A Feast For The Eyes

The Victorian home of interior stylist Sara Austin and her husband Neil has been sensitively renovated and is a fabulous example of old meets new.

Sara, her husband Neil and their two boys, six year-old Félix and three year-old Ralph relocated from London back to Northern Ireland four years ago. Originally from Co. Londonderry, the couple opted for a detached period home in Co. Down, within walking distance of the beach. ‘We have always lived in period properties and viewed a lot of homes before falling for this 200 year-old double fronted detached Victorian house and its proximity to the sea. Although the house was structurally sound and had already been extended, we knew we had work we wanted to do when we bought it and have spent the last few years renovating and redecorating,’ says Sara, who had a career in fashion design before returning home and focusing her creativity into home interiors. ‘I had to step away from my job when we made the move and while I’ve been working on the house, I started to feel more removed from the fashion world, developing a passion for interior styling as I busied myself with the renovations.

Read more in the May issue…