Faced with the blank canvas of a derelict castle in the Irish countryside, I was asked to turn this location into a stylish comfortable setting for a significant birthday. Initial meetings with the client signalled a desire for comfortable but not stuffy ambience so the most appropriate thing to do was to turn it back into a lavish castle for the night.

Linoleum mosaic floors were laid throughout, sumptuous burgundy drapes were hung on all windows and all of the reception rooms were cable lit with tudor chandeliers. Braziers burned outside and the obelisk in the meadows, erected in honour of Sir Walter Raleighs first potato crop planted in Ireland was lit up.

A Venetian masked ball for 200 discerning guests fitted right in to the design of the event.