While much-needed PPE is finally starting to make its way to Irish hospitals, there are still plenty of other healthcare workers lacking in protective equipment.

Niall Whitty, a product designer from Gorey, County Wexford, has found himself out of work due to the COVID-19 pandemic and he's decided to use his time to try and fill this gap in his local community.

The 24-year-old is using a 3D printer to create face shields and ear protectors.

He spoke to Buzz.ie about what inspired the project.

"I won a 3D printer while I was in college and it had been sitting in the corner of my room gathering dust.

"I'm in a group of product designers who have created a model for creating face masks.

"There's around 100 of us in the country and after having three or four OK'd, I've stepped it up and I'm making them daily now."

Niall explained that his interest has always been in products that can make a difference in people's lives.

"Even going back to college, I never wanted to design things for the sake of it, I always wanted to make things that can help people.

"For my final year project I designed a cutlery set for people suffering with MS.

"For me the best thing about design is making things that can help people in areas that have been overlooked."

While the design he's using is not HSE approved for hospitals yet, the face shields can help healthcare workers in nursing homes, vets and even GPs.

"It takes me an hour and 25 minutes to make a face shield. It's about providing equipment for people in the interim while manufacturers try to keep up with demand.

"The response has been great and we've had inquiries from GPs in smaller practices, dentists, vets and nursing homes.

"All these people who don't yet have access to protective equipment.

"At the moment we've got a back order.

"We've delivered a couple of face masks to a local nursing home already."

Niall's mother Margarita runs a children's clothes shop in Gorey called Jalanda and they used the shop's social media to spread the word about the project.

The response has been so good that Niall is looking to step up his production of face shields, which will require two or three more 3D printers.

To do this, he's set up a GoFundMePage and he's been "overwhelmed" at the support from the local community.

He's making no profit from the work and all of the money donated will go towards creating as many face shields as possible as demand grows.

At the moment, Niall is making "12 or 13 in a day at a push" but with extra printers he hopes to greatly increase his output.

At the time of writing, Niall's GoFundMe has raised over 2,000.

For Niall, it's all about doing his bit in the battle against the global pandemic.

"A few people have said to me, 'it'll look great on your CV', but it's not about that at all for me really.

"I used to do a bit of work as a magician and it wasn't the thrill of tricking people or anything I liked, it was just about putting a smile on somebody's face and bringing them a little bit of joy.

"I've got the printer here, and with the two new ones I've ordered I'll be able to produce more soon, I just want to do my bit and help out as much as I can."

You can donate to Niall's GoFundMe page here.

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Exclusive: Wexford product designer creating 3D printed PPE - Buzz.ie

We're taking design notes from Maana Homes, a luxury boutique hotel in Kyoto that espouses "peace as the new luxury"

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With the anxiety fuelled by the coronavirus pandemic, it's understandable that more of us are seeking a sense of calm in our lives. You see it with the explosion of mindfulness and meditation apps, as well as the growing desire to create clean, Zen-like surroundings at home.

When it comes to Zen, Japan reigns supreme. From the minimalist structures of renowned architect Tadao Ando to organisational experts like Marie Kondo, a desire for simplicity informs not just the Japanese aesthetic but their entire way of life.

There's no better place to embrace this ethos than in the ancient capital of Kyoto. While it is one of Japan's most popular tourist destinations, the city has only recently seen a surge in design-driven hotelsthere's the arrival of Aman Kyoto in late 2019 and the upcoming openings of Ace Hotel Kyoto this month and Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto in August, designed by Kengo Kuma and Andre Fu respectively. Established hotels aside, it is also ripe for independent brands like Maana Homes to thrive.

(Related: Temples, Ryokans And Tombstones: A Slow Travel Guide To Kyoto, Japan)

For those looking for a more local experience, the starting point is to find a machiyaa traditional Kyoto townhousewhich is what differentiates Maana Homes from the rest of the players. Essentially, Maana is a collection of renovated traditional townhouses created with standards of five-star hotels in mind. The start-up brand was founded by a hospitality designer from Los Angeles and a creative director from New York who wanted to craft luxury vacation homes that marry style, substance and a strong sense of place.

(Related: Watch The Tatler Guide To Kyoto And Osaka)

We look for homes with character and properties with intrinsic qualities such as good light, natural scenery and, of course, a charming neighbourhood, says co-founder Irene Chang. Their incredibly calming retreats are curated to help travellers to take it slow and learn more about themselves. According to the founders, their spaces are designed to show that peace is the new luxury.

Through their thoughtful renovation of century-old houses in Kyoto, guests can enjoy two soulful spaces: Maana Kyoto and Maana Kamo. The former sits on a quiet street in a central district and the latter on the bank of the buzzing Kamo River.

By the end of 2020hopefully, a time when we can all travel againMaana will be introducing another four homes into the mix as well as a restaurant, all situated in Kyotos hip Higashiyama neighbourhood. But for now, follow Tatler's guide to #stayinghome so we can #traveltomorrow.

Excerpt from:
Maana Homes Is The Minimalist Space You Need To Find Your Zen - Tatler Singapore

The value of a luxury beachside residence at Torquay has gone into overdrive since V8 Supercars Bathurst winner Will Davison sold in 2017.

The amazing Wolveridge Architects home has hit the market again, with price hopes of $3.1 million to $3.3 million for the three-bedroom concrete and timber design.

The two-storey residence at 261 The Esplanade, Torquay, is neatly wedged between Whites Beach and The Sands championship golf course.

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McCartney, Torquay listing agent Tim Carson said its one of the best homes in the Surf Coast capital.

It was short-listed for the Victorian Architecture Awards in 2013.

The current owners paid $2.25 million when they bought it from Davison in 2017.

They are professional couple looking to relocate for work. But this has been the best home theyve lived in, Mr Carson said.

Theyve lived in about 20 homes and theyve moved around quite a bit for work, he said.

The house, built by renowned local builder John Walker, is ideal for people who love to entertain and enjoy the homes emphasis on indoor-outdoor living.

Three bedroom suites are upstairs, including ensuites and built-in wardrobes and a dressing room to the main bedroom.

A dedicated study with built-in cabinetry is next to the designer kitchen with custom concrete and ultra-high-end resin bench tops and Miele appliances.

Two living spaces include an intimate lounge/media room with an open fireplace, while 5m ceilings soar above the expansive dining and living room opening out onto the north-facing entertaining area and a 13m in-ground pool.

Polished concrete floors and large sliding doors and windows and cedar exterior battens embody the beach lifestyle.

Honestly, this is one of the best homes that Ive ever seen, Mr Carson said.

You just walk in and see the quality, the architecture and the practicality of it.

Its such a beautiful living home, no space is wasted.

Youve got beautiful concrete floors and the outlook to the north-facing in-ground pool.

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Beachside home described as the best in Torquay hits market with $3 million-plus price hopes - NEWS.com.au

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The global carpets and rugs market is expected to grow by USD 18.98 billion during 2020-2024, according to the latest market research report by Technavio. Request a free sample report

Consumers around the globe are spending on designer home furnishings to decorate their homes. In addition, the consumer preference for interior decoration is changing with growing awareness of different cultures, mounting media penetration, evolving lifestyles, and rising consumer income levels. This is leading to an increase in the sales of rugs, cushion covers, beds, carpets, curtains, and other furnishings. The rising income level and growing population of working women is further encouraging customers to invest in home dcor, leading to growth opportunities of home furnishing brands and retailers. Thus, the growing consumer preference for interior designs will boost the growth of the carpets and rugs market during the forecast period.

To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/report/carpets-and-rugs-market-industry-analysis

As per Technavio, the rising demand for eco-friendly carpets and rugs will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This research report also analyzes other significant trends and market drivers that will influence market growth over 2020-2024.

