This home in south Belfast dates back to the 1930s and looks fairly typical from the outside, but behind the front door lies an explosion of colour, vintage furnishings and all sorts of eclectic decorations – you probably won't be surprised to learn that this characterful interior design was put together by an illustrator-slash-designer. The home's small terrace is another welcome touch, but the huge Ormeau Park is five minutes' walk up the road when you're after a larger green space. You're well sorted for trendy cafes, restaurants and shops on the adjoining Ormeau Road, too.

Home truths:
*The home is spread across two floors and there are no bedrooms on the ground level *There's private parking available for guests *This home is in a central spot, so noise is to be expected *Though there isn't a dedicated desk here, the dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace