Into the light
Laura Cullen moved into her modern family home in Wexford a year ago – it boasts sharp lines, black finishes and an abundance of glass
My husband Rob is an associate in an architect’s office based in Wexford and Dublin, so the house is his design which was compromised to suit both of our styles and meet our budget! His style would be modern with a hint of mid-century flair. Sharp lines, black finishes and warmth from timber is an ideal setting for him. Oh and don’t forget all of the glass!
Me, on the other hand – I am a property claims handler and before that worked in real estate. Once our twin boys started school I decided to challenge myself. I chose to study Culture & Heritage and fell in love with Ireland’s built environment. I loved seeing how neglected buildings were resurrected and sympathetically blended to meet a modern structure.
We began our self-build in September 2019 and moved in in November 2020 after a three-month delay due to Covid-19. The last of our windows were fitted the day before the very first lockdown. We were extremely lucky to have the house weathertight as it allowed us to tip away at small jobs such as fitting the insulation and airtight tape.
We are located in a quiet residential area just five minutes from Wexford town. Everyone comments on our location as we are surrounded by nature yet just minutes to the nearest supermarket! I think the most challenging part of the build for me was the amount of work we had to do. I just didn’t realise the sheer extent of it.
Considering that Rob is an architect and manages numerous sites every year, he was fully prepared for what was to come. We are so lucky that he is stubborn as he was adamant to do as much of the work as possible. Anybody that has undertaken a self-build knows that every single cent counts, and if you can do something to save even a little bit, then that’s just what you do.
I personally didn’t enjoy the process of the build. For the first five months, I was also working a full-time job, bringing our boys to all of their training and matches several times a week, doing the groceries and usual household jobs. Then to go onto site in the evenings and weekends and work for hours was a lot. I did get little thrills here and there when big milestones were reached.
My favourite piece in the house would be either our bathtub – an 1800mm freestanding tub that is perfect for laying in while looking out at the sunset – or the ladies’ nursing chair in the snug that belonged to my grandmother. It’s a piece that I cherish and I love incorporating its classic style into our contemporary home.
Rob’s favourite piece in the house is our midcentury sideboard from Pieces. Its burnt teak colouring stands out against the bleached oak flooring, blending the styles and creating warmth.
We both adore the kitchen. Local furniture company Mooney Furniture in Barntown brought Rob’s design to life. Granite Tops Ireland supplied the most stunning quartz stone that gets consistent compliments.
Every inch of the space was meticulously crafted and created to suit our family’s needs. Our utility and pantry are a big hit with people. Both are hidden behind doors on the back wall, to create symmetry. The matt black drawer fronts are juxtaposed against the white marble counters. We added warmth to the area by introducing oak surrounds to the bar area and accentuated this by adding hidden LED lights around its perimeter.
I think we are both proud of how it turned out. The saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” really is true but also that “many hands make light work” – and this resonates with me now. The help that we received throughout the build was just incredible.
Like everyone that takes on a self-build, there are a few things we would change or have done differently whether that was due to budget or being unable to compromise.
All in all though, I think we did a good job. All we ever wanted was a place to call ours. Somewhere that our friends and family could come and feel like they’re at home too. The only mistake that we made was all of the arguments about the tiniest details because they really never mattered in the first place.
The cosy snug with lighting from Conran Interiors
A stunning quartz worktop
A freestanding tub is Laura’s favourite piece
Rob loves the mid-century sideboard from Pieces
The stairs are a striking feature of the home
A perfect outdoor space for entertaining on summer evenings
The nursing chair, which belonged to Laura’s grandmother
The exterior of the home