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102 munster interiors

ListeningDeliveringEdel Moloney and Marina Slattery of Missi Gray Interior Design

p102 listening delivering clare_p111:Layout 1 9/8/11 17:12

103munster interiors

Located on the outskirts of Ennis, this gracious family homeoozes chic, classic style. Interior design duo Missi Gray came on board atthe early build stage, with a brief to create a sophisticated but comfortablefamily home. The desired result was comfortable opulence rather thanminimalism. Edel Moloney and Marina Slattery of Missi Gray havedelivered an interior that more than succeeds in fulfilling the brief. There’sa distinct wow factor, yet the house feels like a warm and much lovedhome. You instinctively feel when walking around this house that theowners are at ease with their surroundings. This isn’t an interior thatneeds to be minded, it’s one to be enjoyed.

“It was an unusual brief in that the clients were relocating to this newhouse, yet they had a lifetime of special belongings, specifically some rareand very fine antiques that they wanted to take with them. The challengetherefore was to make the old, quite literally, blend seamlessly with thenew. We knew the direction we needed to take was to ensure high qualityfinishes, and fixtures that are timeless,” says Edel Moloney.

There is nothing ‘of the moment’ in this house. Every item offurniture, the lighting, the flooring and bathroom appliances were carefullychosen with longevity in mind. That said, the design team wasn’t afraid tobreak the mould, for example when you walk into the reception lobby,there is an ornate antique fireplace, which adds warmth to the cool creammarble tiles, which run throughout much of the ground floor.

THIS ELEGANT FAMILY HOME NEAR ENNIS HAS BEEN DESIGNED FOR COMFORT AND CONVIVIALITY,COMBINING SOPHISTICATED FINISHES WITH A WARM, TRADITIONAL LOOK. WORDS MARGARET

O’BRIEN. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE MULCAIRE.



“The challenge was to make the old, quite literally,blend seamlessly with the new. We knew thedirection we needed to take was to ensure highquality finishes, and fixtures that are timeless.”


In the atrium overhead the lobby, two stunning John Rocha Waterford Etoile crystal chandelierssparkle as they reflect the natural light. The staircase to the first floor is tucked against a wall, with thewooden underside, painted ‘winter white’ to make it blend rather than stand out. The library to the rightof the lobby has a wonderful antique fireplace, complemented by a highly polished brass fender – bothof which were purchased at auction by the owners. There are two deep sofas in this room, which setthe tone for comfort.

Next door is a guest WC – and while you wouldn’t normally comment on something like this, eventhis room is a showstopper with its hand painted metallic wallpaper with oriental floral motif. To the leftof the lobby is a formal dining room, with wide plank, smoked French oak floorboards and a large antiquedining table, perfect for large family gatherings. The dining room links the kitchen and the formalreception room, creating one very large living space with easy access.

The breakfast area in the open plan kitchen features a sociable round table and a sideboard by Selva,an Italian brand that epitomises fine design and artistic workmanship. The hand-painted kitchen wascrafted by local kitchen and cabinetmaker Tom Noonan, whose passion for his work is obvious from hismeticulous attention to detail. The marble work surfaces and matching window ledges add asophisticated finish to the traditional look, while brass handles are very much in keeping with the theme.The colour scheme in the kitchen is quite neutral, but far from cold, with warm whites framed by acalming olive green which is used to effect between the top of the eye level units and the ceiling coving.

The formal reception room, while designed for comfort, incorporates some daring details, such asthe bold striped monochrome wallpaper on the chimney breast and a feature wall. This is a bright roomwhere the family can sink into the generous sofas, covered in traditional and timeless damask fabric. Inkeeping with the taste and classic furnishings of the clients, a classic French country oak wood floor was

The colour scheme in the kitchen is quite neutral, but far from cold, with warm whites framed by a calmingolive green which is used to effect between the top of the eye level units and the ceiling coving.



The formal reception room, while designed forcomfort, incorporates some daring details, suchas the bold striped monochrome wallpaper onthe chimney breast and a feature wall.

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chosen for its robust elegant grain that makes it durable and hard wearing. Named 'The Guinevere', this10" inch wide French long plank, smoked and aged-treated, comes from the Enchanted Wood Housecollection at Heritage Flooring.

While it appears there is a mirror over the fireplace, what you are looking at is a cleverly concealedplasma screen, framed in a gilt gold antique picture frame. This is a truly inspirational design solution!

