At Home With Irenie Cossey

Vitra's Home Stories for AW 2023 peeks inside the family home of London-based creative Irenie Cossey.

Irenie's unique home is curated by collecting memories. Originally from Dublin, she is now based in London where she lives with her family of five and runs an interior design studio. Irenie's home features an eclectic mix of Eames classics, modern design objects and contemporary artworks. Courtesy of Vitra, join us on a tour of her captivating home.

"I have this obsession with collecting objects. I think I’m trying to unconsciously frame individual moments and freeze things in time."

Irenie lives and breathes design, and her home is a reflection of this. Her ever-evolving home is shaped by the things that excite her creativity. After a visit to the Eames House in California, Irenie was inspired by the way the iconic design duo lived in their "own collection of life", noting the fun they had with their sketches and use of colour.

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"Design has been part of my life ever since I was a child. I was always in my bedroom, drawing and making things. I guess I’m analogue by nature. As an interior designer, I need to see things through. When we moved in here 14 years ago, I wanted to put my own stamp on it"

When I curate spaces, it’s all about connections and layers. My house, and any home is in constant shift. We change, children change, spaces change, we need to adapt to that. So there’s always a project going on, everywhere. My home is a platform to test ideas. I might see a colour somewhere, and I’ll keep it in mind, and try and apply that to fabrics, paints, samples, tiles, to a new project. It’s like making a fruit salad, blending bitter and sweet. The pop of something unusual is what I’m after. There’s always this constant: old and new, found and revived. Either reupholstering something a few times as needed over its lifespan or mixing it with new pieces.’

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For Irenie, curation is at the centre of everything, her unique eye brings together classic Eames designs, like the Eames Lounge Chair and DSW Fiberglass Chairs, and blends them with a contrasting mix of unique treasures and playful accessories.

‘Everything has a story. About a year ago we managed to get an original plywood splint by
Eames, which we’d been after for years. It is in the dining room. People ask what it is, and then we explain the background and how it ended up in our house. Or my mum’s Irish harp, which she played from the age of a child. I brought it back from Ireland. No one in the house can play it but I just love all the memories it brings.’

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Featured In Irene's Home

Shop the look:

1. Vitra Eames Lounge Chair
2. Vitra Eames House Bird
3. Vitra Eames DSW Fiberglass Chair
4. Flos Tab Table Lamp
5. Flos Snoopy Table Lamp
6. Vitra Eames LCW Lounge Chair
7. Vitra Eames LTR Occasion Table
8. Vitra Eames EA222 Soft Pad Lounge Chair

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Eames, classics for good reason.

Charles and Ray Eames, a visionary husband-and-wife duo, left an indelible mark on the world of design and architecture. Renowned for their groundbreaking work in the mid-20th century, the Eameses seamlessly blended form and function, creating iconic pieces that continue to captivate and influence contemporary design. Over a prolific span of forty years, their innovative contributions encompassed an array of furniture, including shelving systems, dining tables, stackable chairs, and the iconic plastic chairs that have become synonymous with their name. Their most iconic piece - the Lounge Chair and Ottoman is one of the most iconic pieces of contemporary furniture - a design classic in its own right and coveted by anyone who loves modern furniture. Eames designs, produced under license by Vitra, reflect a timeless blend of elegance, practicality, and a deep understanding of materials and craftsmanship. The Eames legacy endures as a testament to their ingenuity, shaping the way we perceive and interact with the spaces we inhabit.

Explore the iconic Eames Collection today at Utility.

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Time for more? Artistry & Inspiration in Stockholm: At Home With Mattias & Carolina Storm | Spotlight On The Vitra Eames Lounge Chair | A Tribute To Kaare Klint : At Home With Patricia Perales Garcia