a wealth of sophisticated colours. Two tall gold nettle lamps sit on cream bedside tables, allowing an infusion of colour emerge in between. Embellishing the luxurious look is a purple and gold silk headboard, which is complemented by beautiful silk cushions whose soft purple colouring is continued in the room's silk curtains with striped detail.

Photographer: Mark Russell-Hill
Author: Tanya Lyons