Carpets and Rugs Market: Rising Demand for Eco-Friendly Carpets and Rugs

Consumer preference for eco-friendly carpets and rugs is increasing because they promote a safe and sustainable environment. These products are safe as they are made from natural fibers such as wool and bio-degradable sisal, jute, and cotton. These sustainable home dcor solutions, use recyclable materials and organic fabrics and materials. Thus, with the rising use of eco-friendly raw materials will boost the growth of the carpets and rugs market over the forecast period.

The increasing adoption of carpet tiles and growth in number of residential and commercial construction activities are some other major factors that will boost market growth during the forecast period, says a senior analyst at Technavio.

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Carpets and Rugs Market: Segmentation Analysis

This market research report segments the carpets and rugs market by end-user (residential and non-residential), and geographic segmentation (APAC, Europe, MEA, North America, and South America).

APAC led the carpets and rugs market in 2019. During the forecast period, the APAC region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to rapid urbanization and increased demand for furnishings from new housing projects.

Technavios sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report, such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Request a free sample report

Some of the key topics covered in the report include:

End-user Segmentation

Geographic Segmentation

Market Drivers

Market Challenges

Market Trends

Vendor Landscape

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavios report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavios comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Originally posted here:
Global Carpets and Rugs Market 2020-2024 | Consumer Preference for Interior Designs to Boost Market Growth | Technavio - Business Wire

The kitchen that Jessica Coffee designed checked all the trendy boxes: white Shaker cabinets, a subway-tile backsplash, wide oak-plank floors and an open-concept floor plan, with views into the living rooms shiplap walls. The photographs she posted on her Instagram page evoked enthusiastic comments from followers, who gushed about high-end details like the water filler above the stove.

The only drawback? Ms. Coffee, 40, cant actually serve a meal in her kitchen, at least not a real one, because the room, like the rest of the house, is built to a 1:12 scale that 36-inch chefs stove is actually three inches long. Its in a dollhouse that sits in the real-life master bedroom of her home in Walla Walla, Wash., which looks nothing like her amazing tiny one.

People are always like, Ooh! I would like to see your real house. No you wouldnt. I live in a house that is barely 1,000 square feet with three kids and a Great Dane, said Ms. Coffee, who sells her miniature designs and posts online tutorials at Jessica Cloe Miniatures. My dollhouse square footage is much better than my actual square footage.

Ms. Coffee is among a growing community of artisans who have turned the craft of dollhouse making into an exercise in aspirational home design on an itty-bitty scale, with their tiny rooms and furnishings displayed on well-curated Instagram accounts with glossy photographs and videos set to music reminiscent of The Fixer Upper on HGTV. Scroll too quickly, or miss the photograph with a human-scale hand surreally poking into the scene, and a viewer might confuse the image for a real-life one, the type of image that leaves you feeling equally amazed by and envious of the enormous kitchen island with a soapstone countertop.

These dollhouse makers and collectors say weve entered a miniature Renaissance. Call it a Mini-Aissance. Were living in it now, said Kate Esme nver, who curates miniatures on her Instagram page Dailymini, and is the author of the 2019 book The Book of Mini: Inside the Big World of Tiny Things.

Social media has turned what was once a niche hobby into a decidedly trendy and increasingly profitable business, making it easier for artisans to find each other and potential customers online. The Instagram hashtag #dollhouse has 1.65 million posts and #miniature has almost 4.3 million, a mix of posts from people making miniatures and those sharing what theyve found. Victorian-era lace and antique armoires are being scrapped for midcentury modern chairs, fiddle-leaf fig plants and sputnik chandeliers. House Beautiful took notice and commissioned 11 interior designers to reimagine a Victorian dollhouse in their own style, auctioning the decidedly contemporary finished products at the New York Design Center on Feb. 27.

In the past six months, searches on Etsy for 1:12 scale furniture were up 39 percent and searches for dollhouse rugs and miniature items were up 20 percent from the same period a year ago. A search on the site for dollhouses yields 237,000 results. Its certainly a trend thats rising, said Dayna Isom Johnson, an Etsy trend expert. The popular items miniature succulents, bath salts, word art point to an interest from the grown-ups, not their children. Maybe there are very sophisticated 10-year-olds out there who want a midcentury sofa, but I assume these are adults who want to take this on as a new hobby.

Chris Toledo, 34, who showcases his diminutive creations on the Instagram account I Build Small Things, has watched his business soar in the past two years thanks to social media. He now sells his dollhouses, designed in a nod to the 1920s architecture of Los Angeles, where he lives, for $150,000 to $200,000 apiece.

Before, miniatures were only publicized through miniature magazines, he said. Social media put it in everybodys face. His homes feature intricately detailed rooms, like a kitchen with a subway-tile backsplash and a schoolhouse pendant light that would look real if it werent for the life-size head of garlic positioned in the middle of the room.

While some artisans specialize in furnishings and dcor, Mr. Toledo focuses on the architecture, selling complete dollhouses as well as individual rooms like a bathroom in a shadow box for as much as $20,000. He designs the rooms by hand, milling moldings and using miniature tools, like a table saw the size of a shoe box, for carpentry work.

The advent of 3-D printers has opened the door for people without such advanced woodworking skills, too to the disappointment of traditional dollhouse makers, who view such technology as taboo. Ms. Coffee of Walla Walla, for example, uses a 3-D printer to make smaller objects, like decorative pumpkins, which she sells for $5. She makes other items, such as throw pillows, using everyday materials and tools like glue, fabric, tweezers and quilt batting.

A year into her craft, Ms. Coffee now sells enough printable herringbone floors and cowhide rugs on her website to turn a profit, although still not enough to give up her day job as a graphic designer. She also uses the dollhouses to work out design challenges in the real-life houses that she and her husband renovate and flip. If shes not sure about a floor color or a pattern for a rug, she can try it out on a tiny scale for a few dollars. Her actual home has the same rustic wide-plank flooring as her dollhouses.

While miniatures have long had their enthusiasts, this new generation of dollhouse makers is turning to idealized contemporary homes at a time when the real-life version is increasingly out of reach for many Americans. High real estate prices and stagnating wages make it difficult for many homeowners to consider a $100,000 kitchen with a farmhouse sink and a Wolf stove. But you could have a very little one or three of them, and fill them with teensy espresso makers, cheese boards and bottles of Dom Prignon. Like the idea of a barn door, but dont actually have a place to install one? Tuck it into the dollhouse attic, and if it grows tiresome, refurnish the entire room with rattan chairs, a shag rug and a soft pink palette.

Kwandaa Roberts, an OB-GYN in Philadelphia, says she has found a following on her Instagram account, Tiny House Calls, among millennial women who pine for a prettier house. They dont have any money and a lot of them cant afford to buy houses and theyre living at home with their parents or in a tiny apartment with roommates and they cant do design and all the things that they want to do, she said. But like me, they can get a lot of their creative energy out on a dollhouse.

Dr. Roberts, 47, a single mother of two, started her hobby two years ago when she bought a dollhouse at Target. She intended to give it to her daughter, now 5, but instead found that it filled a creative longing she had to be an interior designer. She painted it, added wallpaper, and details like a brass soaking tub and a kitchen with a waterfall countertop. She made furniture by hand with supplies she bought at Michaels. Ive always loved interior design, had a huge passion for it, and may have gone into it as a career had I known that was a thing, she said. But when she was growing up, there was no HGTV. Home Depot sold lumber; it was not what it is today.

In her tiny houses, Dr. Roberts has found an outlet, and an opportunity to reveal her projects on videos and photos she shares with her 47,000 followers. I dont have to redo my house, she said. Instead, I can have 10,000 kitchens and they will be fantastic.

