THE STORY
At Kilkea Castle, land gives way to stories of the sea and House of Lir is born. A curated craft and artisan retail experience, a living ecosystem that honours the makers and traditions sustaining our world and offering new ways of engaging with it.
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House Of Lir
(A) Category_Hospitality Retail
(B) Project Type_Brand Design
House of Lir at Kilkea Castle arrived with vision, delight and an enchantment with stories of King Lear. It was clear from the outset, that Erica Shevlin was precise in her desire to build a meaningful retail experience, that honours Irish craft and tradition while carrying the quiet luxury of one of Ireland's most storied hospitality destinations. No detail was too small, no decision unconsidered.
Through a comprehensive exploration of meaning Erica came to us with an abstract starting point through a single icon, a perfectly symmetricl diamtom which is a micro-organism central to the the natural eco-system and central to our design system. Together we wove a brand around this. She loves to work super collaboratively so we closely shaped the brand together, aligning creative with her ambitious vision for retail as an extension of hospitality.
With a diatom at the core, the logo was developed from hand-lettered calligraphic forms, the undulating L shapes in reflection to echo the lapping of between land and sea. The result is a house mark worthy of the castle it calls home, and the makers it exists to honour. The deep green of colour palette speaks of the land with the pinks and blues echoing back from
the sea.
(C) Scope_Brand Strategy, Logo & Identity, Packaging
THE RESULT
A carefully considered retail identity designed to position House of LIR as a contemporary Irish craft destination blending, story, atmosphere and slow luxury. The resulting brand world establishes a foundation to match the founders ambitions priming the brand for expnasion into other areas.
Working The Nice Things felt natural from the very beginning. We immediately connected, Marion truly understood not only the visual direction of House of Lir, but the deeper emotional and philosophical layers. Marion always had a clear instinct for the heart of the brand as well as a solid commerical awareness, which made me feel confident exploring ideas freely. She has a very thoughtful approach and an ability to gently guide the process while still making it feel collaborative and organic.
What impressed me most is how deeply the final identity reflects the ethos of House of Lir. Somehow, through color, symbolism, typography, and design, Marion was able to create a logo and visual world that communicate everything I wanted the brand to stand for: connection, nature, craftsmanship, emotion, and integrity. I am incredibly proud of what we created together.
Marion has a beautiful aesthetic sensibility and a strong understanding of how a brand should live across packaging, storytelling, social media, and the overall customer experience. She has an intuitive pulse on how to make a brand feel cohesive, elevated, and emotionally resonant. Working with her was a truly special experience, and I’m deeply grateful for the care and thoughtfulness The Nice Things brought to House of Lir.
Erica Cashman, Hotelier and Founder at House of Lir