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GERI O’TOOLE is a Limerick-based interior designer who has been working in the industry for 17 years. Together with her husband Cathal Glynn, who runs Cathal Glynn Construction, they have created a beautiful home which marries old and new, writes Ruth O’Connor, one which is characterised by luxurious natural materials.
Geri O’Toole is the founder of interior design company Geri Designs. She and her team of 10 are regularly employed by clients (including Vogue Williams) at from Ireland to Abu Dhabi who are drawn to her sharp eye for detail, love of natural materials and the aesthetic of her own home – a home that has gone viral several times online and that has been described by fans, particularly those on the other side of the pond, as ‘European Cottage’ in style.
The couple bought their home, a 19th Century cottage with some outhouses, around 10 years ago and together with architect Des Ewing they have transformed the space from one that was small and lacking light to a stunning, light-filled, spacious home which marries the older buildings with a contemporary build.
The heart of Geri’s home is the kitchen – it’s the place that she spend the most time in – cooking in the evenings and painting or doing Playdough with her daughter Evie.
“The kitchen space was the old outhouse so we were almost dictated where the door openings would be – we didn’t want to knock down 200 year old stone so the architect, Des Ewing, came up with the great idea of raising the roof and putting a whole line of windows at the top which pour in loads of light. Vaulted ceilings are a little bit tricky to work with and can feel cold and cavernous if you don’t get the right finishes in, so having that interesting stone floor and the beams on the ceiling really helps to cosy it up.”
Aside from the striking kitchen island and cabinetry, Geri says some of her favourite features in this room are the lights – including the chandelier over the dining area with its built-in banquette featuring alabaster discs.
“The statement lights over the kitchen island were sourced from the UK – they’re massive with a plaster finish so thank goodness they arrived in one piece. It’s hard to get a light fitting that feels statement enough especially with a vaulted ceiling. They have a beautiful bronze chain which I feel is important as you see a lot of that part of the light.”
Marrying the beautiful with the practical, Geri says that two of her favourite spaces in the kitchen are the arched coffee station and the pantry with its reeded glass doors. “I’ve a busy working and family life so I love my arched coffee station in – there’s quite a deep wall on that side of the room and it could have been a really boring space if we hadn’t recessed the cabinets. I also love the pantry – I keep all of the mess, including the toaster and the airfryer, in there – I can pull the door and not see the mess!”
One of the most striking aspects of Geri’s home is her use of exquisite natural materials. For a home with a neutral palette, for the most part, she has imbued it with plenty of interest thanks to the addition of tactile materials and interesting finishes.
“I love interiors that feel a little bit lived in. My choices, in terms of flooring for example, might not suit everybody, but I love the character that they bring. I went for a lot of natural materials such as oak, marble and limestone – it is still quite neutral in terms of the tones but the materials really give it a depth that you might not otherwise get with a neutral palette.”
While many people favour modern, manmade materials for their ease, Geri says that she is willing to do the maintenance that is sometimes required of more traditional materials.
“My home reflects my ethos in that it feels quite calming but also I love using natural materials in my projects and I’ve incorporated that into my own home. I think they are better to live with health-wise,” says Geri. “In a world in which people are sold things based on easy maintenance and zero hassle I am fine with things developing a patina and the odd stain or scratch over time – I am fine with the imperfection of that and the story that something gains over time.”
The appreciation for quality craftsmanship and materials comes from Geri’s father who worked with fine art and antiques for decades. “My father (Noel O’Toole, founder of Browsers Furniture & Interior Design) is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to furniture. I’ll always get his opinion as he has a wealth of knowledge from a lifetime in the industry.”
“I think you can tell that marble is one of my favourite materials,”says Geri of the material which features frequently throughout her home. “I grew up around marble tables, seeing them in old houses and so on, but it was always a harder sell to convince clients of the merits of heavily veined marble. To my delight it has become really popular in interiors so I’m delighted to be able to use it liberally.”
While her home features many beautiful items, Geri insists that it is nonetheless child-friendly. A fourth bedroom downstairs, which acts as a playroom, corales much of the usual chaos associated with kids and she has a dedicated arts and crafts station at one end of the expansive kitchen counter.
“My home might look beautiful in the photos but I can assure you there are plenty of toys around – especially in the playroom which is a mess – it’s a very lived-in home,” she assures me. “I will say though, that I was reared with a lot of antique furniture, because that was my father’s livelihood, and we were always taught to mind and care for things so I have reared my children to do the same. That said, we do have practical additions such as the bleach-cleanable chairs at the dining table so there’s no problem if someone spills their spaghetti bolognese!”
As an interior designer, Geri says it was a joy to work with her husband Cathal on the project: “My husband is very talented and has a lot of experience. It’s lovely working with people in the industry who like detail because some builders will not want to go to the same level of detail because it’s more time consuming or costly.”
From finding the right tradespeople to finding the right architect, she says it is vital to do your research if embarking on a new build or renovation. “So many architects have a good online presence now and location should not put people off – it’s about finding an aesthetic that aligns with your taste.”
“It was easier for us because we are in that world, but it’s very important for people to meet a few architects and to see who best they can work with,” she advises. “A good designer or architect will almost get inside your head and pull out what you didn’t know you wanted or couldn’t verbalise. I had often thought we should link the cottage to the outhouses but I hadn’t said that and that’s exactly what our architect, Des Ewing, came up with. I love the juxtaposition of the old and new – it makes it more interesting.”
Once the old kitchen, Geri’s bedroom is now one of her favourite rooms in the house – a place of rest and relaxation that features a walk-in wardrobe and seating area complete with, you guessed it, a beautiful marble coffee table. “I’ll be in my bedroom from 8pm every night – I might be working online but I love relaxing in my bedroom. My walk -in wardrobe is a narrow space but was the only space I could put it into. I also love the seating space in the bedroom – it’s a lovely place in which to chat with my son if he comes in late.”
Despite all of the luxurious materials and exquisite details a home can have, it is often the most personal items that mean the most to people and Geri O’Toole is no exception. “My most treasured possession is a painting by my mother who passed away when I was nine. She took up painting when she got sick and was a great painter even though she was only a beginner. She was very creative and really into interiors and colour – I think that’s where I get my creativity from.”
To find out more about Geri O’Toole’s design services go to www.geridesigns.ie. For more information on Cathal Glynn Construction visit www.cgcconstruction.ie.
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