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The Dollhouses of Instagram - The New York Times

Find out how the designers went about remodelling this home

A historic Queen Anne bungalow in a row of classic Victorian and Edwardian buildings in San Francisco, had been home to a family of four for a couple of years. Wanting a space more suited to a contemporary lifestyle, they approached John Lum Architecture to transform it into a light-filled, functional home that would also fit into the streetscape in which it was located. Amanda Teal Design designed the interior spaces.

The family had lived in their two-bedroom, one bath house long enough to know that the current layout and size wouldnt workit was too dark and way too small. The previous addition was falling off its foundation, triggering the need to rethink the entire design. Plus, the backyard was only accessible from an old rickety outdoor stair that was unsafe for the children, says Teal. While the house presented a lot of woes, the family loved the neighbourhood and didnt want to relocate. It was time for an overhaul.

When we first met with the homeowners, we talked about how they wanted to live in the space now, and how the home could adapt with them in the future, saysJohn Lum, founding principal at John Lum Architecture. Better circulation and functionality, natural light, and a connection to the outdoors was a must.

Consequently, the gabled two-level home was converted into a three level one, with the addition of living spaces on the top, which previously housed the attic. As with many period homes built in the early 1900s, the floor plan was divided into small, compartmentalised rooms, that no longer served their purpose. The house needed a reboot, says Lum. Working closely with interior designer Teal and the homeowners, the team embarked on an extensive remodel and addition, adding square footage and reorganising the floor plan to meet the familys 21st century needs. In order to balance family togetherness with much-needed private time, we organised the space into private and public levels, creating an open plan that increased the functionality of the home while maximising the views, says Lum.At the heart of the 3,000-square-feet version is a bright, new third floor containing a great room with kitchen, dining and living spaces, and a spacious terrace that opens to the hillside garden. In a reversal of conventional layouts, we proposed converting the former attic space into a third level in order to free up an entire floor for family activity, says Lum. This move made the backyard come to life. You have these amazing views, and it feels like youre floating in the trees.

The front facade was retained but reinterpreted with a new third floor, enabled by raising the roof. Exposed cedareaves, a navy front door, and modern materials hint at whats inside. Adhering to the original architectural style, the gabled roof, covered porch, and bay window remain. Modern window trims and subtle dentil moulding usher the house into modern times, says Lum.

This is a subterranean floor which holds the wine cellar.An interior glass stairwell allows light to filter down from the top to all the levels.Tying all three floors together, this glass-railing staircase doubles as the wall of the wine cellar. This sub-floor also houses the garage, media room and mudroom; play and practicality blended as one, says Lum.

The entrance to the home is from this floor and it holds the foyer, twobedrooms with a shared bath and a home office. It also has a dramatic master suite complete with teak-lined outdoor shower and marble bath, accessible from the garden.

The master bedroom resembles a luxury hotel with its outdoor shower.The bedroom wallsgrass cloth painted navyevoke a dramatic moodiness. The space is luxurious without being pretentious.

A Great Room with kitchen, dining room, living space, guest suite-cum-playroom, terrace and a powder room are located herea floor with incredible views and natural light, captured through an entire wall of windows facing San Francisco Bay, says Teal.

The dining area is casual, taking advantage of a nook wrapped in windows. French doors frame the living areas indoor/outdoor fireplace. An emerald green settee is balanced with an oversized linen couch. A large, leather-tufted ottoman doubles up as coffee table.

Floor-to-ceiling navy cabinets contrast with the kitchens waterfall marble counter, complementing the wood flooring. The backsplash is a geometric wall of white glazed tile.

Juggling spaces and eking out new areas, the wand of Teal and Lum has transformed the historic home into a contemporary, fully functional one.

Mumbai: In this Parisian-chic apartment, the only thing missing is the view of the Eiffel Tower

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Find out how this San Francisco homes reverse layout helps the family bond better - Architectural Digest India

Ireland has a network of diplomats working hard for the country all around the world, but ahead of St Patricks Day this year, even though events and celebrations have been cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis, we are tipping our caipn to Irelands unofficial ambassadors, to share the stories of just some of the men and women wearing green jerseys and flying flags for Ireland wherever they live in the world, from Auckland to Rockland, Paris to Belgrade.

Geraldine RyanIrish dancing teacher, AustraliaGeraldine Ryan will turn 90 this year but has no intention of hanging up her dancing shoes. She has been teaching Irish dancing to people in Australia since she was 12 years old, and still travels up to 3,000km by train, bus and plane each week to teach in rural areas. When I started it was a different era, only people of Irish descent took part, but these days its much more multicultural, its people from all different countries, she says. I still dance, have my balance, use my feet, although Im much closer to the ground now and dont do the high jumps.

Ryan, whose family were from Cork and Clare, grew up in Melbourne in a home filled with Irish culture. She later married Pat Ryan, a piper whose family came from Co Tipperary. The couple continued Irish traditions with their three children. She says she has had her share of ups and downs and she recently severely fractured her spine after slipping off a chair but is grateful to always have had dancing in her life.

Ryan, who still runs the OShea-Ryan Academy of Irish Dance, has taught thousands and thousands of people, including some of her former students grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and still loves it. She will accept an Order of Australia (OAM) medal for service to Irish dancing this month. Ive no plans for retiring, while the good lord keeps chugging me along Ill keep going. Its fun. - RF

Jas KaminskiBelgrade Irish Festival founder and director

The Irish population in Belgrade may be small but that hasnt stopped Dubliner Jas Kaminski becoming one of the biggest promoters of Ireland in Eastern Europe. Kaminskis father Jan, a holocaust survivor, moved to Ireland in the 1950s. Jas grew up in Clonskea, Co Dublin. He left Ireland in 2006, working as a development communication specialist in Asia and Africa, eventually settling in the Balkans with his family.

The idea for an Irish festival came to Kaminski seven years ago as he listened to RT Radio One on a rainy Sunday, trying to figure out what he could do to stay in Belgrade. He heard childhood friends and filmmakers Ed Guiney and Lenny Abrahamson talking about their new film. That was the epiphany moment. I said to myself, I could start an Irish film festival here, he says.

The Belgrade Irish Festival (BIF) has since grown into a 10-day celebration of Irish culture, the largest annual Irish arts event in southeastern Europe.

This year Dublin band Hothouse Flowers will open the festival, which will be their first time playing in the city. Irish director Jim Sheridan will open the Irish film week, and photographer John Minihan will talk about the famous series of photographs he took of Samuel Beckett.

BIF came about by coincidence and as a very welcome way of staying in touch with my country and people, Kaminski says. - RF

James McDonaldFounder of Gaelscoil London and Gaelic Voices

Originally from Gorey, Co Wexford, James McDonald moved to London in 2005. Now working in film and TV his company looks after archive footage, on films from Paddington to The Two Popes McDonalds spare time goes into supporting and promoting the Irish language. In 2018 he started the Gaelscoil London playgroup at the London Irish Centre, and more recently the citys Irish language choir, Gaelic Voices, which will perform in Trafalgar Square for the St Patricks Day Festival.

I enjoy how our language and culture confidently cross borders, whilst connecting generations, creating friendships and opening minds, he says. The Irish abroad have a perspective that has been of huge significance in Irelands past, but with that comes a duty too: to give back to the culture and to the community both in Ireland, and the diaspora. Another project, The Song Collectors, which he runs with a friend, gathers and archives songs from the Irish Traveller community. songcollectors.org - GT

Rebecca SkeddChief executive of Solace House, New York

At Solace House, a suicide prevention centre in New York, Rebecca Skedd offers counselling and support to people in need. The service is unique in that its completely free. We remove the financial burden that often prevents individuals and families from accessing critical life-saving services, she says. A large percentage of our clients are Irish-born; we provide a home away from home through compassionate services, where we help them through difficult periods of their lives; such as isolation and loneliness, being away from home, and not having the core support of their families.

Originally from Tramore in Waterford, Skedd was directly involved in building Solace House from the ground up. Having arrived as an unpaid intern, she became chief executive at the age of 29. We encountered many challenges but our passion and determination drove us. There are now two centres in New York, helping hundreds of people. Irish people are undeniably among the most compassionate, supportive and generous, she says. The sense of community that the Irish have built in New York is unbreakable. When someone is in need, the whole community rallies together. This August, Skedd is getting married were both from Waterford, only 15 minutes apart, but we had to come all the way to NYC to meet. solacehouseusa.org - GT

Margaret MolloyFounder of #WearingIrish, New York

The Irish-born, Harvard-educated, US-based marketing guru Margaret Molloy has been an Irish fashion super promoter, spreading the word about clothes and accessories from Ireland on her #WearingIrish campaign, (Instagram @wearingirish and Twitter @wearing_irish) for the past four years. A passion project aims to create awareness of the untold story of contemporary Irish fashion design, to get it the recognition and business it deserves on a worldwide stage.

Global chief marketing officer of US branding and design firm Siegel+Gale, and a member of the Global Irish Network, Molloy used her influential contacts both in the US and in Ireland to bring 10 Irish designers to New York in 2018 to introduce them to potential buyers. No one says no to Margaret was the comment of one visitor to the event.

The eldest of six, Molloy grew up on a dairy farm in Offaly and moved to the US in 1994, where she currently resides with her husband and two children. An indefatigable supporter of Irish design, she continues to post images of herself on social media wearing outfits from talented Irish fashion clothing and accessory designers.

I like connecting all three interests fashion, marketing and Irish heritage and I saw the opportunity for people to come together on social media to support Irish designers, she says. The recipient of many global awards including Overseas Irish Businesswoman of the Year in 2017, she was honoured by the Douglas Hyde Foundation last November. wearingirish.com - DMcQ

Aidan ConnollyDirector, the Irish Arts Center, New York

Turning the slightly crumbling but nonetheless beloved Irish Arts Center in New York into a multi-million dollar performance space is Aidan Connollys mammoth task. Connolly was born in Connecticut to Irish parents: his father from Galway, and his mother Terenure in Dublin. Ireland, first and foremost, is my parents home, and so I love it as I love them, he says. Beyond that, it is my own ancestral home and origin story. Its fun to think about what my life might have been like had my parents met at a party in Dublin rather than in Connecticut. My dad drove a truck for Carton Brothers and sang in showbands before he left Ireland, so its feasible!

Having worked as a singer with the Julliard Chorus, and on Al Gores presidential campaign, Connolly is now director at the Irish Arts Center, creating opportunities for Irish artists and performers, including Thisispopbaby, Loah, Dead Centre, David Keenan, Martin Hayes, Camille OSullivan and Mikel Murfi. At an enduring level, the Irish legacy of storytelling continues to make the Irish competitive at everything we do, says Connolly. The reputation for hard work has given us a reputation for tenacity that leads people to trust us. The ethos of Irish hospitality gives us unparalleled standing to bring people of all backgrounds together. The new Irish Arts Center is due to open in Autumn 2020. irishartscenter.org - GT

Seamus and Caitriona Kenny ClarkeOwners of JP Clarkes, New York

J P Clarkes, on McLean Avenue in Yonkers, is home from home for many an Irish expat. Its owners Leitrim origins can also be seen on the football field, as Caitriona and Seamus Kenny Clarke became the first business outside Ireland to sponsor a county team. After 35 years in the US, Ireland still means home to me. I think I havent changed very much in those years. Im still very much a Paddy and my heart will always be in Ireland, says Seamus. Through the bar, our lives are very much centred around the community and the various organisations were involved in, Caitriona agrees. These include the Aisling Irish Community Center, which helps Irish immigrants in the area.

While Seamus says his proudest achievement is convincing my wife to give up a permanent teaching job in Ireland and come to America, marry me and help me run the pub, Caitriona is also proud to have represented the Aisling Center as grand marshal of the McLean Avenue St Patricks parade last year. I think Ireland punches above its weight in terms of the impact Irish people make internationally, especially when it comes to human rights issues and charitable donations to countries that need help, says Seamus. aislingcenter.org - GT

Gary DunneCultural director of the London Irish Centre

At the London Irish Centre, Gary Dunne programmes work that redefines what Irish culture can be. Growing up in the midlands, he was immersed in Irish arts and culture. I spent my college years and early 20s on Dublins rich music scene, he says. It was only after a number of years of living in London that I realised how much I missed that, and how much a part of my life and identity Irish culture is.

Ireland is changing, says Dunne: politically, culturally and in terms of identities. As a musician, he writes, records and performs, while at the London Irish Centre and the London St Patricks Festival, his work is about bringing the rich tapestry of modern Irish culture to London stages.

Being centrally involved in the respectful redevelopment of a historic Irish Centre into a world-class cultural venue is a privilege, says Dunne. Im proud of the work Ive done in connecting artists with social causes, whether its Martin Hayes at the London Irish Centre, Damien Dempsey in Trafalgar Square, or an 80-strong community choir at the Ceiliradh concert in the Royal Albert Hall. londonirishcentre.org - GT

Rosemary Adaser and Conrad BryanAssociation of Mixed Race Irish

In 2014, Rosemary Adaser founded the Association of Mixed Race Irish, a campaign and support group. We came together when we realised that our childhood experiences of racism had never been recognised in any previous Statutory Enquiries, in particular the Ryan Report where the terms of reference excluded the issue of historic racism in the Irish Industrial School network, including Mother and Baby Homes a Magdalene Laundries and Reformatory Schools, Adaser explains.

She has since worked tirelessly for the rights of mixed race Irish people wherever they live in the world, along with Conrad Bryan who is treasurer of the organisation. London became home for both of them Adaser moved there in the mid-1970s, Bryan in the late 1980s.Adaser has led a delegation to the Dil to present personal testimonies, and lobbied successfully to have racism included in the terms of reference for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes. Last December, she led the AMRI to the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. CERD hearing our claims of historic racism against mixed-race women and children accepted our truth, says Adaser.

Both she and Bryan are members of the Mother and Baby Home Collaborative Forum, established by Minister Katherine Zappone last August.

Bryan has also been treasurer of the charity Irish in Britain. "As Irish children of African fathers we were abandoned and the State simply looked away, Bryan says. The State must look now and face up to this legacy so that it never happens again, and so they can help young people from all ethnic backgrounds to feel safe and proud to be Irish.mixedraceirish.blogspot.com

Paul RowleyDevelopment co-chairman, Rockland GAA

Bruce Springsteen unknowingly changed the life of one Irish man as he performed to a crowd of more than 95,000 at Slane Castle in 1985. Paul Rowley, who grew up in Ballinalee, Co Longford, was inspired to move to America after seeing the singer on stage. I promised my mother in 1986 if shed let me go to America that Id go back to college and Id work like hell. She let me go to chase my dreams, and so I did, Rowley says.

He loved New York from the moment he arrived at JFK Airport, but missed Irish culture and joined Longford Gaelic Football Club in New York City. In 1998 he moved to Rockland county, just outside the city, with his wife Jackie and their three children, where he joined Rockland GAA and became the development co-chairman.

