Empire opulence, family-friendly spaces - and a bit of Ikea DIY

Like the look of this week's houses . . . Edel Morganshows how it's done.

To get into the spirit of American empire style, think gloriously over-the-top and not-for-the-faint-hearted opulence, big portraits of powdered ladies and distinguished gentlemen and glittering chandeliers.

Recreating the gilded music room of Oakwood, the Newport home of Irish-American property developer Brian O'Neill, might pose a few problems to those on a limited budget but there are ways of paying homage without going into bankruptcy.

The gilt mantel clock was purchased at a Sotheby's contents sale of Elton John's London town house for a cool $20,000 (€13,686). A French late 19th century clock without the Elton John connection will cost upwards of €4,000, according to Mealy's auctioneers (056 4441229) or you can check out ebay for a reproduction.

According to George Mealy of Mealy's antiques, old portraits are very popular with Irish people and are used to decorate period houses or, in some cases, to create an instant ancestry.

"Eighteenth century paintings of pleasant looking ladies sell better than stern looking men," says Mealy, "and can make anything from €1,000 to €15,000." For those with less to spend bulkier 19th century portraits can cost as little as €300-€400.

If you want the American palace look and gilding your ceiling or walls isn't a step too decadent, gold leaf at MRCB Paints (01-679 8755) costs approx €30 for a book of 25 sheets. For the professional touch gilder Cresten Doherty can be contacted on 01-4941639.

The walls of the gilded room are painted in "oxygen" the colour of the Newport ocean and Royalty. The spectacular chandelier is sterling silver and came from an American home in Virginia. A comparable one will set you back €10,000-€15,000.

Instead of a €30,000-plus Steinway baby grand, Holland Pianos (059-9131177) stock some less expensive makes.

It might be Clonskeagh in January but the aqua and white dining area of 31 Whitethorn Roadwouldn't be out of place in a Greek villa.

Two Farrow & Ball colours give the room a clean, fresh contemporary feel - Pointing on the walls and ceiling, and Teresa's Green on the woodwork. The cute built-in dresser and small Doure stove are a nod to the homely country kitchen look without overpowering the room. Try Sean Murphy Heating Ltd, Kinvara, Co Galway (091-637159). Glazed French doors, made by a carpenter, help keep the room bright and the dark red ceramic handmade tiles behind the stove (a wedding present to the previous owner) inject warmth. Fired Earth has a range of hand-decorated kitchen tiles (01-8735362). An ingenious touch are the deep storage units carved into the understairs to maximise storage. The room is kept simple with an oak table and chairs from Conroys in Castleisland, Co Kerry (066-7141154) but the ornate metallic clock bought in House of Fraser a few years ago introduces a cheeky touch of decadence.

The blackboard - used to keep track of doctors and dentist appointments - helps the smooth running of this busy family home. For a bespoke blackboard try www.blackboards-uk.co.uk

Almost everything in the kitchen of River Cottageis from Ikea (check out www.Ikea.com for six easy steps to planning your kitchen).

The owners bought the lot - right down to the spice racks and lighting - from the Swedish chain's Glasgow branch for around €6,000 a few years ago and they economised by installing it themselves with family help.

The result is a clean crisp and highly practical not to mention briskly efficient kitchen. The white units are Ikea Adel with Numerar solid beech worktops. Nothing is overlooked - there are even wooden dividers for inside drawers so your wine opener doesn't end up stuffed in with the take-away menus.

The durable corian worktop on the island unit was chosen to withstand the ravages of family life and there are a number of stainless steel work areas and a stainless steel splashback from Galway-based Unique Designs (091 756009).

The microwave is part of a built in combi-oven so it's not cluttering up the worktop .The glazed presses contain pretty dishes while the less picturesque pots and pans are kept hidden behind white doors.

Ikea is good at internal fittings. This kitchen has a recycling area for two bins and cabinet doors that fold upwards in tight spaces. There are three types of lighting - undercabinet, task lighting and stylish pendant lights over the island unit.

The hall of Victoria Lodgecould have been left as a dead space -- as many halls are - but instead has been turned into an inviting and useful living area at the hub of the home.

For those lucky enough to have a hall bigger than the standard narrow walkway many of us are lumbered with, a bit of creative thinking can give it a new lease of life.

Architect Georgina Hutton (01 2010320) designed the dark wenge seat to tie in with the spiral stair case and hug the curve of the wall.

This was executed by Nolmac Woodmaking (01-2862728). Her brief from the owner who has a young family was to make the area homely and contemporary but to stop short of cutting-edge.

The oatmeal and striped cushions (contact Fermanagh-based Annan interiors 00442866 340055) cosy-up what could be a hard monochrome look. The curved wall is a perfect backdrop for the black and white photographs of the children on canvas from Photogenic Photographers (01-2845544) or try www.thecanvasworks.ie.

The spiral staircase, which replaced a previous precarious one, was installed by Stairs and Co (www.stairsandco.ie).