Rixo co-founder Orlagh McCloskey has turned a barren new build into a house full of personal touches

One of the greatest obstacles in the decoration of the house was its scale. Vast blank walls and double height ceilings made choosing furniture rather difficult. ‘Trying to find things to fit walls of this size…it’s impossible to source things that aren't ridiculously expensive.' Frustrated with the hunt for affordable art, Orlagh took matters into her own hands in the way only true creatives can; armed with canvas, paints and card, she cut out shapes inspired by Henri Matisse and painted her own large scale artworks. Brook then created bespoke frames for each of them.

Perhaps the most impressive and special thing about this project is the partnership between Orlagh and Brook. ‘Brook’s a carpenter and joiner by trade, so he had all of the skills and machinery required to make a lot of the furniture himself, Orlagh explains. ‘I would sketch and design things. He’d CAD it up and then make it.' Throughout the house, examples of their partnership are present. There's the cabinet in the living room that is a computer desk disguising itself as a Brutalist piece; the coffee table that Orlagh tried to track down for two years before deciding to make it herself; and the banquette seating handmade by Brook. It is a brilliant, and rare, way to add personality and individuality into a modern home. As Orlagh summarises, 'I’m the driving force for vision, and he makes it come to life.'

In what could have been a dull corner under the stairs, Orlagh has created a colourful reading spot. The armchair is from Soho Home, reupholstered in a smart Colours of Arley fabric.

Mark Anthony Fox

It wasn't just her husband Orlagh collaborated closely with, but her twin sister, who just so happens to be an interior designer. Founder of Cupla Studio, Gemma McCloskey was an invaluable font of knowledge throughout the project. Together they considered the lighting and layout, as well as digging through antique fairs and jumble sales to unearth treasures. ‘What’s so good about Gemma is she knows the products of her industry really well, as well as understanding my taste – just from being my twin.'

It was Gemma who finally cracked the code on what to do with the back wall in the living room. ‘She said to me one day, “Have you seen Matisse’s stained glass windows in the Chapelle du Rosaire de Vence?” I looked them up and they were perfect.' Orlagh drew up her own versions, looking to 1970s stained glass for further inspiration, before discovering Maya Glass Studio locally, who crafted the windows to their specifications. In situ, they provide an energising shot of colour, and cast a sacred light around the room.

The windows are intentionally one of very few permanent expressions of colour within the house. Orlagh has layered pattern and texture to create a rich tapestry that feels bedded in, without commitment. ‘Everyone who comes here says it looks like Rixo as a house,' she admits – and anyone familiar with the brand's beautiful, eclectic prints will likely agree. ‘The colour is all from the items and furnishings, which means you can just move things around if you get bored’: much like creating a new outfit from an existing wardrobe.