Founded in 1972 by Sligo native John Crawley, Rockland GAA is now the largest GAA club outside Ireland. In 2000, they became the first GAA club outside of Ireland and England to buy their own grounds outright. There are now three Gaelic pitches with a Centre of Excellence, a club house that facilitates 800 children playing football, hurling, camogie, Irish dancing and music. Rowley owns companies in the air conditioning and refrigeration sector, and employs students and graduates from Ireland. Ive no plans to stop, its great watching GAA inspire young Americans. - RF

Katie MolonyIrish Studio, New York

From The Irish Times to JOE Media, Katie Molony has always been in the news. Born in Sligo, and now in New York, she is currently co-chief executive of Irish Studio, the media organisation that connects Irish people and friends of the Irish internationally, through publications such as Ireland of the Welcomes, IrishCentral and Irish Studio Travel, with a combined global reach of more than 10 million people. Its brilliant to see the great work and impact the Irish have across the globe, Molony says. In the US, we are so well regarded and hold key positions in business. The community is very strong here and people are so supportive. Personally and professionally, she enjoys what Irish people bring to the table: passion, hard work, integrity and a lot of craic.irishstudio.com - GT

Margaret GeigerWelfare adviser, Irish Elderly Advice Network, LondonMargaret Geiger has quietly but relentlessly been fighting for the rights of elderly and vulnerable Irish people in London for more than a decade. The Carlow woman, described by friends as shy, selfless, modest and empathetic, is hesitant to talk about herself, but speaks through her actions instead. She is the senior welfare adviser and head of housing with the Irish Elderly Advice Network, a charity set up by Irish women in 1993 after three Irish men were found dead in their flats each died alone and lay undiscovered for weeks.

Sally Mulready, chief executive of the charity, says Geiger helps vulnerable Irish people, often elderly men, who are homeless, in poverty or suffering loneliness and isolation: Ive witnessed Margaret accompany clients in their 70s as they move into their very first home. She changes lives and does so with compassion and to real and moving affect.

Geiger reluctantly left Ireland at 18 when there was no work. She lives in London her with husband, who is from Switzerland. The couple have four children and two grandchildren. Theres no greater motivation than seeing your clients moving from a life on the streets to a safe place to call home, she says. - RF

Loretta CosgroveFounder of Sydney Queer Irish, Sydney

From her kitchen, Loretta Cosgrove set up Sydney Queer Irish (SQI) in 2010 as a place to socialise and celebrate all that it means to be Irish and LGBT while living in Australia. I wanted to re-engage with a community of like minded people that Id left when we moved to Sydney and who also identified as queer, she says. Cosgroves parents emigrated from Ireland to Australia in the 1970s but after being overwhelmed with homesickness, they moved back to Galway. When Cosgrove was six they returned to Sydney. Shes been back and forth since.

The SQI president says homesickness is one of the issues the group helps its members through. SQIs biggest event of the year is their Mardi Gras entry, which takes many months of planning and preparation. SQI has provided a sense of belonging and home for those of us living down under, she says. The group also campaigns on human rights and community issues, such as supporting towns affected by bushfires. Shes also one of the founding directors of Irish Film Festival Australia and is currently artistic director for Sydneys St Patricks Day parade. - RF

Kelly OConnorIrish Film, London

Born in Howth, where her family runs The Summit Inn, Kelly OConnor set up Irish Film London, which turns 10 this year. We run the Irish Film London Awards, and three other annual Irish film festivals. She is also on the Community Advisory Board for the Mayor of Londons St Patricks Parade and Festival, and is a keen member of the London Irish community and its business networks.

What Ireland means to me is so wrapped up in what I do for a living. I have the typical romantic notion of Ireland. Its the word Home flashing on a cinema screen. OConnors work provides opportunities for emerging and established Irish filmmakers and actors in London. It sounds like a clich, but Im genuinely most proud of being Irish, says OConnor. Its important to acknowledge that todays positive reception for Irish people internationally only exists because of those who paved the way for us, through much more challenging times. Those who persevered with the St Patricks Day Parade and Festival in London during the Troubles era demonstrated the importance of Irelands magnificent arts and culture in upholding our positive international image.irishfilmfestivallondon.com - GT

Rebecca DevaneyEmbroiderer and costume designer, Paris

An award-winning Irish embroiderer making a name for herself in haute couture in Paris, Rebecca Devaney qualified in the celebrated Parisian embroidery school Lesage two years ago, and has since worked with Yves St Laurent, Chanel, Dior, Valentino, Louis Vuitton and Dolce & Gabbana, and on many dresses for the Met Ball.

Devaney is costume designer and childrens workshop facilitator for the Paris St Patricks Day parade, in association with the Irish in France association and the Irish Cultural Centre Paris, and is also preparing for an innovative Junk Couture meets Haute Couture event for the parade in 2021.

She is an authority on many aspects of textiles including her solo exhibition Bordados on Mexican hand embroidery. She was a contributor to the catalogue for the Embellishment exhibition at the Hasselt Museum of Fashion in Belgium, and is also one of the contributors for an upcoming book on Rebe, the husband and wife team who collaborated with Dior on embroidery and were subsequently written out of history. She has just completed an installation called The Tears of Aphrodite for an OECD conference on Ending Violence Against Women. - DMcQ

Marguerite KeoghHead chef, The Five Fields, London

Head chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants who happen to be women are a bit of a rarity, but Marguerite Keogh fills that role at The Five Fields in Londons Chelsea. From Sixmilebridge in Co Clare, Keogh did her apprenticeship at Dromoland Castle, before heading to London at the age of 21.

Jumping in at the deep end, she worked first for Marco Pierre White and then joined Marcus Wareings brigade at Petrus and subsequently at Marcus Wareing at the Berkeley, rising to sous chef during her six years there. In 2013 she launched The Five Fields with chef patron Taylor Bonnyman, and in 2017 it was awarded a Michelin star.

Keogh is included in the 2020 Murphia List, a collection of the most influential Irish people working in the hospitality and food and drink sectors in London. The list is published annually by Catherine and Gavin Hanly, who run the London-based eating out and restaurant review website, Hot Dinners. - MCD

Clona N RordinProfessor of English at the Sorbonne

I was born in the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork France was beckoning from birth, says Clona N Rordin. Now based in Paris and a champion of Irish writing, she teaches Irish literature and translation studies, and has published three bilingual anthologies of Irish poetry. Ireland is home and a constant source of inspiration for me, she says, adding that Irish people have found a fine balance between pride in the local and an embrace of the global.

N Rordins students are mainly French, with a smattering of other nationalities. They are attracted by modernist writers like Joyce and Beckett but go on to study more contemporary authors such as Sebastian Barry, Eavan Boland or Eilan N Chuilleanin. Proud that Ireland is becoming a more open, inclusive and forgiving society, N Rordins new book, featuring poets who attended UCC in the 1970s, will be launched at the Poetry Festival in Cork on March 26th. corkpoetryfest.net - GT

Daniel DrommNew York City Council Member

As finance chair of the New York City Council, Daniel Dromm has oversight of a $95.3billion budget. Born in Queens, Dromms Irish connections are on his mothers side with grandparents from Galway and Leitrim. I represent what is probably the most diverse district in the world (Jackson Heights, Elmhurst), with at least one person from every country in the world living in my district, he says. Also the chairperson of the Councils Irish Caucus, and of its LGBT Caucus, Dromm is proud of the work he has done in four areas: immigration, education, LGBT rights and criminal justice reform.

One of the leaders in the movement to allow Irish gay and lesbian groups to march under their own banner in the St Patricks Day parade, Dromm sees Ireland as the land of equality and respect for all. One of the things that I was most proud of about Ireland was your vote for marriage equality. Ireland led the world by being the first country ever to vote for marriage equality in a referendum in 2016. Additionally, Ireland contributes significantly to culture, literature, music and theatre across the globe. Bringing City Government delegations to Ireland last November, Dromm was awarded an honorary professorship at Queens University Belfast. - GT

Nora Hickey MSichiliDirector of the Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris

Im from a long line of strong Irish women, says Nora Hickey MSichili. With a Kilkenny mother and a Wicklow father, who went against the tide, moving North in the Troubles Hickey was born in Belfast, where her father worked as Keeper of Art at the Ulster Museum. At the CCI, on Rue des Irlandais (named by Napoleon), she oversees a lively programme of music, literature, art and theatre. The work of Irish artists is very well received, she says. And there is huge scope for further promoting it internationally.

