At Home With Marie @antiques_and_interiors
This week I'm at home with Marie, the lovely lady behind the popular instagram account @antiques_and_interiors where she shares images of her beautiful home. Read on to learn more about Marie, her home, lifestyle, family and also her top home decor tips.
Tell us about you
My name is Marie, I am married and a mother of three. We live in rural Ireland in the south of the country. I live in the same area that I grew up in, we know all our neighbours. We live in a coastal county which is lovely as we have close access to gorgeous beaches. We built our home over 20 year ago on my family farm.
Tell us about your home
Our home is over 20 years old, so still a new build, I suppose. We added a large extension around 13 years ago. It is a 5 bedroomed home, with a large open plan living/dining/kitchen area. We have a snug, drawing room, library, games room/gym.
How would you describe your home?
I would describe my home style as traditional, country. I have a passion for antiques so almost everything in our home was bought either at auction or from antique stores. Our home is very much about family, entertaining family and friends and comfort. It is a home where, I hope, people feel they can come in and put their feet up. We are not precious about it. It is a home where you will find footballs, hurleys, riding gear dotted around.
When it comes to decorating our home, I generally like neutral walls and floors and then adding pops of colour in the soft furnishings. I suppose it is decorated in a relaxed country house style – lots of florals, checks, colour, cushions, art and antiques.
Which is your favourite room in the house?
My favourite room is our open plan kitchen/living/dining room. Due to an apex wall of glass It is bright and airy and the sun shines in all day long. We get the sunset here in the evenings. Our kitchen was designed by myself with the help of Michael Farrell Custom Kitchens (a Wexford company). It is a traditional style kitchen, solid wood and painted in Farrow and Ball –Wimborne White. Our kitchen Island is huge and gives us extra seating but also lots of extra storage. It is painted in aged vellum a colourtrend colour.
In the dining/living areas most of the furniture is antique; dining table, chairs, side tables, armchairs all bought at auction or from antique stores. Our Dresser was custom made and bought from The Dresser Store in Athy. This open plan space is wonderful for entertaining, with 2 sets of French doors leading out on to the terrace is makes a great space for parties.
How does your home reflect any passions or interests?
My passion for antiques is definitely reflected in our home. It is almost exclusively furnished from auction or antique stores. I also have a passion for art and have been collecting for years. I buy art again from auction but also from local artists, Irish artists and We always try to bring home a piece of art from our travels. We have always loved to entertain so I collect old china and table ware, I love nothing better than to set the table nicely, I love mixing china patterns with coloured glass and beautiful table linens.
What are your favourite items in the home?
Any of the old pieces of furniture, I love. Each piece of furniture has a story behind where and how we bought it. I really love the large floor mat I bought at auction several years ago. It is perfect in our open plan area and was a real bargain.
When you moved into your house was it the finished article or was it a project?
When we moved in our house was finished, in that it was painted and all the floors and bathrooms/kitchen was complete but we have spent over 20 years filling our home with art and furniture, it is ever evolving.
What renovation and decorating have you done?
We extended our home over 13 years ago, we added an extra bedroom, games room and library. We also added a large garden room/sunroom. I’m quite happy to roll up my sleeves and paint and I love to get an old piece of furniture and bring it back to life.
Have you had any DIY or styling disasters?
I haven’t really had any DIY disasters, I usually plan well and take my time.
What is your top home styling tip?
- I know everyone says it but paint – changing the colour of a room can really make such a huge difference and if you don’t like it you can always change it back.
- Changing the soft furnishings especially cushions can update a room instantly.
- Auctions, seriously, there are brilliant bargains to be had at auction and at salvage yards, plus you know that you will have bought something really unique for your home.
- Another way to update your interiors is to consider wall paneling. It is a cost effective way to give a new build some character. We installed panelling in our master bedroom this year and we love it.
Is there anything in your home that you couldn’t live without?
Our Kitchen!!
They say that every home tells visitors a story about who lives there. What do you think your home says about you?
I think our home says that we are easy going and relaxed, that I like nice things!! We value comfort and warmth over style, ours is a home where you can come in and put your feet up. It’s a busy home that has to work hard. Like us, our home is perfectly imperfect!!
The Home Edit
Lived-in or showhome?
Lived -in
If you could only paint your walls one colour, which one would it be?
Farrow and Ball – Old White
What is your pet hate when it comes to your own or other’s homes?
Anything too shiny and perfection.
Favourite front door colour?
Sage green – I have a great highlight saved on front door colours and what they reveal about their owners!!
Carpet or Floorboards?
Floorboards
Kitchen table dining or formal dining room?
Both
High gloss or rustic?
Rustic
Wallpaper or Brick Walls?
Wallpaper
Want More?
If you enjoyed being at home with Marie, you might like to take a look inside other popular home styling accounts on instagram and find out more about the people behind them. You can see more of these "at home with" articles here
You can catch up with Marie's instagram account here. It's well worth a look!