Half the Battle

Paddington Bear’s house, the mask of Tutankhamun, Eileen Gray lacquered screens and early Georgian interiors are among the influences listed by historic conservation specialist Erica in the creation of a playful and unique décor in her Bray period home.

A former Assistant Conservator to the National Trust in the UK and a consultant in historic object conservation to the OPW, Waterford City and Malahide Castle among others, Erica is an expert on recreating a perfect period interior, but she had different ideas for her own home. ‘I do love Georgian style, but also the clean lines of Mid-century design. I wanted to combine antiquity and modernity in a melting pot, a series of little mise-en-scènes rather than a matching interior scheme.’

This period terraced home in Bray CountyWicklow was the first house viewed in 2015 by Erica and husband Sean when they decided to take the leap into homeownership, before that they had been renting. ‘I knew I wanted to live in a period home; I like the sense of history and the feeling of being simply a caretaker, part of a bigger story,’ says Erica. ‘It lifts the weight of possession when you are just a link in history.’ Erica also knew that she wanted to live in the seaside town of Bray. ‘It has a sense of fun, and I loved that it stands between the sea and the mountains, I felt that was right for me; that must be my inner Viking calling!’ she says. More prosaically, Erica found the town friendly and approachable, and the Dart station is minutes away.

Read more in the May issue…