Designer finds his perfect place

. . . in the Village at Lyons. Paschal O'Reilly talks to EMMA CULLINAN

Paschal O’Reilly runs Design by Renaissance at the Village at Lyons, developed by the late Dr Tony Ryan near Newcastle, Co Dublin. He also lives there in a converted coach-house

What attracted you here?

I saw it four years ago while I was out walking along the canal and it was love at first sight. I originally saw the gate-lodge and enquired about it and was told about the restoration of the whole Lyons village. I used to look over the wall at the building work being done and dream. It was amazing to see the standard and quality of the work. Often you would see something go up and then, if it was not right, it came down: Dr Tony Ryan was a perfectionist.

I made the decision that whatever had to be done would be done to enable me to live here. And everything had to be done: I moved my shop here, my warehouse and home. So it was two businesses, a home and a dog.

And did the dog mind?

He enjoys it. My house is slightly removed from the others, which are beside the pond. I love the privacy. It’s great to be beside my warehouse. I rarely leave here.

What was here already?

All of the architraves, wood panelling, original windows and the new round window in the hall. The canvas was perfect. It was great to walk into somewhere and be so happy. It was done perfectly, thanks to the late Dr Ryan and his team.

What did you do to the house?

I put the floors in, which are all French oak from Trunk Flooring. I also designed the bathrooms.

I chose the paint colours and kept them very neutral because I have bold fabrics and furniture. The old stone walls have been painted because I wanted to highlight the natural beauty of the building. The fireplace was bought by Dr Ryan. It came from an old French farmhouse and is so amazing I didn’t want to take away from it. My interior design concept is rooted in the good life and a mix in styles of yesterday and today. There are many ways of assembling a home to give the impression that it has existed forever but responds to today. You have to live in a home so there is no point in it looking very well if it is not comfortable. All of the furniture in the big room came from my previous house.

You have lots of accessories?

They are very important; you don’t have to spend a lot of money and it makes it easy to change an interior. Texture is really important. A lot of people make a huge mistake with this. I have been called out on many jobs done by other interior designers and the people say, “I don’t know what is wrong. I have the heating on but I can’t make it warm.” It is because they have a wooden floor that is cold, a leather suite that is cold, a painted wall and wooden blinds. You are not going to get a warm feeling with those: to correct that you need curtains, cushions, rugs, wallpaper and fabrics.

The weather here is terrible yet some people go for a Spanish or Mediterranean look: you need texture to add in warmth. I put curtains in the livingroom to add warmth and texture. The windows are absolutely huge and each of them took 120 metres of fabric. I got a great deal on this fabric, which is by Ralph Lauren. I wanted a rustic look.

The couch is covered in Andrew Martin fabric and has two leather cushions, two Aran-knit cushions and two herringbone knit cushions. I use a lot of natural products because they never date. In 20 years time they will still look very, very well. I bought the two Louis XV original gilt chairs in France. They were in such bad condition I got them restored and they have been covered in gold and red GP J Baker fabric. We make the couches ourselves. This one is 9ft long by 4ft deep so is perfect for the scale of the room.

Who do you get to make your furniture?

We have our own makers because we got so busy in soft furnishings and there were stupid lead times with foreign companies. Some shops quote 22 weeks, which is nearly half a year – it’s ridiculous. So we found a great team of upholsterers who can do things in four to six weeks. In front of my sofa I have a 4ft by 4ft deep- button footstool which I designed. I was inspired by a couch in Reid’s Palace hotel in Madeira. I get ideas from top hotels but change them because you are not meant to copy. A footstool is a great way of adding texture instead of having a large coffee table. Mine is covered in beautiful gold velvet from GP J Baker. The chaise longue is one of our own designs covered in Lizzo fabric.

So you live with the things that you sell?

Absolutely. When people come to my shop I often bring them up here. It is a great way of showing them what the things I sell look like when pulled together. One of my big hates is having a TV in the main livingroom so I have a separate entertaining room, which has meant I don’t watch so much telly.

Do you buy furniture at auction?

I do. My passion is antiques. France is amazing for old pieces and treasures and you don’t have to spend big money. The log basket was originally a linen basket bought in a house sale in France. I have an old French light from the same farmhouse that the fireplace came from. I have a mad lot of lamps: you can never have enough lamps and mirrors.

I have a lot of pieces by Theodore Alexander: candlesticks, lamps, mirrors and cushions. They have all been built up over many years. I use a lot of vases – glass is a wonderful thing – and I have foliage everywhere. It is all from the grounds around here, gathered on walks. In summer flowers grow everywhere and I can’t wait for Christmas – there is holly growing in the garden. This place changes with the seasons.

And you have put a dining table in the hall.

This is a great house for entertaining in. The telescopic table, by Theodore Alexander, can fit 18. Its shape reflects the big round window on the stairs. The original Edwardian dining chairs are covered in GP J Baker white floppy poppies fabric. The hall is the warmest room in the house because of the wall panelling. I didn’t want to add artwork or too much timber in here: the golden rule is to never mix more than two woods. I have just oak and mahogany here. The curtains are in a linen fabric by Ralph Lauren.

Do you enjoy your job?

I always wanted to be an interior designer although my dad wasn’t sure at first whether it was a man’s job! I would rearrange furniture at the age of seven and wanted to do up my room in canary yellow and navy. My first job was in Des Kelly as a teenager. Then I worked in Flanagans in Mount Merrion and Peter Flanagan paid for me to go to college. That began three wonderful years of my life. I took to the interior design course like a duck to water. I had never enjoyed school but when I started studying interior design I fell in love with it.

I later opened my first Design by Renaissance shop in Park West but outgrew it and was based on the Naas Road for five years and now my business is in this beautiful Village at Lyons. The Ryan family has made me feel very welcome.