In conversation with architect and broadcaster Amanda Bone …
An engaging line-up of speakers and collaborators will bring to life the power and pleasure of good design at the inaugural Dublin Design Week.
DWD highlights the exceptional work of outstanding Irish architects and interior designers whose work is shaping design on the national and international stage.
There has never been a time when Irish designers have been so influential globally.
One such influence is architect and interior designer Róisín Lafferty of the design house of the same name, known for innovative and detail-focused interior architecture. Private homes, hotels, one-of-a-kind work environments, spa experiences, members’ clubs and restaurants in Ireland, France, Portugal, New York, Miami and Saudi Arabia are just some of the places to which founder and creative director Róisín has applied her intuitive design talent. This forward-thinking interior designer imagines and creates daring, romantic, mind-bending spaces, using unusual materials in unexpected ways. Róisín’s work has featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue Living and THE GLOSS INTERIORS.
REIMAGINED IRISH GEORGIAN FARMHOUSE
When its owners bought this late-Georgian farmhouse a number of years ago, it might have been described as “a distinguished country residence” in estate agent speak. Once upon a time, it would have been a typical handsome four-bedroom example of its genre but, in more recent years, subjected to unsuitable alterations and add-ons, it was in need of a rethink. It presented one of those classic opportunities for the right people to buy it and bring it back to its former glory.
This typical example of an Irish Georgian farmhouse has been completely reimagined with an unconventional layout, and an interior that blends old and new. It’s the spectacular result of a two-year design process by Róisín’s firm to a brief that was unequivocal: the clients wanted an “industrial aesthetic”. Her mission was to accentuate the building’s original features, and configure and decorate the newly built extension, which was an open shell.
SEE MORE: A Reimagined Georgian Farmhouse As A Contemporary Family Home
My idea of good taste? Something timeless that also expresses personality in a way that is truthful and not trend led.
NEW-BUILD HOME ON THE COAST OF IRELAND
Another of Róisín’s projects boasts an ambitious and contemporary design, a rarity in the region. The client, whose stables are also on the grounds, wanted a minimalist design in harmony with the raw beauty of the surrounding landscape. Set in an area of Special Conservation and planned as a working farm of 30 acres, the picturesque site is defined by its unique typography, which presented a unique challenge for architect Allister Coyne, founder of Ailtireacht.
When Róisín was introduced to the project in the early stages of construction, the aim was to integrate forward-thinking interior design with the exquisite architectural vision, creating a symbiotic relationship between the two elements. “This was an opportunity to deliver something very new to enhance our client’s family life, and achieve a calm and liveable space away from the bustling activities associated with the stables,” says Lafferty. Photographed by Barbara Corsico.
SEE MORE: A Coastal New-Build Home With Views Of The Atlantic
THE “2-IN-1” HOUSE
From the outside, these separate houses read as individual semi-detached homes, while the inside was transformed into one unified space. Róisín was tasked with ensuring that the design would allow a reversal of the project into two separate houses in the future, if needed. “The key challenge was to design the house as one functioning unit while maintaining the possibility of dividing it back into two homes in the future. All the systems (heating, sound, electrics, mechanical) had to work as one unified system, but they were installed in a way that would facilitate easy separation later on.” Photographed by Ruth Maria Murphy.
Design Talk: Róisín Lafferty
Anantara The Marker Dublin
Tuesday May 20 | 12pm-1.30pm
In conversation with architect and broadcaster Amanda Bone, Róisín will describe her design process and introduce more projects of which she is most proud.
Ticket: €35 | Students: €20
See the full 2025 DWD programme at www.designweekdublin.com
