Though he’s originally from a farming family in Denmark, Ib Jorgensen made his career in fashion design and art, and with his great eye he has created a charming apartment home in South Dublin
Ib Jorgensen in the sitting area of the open-plan dining/living room. Above the sofa is a family portrait of his first wife Patricia and their two daughters, painted in the family home in Fitzwilliam Square when the girls were young. The painter was Niccolo d’Ardia Caracciolo who was killed in a car accident in Italy. The orange chairs are early 19th century. Photo: Tony Gavin
Few people continue to entertain in their homes after retirement, preferring to meet their friends in restaurants and cafes. Ib Jorgensen is the exception. Not only does he still have friends around regularly for lunch and dinner, but actually bought an antique circular dining table in Francis Street just before Christmas as he felt it would be a better fit for eight guests than his existing oblong table.
In actual fact, Ib is not completely retired. Even though he celebrated his 89th birthday last month, he still does the odd bit of art dealing. He only closed his permanent art gallery two years ago. He also had his own stand at the RDS last autumn and is currently looking for a place he might use as a pop-up art gallery. “I’m looking for a small place but it has to have a window,” he explains. “My accountant will think I’ve gone mad.”
