Dream Houzz: Jo Linehan and Caroline Foran Design Their Fantasy Home
Two Dublin-based interiors bloggers and Houzzers share the photos that make up their dream abodes
In this series, we invite influencers, designers and homeowners to create their fantasy home by gathering together their favourite Houzz images. This week, interiors junkies Jo Linehan and Caroline Foran of Irish design blog Gaff share a sneak peek of their fantasy houses. Created entirely out of Houzz images, it’s the ultimate dream pad…
The hallway
Suckers for a welcoming hallway and a well-designed floor tile, Linehan and Foran both have a beautifully tiled entrance high on their wish list.
“Hallways get so much traffic that investing in tiles will save you time, effort and money in the long run when it comes to cleaning and maintenance,” says Linehan. “Tiles are not only gorgeous, but practical, too. Add a rectangular rug for extra opulence and cosiness.
“The hallway can become something of a dead space, so an armoire, a small telephone table or even a stack of wellies can help to break it up.”
Suckers for a welcoming hallway and a well-designed floor tile, Linehan and Foran both have a beautifully tiled entrance high on their wish list.
“Hallways get so much traffic that investing in tiles will save you time, effort and money in the long run when it comes to cleaning and maintenance,” says Linehan. “Tiles are not only gorgeous, but practical, too. Add a rectangular rug for extra opulence and cosiness.
“The hallway can become something of a dead space, so an armoire, a small telephone table or even a stack of wellies can help to break it up.”
The kitchen
The kitchen is the beating heart of every dream home, and each of the bloggers’ cookspaces would be hard-working and multi-tasking, and need to include an island.
“An island is the perfect way to create a central hub in the room around which you can cook, eat and drink, and it’s the perfect place for a bold floral arrangement or centrepiece. A couple of oversized Edison bulbs or pendant lamps overhead will lend it an industrial edge.”
The kitchen is the beating heart of every dream home, and each of the bloggers’ cookspaces would be hard-working and multi-tasking, and need to include an island.
“An island is the perfect way to create a central hub in the room around which you can cook, eat and drink, and it’s the perfect place for a bold floral arrangement or centrepiece. A couple of oversized Edison bulbs or pendant lamps overhead will lend it an industrial edge.”
The indoor/outdoor area
In their fantasy world, Linehan and Foran’s ideal kitchen spaces would open out onto a sun-filled back garden. “Is there any greater luxury?” says Linehan. “While we love minimal whites and greys, a pop of teal on one feature wall or in the furniture adds richness and depth.
“A fancy coffee machine, loads of vintage glassware, and clean, white plates would be our accessories of choice.”
In their fantasy world, Linehan and Foran’s ideal kitchen spaces would open out onto a sun-filled back garden. “Is there any greater luxury?” says Linehan. “While we love minimal whites and greys, a pop of teal on one feature wall or in the furniture adds richness and depth.
“A fancy coffee machine, loads of vintage glassware, and clean, white plates would be our accessories of choice.”
The dining space
A luxurious dining area complete with a big table and an assortment of mismatched chairs adorned with sheepskin throws is key to this pair’s dream abode. “We’re all for mixing and matching chair styles to give it a casual, homely feel,” says Linehan.
A luxurious dining area complete with a big table and an assortment of mismatched chairs adorned with sheepskin throws is key to this pair’s dream abode. “We’re all for mixing and matching chair styles to give it a casual, homely feel,” says Linehan.
The Scandi snug
Freelance journalists and friends Linehan and Foran started Gaff because they’re mad about beautiful interiors – a useful starting point when you’re launching an interiors blog! They’re particularly keen on Scandinavian interiors and midcentury modern furniture.
“Our dream houses would have to be a Scandi-slick city dwellings. They would be brimming with decadent soft furnishings, have plenty of natural light and be oozing with cool finds and unique, trend-led talking points.”
Freelance journalists and friends Linehan and Foran started Gaff because they’re mad about beautiful interiors – a useful starting point when you’re launching an interiors blog! They’re particularly keen on Scandinavian interiors and midcentury modern furniture.
“Our dream houses would have to be a Scandi-slick city dwellings. They would be brimming with decadent soft furnishings, have plenty of natural light and be oozing with cool finds and unique, trend-led talking points.”
The living room
The simplicity of grey and white interiors combined with oak-coloured herringbone flooring and brave, bold furnishings would add life to the duo’s fantasy homes.
“Fireplaces are a luxury these days, so a big old hearth is definitely part of a dream home for both of us,” says Linehan. “We’d have tons of books, L-shaped sofas that you fall into and never come out of, Moroccan-inspired pouffes…
“Mustard-coloured sofas are having a moment right now, and velvet is the fabric du jour, so plenty of velveteen cushions would be a must.”
