Mexican hues, sea views and outdoor sound systems

The atmospheric back garden of Stonehaven, Monkstown is a textbook example of how, with the help of a designer and some modern technology, a garden can really become an extra room.

While undertaking renovation work on the house, the owners decided to turn the rather ordinary garden into something a little more sophisticated. Garden designer Paul Doyle (086 263 8985) with the help of Aspect Garden Construction Ltd (01- 832 0206) transformed the "grass and muck" into a charming courtyard-style affair with lots of late-night partying potential. To the fore of the garden there is a reclaimed flagstone patio leading up to a Canadian maple deck with a seating area, shed and BBQ section, which has external plug sockets.

The garden is used all year round thanks to a portable gas heater as well as an electric heat lamp attached to the house, which also provides lighting. The lighting system includes ambient uplighters for specimen plants as well as brick lights integrated into walls and the step up to the deck.

Two speakers, designed to look like granite rock, are wired back to the Bang & Olufsen sound system in the house.

They are activated by a wireless remote control. When the sound system is off a stone water feature provides a more natural and soothing soundtrack to the garden. Expect to pay in the region of €45,000 for something similar, including planting, wiring and construction.

• With colours inspired by a famed Mexican architect and culinary ergonomic advice from owner of the Mermaid Restaurant Ben Gorman, the custard yellow kitchen in Goldsmith Street (see page 2) is a tightly- designed space for a dedicated cook.

Restaurateur Gorman advised that the layout of the kitchen should be determined by the movement of food - from fridge to food surface to sink to food surface to cooker. The central island is the main food surface area while the back worktop is only used for cleaning up and more complicated activities such as baking bread. The kitchen extension was designed by Fermanagh- based architect Richard Pierce (0044 2866326630). His colour choice of yellow and red was inspired by the signature colours of sensual Mexican modernist Luis Barragán. While the walls of the dining area are red, the kitchen area and units are finished in a strong yellow from the Colortrend range. Try Yellow Jubilee, which is available from MRCB Paints in D8 (01 6798755) at €38.50 for a 3l tin of gloss. The kitchen was built by the owner's brother Henry Fingleton, whose company H&P Property is based in Portlaoise (0502 27048). Blanco taps and Danish D line handles were used in the kitchen and a bright Wicklow marble was used for the worktop to maximise the light in the kitchen area and to detract from the low ceiling. For a similar kitchen expect to pay in the region of €30,000.

• Sinead Moore of RTÉ's Beyond The Hall Door fame was commissioned to decorate this chic apartment in The Pavilion. The brief was to maximise the spectacular sea views in the living space, according to Sinead, who now runs her own company called Beyond The Hall Door which is based in Dublin 2 (01-6622500).

The floor-to-ceiling bay window was used to create a panoramic viewing gallery for one. She used an armless chair in grey woven linen.

Imported from Italy, the chair has a matching footstool, so that the two pieces together seamlessly form a recliner style chair. Price €750 for chair and stool.

Underneath is a hand-tufted white wool rug, price €350.

To complete the look get the aluminium domed floor lamp - a copy of the classic Arco lamp, designed by Achille Castiglioni and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni in 1962. The lamp comprises a polished aluminium domed shade attached to an adjustable arc on a white carrara marble base. Price €350.

• The impressive white-painted bed in the main bedroom of 13 Mount Pleasant Upper - get to the Victorian Salvage and Joinery Company Ltd on South Gloucester, Dublin 2 (01- 672 7000). The elaborate French country-style bed has five panels on the high headboard and certainly sets the right tone in the elegant white bedroom. Prices start at €1,500 for 4ft 6in beds and go up to €1,650 for five ft beds. Custom-made wardrobes were given an unusual look with glass panels. The glass was backed with stripped taupe cotton canvas. The ornate curtains were purchased from The Fabric Library in Newbridge (045 486011). In a wadded embossed chenille, they are lined with heavy cotton. Priced from around €700. They were hung on a scratched chrome curtain rail. Price from around €150.