See inside the homes of Ireland’s best creative minds …
A series of events at Design Week Dublin 2026 (September 16-20) in partnership with Range Rover, offers a rare, intimate pass into the private sanctuaries of the creative mind: the homes of the designers themselves. Design Talks pull back the curtain on the personal living spaces where Dublin’s leading designers actually live and work. Visitors are invited to step inside these highly curated environments to witness firsthand how design theories translate into everyday reality.
Stepping into a designer’s home provides unparalleled insights into their authentic creative philosophies. Attendees can observe how professionals solve spatial challenges, maximise natural light, and balance historic architectural preservation with modern functionality. Design Week Dublin and its focus on designers’ own homes offer a wealth of visual and beyond the striking visuals, the chance to glean a deeper understanding of the connection between a designer’s environment and their project portfolio.
Interior designer Sara Cosgrove’s conservatory is more than just an extension of her home; it is her ultimate personal sanctuary. “It’s my favourite room in the house,” she says. “I start the day here early with my coffee and can be found still in the same place late into the evening.” Bathed in soft, natural light, it provides a tranquil buffer between her busy workload and the shifting rhythms of nature outside. It is here that Sara retreats to unwind, read, and find a sense of grounded calm. Painted in Farrow & Ball’s Light Blue (inspired by Sally Clarke’s Kensington Church Street restaurant in London), the greeny-grey shade is restful and soft. Upholstered bamboo chairs are equally comfortable for desk work and for dinner. As the vibrant greens of summer fade, Sara makes a seasonal switch to embrace autumn, swapping out the greenery for autumn foliage from the garden and bringing in dimmable lamps and lots of candles, instantly creating a cosy, hygge-inspired atmosphere. Get more inspiration at Sara Cosgrove’s Design Talk, on Thursday 17 September, 9:30–11am at The Malt House, Grand Canal Quay.
Limerick-based interior designer Geri O’Toole’s home in the countryside merges an 1800s historic cottage with original stone outbuildings, showcasing a balanced approach to modern farmhouse design. Geri is the creative force behind Geri Designs, a Limerick-based interior design consultancy established in 2018. Raised in an environment rich with design history, shaped by her mother’s interior career and her father’s passion for antiques, she launched her studio after 15 years refining her industry expertise.
Her designs prioritise the client’s emotional attachment to spaces, with the ultimate goal of creating a deeply comforting, timeless sanctuary. In her Design Talk on Wednesday 16 September, Geri discusses how she incorporates her “do it once, do it well” design philosophy into projects in Ireland, the US, Europe and Asia. She also shares her own beautiful home, which marries old and new and is characterised by luxurious natural materials. Geri describes it as ‘European Cottage’ in style, with French tumbled limestone floors, exposed stone walls and a prominent Calacatta Gold marble kitchen island. Geri’s Design Talk takes place from 3pm-4.30pm at The Malt House, Grand Canal Quay; tickets €35.
Ashen & Cloud, the interior design practice founded by award-winning Irish interior architect Susan McGowan, is based in Athlone. After refining her design expertise at top global architectural firms, Susan returned to Ireland and transformed a 1970s bungalow into a bright, spacious and functional modern family residence. It features a pared-back, minimalist aesthetic designed as a calm sanctuary while balancing a busy career and raising children.
The Scandinavian-inspired sanctuary features warm, organic Irish tones. One of the key aspects of the renovation is the kitchen: Susan says she started the design of the whole house around this space. “The kitchen is the heart of our home, connected to every other space, either visually or physically,” she says. “It’s also double height and has a great sense of drama as a result.” The renovation emphasises natural light and spatial efficiency, highlighted by two large glass skylights installed in the elongated central hallway.
Susan’s Design Talk on Friday 18 September takes place from 12pm-1.30pm at Anantara The Marker Dublin, Grand Canal Quay, and tickets are €35. The talk will see Susan discuss the growth of Ashen & Cloud and recent projects with architect Amanda Bone.
Photographer Ben Anders
Brian Woulfe, founder and creative director of Designed by Woulfe, transformed a historic country property in Oxfordshire’s “Notswolds” region into his weekend retreat. The Irish-born, London-based interior designer is the founder of Designed by Woulfe, the award-winning studio established in 2009.
The residence, known as The Old Vicarage, seamlessly amalgamates an early 17th-century cottage with a 19th-century building. Brian brings a unique blend of creativity, discipline and attention to detail to his work.
Brian took an unconventional path to design, initially training and working as a concert pianist. He frequently notes that musical composition and interior design share a core vocabulary of colour, rhythm, symmetry and storytelling.
His design approach deliberately celebrates the home’s original architectural quirks and imperfections rather than masking them. The interiors layer soft, soulful tones, vintage Persian rugs and bespoke handmade joinery. A standout feature is the kitchen, which pairs hardwearing Brazilian quartzite worktops with a custom, hand-painted wall mural depicting scenes from the local countryside.
To hear more, book Brian Woulfe’s Design Talk on Friday 18 September at 5.30pm-7pm at Anantara The Marker, Grand Canal Dock, tickets €35.
Photographer Ruth Maria Murphy
On September 17, Design Week Dublin’s Shopping for Vintage session explores how buying vintage furniture, art and accessories isn’t just about sourcing one-of-a-kind pieces; these objects are gateways to the past, shedding light on ways of life, materials, processes, craftmaking and manufacturing that may no longer exist.
Interior designer Suzie McAdam pairs eye-catching art and antiques with modern elements. Designer and retailer Amanda Pratt champions the spotting of authentic, unique objects that spark curiosity and joy. Together with vintage furniture specialist Killian McNulty, they turn vintage hunting into a deeply purposeful art form.
As a backdrop, we will see Suzie McAdam’s 1790s Regency-style Georgian home (pictured above), its layers of curated antiques, objets trouvés and striking maritime mural bridging the ancient and contemporary. Fellow panellist Amanda Pratt, former Creative Director of Avoca and founder of Amo & Pax, brings her own perspective on heritage and sourcing, with her 1830s Victorian home (pictured top) blending French and Italian vintage market finds with sharply contemporary and antique pieces.
The Shopping for Vintage Design Talk takes place on Thursday 17 September, 3pm–4.30pm at The Malt House, Grand Canal Quay, tickets €35.