1940's House, Bangor (Master Bedroom)

The classic chinoiserie wallpaper was the inspiration for this luxurious bedroom in tones of metallic silver, soft greys and oriental pearl. The headboard was upholstered in steel grey silk with cream polka dots. The curtains are a soft grey raw silk, and the carpet a luxurious velvet smoke grey. In another room this wallpaper could be overpowering, and I had to be careful because of the low ceilings, however I combated this by creating an architrave around the window to separate the pattern from the view and soften the intensity of the paper near the window. The simplicity of the curtains and the carpet creates balance and harmony while allowing the client to indulge in the decadent wallpaper. Now the owners have a luxurious restful sanctuary with a wonderful view. The result is understated Hollywood glamour.

Teatro Restaurant, Belfast

Teatro means "theatre" in Spanish, and the inspiration for the décor in this Mediterranean restaurant is a theatre set. The walls in the back section are painted a soft grey, with trompe d'oeil drapes hand painted over the top, held up by gilded plaster flowers which emphasise the optical illusion. The table tops and the bar are hand painted in faux marble.

The restaurant is a small space, hence the oversized optical illusion flooring inspired by a restaurant in Havana which gives depth. All the lights are vintage, the golden leaf wall lights in the back section are from France, the hanging lights over the bar are mostly from the deco period and sourced individually from different auction houses. The striped silk taffeta fabric was imported from Mumbai in India and is a nod to the burlesque nightclubs in Paris in the eighteenth century and the costumes of the day.

Velvet upholstery in rich purples, with raspberry, saffron and orange accents give the space a punch of colour, and the warmth of the soft blue panelled walls in the main restaurant is a suitable backdrop to the soft lighting and candlelight.

Quirky details like the elephant lamp, the dog painting and the kitsch 1970's exotic lady in the window add humour to the space and a lightness of touch. The stage is the centre piece, with its draped opulence and pleated raspberry interior and frames the musicians as they play.

Click to visit the Teatro Website.

1940's House, Bangor (Kitchen)

The soft blue grey walls are inspired by the proximity of the house to the ocean and the reflected light that comes through the French doors. The soft chocolate floor was picked by the client and gave a palette of blues, greys and taupes as a starting point for the design. The client had a love of shiny metallic surfaces, hence the gloss cabinets, the chrome stools and fittings. It is a modern space which needed to be personalised and this was achieved by using circular bronze mosaic tiles at the sink area and a damask silver splashback by the cooker which reflects the patterned wallpaper opposite. The striped silk taffeta Roman blind brings together all the tones within the kitchen and adds a touch of softness. The newly added architraving around the windows and French doors give the kitchen a sense of history, in keeping with the building and soften the new extension. The result is a comfortable, elegant usable family space that reflects the client's adventurous nature and confidence.

Cottage 51, Fermanagh

The décor is a mixture of opulence and simplicity. French antique furniture sits alongside Victorian chaise longues, reclaimed Belfast tiles, 1930's oak flooring and Indian sandstone. The main bedroom features an open fire place with an antique french bed and a roll top bath. The cosy sitting room is perfect for unwinding with a grey Irish linen feather filled sofa, a Victorian wood burning stove, an upright piano and a library of books to browse.

Enjoy the beautiful panelled book room, painted in a soft pinky grey which was inspired by the soft clouds and skies of Fermanagh that the room looks out on. Within this room is a long table printed with vintage plates which adds a touch of humour and encourages guests to entertain. Original art by Fleur and her partner Kyron Bourke covers the walls, with a vintage mirrors and candelabras.

Cottage 51 is available for bookings. For more information click here.

All photographs are by Susie Rea.

Rosetta, Belfast (Drawing Room)

Fleur's personal space is a cornucopia of colour and pattern, filled with her wide collection of antiques and kitsch memorabilia. The black curtains with tulip detail are made from an old Liberty fabric, bought in her days in London. The saffron is a recurring colour in her personal palette, and these lush curtains are inspired by the Indian saris of Rajasthan. The 1950's armchairs were originally upholstered in an awful brown leatherette, and have been reupholstered in gold and green damask giving them a new lease of life and showing off their wonderful modern shape. The chalkwear geisha lady lamp was acquired in St Georges Market in Belfast and is coupled with a lampshade bought in Dundrum car boot sale. This sits alongside a pair of porcelain Siamese cats showing that Fleur cannot resist a little bit of humour no matter where she goes. The Persian rug beside the pink Habitat sofa was inherited from her grandfather and began her life long love affair with oriental rugs. As you would expect the art on the walls is created mostly by her and her partner Kyron Bourke mixed together with other artists she has collected. Her signature vintage mirrors are scattered around the room to bounce light around. All the colours Fleur uses are historical paints with a soft matt finish, these colours were originally used in Georgian times.

Casa de los Suenos, Villanueva de Jiloca, Zaragoza

The drawing room in this sixteenth century village house is painted a traditional white on the rough plaster work which is a perfect backdrop for a collection of modern art and antiquities.

Elsewhere in the room there is original set of 1920's chairs and sofa, an Indian wall hanging, large kilim rug and the forest green German chaise longue, draped in a fuchsia pink flamenco scarf. All of these objects sit well in the dark red painted floor and the shuttering around the windows.

Detached House, Dublin (Master Bedroom)

The client was from a theatrical background and I sought to create a theatrical boudoir to suit her personality.

The antique French day bed was sourced from Agar Antiques in Saintfield. It is covered in a rich red and gold damask from Mulberry and the bolster cushions and silk polka dot round cushions are all from GP & J Baker.

The screen is a copy of one of my own, handpainted in gold with midnight blue vines. The silk and wool polka dot rug was sourced from Lyles on the Lisburn Road in Belfast and adds a bit of fun to the room.

The gable end window is draped in a rich red damask sourced from a private supplier in London.

The overall feel is that of decadence and comfort, it is a place of retreat for a busy professional lady.