The Irish country house

Description

Forgoing the criteria of stateliness and opulence, this book is an exploration of the mostcaptivating and unusual interiors in Ireland. Whether in the transformation of a derelictestate, the preservation of an historic hunting lodge, or the re-creation of a Gothic fantasy,each of the homes in this extraordinary book reflects a renewed vitality in thecontemporary approach to Irish country houses.Rich in detail and varied in scope, the houses reveal a refreshing dynamism in theirdecoration by equally diverse owners-from the ornate refurbishment of a castle by aSpanish financier to the bold palette of a contemporary artist’s renovation to anElizabethan Revival house. The sparse interiors of a mansion in Westmeath reflect itspainstaking restoration by descendants of the original owners, and at Coollattin-Ireland’slargest country house, part restored, part still in disrepair-the building’s baroque splendoris amplified by its raw, unfinished state.Accompanying photography of the houses made specially for the book, the author guidesreaders through fifteen exceptional spaces, elucidating the remarkable aspects ofeach-and in doing so celebrates the unexpected eclecticism and reinvigorated spirit ofIreland’s historic interiors.