'There's always a lovely stream of light': Nicola shares her bright hallway makeover

‘I put the glass door in where there was originally a wall.’

EACH WEEK, WE ask someone based in Ireland with a passion for interiors to share one photo of their favourite spot in their home.

Nicola McAndrew has lived in a detached house just outside Mayo town for 17 years.

“I have always had a big interest in interiors, particularly in my own home,” she says. “Anyone who knows me is aware of my my love for redecorating and home decor.”

This week, Nicola (@behindthefrontdoor1) chatted us through her favourite spot: her hallway.

unnamed (1) Nicola McAndrew Nicola McAndrew

What do you love about this part of your home?

I love how bright and airy the hall is when I walk in. The back of the house is south-facing, so there’s always a lovely stream of light coming through the glass door at the end of the hallway

What’s your favourite object in here and why?

My favourite object is the staircase because of its design. I didn’t want a straight staircase – I liked the idea of having two turns to make it a little bit different. It’s open plan under the stairs, which gives the hallway a larger and brighter feel.

What was your inspiration when you were putting this room together?

The original hallway that was here on our moving day in 2002 was quite different. It had pine wood and terracotta floor tiles. The terracotta tiles were then replaced by off-white porcelain tiles, which have a much fresher and modern feel.

Painting the stair banisters white and grey gave the hallway a more modern feel straight away. I also moved the placement of the kitchen door from the left side of the hallway to the end, to maximise natural light – one of my main goals when redesigning the space.

Be honest: how much tidying did you do before taking this photo?

I did the usual routine of removing jackets from the banister and runners from inside the door. Despite having a built-in cloakroom press in the hall for coats and shoes, they still don’t seem to make it to where they should go!

Is there anything in here you’d like to change?

If I’m honest, as lovely as they are to look at, the off-white porcelain tiles would be reconsidered if I was to make the decision again. Three boys, two dogs and these type of tiles don’t go too well together. I won’t pretend they are easy to keep clean – they most definitely are not!