Sisters launch interiors collection inspired by West Cork coastline

TWO interiors-obsessed sisters have launched their first soft furnishings collection inspired by their West Cork heritage.

Eadaoin Cotter and Catherine Barry, originally from Douglas, are the intrepid duo behind interiors business Pebble & Sash, and together they have designed a range of ottomans, headboards, and cushions.

It all started with Instagram that they “concocted over a glass of wine at the Bulman seven years ago”, said Eadaoin.

“I had just bought a dilapidated Victorian house in Glenbrook and decided to start an Instagram page tracking the progress of the renovation, as well as posting pictures of Catherine’s completed self-build – Creek Cottage. From that, people began enquiring about our services,” she said.

At the time, Eadaoin worked as a Global Logistics Project Manager with EMC. Catherine is a classically trained chef and worked in many top restaurants in Cork.

“After my second child, Juliette, arrived (now aged four), I made the decision to not return to the corporate world and instead, together, we chose to develop our brand – Pebble & Sash - and move full time into interiors,” said Eadaoin.

It was a leap of faith that paid off. Since then, the business has grown organically, mostly through word of mouth and client referrals, and their debut collection was in response to demand.

Anytime we would post a picture of a bespoke ottoman or headboard from one of our client’s homes on Instagram, we would get inundated with people asking us where they could buy them and people would often ask if we could commission a piece especially for them.

“So, based on that, we took a plunge and have worked tirelessly to curate our very own range of Ottomans, Headboards and Cushions which are made right here in Cork and Dublin.

“We’ve chosen fabrics we adore from some really special artisan designers. We wanted our products to be available immediately to customers, to remove long lead times and to be really special high-quality pieces.

“Behind the scenes, we have spent months and months working on prototypes with various upholsterers until we were fully satisfied that the product we have now launched is a luxury high end product, handmade here in Ireland using some very exclusive fabrics that aren’t readily available elsewhere.

“Nothing in our collection is a stand-alone piece. We have designed everything to match one another, so that you get a complete designer look,” said Catherine.

Many of the pieces are called after West Cork landmarks and it’s a place that means a lot to them.

Our dad’s family are originally from Union Hall in West Cork and that heritage has remained close to our hearts throughout our adult life.

“We spent all our summers as kids between Union Hall and Schull. Catherine and her husband bought a summer house in Baltimore a few years ago and so now the legacy continues. Our kids now spend their summers in West Cork just as we did, hopping from island to island and beach to beach all summer long.

“It’s such a special place and we have amazing memories of growing up there,” said Eadaoin.

Working together as sisters is ‘amazing’ they say. They both live in Glenbrook, both have two young kids who are as close as siblings, and coincidentally their husbands were friends for years before they met them!

“We were always very close growing up as it is just the two of us, but life can take you in different directions at different stages.

“However, since we dreamt up Pebble and Sash, there is rarely a day goes by that we don’t see each other, and when we aren’t physically in each other’s company, we’re on the phone to each other, sound boarding ideas off one another, and talking through everything.

“We often come out with the same thing at the same time and finish each other’s sentences!” Catherine said.

“As sisters, Catherine is the boss as she is the older sibling, but apparently, as business colleagues, I am the bossy one so it’s funny how the dynamic shifts between the two roles!” added Eadaoin.

Managing work/life balance can be tricky at times.

Compartmentalising your day into work hours and family time has been a learning curve. We try to condense most of our work to the mornings while this kids are at school, and then after school pick-up, we switch roles and become mothers!

“It’s not unusual to receive texts or phone calls at night from clients which can end up in lengthy exchanges, when you should be sitting down enjoying family time. So we have made a conscious decision, where possible, to only communicate during normal working hours,” said Catherine.

Despite their talents, they’re still surprised at their success.

“The business journey so far never ceases to astonish us each day. We sometimes pinch ourselves that we have managed to create a business out of doing something we adore – turning houses into homes that our clients can enjoy and be proud of,” said Catherine.