EACH WEEK, WE ask someone based in Ireland with a passion for interiors to share one photo of their favourite spot in their home.

Marie McCabe lives in the sunny south east with her husband and three children. 

“We extended our home in 2006,” says Marie. “Part of that extension was this large, double-height sunroom which we knocked through to the existing kitchen. This gave us a spacious, open-plan kitchen, living and dining space.”

As clichéd as it sounds, this new space changed our lives and how we live in our home.

This week, Marie (@antiques_and_interiors) chatted us through her favourite spot: her open-plan kitchen.

Marie McCabe Marie McCabe

What do you love about this part of your home?

I love the openness, the light and the space that this area gives us. We love to entertain family and friends and this space makes that very easy to do. We get the sun all day long in here, making it lovely and bright and a great place to sit and read a book. We also have two pairs of French doors here which open out onto a terrace, which creates a great indoor/outdoor entertaining space. I love the colour scheme in here also. Neutral walls and floors allow me to add colour in the soft furnishings.

What’s your favourite object in here and why?

It’s very difficult to choose just one object.  I love the island for its vast size, great storage and extra seating. We all gather around here.  The range cooker is another favourite. It keeps this large space nice and cozy in the winter and the antiqued mirror over it reflects the light beautifully.  

What was your inspiration when you were putting this room together?

My inspiration for this space was a very traditional country house style of interiors. I like to mix new furniture with antique pieces. I wanted this space to be inviting, comfortable and relaxed; a space where family and friends could come in and put their feet up. We made a decision to have no TV in this space as this is where we congregate in the evenings to talk about our day; it’s very much a family space. 

Be honest: how much tidying did you do before taking this photo?

I wiped down the counters and swept the floor, that’s all. Because we are in here all the time, I tend to keep on top of the tidying, and am always fixing things and picking up rogue socks, hurls and footballs as I move around during the day.

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