Room with a View

If you have a period property and long for a modern interior sympathetic to its history, we revisit the home of someone who has achieved it and we give a lesson on styling options

When Rob Hennessy got the keys to his dilapidated period house in 2019 little did he know how the magic of television would influence his renovation project.

Buying a mid-terrace Victorian property built in 1856, he took on a gargantuan task as everything needed to be done, turning Rob who worked in tech into designer, ground worker, labourer, gardener, and decorator, all of which we got to see on RTE’s The Great House Revival, series three.

The popular programme which charts the renovation of a historic property over a period of 12 months shows just how much work goes into making it a place to call home, and how budgets are frequently underestimated.

It’s also typical that the properties are in bad shape, frequently described by the show’s presenter and architect, the late Hugh Wallace, as “ruined, wrecked and roofless”.

While Rob’s house wasn’t quite that bad it was in a seriously dilapidated condition, so taking it on was a bold move, or as Hugh also said, you’d have to be either “brave, brilliant or bonkers”.

Purchased for £230,000, a bargain even in 2019 for a five-bedroomed, three-story house, Rob had serious ambitions on a budget of £110,000, even living there in gloom and dampness with just a storage heater to see him through his first winter.

But while money was scant, his vision was anything but: Rob had serious plans to make a home for modern living while retaining precious period features which thanks to a lack of intervention in the house over its 170 year existence were still intact. Hugh Wallace was there for each stage to advise, debate and discuss.

Design Details - historic meets contemporary

Now restored, ceiling roses, cornicing, corbels, arches and fireplaces carefully minded during the renovation cite the original interior in what has become the modern home Rob envisioned, which he shares with partner Katie and their two little children.

After years of back breaking work, ripping up original wooden floors ruined by dry rot, plaster taken down from walls and ceilings, and underfloor heating installed, the ground floor is now transformed.

A modern kitchen and dining space with unimpeded views of Cork Harbour is both covetable and inspiring. The mix of modern furniture and period context gives the space, created by removing a wall between two rooms, a timeless quality.

A separate living room also taking in the harbour view has a snug feel, while upstairs, the master bedroom, nursery and bathroom have been completed with style and sensitivity.

Bottega Manhattan Pine 3 Seater Sofa

Get the Look - styling options

The location, space and proportions of the property caught the eye of the EZ Living Interiors creative team who decided to use it to stage a photoshoot, taking the opportunity to show a contrasting look in Rob’s dining area.

The Calia oak round dining table (£1199) which extends to an oval six-seater brought a touch of the industrial look into the space with its black metal legs which proved a perfect fit with an exposed brick wall feature created by Rob to show how the house was originally constructed.

A traditional element was added with the Rosey dining chairs (£109 each), finished in black for a modern touch.

Calia Oak Round Extending Dining Table

Multi-function - looking for alternative uses for a space

Even though Rob and Katie use the space as a kitchen and dining room, the creative team also explored the option of styling it as a kitchen and living room with soft inviting sofas, rugs, occasional furniture and accessories.

The super-stylish Cooper cream fabric corner sofa with integrated chaise longue on a slim black leg has a mid-century modern feel (£1599) which sits effortlessly in the space. Utilising the bay window with its harbour view, the Blanca ivory boucl é armchair with its minimalist black frame (£299) makes a natural reading nook, or a vantage point to watch ships sail on the busy shipping lane between Cork City and the sea.

Subtle wood accents are added with a metal framed industrial style shelving unit and the Calia oak side table (£129). A soft neutral rug underfoot on new wooden chevron floors grounds the furniture and adds comfort.

For any home stylist who likes the idea of the black and white monochrome look but finds it a little stark, this mix of cream with subtle black and woody accents is a styling masterclass on how to get the look but a softer, warmer version.