Swedish textile designer Liz Nilsson's Victorian house in Dublin 6 demonstrates the versatilityof Scandinavian style, writes Eoin Lyons
DOWNSTAIRS STUDIO
Nilsson specialises in screen-printed interior textiles and takes commissions for walls, windows and tables, all of which are created in her studio at home. Linen is the fabric she uses most often. Two years ago Nilsson and five other designers from different disciplines got together to form a design group called 6 x Tables, to collaborate on products for the table top. "We're all used to white linen on tables, but few of us now have time to iron large linen table clothes, so runners, napkins and place mats are easier to handle, but also make a table setting vivid and unique."
RELOCATED KITCHEN
The kitchen which was moved from the garden to hall level, now occupies a space that would originally have been a dining room. "We needed to use downstairs for work areas," Nilsson explains. "I wanted the kitchen on the hall floor, close to other rooms we use every day. There's no formal dining room now, but that suits our way of living . . . Because we spend so much time in the kitchen it makes sense to have it here."
Although the house was built in 1862, Liz went for a contemporary approach here, choosing white lacquered units from NcNally Kitchens in Ballsbridge (01-6604856). On the island counter is a table-runner designed by Nilsson and some 1950s Swedish china that belonged to her mother.
A WALL OF BOOKS
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves cover one wall of the livingroom, and a ladder on a metal pole is used to reach the higher points. "We felt we couldn't give a whole room over to a library, so this was a compromise." The 1940s chairs with curved armrests were bought at Oxfam Home on Francis Street in Dublin (01-4020555) and cost €50 each. "I've always loved charity shops. Often it takes just a little change to make something nice." The neat size is good too: "I don't like big armchairs - too heavy."
Resting on one is a circular cushion embroidered by Nilsson's great-grandmother. A 1920s birch writing desk is another piece with personal history attached. "When I turned 25, my parents gave me 2,000 krone. I bought this desk and chair."
The coffee table was bought at Inreda on Camden Street, Dublin (01-4760362). Nilsson's cushions are on the couch and the tall vases are by ceramic artist Michelle Hannon (01-6208899).
DISGUISED FIREPLACE
Creating adequate storage is a common problem with many Victorian houses. If one wall of a bedroom is given over to wardrobes and there are also doors, windows and a fireplace on other walls, where do you put the bed? "In our bedroom we felt it was more important to get the room to work properly than to have a fireplace. So we boxed it in behind wood panels. Everything is intact behind, but we have an evenly-shaped room." The top of the "box" has a glass shelf, behind which is a strip light. Small bulbs above the bed act as an alternative to bedside lamps. The bedroom is almost entirely white and is typical of Nilsson's approach to decorating. "Start with light walls and add colour with furniture, a rug, art and so on."
TEENAGE DIGS
This bedroom belongs to Molly, Nilsson's 13-year-old daughter. The fireplace was also covered here, to create a symmetrical room. The desk is from Ikea and the lamp has a shade designed by Nilsson. "The great thing about having a plain backdrop to a teenager's bedroom is that things can be changed." At the moment, Molly is going through a pink phase. A string of horses gathers above the bed and she made the pictures on the wall.
MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM
It was hard to accommodate the necessary sanitary ware in the bathroom because a doorway dominated one wall and a window filled the other. So the sink was placed under the window with a mirror rising in front of the glass. "The mirror acts as a screen because I didn't want to use blinds, and even with frosted glass, at night you can still see a little." The sink was bought from The Yard in Belfast (048-90403908).
Liz Nilsson can be contacted at 01-4976042, www.liznilsson.com. Nilsson's work can be seen at 00-04 Review, currently on show at the National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny.