About the studio
Open Hands Club Homes grew out of late-night conversations between Niamh O'Sullivan and Rory Keane — two Dublin stylists tired of telling clients to lock pets out of rooms they had just paid to renovate.
Then
Niamh spent seven years specifying fabrics for Georgian restoration projects around Merrion and Fitzwilliam Square, where conservation officers scrutinise every trim but rarely mention dogs.
Rory ran a small joinery studio near the Grand Canal, building kitchen units for Portobello families who needed scratch-resistant panels beside feeding stations.
They met at a South William Street co-working desk in 2018 and discovered both kept notebooks of pet-damaged samples — chenille that failed after one winter, lacquer that could not survive a jumping spaniel.
Now
The studio occupies a first-floor room at 28 South William Street, filled with fabric swatches tagged by abrasion scores and a wall of Dublin floor plans from 1890s terraces to 1970s cul-de-sacs.
Six stylists work across the city: two focus on fabric and upholstery, two on built-in storage and entry joinery, and two on site measurement in homes from Rathmines to Howth.
We complete roughly forty pet-friendly room commissions each year, always as interior styling — never veterinary advice, grooming, or pet training services.
Next
We are developing a sample library of Irish-made textiles tested against local climate — damp hallways, salt air in coastal suburbs, and the particular wear pattern of stone steps in Dublin 8.
A quarterly open morning at the studio lets Portobello and Ranelagh residents bring fabric scraps from damaged sofas for quick comparison against our archive.
Longer term, Niamh and Rory hope to publish a plain-language guide to Georgian hallways and modern pet needs, written for Dublin apartment owners rather than industry peers.
Why Dublin shapes our choices
Georgian proportions mean narrow hallways and tall windows — gorgeous for light, awkward for muddy paw traffic. We design entry sequences that respect original fanlights and plaster cornices while adding washable runners and concealed storage.
Portobello's mix of Victorian red brick and 1930s artisan flats demands flexible furniture scales. A whippet and a toddler need different clearances in the same ten-foot living room, and we plan for both from the first sketch.
Animals stay in the brief
Every commission list includes species, age, claw habits, and feeding location. We treat that information as seriously as ceiling height or BER ratings because it determines fabric weight, floor sealant, and where baskets may sit without blocking radiator flow.
Clients in Dublin 4 often worry about entertaining in formal front rooms while pets occupy the rear. We use reversible throws, discreet gates that fold into joinery, and colour palettes that hide short hair between vacuuming days.
Design only — never pet operations
We select materials, specify furniture, and coordinate trades for interior styling. We do not board animals, sell pet food, provide behavioural programmes, or operate as a kennel or veterinary referral service.
When a project needs structural work beyond styling scope, we introduce qualified builders familiar with Dublin conservation areas and leave medical or training questions to licensed professionals.