A New Yorker is currently living in her “dream home” — a replica of a medieval Irish castle!
“I always dreamed of living in an old, dark wooden church or, of course, a real castle, but there was nothing to be had, so I decided to build one,” Chris McNamee tells PEOPLE exclusively about his Long Island condo.
Detailing that she “bought this place with the intention of turning it into my dream home,” McNamee, 63, continues, “I started this transformation almost 11 years ago, and there have been a lot of changes over that time as I’ve found the furniture to be more appropriate and came up with more ideas.”
“I’ve bought and sold a lot of furniture over the years. Almost everything in the house now is from the 1800s,” she says. “I spent a lot of time looking for inspiration and then trying to incorporate those ideas into the house. Traveling for furniture, mostly around New England, is always an adventure and gives me great fodder for stories to share with those who come to visit.”
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Chris McNamee’s Long Island home.
Courtesy of Chris McNamee and Janet Simon
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In her home, McNamee has candle-lit chandeliers, thrones as seats and medieval paintings — plus a main dining table that’s actually from a castle in England.
Called “Mac Con Midhe Castle”, which McNamee explains is “the original Gaelic spelling of my surname”, the home is made up of many areas that she considers her “favourite”.
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Chris McNamee’s Long Island home.
Courtesy of Chris McNamee and Janet Simon
“The fireplace wall in the living room, which is the focal point of the first floor; the staircase, which really awes visitors and gives the whole house an air of authenticity; and the master bedroom, which with its dark wooden beamed ceiling and studs and stained glass windows, strongly resembles to the old church,” she says about her three favorite places in the home.
“I love people’s reactions to it,” McNamee, who works as senior director of construction at Habitat for Humanity on Long Island, adds of her abode. “And sitting at home, surrounded by this art, is very peaceful.”
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Chris McNamee’s house on Long Island.
Courtesy of Chris McNamee and Janet Simon
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According to McNamee, she “always had an affinity for castle architecture, but I’d never actually visited one.”
“I’m planning on going on a castle tour of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales for my birthday, which is coming up in just over a year,” she tells PEOPLE.
When it comes to inspiring others to decorate and furnish their homes however they want, even if it may seem unconventional to others, McNamee shares one piece of advice – just “go for it.”
“This kind of work is a constant labor of love. It’s very rewarding and fun, and it’s an outlet for artistic expression like no other medium,” she explains.
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Source: HIS Education