Wednesday 17 March 2010

St Patrick's Day edition: Jane from Ill Seen, Ill Said

I'm excited to welcome Jane from Ill Seen, Ill Said as my St. Patrick's Day guest - her blog is full of interiors inspiration and I love her lyrical writing style. I'm also a huge fan of her 'Where we blog from' series. Thanks Jane - I love the homes you've featured here.

Hello! Jane here from the blog Ill Seen, Ill Said. I'm a Dubliner, currently living in Toronto, Canada. When Lynne asked me to blog something for St Patrick's Day, I thought a post about Irish homes would be perfect. Now, I know some of you are probably imagining twee little thatched, white-washed cottages. I'm afraid I'm going to disappoint on that score. Georgian architecture is very much my Irish reality, whether in the form of farmhomes, city townhouses or grand demesnes. Here are three of my favourite examples:



This farmhouse was featured in World of Interiors and is located in Co. Cork. There's nothing hugely dramatic about it, you could nearly call it utilitarian; almost Shaker-meets-Georgian. The most dramatic room is probably the kitchen, which has been left in the state it was found, with the walls simply washed down. I love the idea of leaving one room in a renovation a little raw. I think this may be one of my favourite homes featured in any magazine ever.

All images scanned from World of Interiors, March 2007
"Country Fare" photographed by Lois Crighton



You may recognize this townhouse from Toast's catalogue and movie from last season. This Georgian period house is located on Henrietta St on the northside of Dublin city centre. The street was originally laid out in 1729 and the houses are big by standards of the time, four or five bay wide. The residents were equally grand, including some of the wealthiest aristocratic families of Ireland.

Images from Romantic Irish Homes by Robert O'Byrne, with photography by Simon Brown, published by CICO Books



These pictures were taken of Bonnettstown by Andrew Bush between 1979 and 1982. Bonnettstown was built in built in 1737 and is located in Co. Kilkenny. As a family we used to visit old grand houses like Lissadell, Russborough and Powerscourt. This style of ruined grandeur is buried very deeply in my consciousness. I respond to it immediately. I know its smells and textures. And it's a part of home that I often miss.

Thanks Lynne for asking me to participate! To read more of my posts about Ireland, click here.

Happy St Patrick's Day, Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!

16 comments:

Dumbwit Tellher said...

Hi Jane - I truly enjoyed your post and all the magnificent interiors of these grand Irish homes. Ireland is near and dear to my heart and it was a joy to have a real Dubliner give us a proper tour. The raw photo had to be my favorite as well.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you and to Lynne. Sláinte ~ deb

Tonia said...

That kitchen in Co. Cork is a real inspiration and the antithesis of the functional, all-white clinical ones found so often now. Loved it!

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Have a merry happy St. Patrick's Day! Too bad we do not celebrate it over here in The Netherlands... I adore your first image for its colors and warmth. So stylish and cozy...

Local Girl said...

That is just gorgeous, I love the dining room!

Kickcan & Conkers said...

Beautiful! I really love the third image down of the kitchen and the final staircase. Happy St Patrick's!

Jane Flanagan said...

Thanks again Lynne for having me! And thanks everyone for you kind comments!

Sarade said...

I enjoyed looking at these photos...thanks for sharing your unusual find!

chelsea said...

Beautiful, Jane!!!

my spatula said...

so lovely! my irish husband will love this. happy paddy's day!

nelya said...

Oh, I'm breathless, speechless, and full of wonderment. These are stunning. I remember when you posted that first home on your blog. The simple, rustic kitchen is perfection. And I too have a "thing" for decaying vestiges of granduer. I'm not certain what the appeal is, but all I know is that the pull at my heartstrings is undeniable.

A beautiful post. As always!

Maria | Vintage Simple said...

What a beautiful post..! I was transported there for a few moments... And so funny that I just used the word 'lyrical' to describe Jane's own photographs back at her own blog... A wonderful woman of many talents, this dear Jane Flanagan!

Thank you for the lovely post, ladies.

-maria

Callie Grayson said...

oh my heart! such loveliness! and that kitchen, completely swooning over that room oh, and that stair!!

xx
callie

Alison said...

Wow, that "unrenovated" kitchen is unbelievable! I love it so much more than all the shiney bright kitchen's you always see in design mags. This one looks like it has been lived in, like many loaves of bread have been baked in it, like it has a story to tell:)

wendy humphreys said...

What a gorgeous home! Beautiful
photos. I could live there!

Leti! said...

Beautiful!!!

Anonymous said...

It was very interesting for me to read this blog. Thanx for it. I like such topics and anything connected to this matter. I definitely want to read a bit more on that blog soon.

Anete Hakkinen