25 Beautiful Homes

100 | 25bh october 2017Turning three cramped and tattybedsits back into a house did notdaunt artist Elaine Grainger andher publican husband Alan. ‘It wasclose to Dublin city centre, with agood-sized garden and originalfeatures,’ says Elaine. ‘I liked the ceiling height andthe double reception rooms. We knew we couldturn it back into the house it had once been.’The couple were first to bid on the propertybut had to let it go when Elaine’s mother becameill and later passed away. However, later that yearthey saw the house was still on the market.‘We decided it was meant to be, so we activelypursued it again,’ she says. ‘It was around the timeof the property boom in Ireland and bidding wasgoing up by the day – but the owner said we werethe first to bid and agreed it was ours.’The house had been chopped up into bedsits,with three tiny bathrooms, no central heating ormodern wiring, and there was rising dampdownstairs. ‘We had a good team of builderswho’d worked on period houses and the propertywas structurally sound, so we weren’t put off,’ saysElaine. ‘The house had all its original fireplacesSITTING ROOMThe pale-blue walls reflect light around thedouble reception room, making it feel airy.walls painted in Light blue estate emulsion,£43.50 per 2.5 litres, Farrow & ball. the AtlantaSilver 6 Light, £240, Laura Ashley, is similarDINING AREAThe feature wall ispainted in deep grey.‘I liked the idea ofmaking it into a cosycorner,’ says Elaine.try Down Pipe estateemulsion, £43.50 per2.5 litres, Farrow & ball.Similar tablecloths atZara home, from £11.99``````KITCHENA stainless steelsplashback with a rail isideal to hang utensils.A similar splashback isSbK100r, £177, Deals4u.Somerton cream Shakerunits, £503 for a 600mmbase unit, Magnet.Franklin bar stools, £25each, Ikea