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Bespoke

At Handmade Design Studio, we specialise in transforming beloved but jaded domestic furniture back to their former glory! Are you looking to refresh an old chest of drawers or revive a worn-out armchair? Our combination of hand-painting and upholstery services will breathe new life into your favourite items. Each piece is restyled with care and attention to detail and will be uniquely tailored to your individual taste.

We are experienced with reupholstering all types of traditional and modern furniture. We ensure the quality and characteristics of each piece are respected; We are committed to quality and therefore only use appropriate materials and high-quality fabrics. We also offer a cushion making and window seating services together with fabric and colour guidance for all your furniture projects.

We use Annie Sloan Chalk Paint™, a versatile highly-pigmented and eco-friendly paint developed in 1990. With a palette of 50 stunning colours, you are guaranteed to find the perfect choice for your interior décor. We can apply decorative techniques like distressing, gilding or stenciling. We can update or replace the handles and knobs if required. Painting furniture is a cost-effective and sustainable way to renovate furniture without the need to buy new.

We serve the Mullingar area and beyond with flexible availability to accommodate your schedule. Contact us to discuss your project and to get a quote based on your specific preference. Pop over to the gallery page to see more completed projects.

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A Dedicated Space

Following the closure of Handmade Design Studio on Mount Street at the end of February, I set out immediately to organise my design studio at home. I began by painting a feature wall in a bright inspiring colour, Provence by Annie Sloan, while the three other walls are a more muted but warm steel colour by Colourtrend. Repurposing what used to be more of a storage and pantry space at home involved sorting out through the accumulated boxes, shelving and random bits and pieces. Reusable items were given to local charities not to mention a good few trips to the recycling centre!

I still have loose ends to tie up but I have now organised my paints, tools, fabrics, books and working area and have surrounded myself with the things that inspire my work. My first project in this new studio is underway: a French inspired bergère style armchair. Once restyled, it is going to look totally fab! Stay tuned …

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Balancing Act

After careful consideration over the last few weeks, I have made the difficult decision to step back and close the shop on Mount street in Mullingar. I will continue to take commissions of hand-painted furniture and bespoke upholstery work from my home studio.

I create Handmade Design Studio from scratch with the commitment to the concept of curating quality pieces all handmade and designed in Ireland. Sustainability has been an equally important value for me with furniture upcycling using Annie Sloan chalk paint. After 12 years of total commitment and constant work in the shop and behind the scene, I have come to a point where I need to rethink my work/life balance.

I am extremely grateful for the incredible support I have received from my very loyal customers over the years, many of whom have become dear friends. I want to thank the many innovative makers and talented artists for putting their trust in me with their beautiful handmade creations and unique artwork. I have enjoyed discovering their new collections, talking about their process and projects and I am always inspired by their passion for what they do. Thank you for the great collaboration I had with some of the makers to design exclusive items for Handmade Design Studio

I’m going to miss the chats about everything from the weather (of course!) to politics, holidays, pets, books but also the stories of life’s happenings and all the laughs.

I will continue to offer creative workshops in Mullingar and its surroundings so keep an eye on the website for updates.

Thank you for being part of the story of Handmade Design Studio. Being a creative and a maker is in my heart so the journey continues: just a bit differently once I close the door at 32 Mount Street.

Keep in touch, Claire

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The art of gifting

The Christmas season is definitely upon us! How did that happen so quickly?

Handmade gifts are a thoughtful and truly personal option as you want to find the ideal gift for the person you have in mind. At Handmade Design Studio, we specialise in one of a kind handmade gifts all designed and made in Ireland, ranging from textiles to ceramics and artworks. Each gift item is carefully gift-wrapped in either an eco-paper or a handmade fabric pouch all individually sewn behind the scene by myself!

Here are a couple of gift idea suggestions: A  piece of jewellery for a special occasion is always a great choice:  made from porcelain, sterling silver, semi-precious stones, fine wire, vintage beads or even silk:  All jewellery designers have their own recognisable style and create unique and intricate pieces by hand. My favourite designer of the moment is Fernanda from Wild Wire: she crochets fine colourful wire into exquisite necklaces and earrings guaranteed to be noticed!

Artisan Candles made from 100% natural ingredients, infused with essential oils and presented in beautiful containers are a truly classic gift: Try ‘Silent Night’ by Wild Atlantic Wick and you’ll be immediately transported into an enchanted pine forest …

Christmas handmade ornaments are great stocking fillers: adding a new decoration to the tree every year is a lovely way to customize  your Christmas tree; they also become part of the family heirloom and will be cherished for years to come. Check out Ashley Walsh’s beautiful ceramic stars!

Handcrafted willow baskets are both sustainable and durable items; they come in many shapes and earthy colours ranging from dark brown to green and reddish hues.  We have a beautiful selection made locally by Gearóid Breslin, a skilled willow weaver and basket maker from Mullingar.

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Wintering

Now that the days are shorter and the weather feels more wintry, it is time to turn our homes into cosy spaces. Bring out warm woollen blankets and create a calm ambiance with some beautifully scented candles infused with essential oils.

We naturally slow down during the winter months: the seasonal change encourages reflection and a less hectic pace. It’s curling up with a good book, sipping on a hot beverage or simply enjoying the company of loved ones sitting by the fire or walking out in the fresh air. Instead of the mad rush of busy schedules, the winter months can offer a chance to recharge and reconnect with ourselves and those close to us.

