O’Shea Residence

Client Story + Design Concept

Newlywed couple, Finley and Hanna O’Shea are moving into their first home together. Finley is a literature professor from Ireland who relocated to the United States after meeting Hanna, a photographer and travel enthusiast. They met while Hanna was traveling in Ireland for photography and the pair have been inseparable ever since. It wasn’t long before Finley decided to move to the United States to be with Hanna. With a fresh start in the United States, Finley wants to pursue his dream to be an entrepreneur and run his own pub! They were lucky enough to find a mixed-use, two-story building with commercial space below and a residential unit above. The building was in the perfect location at the end of a street and across from a park in South End, Boston.

They want the space to be mid-century and pay homage to Finley’s home country of Ireland. With that being said, the color scheme will include accents of dark green, marigold, and brown. The design will blend mid-century modern with some traditional elements, and include a variety of textures from leather to natural, rustic stone.

Design Objective + Process

Lindsey was tasked with creating a residential space that would still feel connected to the commercial space below. She was given the shell of the building, but freedom to choose a client profile, location, and interior walls. After researching the area of Boston, she felt that was a perfect fit for her young Irish newlyweds.

From her initial concepts, Lindsey felt this design was going to be rich, warm, and collected. Knowing the importance of travel to the client, Lindsey created a focal wall in the great room with a stone fireplace heart and built-in drywall niches, to display their artifacts. One of the most influential items was the great room cocktail table, which the client brought over from Ireland as a family heirloom. This really drove the design direct towards mid-century style. There are some Spanish elements in the architecture, like the arches and stove surround, as a nod to medieval Irish architecture.

Softwares used: AutoCAD, Photoshop, SketchUp, Podium