A Hug in a Home

This Connemara cottage may have been built in the 1990s, but it possesses the warmth and character of a much older Irish home. Designer Niamh McKenna embraced that sense of heritage, layering in contemporary comforts without losing that timeless appeal.

It is easy to understand why the current owners fell in love with this remarkable Connemara home. Sitting comfortably within one of Ireland’s most breathtaking landscapes, it appears to be a centuries-old Irish cottage, yet the house was actually built during the 1990s. Around 10 years ago the current owners bought it complete with everything inside, ‘down to the cutlery’, but although the building had wonderful bones, they always knew they would eventually put their own stamp on it. That opportunity came in April 2025 when they invited interior designer Niamh McKenna of Niamh McKenna Design to visit. ‘When I arrived at the cottage I was just blown away by its potential and instantly knew we would be a good fit to work together,’ she says. ‘I pride myself on being able to read my clients to determine their aesthetic taste and functional needs.’

Read more in the October issue…