Designer Phillipa Buckley, an exhibitor at this weekend's Interior Design fair in the RDS, wants her home to be as comfortable as possible, writes EMMA CULLINAN

Phillipa Buckley is an interior designer who runs Studio 44 Design and is chair of the Interior Decorators and Designers of Ireland. She lives in Churchtown, Dublin, with her husband

How long have you been here?

We’ve lived here for 28 years. I grew up near here and went to school in Notre Dame. One reason why we have stayed for so long is that it is lovely and quiet, and where else would I get that view across the garden and into Milltown golf club?

It’s a lovely neighbourhood that is accessible to lots of things, including when my two children were going to school and college. Then there’s Dundrum and the Luas. We’re here to stay.

What did you do to the house when you first bought it?

Nothing because we had no money. It’s evolved. Homes always evolve as opportunities and finances arise. I’m the sort of person who usually has a project in mind. I have such a passion for interiors and keep noticing things. People say: “How did you notice that!” But it’s either in you or it’s not. When I notice something I begin to plan the project.

Do you follow fashion?

No, although I love fashion I will change an interior as people or children move on or a space gets a different use.

It’s good to sometimes review things. I’m someone who doesn’t stand still.

Because I live here and will not be putting the house up for sale, I want to be comfortable – that’s true for lots of people now who will spend more time investing in their homes rather than seeing them as investments that they will move on from. I am here to stay so I want it to be in my comfort zone. Now is a good time to get tradespeople and for buying fabrics which have been reduced across the board by about 15 per cent because of the sterling rate change.

Yet design is all about change so we have to be open to that. When you see certain fabrics on the catwalk they do appear in upholstery – colours and textures are a huge component of design.

When did you become an interior designer?

Eight years ago and I’ve had my own business for six years. I started as a jewellery maker so I always had an interest in design. I then changed to management for a while before coming back into design.

Have you found your area?

I love it, I absolutely love it.

Did becoming an interior designer change your view of your own house?

Of course, because my mind is constantly open to design and creating spaces for people. I do a lot with the interior architecture so it allowed me to look at my own space.

I am currently opening out the hall and giving it a loft feel. It feels much bigger because I’ve taken out the old bannisters and am putting in a steel newel post where the stairs turn. I have a very good carpenter who said that he could cut into the string and edge it, which has given it an extra dimension and made the stairs much lighter.

Do you try things at home to see how they will work?

Definitely not. I think about the design and plan it. I drew out the kitchen to nth degree. There’s no experimenting. It’s very important to have a plan. When you are doing kitchens and bathrooms you need to consider the elevations and see how each place works ergonomically.

Do you think that some people just concentrate on plans and not elevations?

Yes, and yet elevations are so important, especially with lighting, for instance.

You might want to illuminate a painting or another focal point and it is very hard to think about that in plans. You also need to think about those things, such as whether you will have paintings in the room, before you start designing the room.

Was this always a large room?

Yes, this space was here 28 years ago and had one big window to the garden and a door out to a yard at the side. The sink is in that area now.

The last kitchen was a hand-painted cream one and this one is about two years old. I was driving into town one day and passed the Snaidero showroom and saw this kitchen. In this design I didn’t want overhead presses so I could get a better feeling of space.

Has that worked?

It’s brilliant. The more cupboards you have, the more junk you put in them. It made me consider what I really needed and where to put things.

There is a delft drawer opposite the dishwasher, so you can just take things out and put it straight into the drawer.

It’s a very white room but looks beautiful?

We chose white walls because we have a lot of art and it is also calming and bright. The wenge engineered floor came from Design Loft in Deansgrange Business Park. I originally wanted a walnut floor but I bought samples home and it did nothing for the kitchen: the blond streaks in the wood clashed with the units. Then I hit on the wenge. I love the dark floor with the white walls.

You would think I bought the table, which came from Habitat, to match the floor but I didn’t. It was paler but, when I got the floor, I got a carpenter to plane the table and stain it darker – so I recycled something!

The chairs also came from Habitat and were a bargain when they were moving from the St Stephen’s Green premises, so they’ve lasted well. I miss Habitat.

You’re involved in the Interior Decorators and Designers of Ireland (IDDA)?

I’m the chairman of the IDDA and we’re taking a stand at the Interiors Show, starting tomorrow in the RDS, and people can come and get advice (or go to www.iddi.ie for a list of members). Everyone in the association does a different range of services.Some do decoration, some interior architecture, while some do a bit of both, and some have retail outlets.

We have regular meetings and discuss various aspects of interior design, such as how to move in line with current trends, new building regulations, lighting requirements, energy-saving aspects, etc.

We help one another. Working as an interior designer can be quite isolating if you are not part of a big practice so it’s nice to be able to bounce ideas off each other. We are also looking for new members because we want the organisation to grow. It’s an industry we feel passionate about and we hope we can get new talent and foster new ideas.

While I realise that designers can work to clients’ tastes, do clients come to see how you’ve designed your house?

Yes, I often meet with them here and it does reflect my taste.

The Interior Design and Art Fair runs from May 15th-17th in the RDS, see www.idafair.ie

www.studio44.ie