Cathy gets creative
The Cork woman behind Flamingo Interior Design likes to do things her own way and bring her eclectic style to her business.
Cathy O’Donoghue, from Waterfall, was chosen as one of six homeowners nationally to be a part of the Gaff Interiors and DFS SoSimple Project who got to choose their very own dream sofa to help create a stunning space within an existing room.
Whatever about the challenges of redecorating or renovating, choosing a sofa should not be difficult. However, according to DFS insight, 44 per cent of customers found that it wasn’t straightforward as it should be and as a result the SoSimple range was created where you choose a style, choose a size, choose a fabric and wait for delivery!
She chose the SoSimple Tom sofa in a leather look and it has proven a welcome addition to her beautiful home, sitting comfortably amongst her mid-century flea market finds.
Cathy has created a wonderfully eclectic and welcoming home and although it can take time to create the perfect space, focus on the one or two items you love the most and your innate style will make all the difference.
After owning her own vintage clothing store, Cathy felt it was time to immerse herself back into what she loves the most and she brings a high level of design and creativity into her choices loving all things retro and the cool vibes of 1970s California.
However, if you are embarking on a major renovation or are simply looking to bring some character into a room whatever the budget, check out Cathy’s top tips which will help you along the way.
What’s your budget?
No matter how big or small you want to go, whether you want to redesign one room or the whole house, have a general idea of how much you want to spend. And stick to it!
Think about your own style
Are you more of a dark and moody type, prefer clean whites and neutrals or prefer an eclectic originality in your rooms? Put some time into developing a mood board. Check out Pinterest and get ideas from well-known interior bloggers and Instagram accounts, or go old school and cut out the images you love from magazines and newspapers.
Take things slow
Don’t rush into your design and buy everything at once. Take your design journey step by step and wait until you find your dream pieces and build your home around them. Your design style will be more personal that way and you just never know what perfect piece is around the corner!
Browse second-hand shops
I have found the most amazing little pieces by visiting quirky little shops, online vintage outlets and flea markets. There are so many lovely pieces to be found waiting for a new home.