Artists who go to the centre on residencies speak warmly of Hickeys ability to make connections, creating a welcoming atmosphere where new ideas and collaborations are formed. In April, the centre will host the 57 heads of Paris-based cultural centres from around the world, and the major Parisian cultural institutions. This is what the Irish are good at, throwing the best of parties and connecting people to make exciting things happen. centreculturelirlandais.com GT

Jane QuinnChambers manager, Bankside Chambers, Auckland

From Ballyfermot to New Zealand, Jane Quinn has come a long way, but Ireland, after nearly 32 years here still means home, she says. Its the smell of the fresh brown bread, the warmth of the people and the never ending cups of tea whenever there is a problem. As chambers manager for New Zealands largest set of legal chambers, Quinn works with 43 barristers, and is also a justice of the peace.

Irish culture, she says, particularly resonates with the Maori people. We understand each other like no other group I have met. Quinn also works hard on behalf of the Irish community in Auckland, as vice president of the Auckland Irish Society, and trustee for the Saint Patricks Festival Trust. Married to her Irish husband, Gerry, for 23 years, she also speaks warmly of the GAA, having played when she first arrived. It is like an extended family, and the first place we all go to meet new people arriving, to see that they are okay for homes and jobs. It is great that we look after each other so well when we are this far from home. - GT

Go here to read the rest:
Heres to Irelands unofficial ambassadors flying flags around the world - The Irish Times

Off Feise Road in OFallon, Muirfield Manorhas three gorgeous designer market homes remaining, all scheduled for summer delivery.All are reduced between $6,000-$8,000, plus $6,000 to $8,000 in Union cash. Final prices: $420,827; $454,008; $535,304.

Wyndemere Estates is featuring $6,000 to $8,000 in Union cash on three market homes. Move-in-ready are two Ranch plans, the Sterling Display, $565,000 with savings of $35,063 and a Tuscany II, reduced by $33,041, for a final price of $420,619. To be completed in summer are a 3-bedroom ranch and a two-story, both sale-priced in the $400s.

Photo provided by McKelvey Homes

The 1.5-story Provence display is now for sale listed at $521,960 in the hot-selling Villages of Provence, representing McKelvey savings of $30,824, plus $7,000 in Union cash. $6,000 in savings is also available on two completed ranch plans, The Sterling and Tuscany II.

Brand-new just north of I-70 in St. Charles, the historic Villages at Sandfort Farm has two fabulous homes eligible for $7,000 in cash at closing. Both sale-priced in the $500s, the LaSalle ranch and 1.5-story Muirfield are under construction for summer occupancy.

Excerpt from:
McKelvey Homes welcomes March with savings on top of savings! - STLtoday.com

The 50 States Project is a yearlong series of candid conversations with interior designers we admire, state by state. Today, were chatting with Rehoboth Beach, Delawarebased Jess Weeth of Weeth Home, a firm she launched as a side project four years ago while working in the fashion business before pivoting to design full-time two years later. In addition to sharing favorite moments from two recent local projects, she tells us how her background in fashion informed her current career, shares why she partnered with a local furniture retailer to give her clients a white-glove experience, and describes her hometowns unique coastal aesthetic.

You had a career in fashion before starting your firmlets start there.I have loved design in all ways as long as I can remember, but I didnt really consider it as a career when I was looking at colleges. Instead, I went for as rigorous an academic school as I could and got a bachelor of arts, thinking I would jump into the business world in some way, and try to get as close as I could to the creative areas of business. So when the opportunity [came] to join a corporate training program and take on a buyer role at the corporate office of Abercrombie & Fitch after graduation, I was able to jump out of college and get right into a $4 billion company, which gave me so much insight into not only the design side of fashion, but also the production element.

I traveled everywhereI was in China, Korea and Turkey often, and in London and Paris for inspiration and shopping trips. I got to see the mills and fabrics and all of the production elements firsthand. I was able to have an awesome career and ended up running a pretty large team, overseeing a large side of the womens business.

Abercrombie was a brand in transition at that time, correct?Exactly. When I started, it was the heyday of a huge global company that everyone knew so well, which then became a huge challenge to overcome, because everybody had one image of Abercrombie. It was a very cool learning experience to be around all those hardworking people. You would never imagine the amount of talent on that design team. Yes, youre designing jeans and T-shirts, but the capabilities and the [sources of] inspiration are a lot bigger than that.

I was running a $350 million portion of the business with a team of 13 under me by the time I left. So [the experience of] project management, presenting to the CEO, and exposure from that standpoint cut my teeth a little bit on the business end of things.

But [the office was in Ohio], so I wasnt anywhere near home. I grew up here in the Rehoboth Beach area, and my husband and I were thinking about how to get closer to that area. We started looking in Philly and Baltimore, a two-hour drive away. He ended up getting a brand manager role at Dogfish Head, a brewery that has a pretty sizable team here, so we relocated back to Rehoboth Beach. I had never considered coming exactly back to my roots, but it was awesome. Along the way, we had renovated our historic home in Columbus, Ohio, and it sold really quickly. Then we moved here into a small ranch fixer-upper and ended up doing the same thingrenovating it completely and flipping that house. In the meantime, I started blogging about it.

In the dining room of this project, we worked really hard to strike a balance between laid-back and polished, says Weeth. I wanted it to be the kind of room where you could get out the good china but stay barefoot in jeansapproachable with a hit of coastal prep. Keyanna Bowen

Weeth paired navy grasscloth with shiplap for an elevated but still casual effect.Keyanna Bowen

Left: In the dining room of this project, we worked really hard to strike a balance between laid-back and polished, says Weeth. I wanted it to be the kind of room where you could get out the good china but stay barefoot in jeansapproachable with a hit of coastal prep. Keyanna Bowen | Right: Weeth paired navy grasscloth with shiplap for an elevated but still casual effect. Keyanna Bowen

And the blog turned into a design business?In this town, there is a huge needit wasnt long before friends and coworkers and word-of-mouth referrals started coming in and I started taking on smaller projects. I took online classes at the Interior Design Institute to learn as much as I couldI had a baby son at the time, and wasnt at a point where I could move to a city and go to design school, so I had to get a little creative in [how to] get information and hone my skills.

Had you left Abercrombie when you moved back to Delaware?I was still working remotely for the company when the design business started to grow, more quickly than I could have ever imagined. In May 2018, it got to the point that I actually went full-time into my interior design business.

The vision for this home was a light and bright open entertaining space for a fun, young couple, says Weeth. With a neutral palette at the heart of the open-concept living space, it was all about texture! Cane chairs, tufted leather, bohemian textiles, woven baskets and an abaca chandelier brought life to levels of whites and creams.Meghan J. Shupe

How did you know when it was time to do design full-time?My husband would tell you it was blatantly obvious, because I was just working around the clock. I would finish my work, do dinner with my son, and then be up and working, and the projects just kept coming. I did work remotely, but it was also starting to feel like a cheat on Abercrombies time, where occasionally, if somebody needed to schedule a 3 oclock meeting, I would go to their house quickly and then make up for [that missed work later]. It was crazy.

It just became so clear that the work was there, and I was honing my confidence and my skill set. I was able to raise my prices and start to wrap my head around the business model of design, which is complex and interesting in terms of the margins, savvy sourcing, tracking time, flat fee versus hourly, all of that stuff. It took those two years of hustling [to] feel confident that I could make the jump. Every client project that went smoothly puts that feather in your cap, where youre like, OK, I can do this, its getting easier, and Im loving it more and more because things are clicking. Now, when I source sofas, Im not looking at 2,000, Im looking at my favorite 60 that Ive already narrowed down from years of looking at and sitting in them.

