It’s in with the old at this gorgeous Northern Ireland home, with its own link to the News Letter!

HELEN MCGURK takes a peek at this Belfast property, which is packed with thrifty finds.
By Helen McGurk
Published 11th Mar 2022, 16:37 GMT
Updated 11th Mar 2022, 17:28 GMT
The G-Plan unit behind Ger cost £120 from a seller on Facebook Marketplace. The Danish swivel chair he is sitting on cost £160, including delivery from Ragamuffins Emporium, Wales. The mid-century solid teak and black coffee table cost £40 from a seller on eBay. The candlesticks were handmade by Robin Grundy of Borien Studio.The G-Plan unit behind Ger cost £120 from a seller on Facebook Marketplace. The Danish swivel chair he is sitting on cost £160, including delivery from Ragamuffins Emporium, Wales. The mid-century solid teak and black coffee table cost £40 from a seller on eBay. The candlesticks were handmade by Robin Grundy of Borien Studio.
The G-Plan unit behind Ger cost £120 from a seller on Facebook Marketplace. The Danish swivel chair he is sitting on cost £160, including delivery from Ragamuffins Emporium, Wales. The mid-century solid teak and black coffee table cost £40 from a seller on eBay. The candlesticks were handmade by Robin Grundy of Borien Studio.

Second-hand doesn’t have to be mean second best, as Ger O’Donnell’s characterful North Belfast home proves.

The four-bedroom, double-fronted property fulfils its stylish credentials with quirky, retro furniture, faded antiques and artefacts, and covetable mid-century items, all bought inexpensively.

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Ger, 52, who is originally from Limerick, lives in the property with his husband Michael and two dogs, Louie and Maxie.

“The antique gentlemen’s bath caddy cost £60 from a store called New Vintage in London. The sink was originally from a ship. It cost £60 from a second-hand shop at the Lisburn roundabout. The ship light above the sink cost £120 at Wilsons Yard, Dromore, as was the toilet roll dispenser. The toilet roll storage was an old flower basket I put chains on and hung from the ceiling.”“The antique gentlemen’s bath caddy cost £60 from a store called New Vintage in London. The sink was originally from a ship. It cost £60 from a second-hand shop at the Lisburn roundabout. The ship light above the sink cost £120 at Wilsons Yard, Dromore, as was the toilet roll dispenser. The toilet roll storage was an old flower basket I put chains on and hung from the ceiling.”
“The antique gentlemen’s bath caddy cost £60 from a store called New Vintage in London. The sink was originally from a ship. It cost £60 from a second-hand shop at the Lisburn roundabout. The ship light above the sink cost £120 at Wilsons Yard, Dromore, as was the toilet roll dispenser. The toilet roll storage was an old flower basket I put chains on and hung from the ceiling.”

“The house was built in 1894. The solicitor told us that it was a gift to entice a Scottish gentleman to take up the role as editor of the News Letter!.”

Ger, a freelance event director and photographer, has always had a passion for interiors and loves nothing more than the treasure hunt aspect of scouring charity shops, second-hand outlets and Facebook Marketplaces for amazing items.

“I was always a very visual person. As a child I constantly tried to make things look better, even if it was just the corner of my bedroom,” he said.

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“Early on I became obsessed with the lavish antique interiors you would see in old movies. I found myself looking past the actors at the decorative embellishments of the set.

“My bed frame is a Victorian reproduction of a Louis XIV-style bed. It cost 180 euro at Irish liquidators. The side brass and glass table is 1970s French Hollywood revival, bought from Re-Store on the Newtownards Road, East Belfast, for £20. The lamp is a 1980s bought in Habitat for Humanity in Lisburn. The rug cost £60 from On The Square Emporium.”“My bed frame is a Victorian reproduction of a Louis XIV-style bed. It cost 180 euro at Irish liquidators. The side brass and glass table is 1970s French Hollywood revival, bought from Re-Store on the Newtownards Road, East Belfast, for £20. The lamp is a 1980s bought in Habitat for Humanity in Lisburn. The rug cost £60 from On The Square Emporium.”
“My bed frame is a Victorian reproduction of a Louis XIV-style bed. It cost 180 euro at Irish liquidators. The side brass and glass table is 1970s French Hollywood revival, bought from Re-Store on the Newtownards Road, East Belfast, for £20. The lamp is a 1980s bought in Habitat for Humanity in Lisburn. The rug cost £60 from On The Square Emporium.”

“In my early 20s I discovered Bauhaus design and modernism. I found a lot of the clean lines in mid century furniture echoed that aesthetic. Luckily, I could find a lot of that style of furniture in thrift shops for next to nothing. I guess that’s when my obsession with pre-loved, well-made furniture began. And from then I find it impossible to pass a second-hand shop of any description.”

As we all know, home furnishings that have a low price tag may come with a high environmental cost. Ger said he feels better about how sustainable it is to buy pre-loved pieces.

“Not only is it good for the planet, but I also feel like you are inviting a little piece of someone else’s history into your life, and I like that.“

*Follow Ger at www.instagram.com/mybelfasthouse

“The Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs were bought from a seller on Facebook Marketplace. I got six for £60. The old copper lamp is a repurposed antique fire extinguisher bought in a thrift store in Las Vegas for $5. The filing cabinet was £50 from the St Vincent de Paul shop in Belfast city centre.”“The Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs were bought from a seller on Facebook Marketplace. I got six for £60. The old copper lamp is a repurposed antique fire extinguisher bought in a thrift store in Las Vegas for $5. The filing cabinet was £50 from the St Vincent de Paul shop in Belfast city centre.”
“The Marcel Breuer Cesca chairs were bought from a seller on Facebook Marketplace. I got six for £60. The old copper lamp is a repurposed antique fire extinguisher bought in a thrift store in Las Vegas for $5. The filing cabinet was £50 from the St Vincent de Paul shop in Belfast city centre.”

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“The 1970s glass and lucite side table is by Pierre Vandel. I bought it from Facebook Marketplace for £35. The lamp sitting on top, was bought from a Cancer Lifeline Shop for £6. The mid-century Crannac chair cost £20 at Irish Liquidators. The black candlesticks on the fireplace were £3 in Barnardos, North Belfast.”“The 1970s glass and lucite side table is by Pierre Vandel. I bought it from Facebook Marketplace for £35. The lamp sitting on top, was bought from a Cancer Lifeline Shop for £6. The mid-century Crannac chair cost £20 at Irish Liquidators. The black candlesticks on the fireplace were £3 in Barnardos, North Belfast.”
“The 1970s glass and lucite side table is by Pierre Vandel. I bought it from Facebook Marketplace for £35. The lamp sitting on top, was bought from a Cancer Lifeline Shop for £6. The mid-century Crannac chair cost £20 at Irish Liquidators. The black candlesticks on the fireplace were £3 in Barnardos, North Belfast.”

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Ben Lowry

Editor

Related topics:Northern Ireland

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