Delightful Design / Sleep at 31 Leeson Close

At the very end of October, which feels like eight million years ago already, Michael and I had the pleasure of staying in the city centre at 31 Leeson Close for the night. I had been meaning to get to 31 Leeson Close, a boutique guesthouse in an old Georgian building, for months. I could tell from photos online that the design was extra cool and in person it did not disappoint. 

Somewhat counterintuitively, you enter through the back of 31 Leeson Close, and cross the courtyard to get to the rooms in the main house. The reception area has this amazing sunken couch with a fireplace and whitewashed stone walls and slatted wooden ceilings. Basically, I wish this was my living room. Next time, we’ll stay the whole weekend and I will spent one whole afternoon reading the fun coffee table books by the fire on that cosy couch.

The main Georgian house is a cool combination of original period details and modern, vibrant furnishings. Would you look at the tile floor in the entryway? 

The one thing we really didn’t account for during our stay was the Dublin Marathon. Having never seen the Dublin marathon in person, Michael and I didn’t realize that the starting point was RIGHT outside our window! We may have been cursing the darn marathon at 5am when they were scraping those metal barriers all around, and then again at 7am when they were testing the loudspeaker system, and then one more time at 8am when the marching band started tuning up, but by 9am when the race started all was forgiven. 

I don’t think I ever want to see another marathon again in my life unless I’m watching it from four stories up against a backdrop of Georgian doors. I’ve been properly spoiled. I gushed about it all day – what a rush hearing all those footsteps pounding by! And man, runners be loving them some neon this season.

Phew, anyway, post marathon we walked back across the courtyard for breakfast in the sweet breakfast room. 

More whitewashed stone walls and slatted wooden ceilings, hot pressed coffee, berries and granola, fresh eggs Benedict. We nearly had to be dragged out of there!

Not that I’m in the market for another big birthday celebration, but that room would be superb for an intimate dinner party celebration. Michael’s already been informed I want this on the short list for the next time I turn 30.

31 Leeson Close / Dublin 2 / www.number31.ie