The simplicity of grey and white interiors combined with oak-coloured herringbone flooring and brave, bold furnishings would add life to the duo’s fantasy homes.
“Fireplaces are a luxury these days, so a big old hearth is definitely part of a dream home for both of us,” says Linehan. “We’d have tons of books, L-shaped sofas that you fall into and never come out of, Moroccan-inspired pouffes…
“Mustard-coloured sofas are having a moment right now, and velvet is the fabric du jour, so plenty of velveteen cushions would be a must.”
The home bar
Linehan and Foran are big fans of entertaining and impromptu parties, so a vintage drinks trolley laden with goodies would sit pretty in the corner of each dream living room.
“We are both fans of a tipple after a long day in the office, so an old-school vintage drinks trolley with all the trimmings for a cold G&T is an essential!”
Linehan and Foran are big fans of entertaining and impromptu parties, so a vintage drinks trolley laden with goodies would sit pretty in the corner of each dream living room.
“We are both fans of a tipple after a long day in the office, so an old-school vintage drinks trolley with all the trimmings for a cold G&T is an essential!”
The home office
A hectic life working as freelance journalists combined with running their own website means creating a comfy and functional home office is key for both Linehan and Foran.
Their website tackles common problems for renters, such as sourcing the best furniture for small-space living, and this tiny office provides lots of ideas that would squeeze into the smallest of properties.
“We like to have a lot of inspiration around us while we work. We’ve also been converted to the power of a good houseplant – a little greenery goes a long way. Midcentury furniture always looks great and a 1950s bureau or a spray-painted filing cabinet would be perfect for optimum storage.”
8 clever tips to steal from organised offices
A hectic life working as freelance journalists combined with running their own website means creating a comfy and functional home office is key for both Linehan and Foran.
Their website tackles common problems for renters, such as sourcing the best furniture for small-space living, and this tiny office provides lots of ideas that would squeeze into the smallest of properties.
“We like to have a lot of inspiration around us while we work. We’ve also been converted to the power of a good houseplant – a little greenery goes a long way. Midcentury furniture always looks great and a 1950s bureau or a spray-painted filing cabinet would be perfect for optimum storage.”
8 clever tips to steal from organised offices
The bedroom
Natural materials, such as wood, tweed and good-quality cotton, are all essentials in Linehan and Foran’s dream bedrooms. “The idea of a loft room gives us chills and how amazing is this one? We want sleeping spaces that are clear of clutter and all about relaxation and escaping the world.
“We’re big fans of wardrobes with sliding doors – we don’t want to see what’s happening behind the scenes. Everything should be tucked up neatly.”
Natural materials, such as wood, tweed and good-quality cotton, are all essentials in Linehan and Foran’s dream bedrooms. “The idea of a loft room gives us chills and how amazing is this one? We want sleeping spaces that are clear of clutter and all about relaxation and escaping the world.
“We’re big fans of wardrobes with sliding doors – we don’t want to see what’s happening behind the scenes. Everything should be tucked up neatly.”
The reading nook
Snugs, window seats and reading nooks are brilliant features in any home, even the tiniest space. “We’d love to recreate this cosy little spot in our own dream homes,” says Linehan.
Check out more cosy reading nooks
Snugs, window seats and reading nooks are brilliant features in any home, even the tiniest space. “We’d love to recreate this cosy little spot in our own dream homes,” says Linehan.
Check out more cosy reading nooks
The bathroom
A well-planned bathroom is essential and would probably feature in most of our dream homes. “We’d both like it all! A wet room with freestanding bath and his ’n’ hers basins please! This Scandi-style bathroom sums it up for us: clean, classic colours, that natural wooden touch, white tiles and lots of room for big mirrors.
“Freestanding basins are so chic, and we’d add a navy blue rug to keep it from feeling too cold or clinical.”
What does your fantasy home look like? Share a link to your Dream Houzz Ideabook in the Comments below.
A well-planned bathroom is essential and would probably feature in most of our dream homes. “We’d both like it all! A wet room with freestanding bath and his ’n’ hers basins please! This Scandi-style bathroom sums it up for us: clean, classic colours, that natural wooden touch, white tiles and lots of room for big mirrors.
“Freestanding basins are so chic, and we’d add a navy blue rug to keep it from feeling too cold or clinical.”
What does your fantasy home look like? Share a link to your Dream Houzz Ideabook in the Comments below.
Style gurus Jo Linehan and Caroline Foran are both obsessed with The Doors Of Dublin’s Instagram account, which documents the best front doors around the capital.
“We are all about changing up your home, depending on your mood and the season. An old wooden door that could be repainted each year using the coolest new colour would be a perfect fit for both of us.”
Browse more photos of stylish front doors