Romantic Irish Homes

Irish houses have a character and personality quite different from that foundanywhere else. Quixotic, often whimsical and definitely quirky, they providea sanctuary from the Irish climate, which is frequently grey, cold and damp. No wonder, therefore, that over the centuries Ireland's domestic architectureand interior design has developed a distinctive personality in which colour andvivacity are highly prized. Romantic Irish Homes presents 15 of the finestexamples of these traits, each one of them distinctive and yet sharing the samenative spirit. From vast ancient castles through sturdy Georgian manors tosmall farmhouses, the majority of them never previously photographed, thehomes featured here offer a unique insight into the Irish temperament and anexploration of a style of decoration that, while adapted to meet 21st-centurydemands, still retains an historic integrity. Photographed by Simon Brown,Romantic Irish Homes is every bit as charming and memorable as the Irishpeople themselves.