Dublin-based interior designer Róisín Lafferty has established herself as one of Ireland's most influential contemporary design voices through her masterful blend of historic preservation and modernist innovation. Her latest project, the transformation of a 19th-century villa on Ireland's east coast, demonstrates why she has become a leading figure in reimagining the country's design scene over the past 15 years.

The villa, known as Infinity House, presents a stunning example of Lafferty's diverse design capabilities. "The house looks directly onto the Irish Sea," Lafferty explains. "The site is magnificent irrespective of the season or weather. The design scheme was about celebrating that to the maximum." Originally built in 1830 for the owner of a local ironworks, the home was recently purchased by a young family seeking a flexible layout to accommodate the husband's work-from-home needs.

Working in collaboration with architects at Dublin Design Studio, Lafferty drew inspiration from the region's dramatic natural features, including the craggy coastline, wetlands, and the Cooley Mountains. To expand the living space, the team replaced an earlier extension with a new L-shaped wing. The primary challenge involved harmoniously integrating the historic structure with the modernist addition, which Lafferty achieved by embracing bold materials that unite both sections while grounding the entire house in its spectacular landscape setting.

The new addition features a sequence of light-filled spaces that include the kitchen, living areas, and dining spaces. The minimalist kitchen creates a compelling dialogue between wild nature and domestic life through floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook Dundalk Bay. A striking green marble cantilevered staircase serves as the wing's central anchor, while terrazzo walls and floors are paired with tactile upholstery and flowing voile curtains. "The weather can be ferocious," Lafferty notes. "There is a lot of rain, and the sky is always gray. I wanted to soften the view as much as possible. The beautiful greenery is what pops."

In the historic section of the home, Lafferty carefully preserved original architectural features including wood paneling and a distinctive checkerboard marble floor. She enhanced these elements with a sensuous palette of warm neutral tones and carefully selected furnishings ranging from classic leather Chesterfields to a sculptural Tom Faulkner chandelier. The home's stairwell showcases a staircase and flooring crafted from green Vottoria Regia quartzite, adding to the overall design cohesion.

Downstairs, Lafferty created what she playfully refers to as "the Bat Cave" – a comprehensive wellness and recreation area featuring discreet doors that lead to a fully equipped gym, sauna, home theater, and bar. This attention to both aesthetic beauty and functional living demonstrates her holistic approach to residential design. "If this project looks unlike her others, that's intentional," she emphasizes. "I want each project to be its own piece."

Lafferty's design influence extends far beyond residential projects, with her portfolio encompassing hospitality ventures from luxury treehouses for a hotel in Cork to an upcoming renovation of Murray's Doonmore Hotel on Inishbofin, Ireland's westernmost island. Her work spans international locations ranging from the United States to the Middle East, showcasing her versatility in adapting to different cultural contexts while maintaining her distinctive design philosophy.

In May of last year, Lafferty expanded her creative influence by opening the Róisín Lafferty Gallery in a Georgian townhouse on Dublin's prestigious Fitzwilliam Square, where she also maintains her studio. The gallery, which operates by appointment, serves as a showcase for furniture, lighting, and textiles by notable designers including Faulkner, Bryan O'Sullivan, and woodturner Richard West, alongside pieces from her own Sphere collection. The space also features carefully curated vintage pieces by renowned designers Eileen Gray, Jorge Zalszupin, and the Lalannes, sourced through Irish dealer Domhnall O'Gairbhi.

"It's about creating a mood," Lafferty explains about her gallery concept. "We get to play, host exhibitions and dinners, and blur the lines." This new venture represents another outlet for her experimental approach to design, allowing her to explore the intersection between art, furniture, and interior design while fostering Dublin's growing design community. Through both her residential projects and gallery work, Lafferty continues to reshape Ireland's design landscape, proving that thoughtful integration of historic preservation and contemporary innovation can create truly exceptional spaces.