When interior designer Jane Gilloway was contacted by an international client, she knew the project was going to be like no other. Unusually, Jane was enlisted by the businessman before there was a property to decorate. The client lived abroad and was looking for an Irish base he and his family could enjoy when they were in town. “He wanted somebody who was an interior designer, but also a project manager. He needed a full end-to-end solution so it was important that I was involved from the beginning,” Jane told RSVP Home. With Jane’s help, the client purchased a stunning three-storey Victorian property in Donnybrook, Dublin 4. The home was in good condition and the original features had been meticulously restored by the previous owner. However, the decor was dated and in need of a complete revamp. The brief was to create a family home that was centered around entertaining and hosting. One of the first changes made was to replace the radiators with cast iron versions throughout the house. To create atmosphere in the two exquisite reception rooms of the Victorian property, Jane added panelling to emphasise the scale and proportions. The property owner is an art collector with a keen eye and so his extensive collection informed the home’s design and layout. “He had a really lovely art collection that needed to be displayed and that is quite evident throughout the home. Some of the standout pieces include a sculpture by John Behan and a beautiful piece of furniture that was designed specifically for him by Zelouf and Bell. It’s a bar cabinet that takes pride of place in the main front reception room. “I took the lead from a lot of his paintings for contrast and kept the rest of the decor neutral so the art could be the showstopper.” Jane kept the colour palette mostly light, with the exception of the second reception room, dubbed ‘The Den’, which they painted in a rich Hamilton Blue. “It was acting as a cinema room of sorts – you could close over the double doors and be immersed into this cozy space.” The home has four bedrooms but the top floor was redesigned to create separate living quarters away from the hustle and bustle of guests downstairs. “We converted the second bedroom upstairs into a dressing room so once your foot hits the top floor, that space is entirely private. It feels like a self-contained apartment up there.” It includes a master bedroom that overlooks the back garden, a breakfast bar with mini fridge and facilities to make a tea or coffee, a dressing room to the front of the property with floor to ceiling wardrobes throughout. The adjoining bathroom was also completely remodelled into a zen escape amongst the trees, and high-tech technology was used on the bathroom windows to turn them opaque with the flick of a switch, giving privacy without losing natural light. Of course a home like this doesn’t come together without the help of a talented team of suppliers, tradespeople and experts. “Abington Design House were absolutely crucial to all the joinery works – anything I designed they made. They were instrumental in designing the kitchen and the master headboard. Q&Co did the painting, Bang & Olufsen Cable Smart installed the sound system throughout the house. “It was a really special project and a joy to be a part of.” Photographer: Jamie Hackett, jamiehackettphoto.com Interior Design by Jane Gilloway Interior Joinery by Abington Design House