{"id":86294,"date":"2025-09-26T07:18:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T07:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/86294\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T07:18:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T07:18:11","slug":"see-how-geri-otoole-linked-a-cork-cottage-to-its-landscape-with-a-clever-use-of-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/86294\/","title":{"rendered":"See how Geri O’Toole linked a Cork cottage to its landscape with a clever use of light\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

We don’t need an aversion to alarm clocks to know that waking to sunlight boosts the mood by regulating our circadian rhythms.<\/p>\n

So look and learn \u2014 because I sure sat up and paid attention when I saw how interior designer Geri O\u2019Toole worked with light to draw up her plan for a revamped West Cork property.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cTypically, Irish cottages are built with thick walls and smaller windows to conserve heat. We came up with three layout options for our client to choose from. Throughout the day, the changing light animates the interior,\u201d says Geri.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cMorning light filters gently into the kitchen, while the golden evening light enters through the west-facing openings, tying the rhythm of the home to the landscape outside.<\/p>\n

\"GeriGeri O’Toole used light to to tie the home’s rhythm to that of the landscape outside, she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe master bedroom overlooks the back garden and surrounding hills, while the front windows look out onto beautiful surrounding farms.\u201d<\/p>\n

And if you weren\u2019t already looking forward to waking up to the views \u2014 pinch yourself, this dream home has its very own whiskey room. Accommodation also includes a living room, kitchen, WC, two children\u2019s bedrooms and a family bathroom \u2014 and the uber-trendy pantry and utility or mudroom.<\/p>\n

Geri and her Limerick-based company, Geri Designs, worked with building contractor Martin O\u2019Sullivan on this project, which was completed in June 2024. She\u2019s also just recently completed work on transforming the Howth home of Vogue Williams, and as we\u2019d expect from a designer on speed-dial to high-profile clients across the globe, Geri is discreet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When pressed, she stops short of favouring one spot over another in this Cork cottage, which she describes as \u201cgorgeous\u201d. (Spoiler alert: The whiskey room and the kitchen are strong contenders.)<\/p>\n

The interiors are, according to the designer, \u201ca gentle nod to the past\u201d. This is evident in the exposed wooden beams, stone walls, and low ceilings that create a sense of comfort and shelter \u2014 and, right now, are right in keeping with the craze for cozymaxxing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery corner whispers stories of simpler times, yet the space feels effortlessly inviting \u2014 a place where you can breathe deeply and slow down,\u201d says Geri.<\/p>\n

The surrounding Bandon hills lend themselves to the property\u2019s finish. \u201cI think the setting definitely informed the design,\u201d says Geri. \u201cThe use of local stone and the building\u2019s low profile were clearly influenced by the surrounding hillside.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe setting of the cottage informs the design.<\/p>\n

The brief was to restore the country cottage as a holiday home for a couple and their two young daughters. \u201cOur clients, originally from Northern Ireland and now living in the Bahamas, dreamed of creating a peaceful retreat for their young family,\u201d says Geri.<\/p>\n

“With two daughters and a demanding travel schedule, they longed for a quiet Irish haven \u2014 a place to reconnect with loved ones, unwind, and immerse themselves in the culture they hold dear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Step through the bespoke Dutch-style front door (which Geri says she designed to lend the property a \u201cquaint character\u201d) and you\u2019re in the whiskey room, designed as a \u201cwarm welcoming nook\u201d, according to Geri.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt has rich finishes and inviting lighting, and is a space for a quiet drink, good conversation, and offers the comforting feeling of being home,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe interiors retain the country cottage feel.<\/p>\n

Here you\u2019ll find the old cottage wall, which brings an authentic feel to the space. \u201cWe added a tumbled limestone floor and discreet John Cullen lighting to bring warmth and a glow to the otherwise dark room by adding the spots into the window reveals,\u201d says Geri.<\/p>\n

The living room, just off the kitchen, is the heart of the home \u2014 perfect for relaxing in front of the TV after a day exploring the countryside. One of the standout features is the antique rose pink fireplace \u2014 sourced and selected by Geri \u2014 framed by antique brick from France.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe antique rose pink fireplace in the he living area is one of the cottage’s prominent features.<\/p>\n

The kitchen is in a \u201cclassic cottage aesthetic, thoughtfully updated for modern family life\u201d, according to Geri. Limewashed cottage-style doors feature here.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis gentle, timeworn look creates an atmosphere that\u2019s warm, lived-in, and deeply welcoming. We added arches to give the eye a soft detail that pulls you through to the mud room and pantry,\u201d says the designer.<\/p>\n

\u201cOverhead, original timber beams \u2014 beautiful relics of the home\u2019s past \u2014 were given new life. We painstakingly stripped them back to their bare bones, revealing the grain and imperfections that only time can create.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe bright cottage kitchen with exposed beams. <\/p>\n

