Edelle and Davy Russell’s residence, with its tasteful and understated detailing, presents a reality in which everything feels perfect. The living room is adorned with a graceful rocking horse, horse-inspired abstract artwork near the entrance and a boot room that exhibits their kids’ racing silks. The house radiates a genuine charm, as it should, being home to three budding horse enthusiasts and a retired champion jockey.
Resident of Youghal, Edelle Russell, a deputy head and teacher of chemistry, divulges that every detail fell into line when they, along with their four children, decided to make Davy’s ancestral house their own. Initially, this former military barracks was occupied by Davy’s father, Jerry, who found it less adaptive to his needs over time. He recommended renovating his house, a part of a farm close to where Davy and Edelle were considering building their own new home.
Living on the farm was essential since Davy breeds horses and needs to be able to rush to the stables whenever a mare goes into labour. As part of the renovation, a house was constructed for his father, connected to the original house via a glass corridor, a modification that seemed to cater to everyone’s needs. Having Jerry close is a joy; he enjoys his own space, but the children always know where to get an ice cream.
The dual-house project extended to five years, hindered by the pandemic and planning permissions. However, Edelle remarks that it was worth the wait and they are both extremely satisfied with the outcome. Emulating their early homes where visitors always felt welcomed, they aimed to create the same welcoming atmosphere in their new residence, hoping guests would feel relaxed and wish to extend their stays.
The esteemed jockey, a two-time Grand National victor, retired from racing in the previous year. Edelle reveals that their objective was to complete the house before he relinquished his saddle. She shares that, despite his retirement, Davy is busier than ever, as their yard is bustling with young horses, needing his constant attention.
A considerable amount of renovation was required for the three-floor property to modernise it. While its exterior appears unchanged, the inside has been entirely reconfigured. The house now possesses an A2 energy rating, satisfying all our requirements,” the couple relayed. Their vision was brought to life with the help of Des Ewing Residential Architects. For the interior design, they enlisted the help of Arlene McIntyre, an interior architect and designer whose work they’d been admiring on social media.
Edelle expressed her gratitude towards Arlene, saying “She consistently made decisions in my best interest. We built wonderful rooms for our kids and opted for budget-friendly furniture like Ikea lockers, which were colour-matched to the built-in wardrobes. This was a wise decision as our young kids are fond of playing with Lego, and inevitably their play might cause some wear and tear,”
The reality of living on a farm meant functionality needed to go hand in hand with style. “With plenty of mud and little hands touching walls, the house needed to handle everyday family life. Arlene comprehended this.”
The interior architectural team, including McIntyre, was responsible for crafting the design for the kitchen and bathrooms. The bespoke furnishings were supplied by Ventura Interiors, co-managed by McIntyre and her husband, Juergen Riedel.
The grand property, with views over Youghal Bay, has an interior influenced by the hues of the surrounding sea, coast, and countryside. “We aimed for a timeless look, so opted for ever-trending neutral colours,” McIntyre added.
The household’s present and future needs were prioritised while making decisions on interiors. Anticipating the demands of a young family, more durable fabrics were used that can withstand frequent use. McIntyre explained, “We utilised much natural wool, mixed blends, and brushed cotton. These materials are easily maintained and aren’t delicate.” The home now stands ready to embrace life, mud, and all.
The couple cherishes various aspects of their home, such as the bootroom equipped with individual lockers for each of the children, and a Belfast sink for cleaning up after outdoor activities. Edelle appreciates this handy feature as a luxury and recognises their good fortunes.
Another highlight of their home which many might covet is the laundry room, described by Edelle as the brightest and sunniest part of the house. It is filled with practical amenities including four wall-mountable clothes horses, a constantly operating washing machine and a double sink that gets plenty of use. Entertainment during chores is enabled by a high-quality speaker allowing her to play music or tune into a podcast while doing the ironing.
When it comes to showcasing Davy’s many accolades, he preferred to adopt a modest approach of only using one display cabinet found in their dining area to house the numerous trophies and cups. Despite almost adding a glitter ball to the collection from his participation in the Dancing with the Stars show, in which he narrowly missed the grand finale, Davy remains humble. Asserting his simplicity, he used to rehearse in their hallway, shooing Edelle away when she came to watch. His involvement in the RTÉ show generated a lot of excitement among their children, who engaged in playful mimicry of the judges and dancers, creating joyful family memories.
After experiencing significant changes over the past few years, the family now looks forward to settling into their new forever home, with Edelle expressing that regardless of the size of the house, moving into a permanent home brings a tremendous sense of accomplishment.
Relocating to this place occurred when we were in our 40s, and it was something we wished we could have done earlier. Reaching this stage was challenging due to stress, financial constraints, and other pressures. Despite this, I can vividly recall that the most significant moment for me was when I finally shut the door, took a seat, and felt utterly amazed. It is a place that I adore, David cherishes, and our kids enjoy – and it’s my sincere wish that our guests feel the same way.