A MUNDANE RED-BRICK exterior belies what hides behind the walls. This north Kildare property is anything but boring on the inside.
Ger Eaton, pictured in his kitchen above, is a hairdresser, musician and lover of all things retro.
The Dublin man and his wife, Susan, share similar tastes in fashion and music and they both bring that style to their home.
“It would probably be more me than her,” Ger admits, however. “Her ideal may be a little watered down. But when I go for something, I go for it.”
The location was spotted by photographer Donal Moloney recently who had been looking for a 1960s-themed pad.
“It’s been like that for 10 years,” says Ger. “It was a gradual thing that started with two lamps – one for hanging and one for the floor. It just went from there.”
Eschewing all things minimalist and modern, he shops around Ireland and, sometimes, in the Netherlands.
“Holland is mad for this stuff – all the original wallpapers came from there. And some of the bigger pieces such as the bed.”
“Each piece is original and tells a little story,” he continues.
“The blue couch came from an American Embassy in the 1960s. It is a 1966 suite. One of the ambassadors had brought all of his own furniture with him. But when he was going back home, he didn’t take it back. The story is legit – the dealer had all the background needed.”
The old TV and VCR in the bedroom catches our attention.
I prefer to use the originals,” he laughs, “but there are a few things I’ve lost the battle on along the way. We had black and white TVs until a year ago. So some modern stuff has had to be introduced.
His eight and 12 year old children probably had a large say on that. But, generally, the kids adore their surroundings.
“It’s been that way as long as they remember. And their friends love it. It’s like a playhouse.”
It has also allowed their creative talents to emerge early with some musical ability already obvious. Not surprising given their names are Jude and Bowie.
Ger, himself, has been in bands for years.
“Our current band is The Carnival Brothers and it is going well. We’re starting to establish something and we’ve a new single – Top of the World – out soon.”
He also continues to work three days a week in Robert Chambers’ hair salon in Dublin’s city centre.
“Fashion has always been a big thing for me – since I was in school. Things have changed though. For me, in the mid-1980s there were very defined style groups. You had punks, mogs and there were real categories. There’s not as much as that – in recent years, it got washed out with no identities.”
As a result, his wardrobe hasn’t changed much.
“I source some vintage stuff or dig stuff out of the attic.”
He says he will “educate” his kids but for now they are fine in practical, wearable clothes.
“When they were younger, I’d source some old vintage clothes. Now it’s just what’s practical.”
It’s not just the house that has intrigued photographers and stylists, Ger has also been asked about his own modelling credentials.
“Donal’s photos have taken it a step further again. It’s taken the rooms in a much more complete way. I had a fashion photographer on to me last night. He wants to do a shoot for editorial with me in it. I don’t know about that – I’ve never modelled. I think I just have the one look – the blue steel.”
Will the house stay like this forever?
“I don’t think I’ll get sick of it,” he says cautiously. “I can’t speak for Susan, my wife. We do have slightly different levels. She puts up with more of it than she would choose. It’s certainly not minimal. She finds it a little claustrophobic at times.”
There is a lot of stuff, we note. Who does the dusting?
“I do a bit of dusting. I have been known to dust,” he laughs.
All photos by Donal Moloney. See more of his work on his website and his Facebook page.
Ger’s band The Carnival Brothers release their single Top of the World at the end of February. Find out more about them here.
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