On the far side of the reception room is a lobby area leading into the ground floor master bedroom,where more design tricks are in evidence. Overhead the mahogany sleigh bed are three very distinctiveglass panels, which have been stained and leaded by local artisan craftsman Pat Leyden. Designer EdelMoloney explains: “These panels borrow light from upstairs which in turn adds drama to the panels.They have a circular soft amber coloured inset, and contain crystals and gold leading. Marina and Idesigned them to complement the colour pallet in the bedroom and specifically the Nobilis fabrics andthe wallpaper featured behind the bed.” To create the effect of a suite, as opposed to a bedroom, a largechaise longue rests in front of the French doors. The en-suite bathroom contains a whirlpool bath, setinto a double-aspect corner window. The WC is accessed off the bathroom through sublime handmadebi-fold doors. The designers have also used these doors in other bathrooms in order to maximize space,while adding a quirky, visually pleasing architectural touch.

Upstairs, there are four bedrooms and the family bathroom – with the emphasis on room! An elegantslipper bath with the base painted rich mahogany, sits on claw legs in the centre of the bathroom. Thewalls are wood panelled and painted warm white, while the handsome double vanity unit contains plenty


“It was an unusual brief in that the clients were relocating to this new house, yet they had a lifetime ofspecial belongings, specifically some rare and very fine antiques that they wanted to take with them.

”



S o u r c e D i r e c t o r yINTERIOR DESIGN: Edel Moloney and MarinaSlattery, Missi Gray Interior Design, Unit 10,Quin Rd Business Park, Ennis, Co. Clare, T: 0866007207 or 086 2110755, E: [email protected]: Ennis Carpets, Unit 7A, Quin RoadBusiness Park, Ennis. T: 065 684 1088CURTAINS, BLINDS, BED LINEN, CUSHIONSAND FABRICS: Window Attire, Unit 11, QuinRoad Business Park, Ennis, T: 065 682 3866ACCESSORIES INCLUDING BEDSIDE LAMPS:Interio, Quin Road Business Park, Ennis. T: 0656843626 www.interio.ieWOODEN FLOORS: Heritage Flooring, QuinRoad Business Park, Ennis. T: 065 682 4656SOFAS AND CHAIRS: Maddens Furniture, StationRd. Ennis, T: 065 6843341 GENERAL LIGHTING: Suttons Lighting Ltd,Clonroadmore, Ennis. T: 065 6824045PHILIPPE STARCK LIGHTING: Falks Lighting, 3Henry St, Limerick, T: 061 316934BEDROOM FURNITURE: Casey's Furniture,Raheen Roundabout, Limerick. T: 061 307070 Interior Doors, including bi-fold doors:Architectural World, The Ice House, Fish Quay,Sligo. T: 071 9147262, www.architecturalworld.ieGRANITE IN THE KITCHEN, BATHROOMSAND FLOORS: Ennis Marble & Granite Ltd. Unit6 Ballymaley Business Park, Barefield, Ennis. T:065 6840606Fitted Kitchen and vanity units in bathrooms: TomNoonan Fitted Furniture, Fountain, Ennis, T: 0656828512BESPOKE STAINED GLASS PANELS: (as featuredin master bedroom and on front door glass) PatLeyden Stained Glass, Woodstock, Ennis. T: 0656820213 AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT: iHomes, QuinRoad Business Park, Ennis. T: 065 6865690 or065 6865691



of storage. A dramatically large mirror is placed over the vanity area. The WC is kept separate and isaccessed through bi-fold doors.

Each of the four bedrooms has a distinct design signature. As Edel explains: “The owners have agrown up family and when they come to stay, they want them to enjoy an upmarket hotel experiencewith lots of space in each bedroom.” The bedrooms are artfully furnished with beautiful occasional piecesand very individual chairs, prints and bedside lighting. While there is so much to express the idea ofcomfortable luxury, it’s the choice of fabric in the billowing curtains that makes the loudest, yetunderstated statement. The curtains are all interlined and touch the floor in luscious folds. “We boughtthe fabric at Window Attire in Ennis and they also made the curtains. We decided on 10 inch pleats tomake a strong style statement,” says Marina.

One of the other bedrooms, which enjoys double aspect windows and plenty of natural light, is soautumnal in tone that you can almost taste the berries! A rich palette includes shades of warm terracotta,reds and copper tones. The curtain fabric, ‘Kozaka’ by Nobilis, is a very warm brown silk overlaid withcopper and red leaf motifs and finished off splendidly with distinctive ‘Jab’ tie-backs.

At every turn of this vast house, your eye is arrested by something interesting, it may be an ornament,a piece of lighting by Philippe Starck, or fabrics you just want to hug they are so beautiful. As a total pieceof interior design it represents one of the strongest arguments I have seen in some time for employingprofessional interior designers. Marina Slattery and Edel Moloney got to know their clients well andcreated a design solution that is not only highly impressive, but succeeds in meeting every aspect of theclient brief. ❊

“The owners have a grown up family and when they come to stay, they want themto enjoy an upmarket hotel experience with lots of space in each bedroom.”


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