August/September 2014 – Issue 89
Features- Meet The Maker, Colour & Mood, Box Chairs, Upcycling Reader’s Project, New Season’s Paint Trends, Galway Garden
Shopping this Issue
Last Of the Summer Wine, Storage, Tried & Tested, Olde Style, Modern & Chic, Galway Garden Get the Look
Classic Design
The location and site aspect were the first thing that attracted this couple to their beautiful home. The back garden slopes down to a golf course and the 
owners could see beyond the overgrown lawn and unkempt shrubberies – they could both visualise the potential of this space.
When they got the opportunity to return to Galway, Ronan and Liz jumped at the chance to bring up their children in the safe environs of Galway City.
From Dreams to Reality
It all began in 1998 with a dream. A dream of living in the countryside, somewhere peaceful and with scenic views. We had idyllic dreams of walking through fields, keeping hens and ducks, picking berries and making jam. “The good Life”, with the 
simple things. As a little girl having lived in the town I had longed to live in the country, so when I met my husband we went in search of a farmhouse that we could renovate bit by bit ourselves. I had just started my Interior Design business, we had no credit history and we were first time buyers, so we only had a small amount of money to play with.
Total Revamp in Loughrea
To our delight we were invited back to see this totally revamped Loughrea home. When the owner bought this house, she followed her heart and her creative ideas and went with her instinct and her own shockingly loud colour style. Her taste and style have changed rather dramatically since our last visit 16 years ago. It is amazing to see the difference in the trends of 1999 and 2014. We dug out a few of the before pictures just to give you a flavour of what the house looked like back then. Pine was all the rage and the owner went with a complete contrast to the pine kitchen units with a blue wall colour and navy splashback tiles. Outrageous orange wallpaper in the hall and chinese slate tiles complemented this look. However outrageous it was I remember thinking at the time – how brave, vibrant and wonderful it looked.
Claddagh Arts Centre
For this feature we have gone into the heart of old Galway – Claddagh. One of Galway’s 
most historic areas, ‘The Claddagh’ as it is affectionately known, is full of stories of old Galway families. The Claddagh Arts Centre was the brain child of Cathriona Walsh, who has used her skills and imagination to create a very interesting space filled with unusual stone and antiquities. A keen interest in bog oak is evident and many bespoke bog oak sculptures are abundant inside. In the landscaping outside you will also find unusual stones interfaced with fascinating carvings.
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