North Coast of Ireland Home Refurbishment

North Coast of Ireland Home Refurbishment

It has been a great joy to participate in the renovation of a family holiday home on the North Coast of Ireland. Anyone who has travelled here knows we have one of the most beautiful coastlands in the world and this has has an unhindered view right out to the ever changing ocean scape.

I won't divulge how long it is it is since we first decorated this home - suffice to say that I remember negotiating the rather steep driveway just before one of our 2 boys was born. This year, we were back to help with a complete refurbishment!
Ulster Tatler Interview

Ulster Tatler Interview

Q. You are very passionate about interior design; where did your love of design come from?

A. When I was a young teenager we moved to a country house which needed a lot of interior renovation. I watched my mum do a great job of turning it into a beautiful home. No room missed out on her eye for detail and colour. I've picked up on those values of home, story and love to furnish spaces that reflect the people who live there.

The Hunter Building

The Hunter Building

A unique Grade B2 listed building which has been extensively refurbished to provide for modern duplex apartment and town centre living. Ownership of the building can also be traced back to the 17th century, when it was owned by the Dobbin family. Then, for nearly 200 years, it was owned by the Kirk Family and their descendants until 1949.

The Art Of Passementerie

The Art Of Passementerie

Tassel fringes, cut fringes, bullion, and countless other variations of trimmings are part and parcel of the interior designer’s sample library. Admittedly, the trend lately was to avoid fuss and frill on curtains, blinds and cushions but we are seeing a return to the maximalism style of decoration.

This this is where trimmings find their happy place.

Curtains Are Among My Favourite Things

Curtains Are Among My Favourite Things

A passion for beautiful fabrics means that curtains are among my favourite things. Choosing them, designing the details of the styling, making them up and then installing them. There are many reasons to enjoy each stage.

It’s a great feeling to stand back and see a beautifully dressed window, perfectly fitted in just the right fabric choice!

February 25, 2022
Tags: Curtains
Catherine's Do's & Don'ts of Home Decorating

Catherine's Do's & Don'ts of Home Decorating

You've read magazines. Watched home decorating shows. Spent countless hours looking at Pinterest for inspiration. Now what?

Decorating a home can be a daunting and time-consuming process. If you're looking to revamp an entire home or simply spruce up a room, here's a great place to start...some useful do's and don'ts to make it easier, quicker and enjoyable for you!

February 15, 2022
Pantone Colour of The Year 2022

Pantone Colour of The Year 2022

As we begin to move out of crazy periods of isolation and into the transformative times, Very Peri, helps to open us up to a new vision, confidence, and curiosity as we rewrite our lives. Now more than ever, the digital world is taking up a bigger part of our lives and Very Peri shows us the fusion of modern life and colour trends in the digital world.
January 20, 2022
Tags: Pantone
Styling Your Home For Christmas

Styling Your Home For Christmas

For most households, decorating the house for Christmas is a fiercely protected practice enshrined in certain traditions. Some families religiously wait until December 1st, some insist on a real pine tree decorated in classic red and gold, while others insist on decorating against the backdrop of ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ while clutching mugs of marshmallow-topped-hot-chocolate. 

We love these kinds of traditions and long may they serve you and your family! We’re popping in here simply to offer a few styling tips if you fancy a re-jig of your Christmas decor. Let’s get to it!

October 30, 2021
Tags: Christmas
Homes evolve over the years!

Homes evolve over the years!

Homes evolve over the years; perhaps once the soil in which a young couple begins their life, they grow and evolve to accommodate an expanding family. They hear the cries of newborn babies, the walls bear the scrawls of mischievous crayon-wielding toddlers, the stairs become a makeshift hill for children to sled, climb or crawl down, and the bathroom may one day be the echoing innards of a submarine, and the next be a proud pirate ship sailing the high seas. So many stories, so many uses, so much evolving and shifting. And as all parents attest, the children grow up so fast. The house evolves again. 
October 11, 2021
Recent Inspiration

Recent Inspiration

We know that sometimes you see a particular piece of furniture, or a wallpaper, rug or other beautiful piece and you wonder how it might fit together with your existing room. We also know staring at blank walls and trying to imagine the finished look can be equally as hard.

To give you a little inspiration and perhaps a glimpse into some options for your room, we've brought together a few brief details and pictures of our recent work for clients.

September 29, 2021
Autumn Is Fast Approaching

Autumn Is Fast Approaching

As the nights draw in and the temperatures begin to cool, you’re going to need a comfy chair to curl up in. At McMillan Interiors, we have an extensive range of sofas and chairs at our fingertips - from beautifully carved traditional armchairs to more casual loose-cover linen sofas.
September 17, 2021
Trimmings: It’s all in the details

Trimmings: It’s all in the details

There’s many ways to add details to a room, and one of our favourite ways to do so is through the use of trimmings on soft furnishings and furniture. Today’s post will focus on trimmings on scatter cushions and throws but we’ve got blog posts on window treatments and furniture to come! So sit back, browse through some of our favourite trimmings we’ve done, and some that have inspired us….and we hope these give you some ideas on how you can add an extra layer of luxury and detail to your home.
September 10, 2021