“We are in the countryside in Limerick Ireland,” says Irish interior designer Geri O’Toole. “We love that we are in the country, but we are so close to every amenity we need—schools, supermarkets, and our work commute. It only takes me 10 minutes to drive to my design studio, Geri Designs.”

Geri and her family have lived on the property for 9 years, but recently renovated—extending the livable square footage as they had outgrown the original cottage. “We built into the outhouses and now we are blessed with an abundance of space for our family,” she explains. 

The entryway sets the tone for the interiors, with a custom floor pattern by Geri. “I designed it with a marble border in Nero Marquina and Calacatta,” she explains. “I wanted to have pattern and a splash of fun here. Then, I designed some oak doors for storage for all the bits that come with family life—bags, shoes, coats—so they can easily be stored away as soon as we get home.”

The library features a higher ceiling, so Geri brought the joinery to the ceiling and backlit it for added comfort in the evenings. The kitchen is the next room over. “This is our favorite place to hang out as a family,” Geri shares. “We have a comfortable banquette that I designed in oak with a beautiful sage green merino fabric. The kitchen is oak and features a Calacatta Gold marble.” She also added exposed beams to the ceiling for added visual interest. 

 Her husband Cathal Glynn served as the General Contractor. She says they took their time to ensure every detail would be just right, and that it was a bit more challenging than her usual client work. “You don’t get to bounce ideas around and have someone tell you if they will work or wont,” she admits—also saying it’s not quite finished. “We have more work to do outside. We want an outdoor kitchen and seating area, and we’d love a gym and sauna in the black garage building, so we are working on that now.” Like all well-designed spaces, this home will surely get better with age.

Take a tour in the slideshow.