Colour pop
Her own 1990s-built house demonstrates her confidence. It is a work in progress, she says. “I have no particular style. It’s a look that has evolved and has taken time to put together.”
The kitchen has a rustic, country feel. The dresser was made by Jan Watté, a Belgian living in Ireland since 1992. It has a mirrored back to help reflect light. Botanical prints bought online have been framed and create a colourful area of interest above the table. The space is also home to several Eames-style rockers, a version of the mid-century design classic usually seen in harder, sterner interiors. Una has softened their silhouette by dressing them with ikat-printed cushions she bought in Bo Concept. She replaced the kitchen cupboard doors with tongue-and-groove doors and black granite countertops. The island was originally stained dark. Foley painted it white to lighten the look.
In the sitting room there is a Georgian-style sofa with pea arms that Foley bought from Peter Johnston Interiors. It had a strong ikat cover that she reincarnated a few years ago with a plain neutral fabric. She bought the pale-blue pin-striped armchair in Buckleys of Sandycove for about 20 punts. The rug she found in Kashan Carpets.
The living room doubles as an office. She confides that the space is usually far messier than it looks here. She works at a “quite battered” rosewood art deco pedestal table bought years ago at John Dunphy’s Auction Rooms in Sixmilebridge. She sits at an Eames-style office chair.
There is smart shelving, painted marine blue, an intense colour by Little Greene Paints. She updates the paintwork on the walls every six months. Elsewhere in the room is a linen-upholstered Matador-style chair.
Her daughter Ali has just moved out. A wall in her old room, now occupied by Isobel, is decorated with I-D magazine covers in poster format. The built-in single bed has oodles of storage drawers underneath.
Her advice to anyone wanting to update their home is to play with colour. “Paint is a cheap way to update a room and new cushions can really help change the mood of the existing furniture. They’re not expensive to buy and can transform a plain seat into an area of interest.” She also suggests reframing paintings.
CA Design pops up at Antica’s new showroom, at 6-7 Mulcahy Keane Industrial Estate, Greenhills Road, Walkinstown today, (January 5th) and next Saturday, January 12th, from 10am to 5pm. The shop is open by appointment for the rest of January. Tel: 01-514 3540 Cadesign.ie
