EACH WEEK, WE ask an Irish person with a passion for interiors about a favourite spot in their home.
Mum-of-two Gráinne O’Reilly has lived in a new build in Cork with her husband and children since 2014.
This week, DIY-lover Gráinne (@parsekus) chatted us through the space in her home that she loves the most: her pink dining room.
I love that the double doors make the kitchen and dining room sort of open plan. It’s a really adaptable space and we all use it a lot. The kids can be playing away in the dining room while we’re cooking in the kitchen. I use the dining table when I’m DIYing or crafting and my husband uses it when he’s studying.
I also love that if I sit in the rattan chair and face the record player the door hides me so I can have five minutes to read a book in peace. The kids could easily make three or four passes through the dining room before they spot me!
There are a good few bits of thrifted and second-hand furniture in this photo. The tractor seat bar stools, Thonet chairs, dining table, and rattan chair were all DoneDeal finds. I really love a good bargain, I’m always on the lookout for interesting second hand pieces. I enjoy giving something a new lease of life. The chairs and stools were all in great condition when we got them, and the table just needed a lick of paint to freshen it up.
The storage and the lamp are the only things we bought new for this room. The two black and white photos are by our friend Paddy Toye. The big leafy green plant is a coffee bush that my sister-in-law gave to me seven years ago. It was just a tiny seedling when I got it and it was the first plant I managed to keep alive for more than a few months. We love to have things around the house that remind us of the people we love.
We wanted to fill the walls with prints and artworks so that when you’re sitting having lunch or dinner there’s lots to look at and talk about. The most important elements to me when I was planning this room were that I wanted it to be welcoming and comfortable, with lots of keepsakes and sentimental knick knacks on display.
We always felt that the room was a bit stark when the walls where white, so that’s how the pink walls came about! It’s really warm and inviting now.
These two rooms are probably the most “finished” part of the house. That being said, I thought I was finished with the dining room but then I took a notion last summer to paint it pink and added more lighting and prints.
Most of what we do in the house is a DIY effort and on a tight budget, so I’m all for a slow decorating approach.
Er, a lot. Like really really a lot! My house in real life is never what my house looks like on my Instagram feed. My husband and I used to be very neat and particular but we’ve really relaxed our standards since our second baby came along – and for the better I think.
Do you have a spot in your home that you’re particularly proud of? Do you enjoy styling the different rooms in your house? Are you always adding and changing little things to make your space stand out? If so, we want to hear from you! Email amy@thejournal.ie with a few lines about yourself and your home for a chance to feature in My Home in One Photo.
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