RESTORATION STORY
A top-to-toe renovation by Helle and David Moyna has taken this historic house to a new level of beauty
A painstaking renovation has enhanced the character of this historic Dublin home
When you’re renovating a house that’s part castle there are bound to be surprises, and Helle and David Moyna’s new home was no exception.
The couple first saw their historic home in November 2013. ‘One bit is part of 16th-century Booterstown Castle and the rest is 18th century,’ says Helle. ‘It had been in the same family for over 40 years and had a lovely, feeling, great character and a big garden. It’s also in a great location with the sea at the end of the road and a view of mountains.
‘After more than 20 years in London, we were excited about moving to Dublin with our sons Tobias, now 15, and Marcus, 13. We have more space, a different pace of life and better access to nature,’ says Helle.
Modern makeover
Knocking their listed house into shape took nine months. ‘It was a complete renovation project,’ says Helle. ‘We installed central heating, rewired, updated bathrooms and added an en suite to the master bedroom. The floors were restored, sanded and oiled, except in the sitting room where we put in a new one using vintage oak parquet, the windows were removed for restoration and the ornate plasterwork renovated.’
The basement had been turned into a two-bedroom apartment and the couple reconfigured the space as a guest room with en suite, office, laundry room and storage. ‘When you poke an old house about there are always surprises and when we renovated the basement we discovered a stream running under the house,’ says Helle. ‘It meant we had to re-tank, put in pumps and alarms, and add sub-chambers in the garden to keep the water at bay.’
Helle runs Nordic Elements, a design company offering interior design and personal shopping for the home, embracing the Nordic ethos of good design. This is reflected in her own home, which is decorated in a gentle mix of chalky pastels in white, blue and soft grey with pink accents.
Original features
‘Keeping the base neutral shows off the features of the house,’ say Helle. ‘The exterior of the house was originally pink and we kept it, mainly because I’m the only female in a house of males. I was never a “pink” girl but it’s grown on me and I now love this shade.’
Inspired by Scandinavian and mid-century design, Helle’s style is classic with a quirky, individual edge. ‘I’ve been collecting vintage pieces since my early 20s and find them at auction in Denmark or Sweden,’ she says. ‘I believe in investing in the best you can afford.’
The sleek, Scandi lines of the furniture are offset by dramatic light fittings. ‘Lighting in a period property – both the scale and the light itself – is important,’ she says. ‘We have very high ceilings and large rooms, so a pendant needs to work with the scale and style. My lights are like sculptures in the air.’
But as any owner of an old property knows, it is always a work in progress. ‘The house is a constant project – there is always something to change or fix,’ adds Helle. That said, it’s still her perfect home.