Denise O’Connor, owner of Optimise Home, recently gave us a peek inside her modern open-plan home in this episode of Houzz TV Live. We spoke with Denise about what the project meant to her and her family, her approach to design and how she thinks home design will be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

How did you get started in your career?
I always knew from a young age that I wanted to be an architect. I started out working in London after graduation for eight years but always had the desire to work for myself. My dad had his own business, so it wasn’t something I was afraid of. When I moved back to Dublin after having my first child, I realized there was a gap in the Irish market to offer a similar service to what I had been doing in London and that’s how Optimise Design was born.

Tell us about your design philosophy 
Design is about much more than just aesthetics; it is a powerful and transformative tool that can dramatically enhance our quality of life. When designing a home the focus should be on how the house functions over time or how it is going to enhance the well-being of those who live there. So for me, the most important factor when designing is to ensure the changes I make improve how the person using that space feels, as well as making it functional and beautiful.

What’s your favorite building or space in the world?
The Pantheon in Rome. It was built in 126 AD so it’s nearly 2,000 years old. I visited it for the first time 15 years ago and when I stepped inside, it completely took my breath away. I’ve never had that experience before or since.

How do you think the pandemic will impact home design?
The recent health crisis has caused a shift in how we are choosing to live in our homes. We’re more in tune with how we want our homes to make us feel, and this is driving the interior design decisions being made which is exciting to see. Recently, our clients want help making their homes work harder. They are looking for space to work and exercise at home. We’re also seeing clients looking for ways to create more privacy at home, which means sectioning off open-plan spaces.

How did it feel doing your own project?
It was really wonderful to get to do a project of this scale for myself. There were many satisfying moments but by far the most memorable was seeing the faces of my husband and two boys when they walked in on the day we moved back in. It’s something I’ll never forget.

What is your favorite element in the space?
Extending our home has created a whole new way of life for our family. The dining area opens onto the garden creating a lovely connection between inside and outside, which is ideal in the summertime or when entertaining, and if it’s a nice morning, the kids will open the doors and sit outside to have their breakfast. 

I love my garden, so I wanted to maximize the connection between inside and outside. One of my favorite places to sit now is on the sofa looking out onto the garden. The furniture layout was critical to this. Too often rooms are laid out with all of the furniture facing a wall

What was the biggest challenge during this project?
The toughest choice was the tiles for the open-plan space. It’s such a large area so it had to be right. I had samples next to my desk for months before finally settling on one, however, I’m delighted with the final choice.

When you’re not designing, where can you be found?
Most weekends you’ll find me in my garden. I love spending time outdoors, it’s a lovely way to unwind, especially after a busy week.