Houzz Tours
House Tours
My Houzz: An Elegant Canal-side Home in Dublin
Exquisite interior details, a calm palette and beautiful vintage finds make this contemporary city home something special
Bespoke fashion designer Helen Cody knew she had found something special as soon as she spotted this red-brick terraced house along the Grand Canal in Dublin. She had just been outbid on nine houses and when she spotted the For Sale sign, something clicked. Despite it being somewhat unorthodox, she rang the doorbell of the house that night and worked out a deal with the owner privately.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Designer Helen Cody and her dogs, Harry and Joe
Location Dublin, Ireland
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here Designer Helen Cody and her dogs, Harry and Joe
Location Dublin, Ireland
Size 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
‘I walked in and saw the hall and nearly passed out because suddenly I was looking at scale and height… All I could see was corniced ceilings and space,’ Helen recalls. ‘I could see the bones of the house immediately.’
The ‘bones’ of the house included 14ft-high ceilings, beautifully detailed cornices and original sash windows – all of which have been lovingly restored by Helen to create a smart city home.
Before moving in, Helen hired a skip and threw a ‘wrecking party’, where friends and family were encouraged to rip off the MDF throughout the house. After this cleanse, she repainted and made small cosmetic changes, but kept the interior quite calm and simple.
The living and dining rooms are open to each other, helping to make them both light. Original wooden floorboards run between the rooms, adding character. Many of the artworks in the house are by Helen, who took up painting after studying at Central Saint Martins.
The fireplace in the dining room acts as log storage for the functioning fireplace in the adjacent living room, adding a rustic touch to the space.
Blinds diffuse the light in the dining room. They are sheer enough that Helen can see out, but also provide privacy when guests pop over for dinner.
The wooden dining table was actually custom made for the kitchen, but it felt too heavy in there, so Helen moved it into the dining room. She originally put the glass on top on it simply to protect it, but then arranged magazine cuttings underneath to give it a unique twist.
The dining room chairs are classic Cherner side chairs. Helen added the felt cushions herself.
The living room is one of Helen’s favourite spots in the house, especially in the colder months, when she lights the fire and relaxes on the sofa with the dogs.
The witty typographical cushion alludes to Helen’s time living and working in Paris.
The witty typographical cushion alludes to Helen’s time living and working in Paris.
The Bo Concept sofa was an investment buy. ‘It’s so beautifully made, really comfortable and it’s a practical fabric with the dogs – they run all over it and it doesn’t get damaged,’ she says.
Read expert advice on choosing the right fire for your home
Read expert advice on choosing the right fire for your home
Antique finds and personal photographs line the shelves in the living room. ‘Anything that looks vaguely quirky came from a car-boot sale,’ Helen laughs. ‘In fact, car-boot sales are my reason for being – you find those lovely, one-off things that are beautiful and properly made.’
The midcentury chairs were hunted down on eBay for a steal of only £70. ‘I simply changed the old cushion fillers and covered the new ones in this lime-green vintage fabric,’ she says.
The spare room is painted in Pearl by Johnstones, which makes a calming backdrop for the iron bed, inherited from Helen’s sister. The two hand-embroidered cushions feature Helen’s dogs travelling about France on bicycles!
Wall paint in Pearl, Johnstone’s.
Check out how to warm up elegant greys
Wall paint in Pearl, Johnstone’s.
Check out how to warm up elegant greys
More found objects are beautifully curated in the old fireplace space in the spare room.
A vintage kimono is displayed on one of the designer’s many mannequins, complementing the contemporary painting by Irish artist Owen O’Loughlin, which was bought at his National College of Art & Design graduation show. ‘These shows are a really good place to buy affordable art from emerging talent,’ Helen says.
Helen added a large internal window to her main bedroom to borrow light from the kitchen-diner.
Collected mementoes sit above Helen’s bed, one of her most cherished pieces being the ceramic bird lady by British artist Jane Muir. ‘I lived around the corner from her studio in Peckham and I fell madly in love with her work – she’s incredibly talented,’ she says. The 200-year-old corset was picked up at a flea market in France and Helen had it framed locally.
In fact, the fragility of the antique corset inspires much of Helen’s designs. The delicate nature of antique fabrics, especially lace and silk, is a constant inspiration to her – particularly in her bridal collection.
All of Helen’s bespoke pieces are designed and created in her studio, which is at the bottom of her garden. The space was created by architect Rory Murphy, who managed to build a modern and simple studio ‘on a shoestring budget’.
Lush greenery and mood lighting are dotted around the wooden patio that separates the house and studio.
An oversized Vogue poster sits at the head of the kitchen table – a daily reminder of Helen’s start in the fashion world. She worked with the French publication as well as iconic fashion house Alaïa before she started her own design business.
The industrial kitchen table and chairs were all sourced from a closing down sale in a sewing factory in Dublin. ‘The table cost £20, as did the chairs,’ recalls Helen.
The glossy grey kitchen, which Helen adores, is from Ikea. She picked it out on a Wednesday and it was fully installed by the Friday!
Ringhult kitchen, Ikea.
Ringhult kitchen, Ikea.
The kitchen extension was added after Helen had lived in the space for three years, giving her an exact idea of how she wanted to use the space. Firstly, the ceiling was raised and skylights were inserted, giving the room an all-year-round lightness.
Open-shelving was the only way to go for Helen – she finds wall cabinets too overbearing and she loves how these steel shelves mean she can have favourite things out on display.
Shelving, Ikea.
Shelving, Ikea.
Helen relaxing in her kitchen with her much-loved dogs, Harry and Joe.
TELL US…
What do you like about this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
TELL US…
What do you like about this house? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.