Dubliner Gráinne Gillett always knew that she wanted to live in a period property and she also knew she wanted one that was a fixer-upper.
She liked this red brick two bedroom Victorian cottage in North Strand instantly – so much so that, two years ago, she bought it without hesitation.
It took a certain type of optimism to look past the brown beauty board decorating the hall, the swirly carpets and the patterned wallpaper, the cramped rooms, the obvious damp, the dodgy plumbing and electrics, not to mention the shower cubicle in the kitchen.
But none of it fazed Grainne.
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“It was a completely emotional response. I knew I wanted to live here the moment I stepped through the front door,” she says.
Gráinne is a midwife and works in project management in the Coombe Hospital but she retrained as an interior designer five years ago so she was up for the challenge of a home renovation.
She admits the project was ambitious for a first home. But she says “it’s a process, not a race and where there’s a will, there’s a way. I’ve always been obsessed with interiors. Even when I didn’t own anywhere, I had Pinterest boards for kitchens and wallpapers!”.
Gráinne took a hands-on approach from the start. Within weeks she had demolished the kitchen units and had taken out the shower; stripped the walls back to bare brick; removed the fireplace in the front room and destroyed some stud walls. More demolition followed with the removal of ceilings, floors, the under stairs toilet, radiators and pipes.
“My brother-in-law gave me a housewarming present of a toolkit and told me to try as much as I can. I thought, why not? Why couldn’t I figure it out? YouTube was great and I found amazing advice and help in my own little corner on Instagram,” she explains.
Right from the beginning, Gráinne (@grainnegillett) shared her journey of trial and error and her creative ideas with an ever-growing audience. Almost by accident she became the poster woman for a new generation of DIY enthusiasts who has cultivated their craft on social media.
Many of Grainne’s 240k Instagram followers feel they have been on part of the renovation journey with her. They’ve seen videos of her taking sledge hammers to walls and putting in floor and attic insulation, posts of decor moodboards that inspire her and been asked via Stories for tips and recommendations. It makes for a compelling relationship.
In the renovation’s early days, Gráinne looked to other Instagram renovators and interior buffs for guidance. Now, she fields questions from followers about sourcing furniture and materials, antique-hunting, thrifting, costing and tradespeople.
Taking a no rules approach to interior design, Gráinne loves to mix pieces from different eras and will put vintage classics alongside more contemporary finds.
“Home is where you should be able to surround yourself with the things you love, where you can mix it all up, old and new, like a sort of design porridge,” she says.
“When you see something you like, you just have to go for it. Don’t overthink it or worry about investment value or other factors too much. If you love the pieces in your home, they will all come together perfectly.”
Her approach to shopping is similarly democratic.
“I want my house to be a collection of things that tell a tale, rather than buying everything from one shop,” she explains.
She has a magpie’s eye for style, which has made her an expert car-boot sale and market shopper and she’s sourced a lot of things from salvage yards, vintage warehouses, antique stores and charity shops.
“What makes for a good interior is very simple,” says Gráinne.
“Home should make you feel safe, secure and relaxed so you walk through the door and your shoulders drop. It can also be a palette for expression.”
Her livingroom was the first completed room and she couldn’t wait to paint it.
“I always knew I wanted pink walls in here, because it hints at retro but also continues to be modern. While pale pink works to make you feel nurtured and safe, the colour also captures a sense of gentle fun and is perfect for warming up north-facing rooms. I went for Potters Pink from the Dulux Heritage range which delivered a subtle, delicate and sophisticated colour that helped bounce the natural light around the room.”
To create a warm and inviting atmosphere, Gráinne employed a colour-drenching technique, applying the same shade of paint to the skirting, walls and door.
“It instantly brings interest and character without being overwhelming. Moreover Potter’s Pink is a colour that fills a room with a soft, suffused glow, which in turn brings warmth and flatters every skin tone.”
The ceiling (an impressive four metre height) is painted in Dulux Heritage Indian white which gives a warm lavender tint that lends a soothing tone to the room. Overall, the soft hues embody cosiness and calm.
Laid-back luxe touches in the form of modern pieces – the crisp white chair, gold cushion and plush rug – are layered with pieces that have enjoyed a past life, from a Victorian chest of drawers to a drinks cabinet inherited from her granny.
Vintage hero pieces include the fabulous floral print couch and the statement antique chandelier. To top it all off, vivid art pieces from Irish artist Maurice Reidy and Australian artists Jai Vaiseck and Lucinda Jones help to give the room that joyful, vibrant and eclectic identity Gráinne desired.
“I’ve made a space that is about joy,” she says. “I love being here. Every day I feel excited to come home and relax here. Renovating this house has been a labour of love, but it puts a smile on my face every day.”
Discover the Dulux Heritage Range. See Duluxheritage.ie for a list of stockists