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THE VIBE OF THIS CLASSIC HAMPTONS BEACH STYLE HOUSE IS FRESH AND LIGHT PROMISING
bright & breezy
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THE SOFTEST TOUCH OF SPRING BREEZES. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SASFI HOPE-ROSS.
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The Hamptons style of decorating is light and airy,
casual yet stylish and embodies the best of classic
design with rustic touches. It hails from the
Hamptons region of Long Island in New York and
has been effortlessly recreated in this year’s show
house at the Ideal Home Show by Arlene
McIntyre, who has been a successful interior
designer for over 10 years. She is the creative
force behind top interior design and refurbishment
company Ventura Design with projects ranging
from apartments and private homes to hotels and
restaurants.
Arlene’s show house with its airy Hamptons
beach house theme took pride of place at this
year’s Ideal Home exhibition in the RDS. When
she was invited to do the show house, Arlene
decided to create an interior design style that
hadn’t been done before at any Ideal Home
Show. “We wanted to create something that was
warm and classic. I have always loved the
Hamptons style and was inspired to use it following
a recent trip to Martha’s Vineyard. I have used
similar styles before when designing. Also I am a
big fan of carpentry, big windows and big open
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DECORATED IN NEUTRAL TONES THIS IS A COMFORTABLE, CALM SPACE
FEATURING THE HAMPTON’S NAUTICAL THEME
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spaces so the whole thing appealed to me,” she
explains.
Spanning 1,800 square feet, the show house is a
gorgeous, elegant and luxurious space that
combines many design features and ideas. Arlene
ensured that the ideas could be transferred easily
to any type of house. “I wanted to create a
space that was elegant, classical and timeless,
but also warm and achievable in any home, so
everyone could take away something from the
house and utilise it in their own home,” she says.
The resulting space is an open plan setting that
allows the fittings to be displayed at their absolute
best. Harmonious clean lines flow throughout the
interior, creating an inviting space that works
perfectly throughout.
As we enter the house, we discover a home
office just off the hallway. Decorated in neutral
tones this is a comfortable, calm space featuring
the Hampton’s nautical theme. Bespoke shelving
provides ample storage space. Arlene contracted
M.J. Clooney Cabinetmakers for all the shelving
through the house. She believes that home offices
are becoming increasingly popular and important
in the home today. “You might have one or two
people working from home, so I felt it was
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“
I have always loved
the Hamptons style and
was inspired to use it
following a recent trip to
Martha’s Vineyard
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important as a feature in the show house,” she
says.
Further on, the children’s bedroom is bright and
inviting in white, cream and navy with splashes of
red to add warmth and colour. All the furnishings
are from Ikea. In the bathroom the freestanding
bath combined with tongue and groove wood
panelling and complementary historical grey
tones on the walls, give a feeling of luxury and
elegance. A rain shower stands in the opposite
corner beside a beautiful handmade Italian
double sink hand-basin in a white painted wood
finish. The bathroom units all came from Versatile
Bathrooms in Navan.
In the master bedroom, Arlene says, “The
gorgeous four poster bed swathed in luxurious
fabrics is the focal point in the room with the
Viennese chandelier overhead.” This magnificent
light is from Arlene’s own collection of lights, which
she sources from Italy, working alongside two
different families who have specialised over many
generations in making chandeliers. They are all
hand beaded with genuine lead crystal and are
made to order. All the lights throughout the house
apart from the kitchen are from Ventura Design.
Two matching curved chests of drawers provide
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“
The gorgeous
four poster bed
swathed in
luxurious fabrics is
the focal point in the
room with the
Viennese chandelier
overhead
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symmetry and storage on the other side of the
room. Above the Chesney fireplace a large print
of sailing boats supplied by Gallery 23 continues
the nautical theme, which also flows into the living
room.
Beyond the bedroom lies the living room, a
large open plan space extending to the kitchen
and the sunroom. Renaissance oak laminate
flooring from Floor Design has been used
throughout the house, adding to the sense of
harmony and flow. Another beautiful Italian
chandelier hangs over the bespoke Belgium sofa
upholstered in Alabaster Chevron fabric, while a
taupe simla rug provides warmth and luxury
underfoot. A mixture of sea greens, taupe and
cream pin stripe in a mix of fabrics, linen and
cotton for the cushions gives the sofa a casual
softness and complements the blue-grey walls.
Half wall wainscoting and full wall grid panelling is
to be found here, installed by Shutter Co. Book
cases on either side of the room provide a
distinction between the living space and the
kitchen. Behind the kitchen table is a built in
window seat that provides a comfortable and
casual seating area.
The Carisbrooke wood kitchen from B&Q runs
the length of the kitchen and also comes in blue,
green, white and country cream. A mixed range
of Designer Guild fabrics in sea green and almond
whites give the kitchen a fresh feel. “In the
sunroom, we brought in natural rattan material
and everything was upholstered in natural
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“
Our business
in the last two
years has been all
about home
renovation and
extensions. If you
can’t relocate,
renovate!
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products, natural linen and natural cotton. It is
finished off with a beautiful wool slate grey rug
and two birdcage lights,” explains Arlene. The
sunroom connects the living room to the garden
and reinforces the feeling of the outside coming in
with its use of natural products and organic colour
tones.
This gorgeous house showcases Arlene’s work
beautifully. She also works on commercial projects
where Ventura Design manages and oversees
every step of the process, from concept to
completion. Managing the entire fit-out, she offers
a full building and renovation service and the
complete interior design service. With furnishings
and lighting sourced from quality suppliers across
Europe and from Ventura’s gifted team of Irish
tradesmen, everything is of the highest quality. At
Ventura’s new showrooms in Blanchardstown
(appointment only), one can view the full range
of fabrics and carpentry work, upholstery,
fireplace, bespoke bookcases, rugs and lighting.
“Our business in the last two years has been all
about home renovation and extensions. If you
can’t relocate, renovate! Working closely with our
clients, we provide them with a one-stop shop
that enables them to see their dream project
come true,” says Arlene, And this show house is
definitely an example of a dreamy ideal home.
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