An eye in Umbria, a heart in Limerick: Áine Browne brings Italian design home

She lives among olive groves and Renaissance streets in Umbria, Italy — but her business, passion, and creative pulse are rooted firmly in Limerick.

As the founder of Cucine Lube Ireland, Áine Browne is reshaping how Irish homeowners experience kitchen design, bringing the beauty, innovation and craftsmanship of Italy to the heart of the Irish home.

At a time when global design trends often feel impersonal or inaccessible, Áine offers something different: a boutique showroom experience grounded in personal connection, lifestyle understanding, and quiet luxury.

“I live in Umbria, but my design heart is in Limerick. Every kitchen I create is built with both in mind,” says Áine. “It’s not just about layout or finish — it’s about how people feel in their space. That’s where the magic lives.”

Italian Craft, Irish Sensibility

As the exclusive Irish partner of Cucine Lube, one of Italy’s leading kitchen manufacturers, Áine blends continental quality with local care. From Limerick, she works closely with Irish clients to design kitchens that reflect real life — cooking, gathering, working, parenting — all through a designer’s lens.

Her Limerick showroom, nestled off the Ballysimon Road, has quickly become a destination for discerning homeowners, architects, and interior stylists who want more than a standard showroom model.

“The showroom is intentionally intimate,” Áine explains. “It’s about conversation, not hard-sell. We invite people to slow down, visualise, and feel the space.”

Challenging a Male-Dominated Industry

In an industry often led by male tradespeople, Áine stands out — not only as a woman but as a founder with a strong design voice and an international perspective.

“I think a woman’s touch naturally brings a different energy to kitchen design,” she says. “We think about flow, how the space makes you feel, how it holds a family. It’s not just cabinetry and surfaces — it’s storytelling.”

A Limerick Creative, On the Global Map

Having lived between Ireland and Italy for over a decade, Áine believes Limerick is primed for a design renaissance.

“There’s such creativity here — in fashion, food, interiors. Limerick is ready to step into its style era. I’m proud to be part of that.”

With demand growing, she now works on a referral basis and collaborates with select developers, architects and homeowners who value curated, intentional design. But for Áine, one thing remains constant:

“It doesn’t matter if you live in Castletroy or Cortona — a kitchen should feel like home.”

As interest grows, Áine’s work is increasingly shaped by personal recommendations, reflecting the relationships she has built with clients, architects, builders, and designers who share her passion for curated, meaningful design.

She brings that same sense of community to her Ballysimon Road showroom for Design in Motion on September 25, an open day including a selection of CPD courses for industry professionals and featuring partners Consentino, Havwoods, and Bora Cooking Systems, designed to inspire conversation and ideas around modern living.

Further information is available via Eventbrite or by emailing info@cucinelube.ie

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