Take a Peek Inside Armada House, Named on Condé Nast Traveller's Hot List 2026

We caught up with designer Suzie McAdam and hotelier John Burke, to discuss one of the most design-led spaces in the West.

Gloriously restored and thoughtfully modernised, Armada House sits just 70 metres from the Armada Hotel, both benefiting from the picturesque Spanish Point, Co. Clare, surroundings.

The house, which dates back to 1810, has undergone an extensive €2.5 million restoration, led by The Armada’s owner and chief executive, John Burke, and interior designer Suzie McAdam.

“The building and the architecture deserved to have something really elevated,” explains John. “We wanted to move away from it being the secondary property of the hotel to, in a way, even though smaller, becoming the flagship offering.”

“The inspiration draws not only from the ocean, but from the villages of the West of Ireland, where vibrantly painted houses punctuate a rugged landscape.”

Dublin interior designer Suzie McAdam, known for breathing fresh new life into historic buildings, was a natural fit for the project, says John. “She has such a good knack for working with period properties, but it still feels so fresh. It doesn’t feel staid or like it’s trying to recreate the past.”

“Armada House carries a storied sensibility,” says Suzie. “There is colour here – deep blues, sea greens and warm reds – but also restraint. The inspiration draws not only from the ocean, but from the villages of the West of Ireland, where vibrantly painted houses punctuate a rugged landscape.”

Every detail has been considered: from hand-painted murals and bespoke furniture to a curated collection of artworks by Irish artists. In the 13 guest bedrooms, Pierre Frey wallpapers sit alongside headboard fabrics by Teyssier and Manuel Canovas, with Irish-made Inish Living bed linen completing the picture.

“It can be quite raw outside,” Suzie explains, “so inside, I wanted vibrancy, something uplifting.”

Bed and breakfast from €335; armadaspanishpoint.ie