Real Weddings: Keelin and Darren tie the knot overlooking Dingle Bay
Real Weddings: Keelin and Darren tie the knot overlooking Dingle Bay

Shayna Sappington

Let me tell you why a mother is the perfect employee
Let me tell you why a mother is the perfect employee

Dominique McMullan

I broke up with my boyfriend and now I have bangs
I broke up with my boyfriend and now I have bangs

Edaein OConnell

WIN a family pass to Emerald Park this Easter
WIN a family pass to Emerald Park this Easter

Shayna Sappington

This peaceful Victorian-era Galway home is on the market for €1.65 million
This peaceful Victorian-era Galway home is on the market for €1.65 million

Sarah Finnan

How to recreate 90s skinny brows without plucking out your eyebrows
How to recreate 90s skinny brows without plucking out your eyebrows

Holly O'Neill

A definitive guide to the very best Irish-made Easter eggs
A definitive guide to the very best Irish-made Easter eggs

Sarah Gill

Supper Club: Peanut soba noodle salad
Supper Club: Peanut soba noodle salad

Meg Walker

18 interiors finds under €50 to refresh your home this spring
18 interiors finds under €50 to refresh your home this spring

Megan Burns

This Co Meath self-build blends with its rural surroundings, and has a clean and modern interior
This Co Meath self-build blends with its rural surroundings, and has a clean and modern...

Megan Burns

Image / Editorial

10 Expert Tips for an Efficient Home Redesign


By Kate Phelan
21st Jan 2016
10 Expert Tips for an Efficient Home Redesign

Ciara Jordan of Dublin-based Amour Design shares some expert advice on how to easily and effectively redesign your home…

Veteran tiler Ciara Jordan spent 13 years honing her skills on building sites before setting up her own bathroom design business in 1999. 17 years later, Amour Design?has been transformed into a full-service, luxury design’studio’specialising in plumbing, tiling, carpentry and?electrics, as well as project management.

Having overseen many a top-to-bottom redesign,?Ciara has plenty of sage?advice for anyone contemplating a home makeover…

Amour 03

1. Find yourself a good starting point. If you’re planning an entire house the?kitchen is an excellent place to start, most families spend a huge amount of?time in the kitchen.

2. When planning a room, pick one thing that you love and centre the design around that. A piece of fabric or?wallpaper can unfold an entire room.

3. Think practically and in terms of longevity. Don’t?use materials that look good for the first six months – make the money that?you are spending matter.?Get good advice on building materials and keep up with the latest products?on the market.

4. Always try and go with good-quality flooring where budget allows, as this will’stand the test of time. Wallpaper and paints are much cheaper to replace?than flooring.

5. Tank and seal all wet areas. You need to think of your pump, cylinder and tank?before thinking about tiles and sanitary ware for bathrooms.

10 Expert Tips for an Efficient Home Redesign

6. Never stick tiles directly onto wood, even if it’s marine?plywood. Use a material suitable for tiling such as cement board.

7. When tiling use mould resistant grouts like BAL Microflex. Never?use white grout as it’s a disaster for cleaning.

8. Always test paints in large areas. A small patch on the wall is not’sufficient to see the full effect of a colour in a particular room. Light effect paint that looks?great in your friend’s house could look completely different in your own.

9. When finishing rooms, be daring with fabrics.?This is where the fun starts. Don’t be afraid – it’s not life or death; it’s only curtains and cushions. Be’sensible with building decisions, but have fun with the finishes.

10. If you need help, get it. Spending your money on project management and’design can save you a lot of’stress on any project you undertake in?your home.

So there you have it! Now skip over to our house tours‘section for’some delectable design inspiration…

Amour Design