Houzz Tour: In Ireland, a Light and Airy Lakeside Cabin
Take a look inside this beautifully restored woodland cabin on the edge of an Irish lake
Egon Walesch was living and working in London when he inherited this woodland cabin in Ireland, so he planned to restore it and rent it out as a vacation home. But as he worked on the restoration and redesign, the location and the cabin itself began to weave their magic, and he found himself wanting to spend more and more time in this rural hideaway.
Two years after he started work on the project, Walesch has created a beautiful home that respects and reflects the spectacular surroundings. “The point of this project was to create somewhere to escape to,” he says. “A peaceful haven.”
Two years after he started work on the project, Walesch has created a beautiful home that respects and reflects the spectacular surroundings. “The point of this project was to create somewhere to escape to,” he says. “A peaceful haven.”
The cabin is approached via a winding road through the trees. “We did a little bit of landscaping from the drive to the cottage,” Walesch says, “but we wanted to retain the wild feel of a cabin in the woods, so we decided not to landscape it too heavily or create a formal garden.”
The exterior woodwork just needed a little light repair work and a fresh coat of stain.
The exterior woodwork just needed a little light repair work and a fresh coat of stain.
When it came to the interior, Walesch’s first priority was to open up the space to bring in more light. “For the previous few years, it had been rented out to fishermen using the lake,” he says. “And actually, it hadn’t had any major work done to it since it was built in the 1960s,” so it was due for an overhaul.
To brighten up the living space, Walesch removed the wall between the kitchen and sitting room, turning it into a large multipurpose area.
He also set to work maximizing the incredible views. “The house has always been in a gorgeous location,” he says, “but I didn’t feel it made the most use of it. In the sitting room, for example, the window was high up, so when you sat in an armchair, you couldn’t see the lake. So the first thing we did was fit floor-to-ceiling doors in the living space and main bedroom.”
Besta media sideboard: Ikea; sideboard doors, frames, legs and handles: Superfront; rotating book table: Living by Christiane Lemieux; Lumiere table lamp: Foscarini; Hare lamp: Abigail Ahern for Debenhams
To brighten up the living space, Walesch removed the wall between the kitchen and sitting room, turning it into a large multipurpose area.
He also set to work maximizing the incredible views. “The house has always been in a gorgeous location,” he says, “but I didn’t feel it made the most use of it. In the sitting room, for example, the window was high up, so when you sat in an armchair, you couldn’t see the lake. So the first thing we did was fit floor-to-ceiling doors in the living space and main bedroom.”
Besta media sideboard: Ikea; sideboard doors, frames, legs and handles: Superfront; rotating book table: Living by Christiane Lemieux; Lumiere table lamp: Foscarini; Hare lamp: Abigail Ahern for Debenhams
“During the build, we went over to Ireland as much as possible,” Walesch says. “But with us not being there full time, it was essential to get someone good to keep an eye on the project. Fortunately, we found a really great local builder, Liam Clancy, who was recommended by a family friend and just really got what we were trying to do. With a steer from us, he project-managed the work in our absence.”
Plank dining table: Ercol Originals; Eames DSR chairs: Vitra, available at Nest; orange Louis Poulson 4/3 pendant lamps: vintage; Moroccan rug: sourced in Marrakesh; large wall print: Chloe Cheese; small wall prints: Tiny Showcase; copper-finish candle holders: H&M Home
Plank dining table: Ercol Originals; Eames DSR chairs: Vitra, available at Nest; orange Louis Poulson 4/3 pendant lamps: vintage; Moroccan rug: sourced in Marrakesh; large wall print: Chloe Cheese; small wall prints: Tiny Showcase; copper-finish candle holders: H&M Home
“I’d describe the interior style as country with a twist,” Walesch says. “It was important to me that it referenced and reflected the wild and rural location, but I didn’t want it to be too twee.”
A window seat provides a nice spot to curl up with a book, while a wood-burning stove helps keep the main living space cozy in winter.
Window seat: built by Liam Clancy; seat cushion: made from a Melin Tregwynt throw; blue and white cushion: made by homeowner from a Mark Hearld-designed fabric, Bird Garden, St Jude’s; chunky-knit cushion: H&M Home; limited-edition print by Peter Doig for Irish Museum of Modern Art; Cove 2B wood-burning stove in Almond, Charnwood; lion ornament on mantel: Jonathan Adler; Beep lamp: Sebastian Conran
A window seat provides a nice spot to curl up with a book, while a wood-burning stove helps keep the main living space cozy in winter.
