Marion McGarry
Dr Marion McGarry is an author, historian, part-time Mayo Galway Institute of Technology lecturer and freelance illustrator. She's on twitter @marion_mcgarry
More stories
-
in Advice, Budget & Financing, Choosing the kitchen, Collating your ideas, Cost savers, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Interior Advice, Interiors, Kitchen and bathroom designs, On site, Pre designSpecifying a hardwearing kitchen
Kitchen worktops, splashbacks, taps and sinks will be used all the time, so take the time to choose ones that are hardwearing and visually pleasing. In this article, we cover: As with any part of the home, good design is everything. And your kitchen is no exception. Here we hone in on what makes […] More
-
in NewsPandemic Architecture – How disease influences design
Many elements of urban planning, architecture and interior design have historically risen out of fear of disease. With Covid-19, a focus on ventilation may become ever more prevalent, but that isn’t anything new, as Marion McGarry finds out as she evaluates the lasting influence of two previous pandemics. There was no known cure for cholera […] More
-
Bedroom design checklist
As the average human spends about 25 years sleeping, or attempting to sleep, bedroom design is all about creating a relaxing, clutter-free environment, writes interior design expert Marion McGarry. Bedrooms are multifaceted spaces: they are for rest and sleep, but also are for storage and for dressing. Planning for all these functions, using the right […] More
-
Bungalow design evolution
Love them or hate them, Irish bungalows are now part of vernacular architecture, representing the first modern mass self-build movement. In this article Marion McGarry covers: How bungalow design has evolved since the 1970s How bungalows met rural Ireland’s need for affordable housing Overview of Jack Fitzsimons’ seminal book Bungalow Bliss Bungalows as a blight […] More
-
in Advice, Choosing the kitchen, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Interior Advice, Interiors, Kitchen and bathroom designs, On siteThe right materials for your kitchen
Find out what the most common kitchen materials are, how much they cost, how durable they are and how to take care of them. In this article we cover: The most common materials you will find in your journey to kitchen nirvana include wood, MDF, lacquer, wood veneer, laminate, granite, stone, concrete, marble and glass. […] More
-
-
in Advice, Basics, Choosing the kitchen, Extension/Renovation Advice, Interior Advice, Interiors, Kitchen and bathroom designs, On siteKitchen Styles
Your trend and style guide to shopping around for what is arguably the most expensive piece of furniture you will purchase for your home, comparing traditional to contemporary. Kitchen showrooms can be an overwhelming place to be – what style is the right one? Do you choose from the current trends or opt for what […] More
-
in Advice, Choosing the kitchen, Design, Extension/Renovation Advice, Interior Advice, Interiors, Kitchen and bathroom designs, On siteTailored Kitchen Design
The kitchen is nowadays at the centre of family life but for the self-builder it’s also at the heart of the budget. Here are the basics to design it successfully. It is a truth universally acknowledged – among kitchen designers, anyway – that kitchen planning for new builds should take place before anything is built, […] More
-
in AdviceThe first Irish self-builds
How did our ancestors build their homes? To understand the Irish cottage, we must understand the attitudes and beliefs of the people who built and lived in them. Irish thatched cottages are regarded as symbols of Ireland in various contexts including the tourism industry and in political ideology. But in its traditional and original form, […] More
English