Head to Headford

Words by Julie Keary 

Photography by Tom Taheny 

Located 26 km north of Galway city in the west of Ireland is the bustling town of Headford. It is an angling centre for the eastern shore of Lough Corrib. Although a bit of a commute from Galway City, it was the perfect location for this couple to set up home with their two daughters. When they saw the plans of this development they knew it was the right size for their growing family. Leona and Gary set out on their journey for a new home and came upon Eallagh, a development on the edge of Headford - it was at the early stage of the build, so it really was a blank canvas on which Leona knew she could put her own stamp. Now, she had a fair idea what aesthetic and scheme she wanted. She had a few bits and pieces bought while she was saving for her new home and wanted to incorporate these purchases into her new scheme. This she did with aplomb. Her flare for interiors was very obvious the minute we stepped into her hallway. 

Initially this couple wanted a rustic feel but they went with a soft modern look which sits very well with the few rustic pieces they bought along the way. The warm palette of soft grey - the main colour is a Temperance from Colourtrend, can be seen throughout with all the other shades coming from it. The front door colour gives a hint of what lies beyond in a very inviting entrance hall. An interesting mix of accessories sit on the console table giving a warmth to the space that leads to a large dining room/sitting room with an opening to a deep grey shaker galley kitchen. The cooking can be done away from the dining room while also allowing the cook to be part of the action in the living area. 

A rustic style dining table and two benches is very dramatic and sits on a flat graphic rug which complements the large plank laminate flooring - they continued this laminate flooring for the full living area. A lovely array of accessories give the whole space a soft inviting atmosphere. Lighting was very important to this couple and they spent many hours scouring the local stores choosing the perfect drop lights and lamps. Leona loves lamps and they bring that cosy atmosphere to her home. 

A slightly larger than normal WC sits under the stairs and is simply decorated with accessories and a soft grey palette colour scheme. The stairwell and landings are of particular interest as Leona placed console tables and bookcases making them more attractive and useful - housing books and lamps. A second landing leads past the main bedroom and Leona & Gary's daughter Layla's stunning bedroom. This beautifully decorated little girls room is a room any little girl could only dream about. The High bed allows for a small play area beneath, where Layla houses some of her private stuff!! The wide plank laminate floor is adorned with the moon & stars rug. 

One of the big selling points of this home was the second floor. Although Leona & Gary had planned to make this space their own bedroom, on second thoughts they decided it would make the perfect space for their teenage daughter Emily. She was very much involved in the décor of her space. She definitely has a flare for Interior Design. Emily chose very well with the bed and accessories, she was adamant that she wanted stripe led lights - they bring that touch of bling to her bedroom. Leona sourced them on Amazon giving in to Emily's request. As this was a large area she is lucky enough to have a spot in the corner where she can study or just relax on the bean bag. This amazing room is perfect for a teenager with lots of storage and shelving for all the bits and pieces a teenage girl needs. 

To finish off their house they went for a rather unusual garden. A painted pergola hovers above a comfortable seating area looking over the beach style gravel, very low maintenance garden with a breakfast area set in the centre. One can only imagine early morning coffee and evening barbecues on the patio.