The studio — founded 2000
Professional interior design and project management, in Dublin and across Ireland.
Since our foundation in 2000, RK Designs has led the way in professional interior design and project management, in Dublin and locations across Ireland.
Our work has featured on television programmes such as RTÉ's Showhouse, and in publications including The Sunday Business Post, Social & Personal, The Irish Independent and House and Home magazine.
Our commercial experience includes work for restaurants, beauty clinics and numerous types of office interiors. Residential work ranges from complete house fit-outs to more minor room alterations — and every project is tailored to suit your budget and schedule.
Meet the founder
Ruth Kennelly
Ruth Kennelly is the founder and Creative Director of RK Designs, an award-winning Irish interior design and renovation consultancy specialising in the thoughtful transformation of period and contemporary homes throughout Ireland.
With more than twenty years of professional experience, Ruth has built a reputation for creating timeless interiors that combine architectural integrity, understated luxury and exceptional craftsmanship. Her work is particularly sought after by homeowners living overseas, guiding American and international clients through every stage of renovating their Irish homes with confidence, transparency and meticulous attention to detail.
Ruth holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from University College Dublin, together with professional qualifications from the Dublin Institute of Design and the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers (IPAV). This unique combination of design expertise, property knowledge and project management enables her to oversee complex renovations from concept through to completion.
In recognition of her contribution to Irish design and the arts, Ruth was elected to the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) Arts Standing Committee, where she helps support and promote excellence in Irish art, design and culture.
Her design philosophy is rooted in the belief that every home should reflect the people who live there while respecting the character of the building itself. She favours natural materials, enduring craftsmanship and interiors that feel elegant, authentic and effortlessly liveable rather than driven by passing trends.
Over the years, Ruth has developed a trusted network of Ireland's finest architects, craftspeople, contractors and specialist suppliers, allowing her to deliver beautifully executed homes to the highest standards. Whether restoring a Victorian townhouse in Dublin, renovating a coastal holiday home or managing a complete refurbishment for clients returning to Ireland from abroad, she is committed to making the experience as rewarding as the finished home itself.
For clients living thousands of miles away, Ruth offers complete peace of mind through a highly personal service — providing thoughtful design, expert project management and regular communication from the initial concept to the moment they arrive home to a beautifully finished Irish property.
Working with us
Every project is managed to the last detail — you sit back and enjoy the transformation.
Our experience and contacts allow our clients to tap into the best concepts, crafts and materials. That's the RK Designs difference: no more chasing quotes, no more waiting for builders who don't show up or leave work half finished.
We are there to take away the headaches and deliver a beautifully finished product — on your budget and your schedule, whether you're across the city or across the Atlantic.
- Rooms that get used
- Nothing precious. Sofas you can sit on wet from the beach, tables that take fifteen people at Christmas.
- Irish materials first
- Wool, linen, oak, limestone and paint mixed for our light — sourced here where we can, shipped only when we must.
- Restraint over trend
- Neutral, warm, layered. The kind of house that photographs beautifully in year one and looks better in year ten.
- Made to last a rental season
- Where houses are let, we specify to survive it, with a spares list and a local caretaker brief.
Our process
Our typical interior design consultancy process
Step one
Discovery
The first step is discovering what you want to achieve.
Step 1Step two
Full project consultation
A presentation of initial recommendations and selected samples, plus a comprehensive measurement of the project space.
Step 2Step three
Design proposal
We produce a proposal that visualises the proposed work and details the estimated costs.
Step 3Step four
The transformation begins
Once you approve the plans, we manage the project through to completion.
Step 4