A New Chapter

Orla Lyons breathed new life into her childhood home, creating an elegant space that perfectly caters to the changing needs of her family.

- Emma J Page

Orla Lyons can certainly vouch for the fact that home is where the heart is. The Dublin property that she shares with her partner Glen Meade holds a wealth of memories, because she lived here from the age of four. ‘I grew up in this house along with my brother and sister,’ explains Orla. ‘My parents bought it just over 30 years ago and after a period living in the UK, we returned to it in the early 1990s.’

A classic, square new build of that era, the property benefited from some initial tweaks. Orla’s late mother, Imelda, an interior designer, decorated throughout. ‘It looked very different then,’ reflects Orla. ‘There was lots of yellow, plenty of traditional-style furnishings and cream-and wine-coloured bathrooms, which were all very fashionable at the time. Then, in 2004, we built a side extension above the open porch to add character as well as an extra two first-floor bedrooms.’