The classes you took onlinewhat did you gain, and what made you realize that was an important piece of the process?I took 10 modules of interior design, so it wasnt years of schooling. I learned the history of architectural periods, some of the jargon that was making me feel uncomfortable. I knew I could style, I had an idea of what I liked spatially, and color has always been my strengthat Abercrombie, I was one of the color testers. But having that vocabulary and background [the courses provided] gave me the confidence and some good basic tools. The last thing I would want is somebody to think that I have a four-year design degree. There arent a bunch of big firms here, so interning was not an option, and I wasnt able to move to a city to attend school or work at a big firm. For me, that was my scrappy way to do it.

Woven elements continue into the kitchen.Meghan J. Shupe

What did the early projects with friends and family look like?They were furniture and styling projects. It was cool to find people looking for something different and a fresher aesthetic. Theres a lot of traditional design that I think is done really well here, and then theres a [firm] or two that does very modern design. I think I fall more in that fresh take on classic [category], that middle, breezier feel. So it was refreshing to see people that saw my home or blog or heard about me and gave me a shot. When I came with design boards and the aesthetic started to sync up, the projects started to spiral in a good way, where it was like, Oh, did you know theres somebody in our area that does this? I worked hard. My prices were super low back then. I was scrapping to gain traction, because I didnt have the internship. I didnt have a prestigious four-year degree, but I had the passion and had an aesthetic that some people were looking for.

My poor husbandI would have our guest room stocked to the brim with lamps and nightstands, little pieces of furniture. He would help me load everything. We would hang things ourselves. It was definitely down and dirty four years ago, and then one of the biggest changes came when I synced up with Mitchells Interiors, a fine furniture retailer out of Laurel, Delawaretheyre an hour away, but the owner, Derek Feist, lives in the Rehoboth area. I think its a pretty unique setup in some ways. I love a lot of the upholstery lines that they carry, and they have more of a breadth of resources for custom than I could ever want or need in terms of dining tables and beds. Plus, they do all of the receiving for me, including for [a lot of goods] from other vendors. The pricing is great and the client gets that white glove experience. We also spend a day together at High Point, where I point out new lines Im interested in and they use some of their buying power to help with that. Our partnership gives me a huge breadth of resources that I, as one individual designer, couldnt have.

An abaca chandelier is the focal point of the dining area in an open-concept space.Meghan J. Shupe

The homes master bedroom.Meghan J. Shupe

Left: An abaca chandelier is the focal point of the dining area in an open-concept space. Meghan J. Shupe | Right: The homes master bedroom. Meghan J. Shupe

How long ago did you set up that partnership?I started working with them pretty close to when I started, when the logistics were killing me. So its been over three years at this point. I feel like were on the other side with the logistics a lot more worked out, which is nice.

You opened your studio in October 2019. Where does that fit into that equation?It seems like a big jump, I know, but I had the luxury of two years of working from home for Abercrombie, and knew that I was not good at working from home. I just struggled with itI was so used to leading a really big team and being in meetings and that energy and focus. Home is home, and work is work. I was really struggling with that and wanted to have a space. Then I was getting so bogged down with the project management and logistical aspects of the job that were not paid as much, that bringing on an assistant or project manager was necessary. Even installs that dont seem that big, doing it by yourself is hard. And textiles are a huge passion of mine. I was building up this sample library that was a tool for people to understand my aesthetic and the things that get me excited. I think if it was all tucked away in our little office at home, which it was, it wouldnt be serving me as well as it could.

[The studio is] a huge investment that I had to think hard about, but because I work on so many second homes, I was meeting people in Starbucks or bringing fabric samples to dusty new-build sites. It was logistically very hard to give somebody what I thought was a high-end experience from my home. I was tired of bringing design boards to Starbucks and ready to have the presentation be a positive part of their experience rather than something that I was feeling self-conscious about.

I also think its nice for people to be able to walk in and be like, OK, so when she says shes coastal, but not too coastal, this is what she means, this is what that feels like. There have been anchors and seashells around here my whole life, and I couldnt want to be further away from that, but theres also this barefoot spirit that is why Im obsessed with living here, and why I think people move here or have second homes here. Rehoboth is super small, but it balloons [exponentially] in the summer. So its a nice way to say Im here and part of the community. We did a total gut on our building here on the main street, Rehoboth Avenue. It was a super cute boutique, but very coastal, and set up for a clothing shop. It took a couple months, and then we were able to open last October.

The bedrooms were designed to be cheery and calmingand to get you ready for a day at the beach! says Weeth. Meghan J. Shupe

Its you and your project manager. Is that your whole team?Yeah, thats my whole team as of now. My project manager joined when the studio opened. Its crazy that as of six months ago, I didnt have her. I dont know how I functioned. So thats been great.

OK, and so youre both there, and the studio is open by appointment only.Here, we have such a defined season. Its pretty much Memorial Day to Labor Day. Obviously, that extends every year, and its not like its dead year-round now. For us, it makes sense to be open full-time [during that season], when more people can walk in. We have some cash-and-carry things in here, and its been fun for people to come in and shop and see it. Im getting so much pressure and requests like, I just want to shop there all the time. Cant you make it a shop? That kind of thing. So I think come May, well extend that arm of the business and hire the extra couple of hands to be here when I have to be on-site.

You mentioned High Point earlier. Why is that so important, and where else do you go for discovery?High Point is essential for me, because of where we are. There really are no resources around hereno big design centers, no huge showrooms. It is a time for me to walk until my feet are numb and sit in everything I possibly can. Seeing something, it just clicks whether its a good fit for your clients and projects or not. I love discovering new lines and building relationships. That way, if theres an issue, theres somebody going to bat for you thats going to get it resolved.

Weeths studio. 'The focus was really on two thingscreating a living, breathing space that embodies our breezy take on classic style, and to showcase the beautiful textiles and materials we incorporate in our designs, says Weeth. I wanted clients to feel like a kid in a candy store during our concept presentations.Keyanna Bowen

How many projects are you typically working on?About a dozen at a time. Im about half-and-half right now, [in terms of] full house versus decorating. But the full house ones are on longer timelines, so in terms of all the decorating side, we have a little bit more time to pull things together. I think probably everyone loves the bigger projects, just because efficiencies pick up when youre doing bigger projects. But I dont think we will ever completely [forgo] the smaller projects. We try to impart to people that we really like to do projects to completion.

Were definitely looking to make the room feel meaningfully different and very finished when we leavenot just coming in to do the window treatments. Not that we cant use a favorite old pieceI certainly love the character and soul that that can bringbut I want to be focusing on, at the very least, the whole rooms design.

You talked about how in May, so many people are moving in. When did they approach you, and what kind of lead times did those projects come with?Thats the loaded question. The amount of project inquiries we get in January spikes, and even in the last month, too. I think once you cross the holidays and January is behind you, people start thinking about spring and summer. It would certainly be nice if people had the forethought [to think about it] back in early December.

Often theyll be like, Its March! Can you help me? Those requests havent changed, but my answers haveIve gotten stronger in my stance of being like, No. We cant start now and have a completely renovated, perfect house by May. That doesn't happen. But I will say, from working with builders around here, everybody is on that same timeline. So a lot of new builds, I dont necessarily have to set the schedule as much, because they started on the build nine months or a year ago with that date in mind. Now, am I often waiting on builders to finish up, and then it makes my life a little stressful? Sure.

