True blue GAA house

How does a Gaelic supporter fly his county’s colours with style? Rather than hoisting flags, a true blue Dub supporter nails his colours to the mast, or in this case the front door, kitchen counters, wall features and garden trellises.

The statement starts at the front door of this Firhouse new build. Painted Dubs blue, it is one of the many homages paid to the sky and navy shades of the Dublin team in this design by Cian Deegan of Taka Architects.

The door also respects the area’s country past. It is a souped-up version of the vernacular half doors that once graced every homestead. Its introduction allows air movement throughout the house while keeping the property secure.

The house is situated on a corner site. At first glance this suburban home looks like many housing estates of the 1970s; it has a pebble dash exterior, is boxy in shape and appears unremarkable. Peer a little more closely and you’ll see that it isn’t painted, rather it is rendered in pebbledash that has been left to weather naturally.

While it fits in with its semi-d neighbours, the inspiration comes from nearby Knocklyon Castle, also pebbledashed, and its relationship with its now built-up surroundings.

Building on this house began in 2011, the year Dublin won the All-Ireland, and the property pays tribute to the county’s victory over Kerry, a rivalry that returns to Croke Park on September 1st.

Inside, the open plan kitchen-dining-living room the reverence continues, although some artistic license has been taken with the sky and navy blue kit colours. By the sink and cupboards, the mosaic tile countertops are standard issue sky blue. On the island and feature wall behind the multi-fuel burning stove, the navy, considered too dark to be used in a home setting, has been replaced by the far more warming Yves Klein blue, named after the painter who favoured that shade.

The open plan part of the house also has its innards exposed in a way that feels utterly fresh. The shapes of the unfinished stud walls and open joist remain visible but have been gussied up by cladding them in birch ply to give the look a polished sense of Scandi chic.

This natural built-in furniture offers lots of shelving for DVDs, photographs and knick knacks.

Support for the team stretches to the Luxaflex blinds on the windows. These concertina-designs can be used as half-blinds or stretched to shade the whole window.

The floor is polished concrete, as is a raised area to the rear that forms a natural platform on which to position the TV and the multi-fuel burning stove.

Hidden from view is a limed oak staircase that widens as you climb, delivering you to a gorgeous but tiny Hall of Mirrors landing that is a contemporary take on the Versailles concept. Look up and you’ll see a pyramid roof reflected back at you. Each door has mirror sheeting bonded to one side. The vaulted ceiling resembles a natural-forming crystal and the idea is echoed in each of the upstairs rooms. A bare bulb refracts the light back. The bare bulb is somehow fitting.

Four doors lead off the landing. One door opens into the master bedroom. The door opposite is also a bedroom. The third door reveals a second sitting room with a large picture window. On a good day you can see the Hellfire Club and the Dublin Mountains from here. It also allows one half of the couple living here a place to escape to when there’s a match on.

In the bathroom the freestanding cast-iron salvaged tub contrasts with the pearlescent white mosaic tiles on the walls and ceiling. The rainwater shower and curtain are suspended from a copper pipe ring. Copper piping on one wall forms a towel warmer and adds a pop of earthy colour.

In each upstairs room the door frame incorporates some very well placed nooks which acts as shelving for mementoes like photographs, bedside books, and products in the bathroom.

Outside, there is a small garden where you can immerse yourself in the sounds of the suburbs. The property’s dividing fence is painted Dubs blue, naturally. A trellis added to the breeze block perimeter wall is painted the same shade.

A garage at the end of the garden houses the owner’s drum kit, set on carpet to dampen some of the sound. There is also a large utility room with plenty of space for drying clothes.

The couple share their house with their cat Jenny, who has commandeered the wood storage area as her own modernist concrete bunker – on the days she wants out of the house. Her GAA allegiances are unknown.
See taka.ie