The livingroom of Massbrook, in Co Mayo was once the bigger classroom of a two-room school built in 1891. With its high vaulted ceiling it's a bright airy space with the original floorboards still intact and full of character - they are faintly ink-stained to the rear of the room from students firing pellets in the classroom.

The Victorian pine dresser , washstands and old pots and pans in front of the hearth help add character. Stuart Cole of Adam's (01-6760261) says that a similar Victorian dresser will cost around €2,000 and a washstand would be about €200-€300. The collection of tea pots, egg cups and milk jugs on the dresser are from the local Terrybaun pottery (042 937 0577) and tie in with the petrol blue theme.

The sofas were custom made using a sturdy cotton by a company no longer in business. The Sofa Factory (01-454 6877) has a very similar Tuscany style sofa: a two-seater starts from about €1,785.

The current owners opened up the fireplace which had been bricked in and used part of a beam from the upper floor as a mantelpiece.