We love Philomena and Mike’s home in rural Ireland, built from scratch more than 37 years ago and recently renovated to modernise the interiors. Be inspired by their reinvented space or look at our other real home transformations and find out how to renovate a house in our guide.
See more Christmas houses on our dedicated page, too.
Project notes
The owners: Philomena Price and her husband Mike, a designer and retired interior architect
The property: A four-bedroom detached house built in the 1970s
The location: Wicklow, Ireland
What they spent: The couple bought the plot for £9,000 37 years ago, and spent £21,000 on the initial build. The house is now valued at £900,000
Their journey to creating their dream home started in the 1970s. ‘We found the two-acre plot completely by chance,’ says Philomena. ‘We knew we had to snap it up before anyone else could buy it. We were so keen to buy the plot of land that we negotiated the deal within a week,’ recalls Philomena.
To make the most of the views, Mike designed the interior layout so that it was oriented to benefit from the wonderful setting.
To keep down costs, the couple hired individual tradespeople rather than using a main contractor, and they co-ordinated all the various trades themselves. Being nearby clearly had its benefits, as the build progressed relatively smoothly and was completed within six months.
The couple originally built their home back in the 1970s. Since then they have extended by adding a second storey as well as updating the interiors, and are delighted with the end result
The second storey, which the couple eventually added about 20 years ago, has given them a home office for Mike, a TV room, gym and some loft-style storage.
The spacious entrance hall is simply furnished with a sleek yet practical storage unit from Interlübke (opens in new tab)
They changed the kitchen about 10 years ago with the help of their daughter Katie, who is a designer.
Benefiting from a stunning view through the window, from Rationel (opens in new tab), the dining area features a table and chairs from B&B Italia (opens in new tab), sheepskin covers from Ikea (opens in new tab) and wood flooring from Abbey Woods (opens in new tab)
‘Even after all these years the house still feels just as modern and fresh as when we first built it,’ – Philomena, homeowner
The simple white kitchen from Euromobil (opens in new tab) suits the modern feel of the house, while exposed Red Deal beams from Abbey Woods (opens in new tab) add visual interest. For similar ceramic floor tiles, try Porcelanosa (opens in new tab)
Philomena and Mike opted for a streamlined look in their kitchen, with white Corian worktops from Obre (opens in new tab) and sleek Gaggenau (opens in new tab) appliances giving the space a contemporary edge. For similar bar stools, try the La Palma Lem design from John Lewis (opens in new tab)
With its panelled ceiling, the double-height living room is perfect for a cosy Christmas in front of the fire. The sofa and coffee table are from Ligne Roset (opens in new tab) and the large black gloss storage unit is from Interlübke (opens in new tab)
When the couple had the funds to extend the house and add a second storey, they had this staircase built by local carpenter Brendan Lawless. The open-tread design allows natural light to filter throughout the entrance hall
The stylish monochrome colour palette continues in the couple’s bedroom, with bedside lamps from Artemide (opens in new tab), a grey throw from Avoca (opens in new tab) and graphic-print cushions made from fabric by Scion (opens in new tab). For a similar style upholstered bed, try Loaf (opens in new tab)
Designed to create a spa-like feel, the curved basin from Tile Style (opens in new tab) has been teamed with a low-level inset bath from Bath House, bordered by a piece of white marble specially made by Christopher O’Neill & Sons (opens in new tab). The drawer unit and open shelving, both from Bath House, provide plenty of storage
Mike’s workspace is situated on the top floor of the house, which was built during the second phase of the building project. The sofa is from Cassina (opens in new tab) and the desk is from Interlübke (opens in new tab)
