Interior designer Mariessa Devlin’s tour of Kilmacolm home

Mariessa Devlin, who runs Devlin Interior Design, is one of the judges in the Telegraph’s Inverclyde’s Best Home contest.

With help from her four-year-old cavapoo Kobe, Mariessa showed the Telegraph around her beautiful detached home in Kilmacolm.

(Image: George Munro) Mariessa works alongside home owners the length and breadth of Inverclyde to help their design visions come to life and make houses feel ‘lived-in’.

She said: “From an interior design perspective, it’s really important to make the house feel like a home.

“It’s OK to live in a show home, but you have to have a sense of the space being lived in too.

“I’m really grateful to live in a space like this.”

(Image: George Munro)

Mariessa is hoping that a tour of the stunning property will inspire other Inverclyde residents to put their homes forward in the hope of being crowned our winner.

To put your home forward for the competition visit www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/inverclydes-best-home/

Mariessa and her husband Bernie, and the couple’s daughter Roisin, lived in Inverkip for many years before they moved into their Kilmacolm property in December 2022.  

The incredible traditional home was built in 1907 by renowned local architect Peter Woodrow.

(Image: George Munro) The Devlins got the keys in September 2022, and by December 9, 90 per cent of the work they wanted to do on their new home had been completed.

Mariessa said a combination of the right workforce and a clear vision of the outcome helped move the project along at a good rate.

She said: “I knew exactly what I wanted and we had a really good team of contractors and trades people.

“We just loved the house itself and we loved the views out over the Kilmacolm countryside.

(Image: George Munro) “We felt at home as soon as we walked in, and we love Kilmacolm.”

Mariessa explains that the traditional hallway was completely white until very recently when wooden panelling was installed.

She said: “It’s more in-keeping with the tradition of the house and the age of the house.

“I like to think we’ve given a modern and contemporary twist to a traditional property.”

(Image: George Munro) The beautiful lounge sits to the left of the hallway and include the room’s original fireplace, and a huge bay window.

Bernie’s office sits next to the lounge.

This amazing space was originally the kitchen and has been completely reconfigured, with a new window added.

Bernie’s office leads onto a utility room, and a cloakroom/wc.

One of the ‘before’ photographs (Image: Mariessa Devlin) A photo of the bathroom before it was transformed (Image: Mariessa Devlin)

An incredible open plan sitting/kitchen/dining space sits on the other side of the hall.

Mariessa explained that this space started out as a separate sitting room and dining room.

Work involved removing the wall between the sitting area and the dining room, and the outside wall, and building an amazing extension.

The space now features a comfy living area, kitchen with a central island, and dining space.

Mariessa said: “We know we wanted to create an open-plan flow to open out the area into an amazing social space.

The amazing garden room (Image: George Munro) Mariessa and Kobe in the garden room (Image: George Munro)

“People can be sitting chatting while I’m cooking and I won’t miss out on any of the chat.

“It’s a brilliant family space.”

Patio doors lead out into the outdoor space and onto an amazing garden room, which Mariessa uses as her studio/office and home gym.

The exquisite family bathroom sits on the half landing and has been completely remodelled.

Mariessa explained that the home originally had four bedrooms but now has three.

The bedroom next to the master bedroom was transformed into an ensuite shower room and a dressing room.

Mariessa added: “We had to change it into a space we would use.

“It’s so important to create practical spaces that work for you.”