Mona Fox's period house in Portobello, Dublin is a one-of-a-kind. With her sharp design eye and a dash of fantastical whimsy, she truly has created a magical home. Here, she explains how she made it happen.I am a teacher with a passion for art and design so the house is my creative outlet. I live with my husband Rob – who now works from home in IT – and our two rescue cats, Iggy and Sumi.
"Some joists in the roof needed to be replaced, floorboards had to be patched with salvaged ones and some ceiling cornicing needed replacing, but it could have been much worse. I have always loved reading and fairytales and fantasy had a strong influence on me as a child. As a teacher, I still get to play in that world.
"I feel that it is our duty to act as guardians of old buildings, preserving and restoring if needed, taking from the past to suit the present with a view to the future.