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Walking past, you’d hardly even know this Georgian family home is there. Tucked into a quiet Galway street, you might be lucky to glimpse a splash of Farrow & Ball’s Eating Room Red in the hallway or a flicker of colour from the mid-century Sputnik chandelier in the lounge. However, for the most part, its treasures are shrouded behind simple net curtains that were in the house when it was bought a few years ago by a busy family looking for a place to call home.
Redesigned and extended by Helena McElmeel Architects, the three-storey terraced building and collection of outhouses have been reimagined as a flowing family home. Coupled with a detailed conservation process that came with the building’s protected status, addressing the lack of light was one of the key architectural challenges, especially on the ground floor. “It involved extensive historical research and structural assessments,” explains Helena. “We even recorded the daylight levels in the kitchen over several weeks to support the planning application – which turned out to be less than a quarter of the recommended minimum light standards.”
However, the extended structural and conservation process allowed Róisín time to get to know the house and its inhabitants. With many original features and some unique large-scale pieces left behind by the previous owners, the house had so much to work with, but it was dark and crowded. However, there was a warmth to both the owners and the home that drew Róisín in immediately.
The kitchen, then a gloomy room at the centre of the house, was still the heart of the home. “The way they used the kitchen, it reminded me of growing up,” Róisín explains. “Yes, it was dark and damp but there were always freshly made scones and a pot of tea on the table. It was the hub, and I wanted to preserve that.”
“I have been obsessed with the kitchen in The Handmaid’s Tale,” says Róisín of her unusual inspiration for the space. “I used to pause the TV just to take pictures of it! It just had a settled beauty to it, like it had always been there and that was the challenge for me here; I didn’t want the materials to be too shiny and new.”
The kitchen now has an old-world feel and yet acts like a vestibule for the rest of the house, a fulcrum that connects the old and the new, as well as all of its inhabitants. Soft monochrome marble floor tiles tumble into a textured green countertop and portal that accesses the dining room. The island, taking the lead from the owner’s original kitchen table, has two ornate legs that anchor into a corner unit and a hanging brass potholder emphasises the height of the ceilings.
An internal window in the original exterior rear wall, allows light to flow from a thoughtfully positioned sky light above the dining table, while folding doors in a pale limed oak draw you into the family room where everyone can congregate comfortably.
Photography: Barbara Corsico
This feature originally appeared in the autumn/winter 2023 issue of IMAGE Interiors. Have you thought about becoming a subscriber? Find out more, and sign up here.