Winter also provides a perfect backdrop for nurturing creativity: it could be a good time to try a new craft such as weaving, decoupage, knitting, making a lampshade or painting a piece of furniture. It is a wonderful way to chase away the winter blues while expanding your skills!

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Sustainable September

It was a pleasure last month to host some workshops for August Craft Month. Lampshade making and weaving were the workshops I offered this time around. It is all about learning in a relaxed atmosphere, slowing down, exploring creativity and making connections and these workshops were exactly that. I really enjoyed speaking with Claire O’Brien on Midlands 103 about taking part in August Craft Month for her arts and culture radio show ‘Encore’.

As part of sustainable September, one of the action you can take is to upcycle an item of furniture: it is a great way to explore one’s creativity and to simply contribute to sustainability by giving a new lease of life to old or tired-looking furniture. Using Chalk Paint™, you do not have to worry about priming, you can apply the paint directly to any clean surface even if it is varnished or already painted. It you would like to give it a go, the easiest way is to join one of the up coming Restyle your furniture workshops. Check out for the Workshops page for dates! If you are on the lookout for some second-hand pieces of furniture, try your local charity shops. St Vincent de Paul has just opened a new furniture shop in Mullingar and they have a large warehouse full of good solid pieces!

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Midlands

Located in the heart of Ireland, the Midlands is a creative and vibrant region with many things to see and do. Its unique landscape of bogs, lakes, ancient sites and mountains makes it the perfect destination to chill and recharge.

Many fantastic artists and designers live and work in the Midlands from Co. Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath creating a huge breath of high quality products and artworks ranging from the traditional to the contemporary. At Handmade Design Studio, we showcase the work of 16 different makers and artists based in the Midlands, so you are bound to be inspired by their creativity and craftmanship when you visit.

From time to time, we engage with makers and ask them to design something a bit special in relation to Mullingar and the surrounding area. A couple of months ago, I met Maeve from Outcrop and asked her if they would consider designing a 3D map of Lough Owel and the result is stunning!

Handmade Design Studio is committed to bringing beautiful, practical and original craft to Mullingar, to celebrate the Midlands and to promote handmade craft and design in Ireland. Your support for this contributes to the vibrant town centre as well as engaging with the makers and designers’ craftmanship,  and purchasing sustainably-sourced gifts.  

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Hello April!

The blossoms on the cherry trees are a sure sign that Spring is here! It’s a good excuse to celebrate all things floral this month. Let’s start with a new contemporary collection of framed dried flower arrangements by Cavan-based designer Kirsten O’Keeffe just arrived in store. Using only Irish grown flowers and grass, Kirsten combines these with delicate attention to details.  Each eye-catching floral composition is bound together with a thin piece of copper: A unique piece that will look superb in any interiors.

Two Irish-based jewellery makers who are hugely inspired by nature are Namitha from Naoi and Melanie Hand. Namitha creates hand-painted statement earrings, celebrating the beauty and vibrancy of the botanical world: her Monstera drop earrings are certainly striking! Melanie has been designing and making jewellery for 25 years and loves to experiment with flower petals, combining them with crystals, delicate beads and pearls to produce quite unique pieces of jewellery. A great selection of work by both designers is available in the shop.

Floral fragrances are integral to scented candles and are derived partly from essential oils. The most popular fragrance is the comforting aroma of vanilla, followed closely by the soothing scent of lavender and the invigorating scent of citrus. My favorite fragrance is jasmine for its delicateness and so the ‘Go Raith Maith Agat’ natural candles by WAW are a real treat and they burn up to 40 hours so lots of opportunity to enjoy the sources of natural beauty in your home or office.

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Loveliness

Every January, I visit Showcase in the RDS in Dublin. It is a great annual trade event for makers and artists. For me, it is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with many of the makers I stock and discuss their new collections. It is also an opportunity for me to discover new Irish-based designers . the work on display at Showcase is truly inspiring and a feast for the eyes. There is everything from functional pottery influenced by the sea by The Mood Designs to crafted jewellery made from the finest of metal wire by WildWire Jewellery. As a textile enthusiast, I was taken by the stunning silk and wool scarves by Jayne Gillian and I really loved the exquisite abstract original paintings and prints by Fab Cow. Such a lift to the spirits in these still dark and wintry days!

I’m now starting to receive some of the new pieces and hope you will like them as much as I do. Just in are some very chic porcelain earrings from Co.Carlow, linen-bound notebooks by Adelle Hickey from Dublin and 100% natural wax candles from Co.Galway. Pop in and treat yourself or a loved one to a Valentine gift!

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The Bells of Christmas

The Angelus first aired on Irish radio in 1950 at noon and six o’clock. It has been a steady presence on Irish television too just before the six o’clock evening news since the launch of Telefís Éireann in 1961. This one minute iconic broadcast has evolved over the years and now includes the diversity of Irish society. The Angelus, is filmed by Kairos Communications based in Maynooth, and mainly shows people going about their daily activities, at home or at work or in their local community.

This year, Cork and Mullingar were selected as locations for filming the Angelus. It was really interesting to be part of the film-making process in the shop, where Tony Wheatley, a stained glass artist based outside Mullingar, set up his workshop for the day. A festive atmosphere was created as Tony worked away making beautiful angels.

It is lovely to see some of the scenes and streetscapes of Mullingar including the Town Band getting into the Christmas spirit! Also featured is the store front of the Saint Vincent de Paul on Bishop Gate Street, where the beautiful stained glass crib created by Tony is displayed in the window. The Angelus reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas: kindness, love, hope and joy.