Sienna

Transforming a 20-year-old two-storey house in Cappanacush, Kenmare, Edit Design Studio’s goal was to breathe new life into a dated space with small windows that failed to capture the stunning ocean and garden views. Tasked with creating a comfortable holiday home, we aimed for a warm and inviting atmosphere that could appeal to both the owners and holidaymakers.

Nestled in the countryside with views of Kenmare Bay and the Beara Peninsula, the green-fingered previous owners had cultivated a beautiful garden. However, the interior needed a redesign to optimise these views. With the help of an architect, we opened up the ground floor living space, incorporating floor-to-ceiling sliding doors. The reconfiguration included a much-desired boot room for country living, ideal for those exploring the Kerry Walking Way.

The ground floor transformation converted a single living space into a spacious kitchen and dining room, complete with a bespoke fitted kitchen and a three-meter-long dining table. The downstairs bedroom became a cozy lounge with a wood-burning stove. Folding doors onto the kitchen/dining room offer occupants the choice of semi-open plan living or separate rooms.

A small utility room was expanded to create a fully functioning boot room with a walk-in wet room doubling as a downstairs WC. Upstairs, en-suite bathrooms were expanded, and built-in wardrobes were designed for additional storage.

We kept it very simple and used a base plate of white and then introduced a lot of intense blues and greens and they flow throughout the whole house. The idea was to bring the outside in and reflect the colours of the ocean views and the garden. For the furnishings, we also used a lot of natural textures and fibres such as oak, cane, and wool. Key elements included bespoke joinery, crafted by local tradespeople.

We introduced some Irish elements as decoration, bearing in mind that this would be a holiday home for international people to come and stay in. The traditional Irish Skib baskets hung as an installation on a wall in the kitchen is an example of this. And we used Irish woolen throws and blankets in the bedrooms and lounge.

To book a stay in this luxury self-catering home go to Unique Home Stays