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When Vogue Williams first stepped foot in this Howth house, it wasn’t as someone looking for a new home, but simply to visit a friend. “My friend was showing me around, and I said to him, ‘This is my dream house, I’m going to own it one day.’” The multi-hyphenate may live in London with husband, Spencer Matthews and children Theodore, Gigi and Otto, but likes to have a Dublin base to retreat from hectic London life.
“It’s really important for me to have a great base here for the kids that they really love,” she explains. “I go home to Dublin for the calm and relaxation, and to catch up with friends. Obviously, I work from there as well, but I just wanted a relaxing home to go back to, because London can be quite mad at times.”
The result is a space full of soft shades, gentle curves, and playful details that create a relaxed yet welcoming mood, without compromising on the practical details needed for a young family. In the living space, curved sofas in a pale pink are complemented by arched bookcases designed by Geri’s team and built by Con Brouder.
“It’s the living room, but the kids are up there a lot, so Vogue wanted somewhere that they can hang out and play that’s very near them if they’re in the kitchen,” Geri explains. “So we made these bookcases that look lovely and dressed up, but underneath, behind the doors, there’s actually plenty of storage. It’s perfect to put away the toys and still have a grown-up space in the evening time.” Brass handles from Armac Martin further echo the curves in this space, while the shelves above provide a place to display favourite pieces. Painted in Rosemary Leaf by Dulux Heritage, they add depth and character.
The kitchen, Geri explains, was a key aspect of the design, and the space that has changed the most. “The old kitchen was brown, and too heavy and dark for Vogue. We repainted the kitchen cabinets in DH Blossom by Dulux Heritage and the walls in Flax Seed, and we replaced the island, because it wasn’t working for what we needed in the space.” The new island is topped with Taj Mahal quartzite, full of pink and gold tones, with a double bullnose edge and rounded ends. These curves are continued in the chandeliers and stools.
“What I love about the chandeliers is that the shape is almost like petals of a flower,” Geri says, “and we mimicked that shape in the base of the island stools by Bryan O’Sullivan. They’re a real statement piece in the space.” The floor tiles were replaced with a light-washed wood from Matt Britton, which Vogue much prefers underfoot. “I love that I have a pink kitchen,” she says. “If chic Barbie had a kitchen, it would be this. Everything has just turned out perfectly.”
Vogue is looking forward to spending more time in her gorgeous Howth retreat when she gets a chance with her busy schedule. “I am in the editing stage of my book,” she says, “so I’ve written the whole thing, and now it’s going back and forth between myself and the editors and publishers, which is very exciting. I’m always busy too with my podcast, Never Live It Down – I have loads of exciting guests coming up.” Where better to take a pause than this space, which feels at once serene, yet true to Vogue’s infectious personality?
“I love the finished space,” Vogue says. “Every time I go home, I think, ‘I wish I could dig this house up and put it in London!’ It’s got everything we need, and everything about it is kind of perfect.”
Photography: Ruth Maria Murphy
The Dulux Heritage range is Dulux’s most luxurious collection and pairs timeless, elegant shades with trending hues, with an easy-to-apply formula and sumptuous finish. Available in 112 carefully crafted colours, which have been expertly curated to help you find your perfect shade. Heritage’s extraordinary paints are made with the finest ingredients, available in two finishes – Velvet Matt, for walls, and Eggshell, for wood and metal, to ensure the whole house can get the luxury treatment, whilst being durable to withstand the bustle of everyday life.