A vignette near the shops entrance. Weeth focused on an array of lighting options so that the studio seems to glow from the street.Keyanna Bowen

We renovated the space completelyit was a drywall box when we started, explains Weeth. It was important to add some character and soul through reclaimed and vintage pieces. The beams came from Old Wood Delaware and the figure drawings are 1920s sketches I found on a trip to the Brimfield Antique Show over the summer.Keyanna Bowen

Left: A vignette near the shops entrance. Weeth focused on an array of lighting options so that the studio seems to glow from the street. Keyanna Bowen | Right: We renovated the space completelyit was a drywall box when we started, explains Weeth. It was important to add some character and soul through reclaimed and vintage pieces. The beams came from Old Wood Delaware and the figure drawings are 1920s sketches I found on a trip to the Brimfield Antique Show over the summer. Keyanna Bowen

What are your plans for the next few years? What do you see coming for the firm?I definitely see the shop experience, the studio experience being a big focus, just because of our location. The way weve designed it, its very well lit at night from the road. So theres been so much curiosity about it. I know that its a little unconventional to have such a focal spot thats appointment-only. So we are definitely going to make the studio experience a profitable portion of the business. [Another thing thats important to me is] curating. I dont want the pieces that you see everywhere to be here. We try to utilize our custom lines as much as possible when planning for the retail furniture items in here and some of the decorthat has been a work in progress that were excited to launch in May.

Im trying to pace ourselves a little. It would be great if this next year or two we are refining our processes and still taking on the same workload before taking on more headcount. I would certainly love to very intentionally grow this team, but I think me being as close as possible to the projects is whats right at the moment.

Whats the most inspiring thing about the business to you right now?I feel so strongly about the entire history and importance of this area, and how there really is, to me, such a vibe [in Rehoboth Beach] that hasnt necessarily been defined by a style. Theres not a West Coast or California coastal feel at all. It really isnt as specific as a Nantucket. It certainly is not a Southern vibe here, either. You have a lot of heritage components coming from Washington, D.C., and Philly, and some of that old-school tradition, but in a very laid-back way [because] people are so chill here. And theres a huge generational vibe to this town, where everybody is connected.

A lot of these homes have had iterations, and some of peoples best times are probably in these houses that are packed on top of one another on their way to the beach, and its a very inspiring thing to be a part of, especially having grown up here and seen the evolution. I love being able to bring a global lens, because I did leave and travel around the world [for my former job]. So its very cool to be able to bring, hopefully, a fresh take and style to an area that is very close to home for me.

To learn more about Jess Weeth, visit her website or find her on Instagram.

Homepage photo: Jess Weeth in her studio | Leeann Rae Pulchny

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How this Delaware designer went from boardroom to showroom - Business of Home

IN 2009, CELEBRITY fashion stylist Thomas Christos Kikis agreed to go on a date with Derek Curl, a film producer, at an East Village dive bar. Kikis, wanting to impress, wore his best Thom Browne suit. Curl, a burly, bearded Southerner, arrived in jeans and a camo trucker hat and ordered them each a bourbon and a beer. The unlikely pair hit it off; three months later, they moved in together. In the subsequent years, their careers have pulled them in different directions: Kikis to Los Angeles, where his clients live and work, and Curl to Europe, where he owns several film distribution companies. Yet the two have found common ground and a home in a farmhouse in Andes, N.Y., three hours north of New York City.

They discovered the area by chance. In the early days of their relationship, Kikis, 35, would tag along on Curls film shoots in the Catskills, exploring local auction houses and antique stores. On one such trip, Curl, 46, noticed that there were a number of affordable 19th-century American houses in a style he calls the poor mans Greek Revival slightly ramshackle properties with neo-Classical pediments and columned porches that reminded him of the antebellum architecture of his Georgia childhood. He had only three requirements when they began house hunting: I wanted a Greek Revival; a large, old dairy barn with a stone foundation; and a creek running through the property. Kikis had just one: to be no more than 12 minutes from a place where you could buy The New York Times.

The search took years, but one day in 2016, they came upon a 2,000-square-foot, two-story, three-bedroom white-clapboard 1854 house with a large weathered barn surrounded by five acres of rolling fields. They bought it and did a light exterior renovation, but for the interiors, they enlisted Billy Cotton, the 38-year-old New York-based designer known for his exuberant, off-kilter interpretations of American vernacular. Recently appointed the creative director of Ralph Lauren Home, Cotton was raised in a Federal-style house in Burlington, Vt., and his first job was with the decoupage artist and East Village shopkeeper John Derian. His classic New England sensibility he favors straight lines, simple stripes and the innate minimalism of colonial architecture is tempered by his formal training in industrial design at New York Citys Pratt Institute, as well as his deep affinity for French Modernists, including Jean Prouv and Jean Royre.

Cotton also loves a good back story; he believes it endows a space with soul and a source of intrinsic warmth. His narratives tend to unspool gracefully, starting quietly and growing more colorful and eclectic as one proceeds through the environment. For Kikis and Curl, he envisioned a home that had been built for a refined family that had migrated from a small European city to begin anew on a farm in the New World, carrying with them only a few bits of antique finery. As such, the public areas downstairs are decidedly ascetic, as were rural homes of the era. The austere kitchen, with simple cabinets painted Shaker red and wide pine-plank floors, has walls of 4-by-4-inch vintage off-white Delft tiles, sourced from different lots, which gives them a subtle patchwork quality. In the sparsely furnished parlor, beside a rough-hewn mantle-less brick fireplace (Cotton convinced the couple not to replace it), a pair of low-slung settees covered in blue-and-white ticking face each other, and a 19th-century mahogany grandfather clock stands in the corner.

BUT THE STAIRCASE hallway, with its original turned-walnut banister, gives a hint of the idiosyncratic adornment that Cotton has created in the upstairs rooms. Here, the moldings and door frames have been painted bright white, in contrast with the cream background of the vintage-feeling Zuber wallpaper, which is alive with flowering vines and birds. The faded red stair runner, with a Swedish geometric pattern, seems particularly daring in this context. Soft light comes from a simple midcentury Italian pendant lamp in an unexpected shade of matte tangerine.

In the master bedroom, Cottons love of mixing color and pattern reaches full bloom, with peacock-blue moldings and walls papered in a dense indigo block print. To camouflage the chambers low, slanting ceiling, typical of the period, he covered it with a similar-scale block-printed fabric in red and gold. A pair of Italian gilded and painted oak twin beds one from the 18th century, the other a 20th-century copy have been made into a king-size one, draped in a patchwork quilt, while on the floor, Cotton has layered a red-and-black Tunisian rug over a geometric Turkish runner. In the corner, he added a Louis XVI-style chair covered in worn green leather. The small spare bedroom upstairs has been turned into a cozy refuge as well: Cotton created a corner bed nook from a small closet and painted the paneling a pale blue. The wall behind the mattress, which is covered by a windowpane-checked blanket, is decorated with a piece of faded red Sardinian fabric and a mirror whose glass has clouded with age. The tiny space can be closed off from the rest of the room with a striped curtain, and a red 1960s sconce serves as a reading light.

The designer pushed the couple to embrace such juxtapositions, which they might never have considered themselves although he played up the houses intrinsic Americana, he paired it with midcentury Italian lighting and vibrant wool Berber rugs. He also encouraged their reimagining of the barn, which Curl plans to use for aging bourbon.

But Cottons main accomplishment is making the place feel like home. The house has become such a haven from urban chaos that the couple recently decided to give up their West Village apartment altogether. Here, they spend time with their new friends, from the county butcher to the town lawyer to the dairy farmer next door. On weekends, they pick blackberries, swim in the trout pond down the road or fish for bass in the Pepacton Reservoir. And when they return, leaving their muck boots at the paneled front door, they are enveloped in a quiet beauty that years ago they could not have imagined for themselves: the glow of a vintage Scandinavian pendant light on the polished dining-room table, the feel of a Moroccan carpet beneath their feet, the tang of pine and wild ginger in the near distance.

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A Farmhouse Fantasy Tucked in the Woods of Upstate New York - The New York Times