This unexpected detail adds \u201cdepth and drama, turning the ceiling into a design statement all on its own\u201d, while celebrating the history etched into the timber, says Geri.<\/p>\n

Hand-cut and laid tiles form a beautiful backsplash that anchors the space, and a natural marble with vein adorns the worktops.<\/p>\n

Just off the back of the cottage, the mudroom \u201cblends utility with thoughtful design\u201d, adds Geri. \u201cWe selected a warm ochre palette for the walls and cabinetry \u2014 a tone that feels both grounded and welcoming, while also beautifully offsetting the green-painted windows and doors,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"OneOne of the cottage’s green-painted doors.<\/p>\n

The result is a space that feels connected to the garden through the bespoke Dutch-style door and beyond, with tones inspired by nature and textures that invite you to slow down.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a hardworking room, yes \u2014 but also a cheerful threshold where boots are kicked off, coats are hung, and the outside world pauses before you step into the calm of the cottage,\u201d says its creator.<\/p>\n

The girls\u2019 bedrooms, upstairs, are designed to grow with their occupants and feature custom-designed bunk beds, reading nooks, and cosy corners for playing or stowing treasures.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe girls’ bedrooms are designed to grow with their occupants.<\/p>\n

The master bedroom is a peaceful, grounding retreat designed with subtle elegance and a sense of timeless calm. \u201cThe ceiling, wallpapered in a delicate, enveloping print, draws the eye upward and creates a cosy, cocooning effect,\u201d says Geri.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the centre of the room is a bespoke headboard upholstered in an antique, aged-look fabric \u2014 from Pierre Frey. Carefully chosen to feel storied and soft, with just the right patina to reflect the history of the home.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"TheThe master bedroom is a calm space.<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s these kinds of textural choices that anchor the space and bring a tactile richness to the room.\u201d<\/p>\n

A copper bath adds a luxe touch to the bathroom.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe copper bathtub adds a touch of luxe.<\/p>\n

Geri adds: \u201cOur mission was clear: to restore and enhance the cottage while preserving its authentic charm and breathe new life into its bones while preserving the cosy, low-ceilinged intimacy that makes this cottage so special.\u201d<\/p>\n

The spaces were tight to work with, but the team \u201cgot the maximum possible in\u201d, according to the designer. \u201cThe biggest challenges were making the most of the little bedrooms and creating bespoke, dream bunk beds for the clients\u2019 little girls.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"TheThe girls’ bedrooms feature bunkbeds and space to play.<\/p>\n

Throughout the renovation, the team focused on bringing light, warmth, and a sense of calm into the space. \u201cNatural materials, a soft, muted colour palette, and traditional finishes complemented carefully chosen modern comforts.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“The result is a home that feels both timeless and deeply personal \u2014 built for lazy summer evenings, fireside winters, and family memories for years to come,\u201d says Geri.<\/p>\n

Con Brouder created the joinery. \u201cThe whiskey room, pantry, utility, and children\u2019s bedrooms all feature custom joinery, carefully designed to maximise space and create generous, well-hidden storage. Built-in cabinetry blends seamlessly into the fabric of the cottage, marrying form and function with understated elegance,\u201d adds Geri.<\/p>\n

For lighting, Geri Designs worked with Visual Comfort and Pooky. \u201cFor the family, this cottage is more than a holiday home; it\u2019s a sanctuary, a place where two young girls can roam and imagine, and where a hardworking pilot and his wife can recharge in the serenity of the Irish countryside,\u201d says Geri.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe living space is the heart of the home.<\/p>\n

The clients say the finished cottage \u201cfar exceeded\u201d their expectations: \u201cGeri is, without a doubt, the most talented designer we\u2019ve come across \u2014 not just in Ireland, but could stand up against the world\u2019s best.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We first heard about her through my brother and a few friends, and we couldn\u2019t be more grateful for the recommendation. Her ability to bring colours, textures, designs, and layouts together in a way that felt uniquely \u2018us\u2019 was simply amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We don’t need an aversion to alarm clocks to know that waking to sunlight boosts the mood by…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":86295,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[267],"tags":[56872,11587,365,362,363,364,366,18,117,19,17],"class_list":{"0":"post-86294","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-arts-and-design","8":"tag-home-improvements","9":"tag-home-interiors","10":"tag-arts","11":"tag-arts-and-design","12":"tag-artsanddesign","13":"tag-artsdesign","14":"tag-design","15":"tag-eire","16":"tag-entertainment","17":"tag-ie","18":"tag-ireland"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86294","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86294"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86294\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86295"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86294"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86294"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86294"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}