CASE STUDY AN IRISH FAIRYTALE


When Naimh and John Willis fell for a 200-year-old cottage, they embarked on a sensitive, design-led renovation that honours their home’s heritage.


TEXT ALEXANDRA PRATT IMAGES JESS GLYNN


Every design choice was grounded in the reality of how the cottage is used


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ention a traditional home on Ireland’s west coast and a stone-built cottage comes to mind, with small windows and spectacular views, set against the soaring seascapes of the Atlantic mountains. This is exactly what the Willis family found when they searched for a home in Cork. It is now a retreat from their busy international lives, where they make memories with their two young daughters. “We fell in love with the charm and the old


cottage style,” says Naimh. “It had a beautiful energy and a whole lot of soul.” Naimh and John, an airline pilot, knew this 200-year-old home would need complete renovation. Built in local stone and dating from around 1800, the cottage had been maintained by the previous owners, but it was clear that it needed a huge amount of work and care. “These types of old-style cottages are rare in the west of Ireland,” says Naimh. “We had


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