Laura
Farrell

Interior
Design

My Inspirations

About Laura

Born in Dublin, Laura Farrell cut her design teeth in New York City in her early twenties, working in Manhattan for Clodagh Design International. During her time there she worked on many and varied projects, from high end residential projects for movie stars and rappers to five star hotels and spas.

She returned to Ireland in 2000 where she embarked on her solo career.

After a couple of years she set up 'Scudding Clouds' a design company specialising in an organic but luxurious minimalism. Their many projects were high profile - from hospitals to restaurants to bucolic country estates.

Coming out of the financial downturn in 2015, she once again established her own design business. Since then she has worked on a selection of high end residential projects, retail outlets, spas and even a school library.

She also re-designed the two Michelin starred Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud.

She was nominated for 'Interior Designer of the Year' in 2017

Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud

In 2013 the call came from Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud. Initial meetings led to thoughts and ideas and over a year long process a scheme took shape in Laura's head and became a grand design that is the finished space that you see today.

The old entrance lounge has now become the sparkling new bar; vibrant, active, a living space that sets a more buzzy tone for the restaurant beyond. The acid house citrine wallpaper is complemented by a centrepiece curved dark wood bar and mirrored backdrop.

This collaboration with bespoke furniture makers Zelouf and Bell in Laois combined Laura's curved design with Z&B’s art deco marquetry in rare Italian timber, which runs through the dark wood, decorating the bar and fitting the art deco theme.

The floor is covered with a sparkling grey carpet from the Natural Flooring Company. Tiny particles of silver were added to the carpet pile, creating a shimmer of stardust across the floor, and adding more than a touch of glamour to the room.

In the main body of the restaurant, the dining room with the Arthur Gibney vaulted ceiling was sacrosanct and the challenge was to make it part of the story. Rolled gold unusually enough presented itself as the solution.

First you need a specialist gilder – one Nat Clements from Birr in County Offaly. Nat primed the ceiling and carefully applied sheets of Dutch rolled gold, which were over laid with copper and then glazed, creating a finish that is hopelessly oppulent and quite stunning. The look is inspired by a ceiling in a particular Russian Orthodox Church in New York, fitting in nicely with the idea that RPG is almost a sacred site for food lovers.

The main light fitting in the dining room from NY designer David Weeks provides a bridge between the ceiling and the room below making the space more intimate without losing the sense of spaciousness.

The famed art collection of The Merrion Hotel saw the addition of the Le Brocquay tapestry in the main dining room. The pink harlequin design matches the diamond pattern on the contemporary dado rail which in addition to its aesthetic protects the walls from the chairs.

Taking on a redesign of such an iconic restaurant with a tradition of architectural merit is no easy task but here is an altogether successful project. The overall effect is modern, somewhat playful, but at the same time respectful of the traditions of the building and RPG.

Irish products and suppliers were used as extensively as possible with all the fabrics coming from Ronan and Helen Boyle in Furnishing Distributors while the soft furnishings were made in Ireland by Niall Brennan in County Monaghan.

Testimonials

Laura’s enthusiasm and work on our new house build matched my own. There was an easy communication with her and a definite understanding of my tastes, budget and young family needs. She brought the “Wow” factor with her ideas, pushed me in the right directions and elevated the finished house to a beautifully designed home. My husband and I both agrees she was a worthwhile investment.
Fiona Hickey

Laura intuitively understood what we were looking to achieve in the restaurant and translated our design brief into something quite unique. Her understanding of light and colour is remarkable and her attention to detail second to none. This is professionalism with a personal touch at its best.
Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud

Laura's design process felt like a true calloboration and the end product feels unique to us. She effortlessly married my preference for a maximalist appearance with my husband's more conservative taste. Not an easy task. Our revamped home has exceeded all our expectations. Her choice of robust materials, able to withstand the challenges of 3 young children, did not compromise on style. I love looking at "house" magazines but did not know where to start to pull it all together. That is where Laura's genius and vision lies!! She was able to combine existing furnishings and furniture with a major design overhaul, to remain within budget. It is not a "showhome" but a functioning sanctury for our family.
Tara Delaney

Laura Farrell is my go-to source for creative, intelligent thought about interiors. She can always be counted on for a fresh perspective and interesting ideas. Her approach is visionary but fundamentally practical - she knows what works and she can put it into action - and she has a finger on the pulse of both Irish and international design.
Dr Eleanor Flegg

Gallery

Contact

Email: misslaurafarrell@gmail.com

Phone: 087-6954758