Westmeath woman chosen as Creative Director for DFS Interiors Inspiration Centre at Ideal Home Show

Athlone designer Susan McGowan, of Interior Architecture & Design Studio, Ashen & Cloud will take centre stage at the Permanent TSB Ideal Home Show.

Susan has designed the overall look and feel for sofas specialists DFS, drawing inspiration from the new DFS campaign promoting personality-led interiors.

Award winning designer, Susan has worked with DFS and three other design creatives who aim to show visitors ‘their thing’ at the Interiors Inspiration Centre with four room sets packed full of personality.

The lead designer at Interior Architecture & Design Studio, Ashen & Cloud specialises in the design of luxury residences and imaginative commercial spaces. Many will be familiar with her home in Athlone which has featured in magazines and newspapers in recent years.

She returned home to Athlone to build a home for her family after working and living in Dublin for a number of years, is married to Liam Heavin of DBC physiotherapy, with clinics in Athlone, Mullingar and Dublin and a mother of three.

Many will also know Susan's work from her popular Instagram account @Ashenandcloud.

The local interior designer says she is delighted to be working with DFS. “This has been a really fun, exciting project to be part of. It was been terrific working with a lovely talented team of creatives and I look forward to welcoming everyone to the DFS Inspiration Centre at Permanent TSB Ideal Home Show to draw inspiration from all the different ideas, relaxed family living, bringing colour to your home, creating a bedroom to optimise sleep and sustainable and sentimental interiors.

Susan’s focus in her work is a relaxed family living space and her goal is "to always make sure your home enhances how you live your life, through design, colour and comfort."

She has opted for the DFS Tahiti sofa with a power recliner in espresso velvet, the Asher coffee table, eye-catching Honeycomb swivel chair, and Carrera Lamp table, creating a haven for family living.

All the walls are painted in colours from the Dulux Heritage Collection launching later this Spring with flooring supplied by Grain and Grove.

Susan will be also speaking at the DFS Interiors Theatre on Friday, April 1. As part of this project she has worked with another Westmeath woman, sleep specialist Anne Marie Boyhan of the Sleepcare Company from Castlepollard.

Anne Marie has curated a space to help you find calm and comfort in your sleep and selfcare rituals. She will be speaking at the DFS Interiors Theatre on Saturday, April 2.

The Permanent TSB Ideal Home Show will run from Friday April 1 to Sunday April 3 at RDS Simmonscourt, Dublin 4.