THE OWNER
Claire Hawkins, a women's rights humanitarian worker, and her family
THE HOUSE
A seafront cottage in Donabate
When Claire Hawkins returned from Africa to have her second child, she rented a seaside cottage in Donabate. “It was a magical time,” she tells me.
“I was only twenty minutes from the city centre, but could have been in Connemara. With farmland behind and the sea in front, it was like stepping back in time.”
Returning to Africa was hard. “I couldn’t shake the feeling,” she says, “that I was leaving something behind.”
Growing up in a family with strong ties to the water she had always dreamed of living by the coast. Determined she would return one day to Donabate with her family, she set up an online alert for any house in that location, but did not hear anything for some years.
Then, two months after her dad’s passing, she received an alert for the house next door to the one she had rented. She contacted the agent and was ready to fly home, but COVID hit.
Despite long lockdowns and grounded flights, she managed eventually to secure the sale. “I knew it was the right house for me,” Claire says, “I could have bought it on the spot.”
Originally built in the 1800s, the house, known as Corballis Cottage, had been renovated fifteen years before, and was in what she describes as “good enough condition.”
However, further investigations revealed it needed insulation and a better heating system. “This started a spiral of different decisions,” she says wryly, “from fixing the roof to gutting the foundations.” The work took seven months. The biggest challenge? “Getting it off the ground.” She laughs.
Thankfully, her vision was clear: “I wanted a joy-filled, family-friendly style that felt warm, inviting and deeply personal.”
Enlisting the help of interior designer, Emily Cunnane of InSpace Design, architect Ciara McGonigle of StudioAND, and John and his team from Punch construction, they developed a holistic design approach that merged architectural vision with interior warmth and functionality.
Ciara’s expertise in spatial planning and structure provided the foundation for the home’s flow, while Emily’s eye for colour, texture and furnishings ensured that every detail worked in harmony. “I wanted real continuity in the house,” says Claire.
“The goal was to bring the outside in, creating a seamless flow between the natural beauty beyond our windows and the spaces within our home.”
Check out our new issue for more about this beautiful home and the project.
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