The nation’s favourite architect on his most treasured household gadgets, his dream location and his favourite room…
What room do you still have to improve in your own home?
My home office. I have tonnes of files, paper, drawings, books and CDs in that room so everyone in the house treats it like a junk room! A New Year’s resolution is to sort it, take up art again in that room and lock the door on the others!
What’s your favourite household gadget?
I can’t choose between the shower, coffee machine or the heat pump.
What’s the one item that will spruce up any room?
A great piece of art that you love. It doesn’t have to be expensive!
What’s your favourite household item?
Our couch. We got an off-the-shelf couch made with a slightly higher back by Sienna in Waterford. It’s got lovely clean lines but it’s as comfortable as my granny’s!
Open plan or broken plan?
Broken plan that allows each space autonomy when you want it and connectivity when you need it.
Where’s your favourite spot at home?
It’s a toss-up between the kitchen island which is at the centre of the ground floor where I can see and talk to everyone, and my bath in the garden.
What’s on your career bucket list?
To design and make some homewares, oh and to be a pilot!
What are you like at DIY?
Pretty good actually. I love making shelves and bits of furniture. I built the kitchen in our first house. I just didn’t encourage people to look too closely at the joins!
City living or country living?
Country if I could walk to a village; I need people around me.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
The dream is to one day have a little house overlooking the sea within walking distance of a pub (that serves food). I’ve learned over the years of travelling that the place doesn’t matter as much as the community around you.
What’s your favourite design show?
Old ones are the best: Grand Designs.
Tell us a quick and cheap way to breathe life into a space?
A really nice shade of off-white paint. I know a cop-out from an architect – but it works!
