WRITTEN BY JEANINE MATLOW
PHOTOGRAPHY BY RUTH MARIA PHOTOGRAPHY
For this colorful dwelling aptly dubbed “Kaleidoscope,” Róisín Lafferty, founder and creative director of Dublin, Ireland-based Kingston Lafferty Design (KLD), explains the premise behind the project. “The brief was to completely turn the existing apartment on its head, both in layout and configuration, and in aesthetic and feel—so that’s what we did. Nothing was left untouched,” she says about the low-rise, high-end development in the middle of Dublin city center surrounded by Georgian houses. “The contrast between the sumptuous inside of the apartment and the perfectly restored facades across is magical.”
As this special spot serves as a secondary home, the owners seized the opportunity to be bold, playful, and expressive throughout. “This was truly a dream project for us with dream clients who invariably embrace design, luxury, art, and experience, through and through,” says Lafferty. “Dan and Linda Kiely epitomize style, exuberance, fun, and flamboyance with a true love of fashion, art, design, travel, and style. This project was, for them, a celebration of all these aspects and a place to play when spending time in Dublin with friends.”
Their glamorous getaway begets entertaining. “The project was all about creating an exceptional atmosphere—an environment for hosting soirees, parties, and business gatherings, with more emphasis on the bar, luxury-hospitality feel than that of a primary home. For us as designers, it was a chance to play—the bolder the better—configuring it more as a high-end cocktail bar or members’ club than a family home,” she explains.
“In general, ‘Kaleidoscope’ is a feast for the senses undoubtedly. It encompasses you completely from the moment you step inside, into an old-world, Hollywood haze. Eclectic and refined. It feels almost like putting on rose-tinted glasses and turning up the jazz music!”
Inspiration for the multihued interiors came from Linda’s wardrobe that’s filled with vintage patterned suits and saturated colors. Dan, who wanted art and design at the epicenter, asked KLD to source internationally for diverse art, design, and craft that would look and feel at home in any international destination.
Custom elements designed by KLD include a mirrored wall in the entry hall and a brass scarf screen in the lounge. “There was to be nothing safe about it, nothing neutral. Functionality was of course a massive consideration, but we were tasked to factor functionality in so that it was so well-considered, it became invisible. What the eye was to see was only beauty, detail, opulence, and luxury,” says Lafferty.
A new layout creates an effortless flow. “We wanted to encourage interaction and movement. The sunroom has a bright and sun-filled feel for [high-powered] meetings, whereas the other areas feel rich and moody and like evening spaces; they all have their purpose depending on the nature of the event,” she adds. “We also transformed the second bedroom into a fully upholstered and mirrored, luxury walk-in wardrobe with a concealed integrated pull-down bed for guests.”
In the entertainment space, high-end appliances, champagne fridges, and an ice maker are concealed in the blue-onyx island with lacquer and brass inlaid kitchen joinery. The only visible item: an inset, solid-brass ice bucket in the island that hints at the playfulness and reveals its purpose.
The sophisticated visuals greet guests from the get-go: In the entrance hall, distinctive double doors lead to a custom marble floor and a mirrored wall that reflects the light and the graphic floor pattern. “We deliberately kept the wall colors moody to add to the dramatic reveal when you walk into the kitchen,” says Lafferty. “The kitchen island was always going to be the exquisite centerpiece of the kitchen/bar area, but once installed and the project completed, we believe now it is the biggest showstopper of the entire apartment.”
