Author: becky

A KLD Wedding!! What better way to say congratulations to the bride and groom then with the gift of styling…

Some of you might remember the lovely Kate who worked with us at KLD last year. Well last weekend she became a beautiful bride, to a very luck groom, in the stunning venue of Abbaye de Talloires  in France. As a friend and part of the KLD family Roisin and I (with the help of many hands) got together to make her dream wedding a reality.

The dream, a whimsical, magical, fairy tale forest was created with printed forest banners, hand-cut paper leaves and flowers along with fresh wild flowers set against babies breath center pieces. The backdrop for the wedding was the beautiful sunshine and gardens of the venue which had the character of the old brick walls and shutters right on the lake.

We added to the depth and texture to the space with arches of hanging local foliage to frame the windows. (we got luck on the styling day, they were trimming back foliage around the corner from the hotel and kindly let us have it!)

The wedding cake was decorated by another friend of ours, the very talented artist Peter Homan. 

A big congratulation to the beautiful couple, wishing you a very happy life together from all at KLD!

We were on site this week at our London Residence project where the final touches to the design are being installed.

You may remember our London Residence project from last year and with the patterned tiles, timber and minty green kitchen complete it is now time for joinery, copper, paneling, upholstery and prints.

The details really tie together the over all design for this vibrant young couple in the London Fields area of London. They wanted to create a home that expressed their character and strike a balance between sophistication and fun, the perfect place for family as well as entertaining friends.

The project is bold and playful in it’s use of both colour and materials with patterned fabrics, wallpaper, prints and paint all adding the the base of tiles and wooden floors.

With only painting and decorative lights to to be fitted we cannot wait to share the final photos of our London Residence! But until then, there are a few on site photos of the joinery and copper installation above…

My name is Ridhi and I am a new addition to the KLD team! I am originally from India and Ireland has now been my home for the last 10 years.

I have always been a people person; wanting to know more about what makes the people of a place tick, the story behind their way of life, the culture of a place that reflects in everything and everyone. I love to travel- going to new places to discover the lesser known spots and mingling with locals.

My passion was taken to a whole new level when I got married and moved to Ireland. It was an entirely different culture, one that took a bit of time getting used to. But soon I understood that beneath the Irish accent the people here were not much different from the ones I was brought up amongst.

I found my comfort zone and a few wonderful friends who made the cultural divide disappear, bonding over lunches, coffees and marathon laughter sessions. The next phase in my life started when I started my first job in Dublin, with its ALL male team.

It was unlike anything I have ever experienced before, and they did everything to make me feel comfortable and welcome. In no time, I was one of the lads. But on the work front, I craved a challenge, and design was something that had always fascinated me. When I got an opportunity to join KLD, I was on cloud nine, although with some nerves in regards to making a smooth transition.

The warm environment put me at ease instantly and I love straightforwardness in which I can approach just about anybody. As this new chapter begins, I can feel a spring in a step. Sign of an auspicious start, as my mother would put it back home.

In terms of personal interests, I am fascinated by photography. I have always wanted to learn the processes behind it but being a ‘mom on the run’ surely doesn’t help. It has limited my skills to adding filters on Instagram on a mediocre iPhone photo!

Apart from following the work of photographers of international repute, what really catches my fancy is some of my friends’ work. Their work constantly reinforces why photography intrigues me.

Ronan Considine is a friend based in Canada. I enjoy looking at his series as he is always able to see such detail and potential in his subjects. He has the ability to let people enjoy his perception, which our eyes would miss otherwise.

Below are a few more from another friend Ashish Chopra, based in India, whose account I follow religiously on Instagram.

He loves to capture things everyday sights that could be perceived as mundane, yet through his lens these sights are given a whole new life.

I feel photography is how you perceive your subject and you need to be able to see from your head and heart. Two photographers could capture the same scene and the results could be two amazingly beautiful works of art.

So, here’s to making the most of our unique ways of life!

Rathmichael Residence – Progress Week 1

The start of a new year brought the start of another new project for the team and KLD. 

Rathmichael Residence is an exciting reconfiguration and extension of a large residential project in collaboration with Cantrell & Crowley Architects. The first floor of the existing bungalow is being reconfigured and a second storey is being added. Take a look at the some before photos below.

The before photos really show you how dark the space was before, with heavy wood and strong colours dominating both the interior and the exterior of the property.  The design aims to open up the space bringing in the natural light, maximising the circulation and the view.

All this joinery has now been stripped out and we have a shell to start our build from.

The family home will feature open plan living spaces, double height ceilings, cosy nooks and beautiful tiling and joinery details to name but a few.. The eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional design makes for an exciting interior from both a spatial layout and materials perspective. It is one we are very much looking forward to seeing develop over the coming months, and will be sharing snippets of all the stunning samples and details with you along the way.

But for the moment.. here are some photos of week one’s progress as the site got stripped out for works to begin! It always surprises me how quickly a house can be completely gutted and a blank canvas for construction to begin and our designs to start taking shape.

We will keep you up to date on our Rathmichael Residence – Progress as the build develops.

‘Wingardium leviosa’ – The Works of Cornelia Konrads 

While researching for a new project recently, I came accross the amazing work of German artist Cornelia Konrads.

Her work, which focuses on gravity, suspension and the illusion of weightlessness, immediately grabbed my attention and had me transfixed. I don’t know about you, but if I didn’t become a designer I always wanted to go to Hogwart’s and become a wizard!

So naturally the magical quality of Konrads pieces appealed to me straight away. Some of you my be familiar with some of my favourite pieces as they date back a few years but they are still just as enchanting.

Konrad’s installations of floating snowball archways and twigs suspended in mid air in the center of a forest, to me illustrate the playful, magical and often mysterious element of art and design. It is not only about the installation itself but also about the whimsical and surreal experience of being there.

Are the bricks flying away? Float away? Or are they falling down in to position? The pieces may raise questions for some, but I love the mystery…

What better way to relax in this cold weather then unwinding in a steaming hot bath?

Beautiful baths are the way forward, and have been making a move back into interiors of late. There was a time when all people wanted in bathrooms was a luxurious shower but the bath is making a come back! And it’s not surprising when you see the stunning baths that are available.

When it comes to baths the options are endless from marble to concrete, brass and copper finishes to colour pops and not forgetting the beautiful reclaimed tubs that really are a stand along focal point in any space.

Why not create the perfect relaxation space in your home and position your bath in front of a window with a beautiful view? Or surround yourself with planting so if feels like the perfect escape? Take a look at some of our favorites on our pinterest page for more inspiration.

Follow Kingston Lafferty Design’s board Beautiful Baths on Pinterest.