TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF

I'm a journalist and writer from Dublin. I started out in magazines, I am the former editor of Irish Tatler, and now I freelance writing fashion and interiors, as well as pop culture features, across some lovely titles. I’m a contributing editor at The Gloss, and my work has appeared in the Sunday Times, Stylist, Irish Times and IMAGE. I’m also a member of the female Irish writing collective, Rogue. 

HOW DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?

It usually comes from allowing myself to pause and breathe; giving myself space to gain perspective. Often the moments you actually sit still are when the best inspiration comes. Changing your environment is key, too. As someone who works from home, and has done since the pandemic, I have to constantly refresh my surroundings otherwise I become very unmotivated. Long walks, tending to my garden and the odd dip in the sea (when I’m brave enough) help, too. One byproduct of having a husband who is music obsessed is that I end up watching a lot of music documentaries which I always find spark ideas; fashion and music are both a cultural thermometer, of sorts. 

ANY PETS? TELL US MORE.. 

Burt is our one year old Ragdoll cat who is the most lovable scamp. He is named after Burt Bacharach. Admittedly, I am not a Bacharach fan, but it was a toss up between that and Ralph, or Brad (yes, Pitt). I recently saw a lady cat called Nancy Drew on Instagram, which I am likely to pilfer at some point in the future.  

ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO A FRIEND?

Protect your boundaries, fill your cup first, know your triggers: I’m a cliched millennial who’s a sucker for therapyspeak. 

WHERE IS YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE IN DUBLIN? 

I’m biased but I’m lucky enough to live by the sea in Monkstown and it’s a blissful place to be. I get to start the day with walks along the coast line, visiting my favourite nooks and crannies like Howbert & Mays for plants or Hatch for a cup of tea (they do an excellent brownie). Mainly, I just like to walk around and gaze at the incredible houses and gardens filled with lush autumnal displays, of which there are many. My favourite hobby is picking out my lottery-win house – it changes on the regular but right now it’s a 1940s beach bungalow with an allotment style garden and views of Dublin bay. (Yes, total notions.

TIPS FOR FLOWER ARRANGING AT HOME?

Keep it simple and natural. A clutch of white cosmos or freshly picked trailing nasturtium, in a classic shade like golden gleam, outweighs any fancy, fussy displays, in my opinion.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE FLOWER?

Just one? Impossible! In no particular order, I’m obsessed with: blue lace delphiniums, butterfly blue scabiosa, orange California poppies, lemonade cosmos, black velvet nasturtium and rambling roses in hues of light pink. My obsession for next year is to grow oodles of foxglove in apricot beauty; it’s possibly the most romantic flower I’ve ever seen. I could write another paragraph about dahlias, but I won’t bore you. Other than to say, I started about 20 tubers on my windowsill last spring and they brought unparalleled joy to my garden this summer. (And they’re still going …) 

AT THE CRATE STUDIO WE LOVE A GOOD PODCAST. ANY RECCOMENDATIONS FOR US?

My ride-or-die podcasts are My Favourite Murder (I’m a true crime obsessive) and Something Rhymes With Purple (I love a good word of the day), I’m currently dabbling in The Rewatcher, a retelling of every episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer which is pure 1990s nostalgia.