Deputy Editor – and new homeowner – Niamh Devereux takes on a paint transformation with Fleetwood Paints
Working on a publication like Irish Country Magazine means that you are never short on inspiration – and your shopping wish-list is ever-expanding (unfortunately for your bank balance). It also means that you become familiar with Irish businesses that you can trust; one of them being Fleetwood Paints. Over the past two years, I’ve written features on homes that have been transformed with the extensive paint range of this family-owned-and-operated business – a beautiful living room in forest green and dusty pink; a nature-inspired nursery; rich shades for bedroom bliss.
From chatting with these home design enthusiasts who reimagined their spaces, I learned a lot about the power of paint, and how to choose the right shade for you – such as testing out sample pots and observing the swatches at different times of the day to see how the colour looks in changing light. And, how it’s important to not rush a decision, but ultimately go with your instincts and opt for shades that elevate your mood. Ultimately though, it’s all down to the quality of paint used – and Fleetwood is renowned for its luxurious, high-quality finish that gives a smooth application and a long-lasting result. It was a no-brainer for me to go with the brand for my own home renovation recently, and I finally got to try the paint out for myself after writing about other homeowners’ experience with it.

SEEING THE POTENTIAL
When my partner and I first viewed our now-home a few months ago, if I’m totally honest, I didn’t have that “this is the one” feeling; I wasn’t hit with the love-at-first sight realisation that this was my dream home, and I simply *must* have it. But what I did feel was the slow burn of possibility; there was potential everywhere. A semidetached house from the ‘70s, there was a lot of work to be done – especially in the paint department. But as we walked around that day, I knew that if we pulled our sleeves up and got to work, we could turn these four walls into something really special.
We picked up our keys in October, and since then, we have (mainly my partner Conor, full transparency) been plastering, priming and painting. For this shoot, I wanted to focus on our office room (truthfully, it’s still the only room that’s photo-ready but follow me on Instagram here for further updates this year!). While Covid times were undeniably grim (can you believe it was five years ago?), one positive to come out of the pandemic was the emergence of flexible working. As an editor and writer, sometimes you need days to just put your head down and let loose on the keyboard, with only your dogs for company (the handsome fella below is my appropriately-spoiled rescue Jack Russell X, Mike). It’s key to have a motivating space to do this in, and I wanted my home-office to also radiate joy and warmth.

HAPPY HUB
I first spotted a creamy yellow shade on Instagram Reels that I was immediately drawn to. As you can imagine, my algorithm is almost entirely DIY projects at the moment. I asked the experts at Fleetwood if they had something similar. In fact, they had the perfect match: ‘Corn Stalk’ CP1325. We decided to invest in an electric paint sprayer to make the process easier, but we also picked up some prep tools and brushes from Fleetwood for final touches and for fixing any blemishes. We opted to colour drench the room, painting the ceiling the same shade in a soft sheen finish, which makes you feel as though you’re basking in a joyful, sunshine glow.
We paired the mellow-yellow hue with a crisp, white trim in ‘Ventura White Feather’ from the Prestige range, and found both to be incredibly easy to use; its smooth consistency means that an even, streak-free coverage is effortless to achieve. The paint glides on seamlessly, reducing the need for multiple coats, has excellent adhesion and has a quick drying time (which was ideal, as I had very little time to get the rest of the room ready before our photographer Claire Nash called over!).

Next up were the finishing touches. As aforementioned, I wanted this to be a room that while designed for working in, is also playful. With that in mind, I opted for soft pink furnishings, like this retro keyboard and steel highboard cabinet. I’m also a big fan of prints, which can bring so much character to a room. There are plenty of incredible homegrown businesses making these; I went for ones by Wall Hello Design, Jando and Dusty Boy Designs. I also love my ‘I must have flowers, always, and always’ vase, also from Wexford shop Dusty Boy (dried flowers count, right?), and little touches like this 1% Hourglass by Current, which encourages you to take a 15-minute break of mindfulness…AKA, a tea/chocolate/dog cuddle break.
Speaking of tea, my office might not be everyone’s cup of the stuff – but that’s the magic of paint, it turns a blank canvas into a unique reflection of your creativity and individuality.
NEXT UP
We kickstarted our new year by tackling the sitting room; we’ve already painted it in the most beautiful neutral Fleetwood shade called ‘A Touch of Taupe’, which will pair perfectly with a forest-green sofa that is en route, and matching cushions from Meath business Scatter Box.
The plan for the kitchen is to transform it into a country chic haven. Think kitchen cabinets in soft green (shade ‘Lady’s Mantel’), brass handles, wooden countertops and white tile backsplash, with lots of plants. For our bedroom, we’ve gone for a colour that is a nod to our now-official hometown: ‘Trim Castle’, an earthy, neutral shade with a hint of pink. It gives a delicate, romantic feel, and I can’t wait to dress up the room with my cotton Foxford bedding, designed by Helen McAlinden.
Fleetwood Prestige is exclusive to the Vogue, Ventura and Pantone Colour Collections. Find your nearest stockist on fleetwood.ie