Forgoing the criteria of stateliness and opulence, this book is an exploration of the most captivating and unusual interiors in Ireland. Whether in the transformation of a derelict estate, the preservation of an historic hunting lodge, or the re-creation of a Gothic fantasy, each of the homes in this extraordinary book reflects a renewed vitality in the contemporary approach to Irish country houses. Rich in detail and varied in scope, the houses reveal a refreshing dynamism in their decoration by equally diverse owners from the ornate refurbishment of a castle by a Spanish financier to the bold palette of a contemporary artist s renovation to an Elizabethan Revival house. The sparse interiors of a mansion in Westmeath reflect its painstaking restoration by descendants of the original owners, and at Coollattin Ireland s largest country house, part restored, part still in disrepair the building s baroque splendor is amplified by its raw, unfinished state. Accompanying photography of the
