Like the look of this week's houses? Alanna Gallaghershows how it's done.

The interior of 76 Sandymount Roadhas a heart of darkness, thanks to the customised stain used to lacquer the floors. The colour was created by mixing Becker Acroma (01-460 1445 /1890 927 132) non-fade ground stain walnut and wenge together. Prices €39.55 and €29.70 respectively for five litres.

The boards, dado rail, and interconnecting doors were all treated in this fashion. Afterwards a water-based matte lacquer, also by Becker Acroma, Parquet 1, price €67.95 for five litres, was applied to the flooring to give a sleek yet matte finish.

The rest of the property is coloured in what Gerard Burke-Kennedy, son of Paul Burke Kennedy of architect firm Burke Kennedy Doyle, describes as his own private colour. It's Barley White from the Macpherson Omnicolour Studio Range and is available from the Crown Decorator Centre on Dublin's Camden Street (01-475 4723). Price €18 per five litre in a matte finish.

In the sittingroom (see page 9) a wenge Easy chair, €800 and T2 bronze silk/cotton upholstered sofa, €1,700, are both from Mary Ryder Designs (01-230 1245). The Mercer side tables, €195 each, were sourced from Meadows & Byrne (01-280 4554) and the Canterbury brown glass lamps with silk shades, €239 each, are from Stillorgan Décor (01-288 5824).

The stained glass panels in the bay window were restored and releaded by APL in Crumlin (01-454 9125).

Out front the tree ferns, Dicksonia Antartica, were bought from Doyle Scapes in Brennanstown (01-204 8020), they cost €72 per foot per fern.

The livingroom of 72 Kenilworth Squarefeatures an unusual reversal of paint techniques. It is more traditional to feature the paler shade above the picture rail rather than below it but this is the home of advertising executive turned artist Ken Flynn who sometimes uses the Victorian house as a gallery space for his shows, and drama is the name of the game.

The livingroom palette uses a blend of minky pinks and greys. The blancmange pink colour above the picture rail was customised to match the pink stripes in the classy velour upholstery. The sofas were sourced and upholstered by the Sofa Factory (01-454 6877). A small nursing chair is an antique the artist inherited from his father. The coffee table design harks back to the simple chic of student days and displays good use of materials. The bricks were leftovers from a feature wall the artist had installed in his kitchen. He stacked them up to create four legs and placed a piece of reinforced glass atop them to create a fully functioning and practically cost free surface.

The property is awash with soft shades that illuminate the period home. Barely-there tints such as Dulux's Jasmine White and Rose White add warmth while opening up the residence.

The drawingroom in Robswall takes its style lead from turn-of-the-century Parisian salons. Designed by interior designers The Silk Road (01-848 5044), the colour palette is rich yet sublime, like a French pastry. The printed Harlequin wallpaper has a metallic hue. This Indulgence range costs €50 a roll.
Twin glass chandeliers (€375 each) add oomph to the proportions.

The furnishings are good enough to eat. Try nibbling the butter-coloured leather armoire, €2,850 or the palest duck egg blue velvet La Fibule Edward lounge chairs, at €1,300 each. A gold velvet Venice sofa, €3,600, looks edible while the ebony Loft coffee table, price €895, is perfect for TV dinners.
All furnishings listed are available from the Silk Road.

Buck the trend for vanilla gloss units and invest in the calming properties of sage green instead, as pictured in the kitchen of Ardower on Gordon Avenue. This Shaker-style painted kitchen features Giallo Imperiale granite worktops and a specially formulated colour called Willow Leaf designed by Lurgan-based Alwood Kitchens (048 3832 3296) under the watchful eye of architect Paul Brazil (01-280 7099). Expect to pay from €39,000 for something similar.

In the adjoining dining area the limed oak table was bought from Meadows and Byrne (01-280 4554). Price €595. The Lloyd Loom dining chairs are available directly through the company's UK shop (+ 44 1981 500 737). Prices range from €283 - €385 ex delivery. Claridges, Wimbledon's Royal Box and Rick Stein's restaurant in Cornwall are all adorned with Lloyd Loom pieces.

The right fabric choices can reinvent a three-piece suite and that's exactly what interior designer Trisha Younge (086 2544 590) has done with the furnishings in the livingroom. They feature a Zimmer & Rhode linen, €68 per metre and from Younge. The upholstery was done by Comfort Works (01-414 8557). A three-piece suite of a similar shape will cost €800. The striped soft furnishings feature fabric by Kenzo, at €105 a metre, also available through Younge. Farrow & Ball's Pointing is the cool grey on the walls. Outside Italian loungers in steel and teak with mesh inlay are also from Younge, €500 each.