Based just outside Buncrana in County Donegal, MD Serendipity Designs® is a multi award winning, sustainable furniture business specialising in the restoration and redesign of vintage, Art Deco and mid-century cocktail cabinets, drinks cabinets, bureaus and bars.

I’m Mary, the founder and designer behind MD Serendipity Designs®. I’ve always had a passion for taking neglected, unwanted pieces and seeing the beauty and potential in them. What began as a creative outlet during the unusual times of Covid has grown into an established bespoke furniture business, with my work now recognised both nationally and internationally.

And, perhaps fittingly, a little bit of serendipity has always been part of my story.

I met my husband Kevin more than 28 years ago after accidentally catching the wrong train in Chicago. We eventually made our way back home to the breathtaking hills of Donegal, where we built our life together with our four children, Shauna, Patrick, Danny and Cora.

I have so much admiration for the craftsmanship that went into the furniture I work with. These pieces have already lived a life before they reach my studio, and I believe their history should be celebrated rather than hidden.

My approach isn't about making an old piece look new. It's about enhancing what is already there, respecting its era and character, while giving it an entirely new purpose and personality.

Over the years, MD Serendipity Designs® has been fortunate to receive recognition for its creativity and approach to sustainable furniture.

In 2021, I was honoured to receive Ireland's Eye ‘Best of Ireland’ Furniture Award, recognising the business for its vision and determination to produce incredible products here in Ireland. In 2023, I was awarded Home Furnishings Business of the Year at the Local Women Magazine Business Awards in Belfast. I was also shortlisted for Sustainable Business of the Year with Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, Interior Designer of the Year with Local Women Magazine and the Customer Service Awards with Highland Radio.

My work has also been featured in publications including the Irish Examiner, Sunday World and Ireland's Homes Interiors & Living.

In 2024, I was commissioned by Diageo to create a sustainable, bespoke mobile bar inspired by their Tanqueray No. Ten gin. The finished piece now resides at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin. And in 2025, I was incredibly proud to be named one of the winners of Google's national You're the Business awards, recognising Irish small businesses embracing digital innovation and creativity.

I am incredibly proud of these achievements, but ultimately, it is my customers and a few lucky breaks along the way that have allowed MD Serendipity Designs® to become what it is today.

At the heart of what I do is the belief that beautiful furniture doesn't have to mean creating something new from scratch. By restoring and redesigning existing pieces, I can preserve original craftsmanship, divert furniture from being discarded and create something entirely new without losing the character of what came before.

For me, sustainability isn't simply a label. It is part of the reason MD Serendipity Designs® exists. I love giving forgotten furniture another chapter.

What began at my kitchen table has grown into a showroom and workshop nestled in the stunning countryside of Inishowen, while the heart of the business remains the same - finding beautiful old pieces and giving them a new lease of life.

To quote Andy Warhol: “There is beauty in everything, just not everybody sees it.”

I’d like to think that’s what MD Serendipity Designs® does best: showcasing the beauty in pieces that were once neglected and forgotten, and giving them the opportunity to be admired all over again.

Mary x