Window seat: built by Liam Clancy; seat cushion: made from a Melin Tregwynt throw; blue and white cushion: made by homeowner from a Mark Hearld-designed fabric, Bird Garden, St Jude’s; chunky-knit cushion: H&M Home; limited-edition print by Peter Doig for Irish Museum of Modern Art; Cove 2B wood-burning stove in Almond, Charnwood; lion ornament on mantel: Jonathan Adler; Beep lamp: Sebastian Conran
“Although the existing rooms were a good size, they felt a little claustrophobic, as the ceilings were quite low,” Walesch says. He decided to open them up right to the beams and to clad both the walls and ceiling in shiplap.
“The project did grow as we went along,” Walesch says. “The building didn’t have any insulation at all, so when we took the ceilings back to the beams, we also took the roof tiles off and added a layer of insulation at the same time, which was a fairly large job!”
Ercol vintage nest of Pebble tables: eBay; Mondo spot and Madison Grey cushions: Melin Tregwynt; vintage Beni Ouarain Moroccan rug: Beldi Rugs; Mistral footstool covered in Melin Tregwynt Luna Apple fabric, Mistral sofas: Heal’s; Peggy wall lights in antique brass and black: Holloways of Ludlow; Kubus copper candle holder: By Lassen; Shanagarry table lamp: Stephen Pearce Pottery; orange tray: Kaymet
“The project did grow as we went along,” Walesch says. “The building didn’t have any insulation at all, so when we took the ceilings back to the beams, we also took the roof tiles off and added a layer of insulation at the same time, which was a fairly large job!”
Ercol vintage nest of Pebble tables: eBay; Mondo spot and Madison Grey cushions: Melin Tregwynt; vintage Beni Ouarain Moroccan rug: Beldi Rugs; Mistral footstool covered in Melin Tregwynt Luna Apple fabric, Mistral sofas: Heal’s; Peggy wall lights in antique brass and black: Holloways of Ludlow; Kubus copper candle holder: By Lassen; Shanagarry table lamp: Stephen Pearce Pottery; orange tray: Kaymet
It was important to Walesch that the restoration be sympathetic to the cabin’s history. Because it was built in the mid-1960s, he says, “it just made sense to decorate it with midcentury pieces. It was also important to me that the cabin maintained a link to my parents, so there are certain things that remind me of them.”
Custom kitchen cabinets and island by Jim Kelly, painted in Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball; brass cabinet handles: Superfront; washing machine, oven, induction cooktop, exhaust hood: Miele Outlet Store; coffee machine: Jasper Morrison for Rowenta; double-drawer dishwasher: Fisher & Paykel; butler sink: Chambord; Arena matte black faucet: Franke; refrigerator: Smeg
Custom kitchen cabinets and island by Jim Kelly, painted in Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball; brass cabinet handles: Superfront; washing machine, oven, induction cooktop, exhaust hood: Miele Outlet Store; coffee machine: Jasper Morrison for Rowenta; double-drawer dishwasher: Fisher & Paykel; butler sink: Chambord; Arena matte black faucet: Franke; refrigerator: Smeg
Soft green tones are peppered throughout the interior, along with natural textures and soft textiles. “The point of this project was to create somewhere to escape to,” Walesch says, “and we wanted to design a home that was as beautiful and relaxing as the countryside outdoors.”
See 10 pieces of furniture to create a relaxed home
See 10 pieces of furniture to create a relaxed home
“With the rural location in mind, we kept the design quite pared-back and used lots of wood,” Walesch says. The floors were repaired, then sanded and treated with white oil, while a woodland wallpaper in the master bedroom mirrors the landscape outside.
Humbert throw: Missoni; Woods wallpaper: Cole & Son; Hector wall lights: Original BTC; floors treated with Woca Extra White color oil by Dane Care
Humbert throw: Missoni; Woods wallpaper: Cole & Son; Hector wall lights: Original BTC; floors treated with Woca Extra White color oil by Dane Care
Because of the small proportions of the building, the space has to be hardworking and multifunctional. In the master bedroom, for example, an orange desk doubles as a home office, albeit one with a beautifully distracting view of the lake!
Linen curtains: H&M Home; J16 rocking chair: Hans Wegner; PS 2014 desk and stool, Ikea; orange desk lamp: Habitat
Linen curtains: H&M Home; J16 rocking chair: Hans Wegner; PS 2014 desk and stool, Ikea; orange desk lamp: Habitat
The cabin provides the perfect contrast to the hustle and bustle of the couple’s London life. “We designed it as somewhere beautiful to relax and read, a place where we don’t have to watch the clock,” Walesch says.
Round mirror: John Lewis; customized Tarva chest: Ikea
Round mirror: John Lewis; customized Tarva chest: Ikea
The new master bathroom has an incredible lake view, and the soaring ceiling and large skylight help bring as much light as possible into the space. Shiplap and fisherman-style wall lights give the space a subtle coastal feel.
Ellipse encaustic floor tiles: Lindsay Lang; mirror: John Lewis; wooden bird: handpainted by Mark Hearld; sink: Duravit; vintage washstand: eBay; Tivoli bathtub: Aston Matthews; custom supports for tub: Liam Clancy; faucets: Barber Wilsons & Co.
Ellipse encaustic floor tiles: Lindsay Lang; mirror: John Lewis; wooden bird: handpainted by Mark Hearld; sink: Duravit; vintage washstand: eBay; Tivoli bathtub: Aston Matthews; custom supports for tub: Liam Clancy; faucets: Barber Wilsons & Co.
Both bedrooms originally had en suite bathrooms, but they were quite small and cramped, so Walesch removed them, making the bedrooms larger. He then added a small extension at the back to house two new bathrooms.
Task short wall lights: Original BTC; duvet cover and rugs: Zara Home; bed (similar): Ercol Shalstone bed by John Lewis
Task short wall lights: Original BTC; duvet cover and rugs: Zara Home; bed (similar): Ercol Shalstone bed by John Lewis
A walk-in shower in the second bathroom makes the most of the high ceiling, with a beautiful copper showerhead positioned right under the skylight. Walesch chose waterproof plaster as an alternative to tiles, and a slim drainage vent ensures the water neatly flows away without the need for a shower tray.
Both bathrooms also have underfloor heating for toasty toes in all seasons.
Unlacquered brass shower head: Barber Wilsons & Co.; Wall2Floor waterproof plaster: Walldesignshop
Both bathrooms also have underfloor heating for toasty toes in all seasons.
Unlacquered brass shower head: Barber Wilsons & Co.; Wall2Floor waterproof plaster: Walldesignshop
The cabin already had a small deck, but to maximize the views, Walesch had a larger one built to fit a table and chairs. It wraps around the lake side of the property, so the living room and master bedroom open onto it.
A floor plan of the finished project shows the new deck and the extension for the bathrooms.
The original floor plan.
“When we first started planning the works, we imagined renting the property out,” Walesch says. “But when we realized that actually we might spend a fair amount of time in it, the restoration became more personal and we found we were investing lots of time into ensuring everything was finished to our own taste and standards.”
The resulting project is a beautifully designed home that respects and harnesses the beauty of the spectacular surroundings. “Sometimes I stay for a couple of weeks and work here,” Walesch says, “and it’s becoming a base for us in Ireland to enable us to take on more design projects here.”
The resulting project is a beautifully designed home that respects and harnesses the beauty of the spectacular surroundings. “Sometimes I stay for a couple of weeks and work here,” Walesch says, “and it’s becoming a base for us in Ireland to enable us to take on more design projects here.”
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Who lives here: Egon Walesch, an interior designer, and Richard Goodwin, a management consultant
Location: County Westmeath, on the shore of Lough Ree, Ireland
Size: Two bedrooms, two bathrooms
Egon Walesch’s parents bought this lakeside cottage in the mid-1970s and rented it out, along with a small clutch of chalets on Lough Ree. In the 1980s, Walesch and his parents moved into the cabin while they built a family home nearby, so it holds many memories for him.
When he inherited the cabin in 2010, Walesch was keen to retain its integrity as a rustic lakeside structure and build on the heritage of this special place.