Interiors stylist Helen Turkington quits D6 and heads for Dublin hills

New homes construction is finally starting to gain momentum, and leading interior designer Helen Turkington is reaping the benefits by lending her signature interiors style to the growing number of luxury schemes, including Knockrabo in Goatstown which launches today.

Between that and a very healthy stream of wealthy private clients popping their heads above the post-recession parapet to avail of her design consultancy, it’s fair to say business is flying for Turkington.

The designer, who single-handedly introduced the nation to the ubiquitous 50 shades of grey interiors colour palette, has also just managed to sell her own home in Rathgar in double-quick time.

Launched on the market by Lisney last September, the very fine late-Georgian house on Orwell Road was replete with Turkington's signature style, and despite the €2.2million asking price the sale had closed by Christmas for €2.35 million.

It's understood the extended five-bed was bought by a family returning to Ireland from overseas. And we reckon this was a house where – in real estate parlance – the buyer really had "nothing to do but turn the key".

So where to next for Turkington? Well, while most of us, given sufficient funds, would rush to outsource a top-to-bottom refurbishment project to an interior designer, Turkington it seems is happy to take her work home and plans to embark on a substantial fixer-upper project of her own.

The designer is heading for the Dublin hills and embarking on a major refurb on a period property with large grounds in Kilternan, purchased for a sum understood to be more than €2 million. No greater love and all that.