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THERE’S A COMMON misconception that interior design is reserved for the few people who can afford expensive Italian design – Carrara marble this and solid brass that.
Or, on the flip side, there’s an equally common myth that affordable home design means a stressful trip to a big box store, followed by a day of arguing over flat pack instructions.
There is, however, a middle ground, and it is often outside the box and off the wall.
To lend a helping hand as you spruce your place up for 2020, I spoke with six of Ireland’s most stylish interior designers to find out where they start when they’re searching for nifty pieces on a smaller budget.
They’re spilling all the tea here…
Top pick: I love to sieve through John Sirr Antiques, in Charlestown, Co Mayo. John has a great eye, reasonable prices and always has something new when you visit! I have multiple pieces from him; my vintage pink Chesterfield sofa is a fabulous example. Off the back of his popularity, he’s just opened a second shop in Boyle, Co Roscommon. If you can think outside the box and see the beauty in an old piece, he’s definitely worth a visit for a find that won’t break the bank!
I also love to support Irish makers, so my lighting guru for unique pieces is Copperfish Lighting. Eoin makes bespoke lighting out of his studio in Delgany, Co Wicklow. They are beautiful with such a story behind each piece.
I recently completed a fit-out for a children’s attic cinema room and den. The pièce de résistance setting the tone as you entered the room was a multicoloured neon LED slogan light by Bag and Bones, hung on the backdrop of slate-coloured walls. Bag and Bones is the result of the wonderful minds of London-based Gigi and her Dublin-based sister Cavanagh. The homeowner (and my mini client) were both over the moon!
When curating a space, I think it’s really important to mix and match decorative objects and furniture, both old and new. Shop local and sustainable where you can, and consider sourcing pre-loved or vintage furniture. It’s amazing how new upholstery and trimmings can breathe new life into a piece.
Etsy and eBay have a great selection of vintage and pre-loved furniture and furnishings, just be mindful of import charges if you’re buying from abroad. If you have the time to search, you can also find some vintage gems on online sites like Adverts and DoneDeal. Plus, don’t forget to visit your local charity shops – I love Age Action on Camden Street in Dublin.
Mosa Studio is incredible for salvage and vintage pieces. House Of Indi sources unique and eclectic pieces worldwide, including Indian antiques, and Sparkle and Bell is great for customised lighting that won’t break the bank. Lastly, Hen’s Teeth is a wonderful spot for coffee table books, prints and a delicious brunch!
Recently, Dublin welcomed some lovely new additions to the interior shopping scene. Over Christmas we discovered the new Oliver Bonas store on Wicklow Street, which has some very eclectic interior styling bits. It’s a high street store, technically, but because it’s so new to Ireland, it’s practically a whole new world!
Our go-to spots for showhouse styling are Jysk, Sostrene Grene, Industry & Co. and Meadows & Byrne. All of these are super affordable and offer gorgeous boho/Scandi selections. For special larger pieces of furniture, we love Irish companies like Lamb Design, CA Design and Pieces on George’s Street in Dublin.
When we’re starting the sourcing process for clients, we always cast the net far and wide, yet one of our favourite haunts is actually almost on our doorstep: Lost Weekend, in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Another amazing source for unique pieces is the range of salvage yards around the country. One of our favourite spots is B.G. Salvage in Naas. Shopping with an open mind to give something pre-loved a new use is so rewarding (as well as sustainable), and makes for a one-of-a-kind space!
Charity and second-hand furniture warehouses are popping up all the time and I visit a few different ones often. I think you have to visit these kinds of shops regularly, because the items rotate so frequently. I’ve found some incredible gems, like an Ercol rocking chair for only €20. My favourite places are the St. Vincent de Paul furniture warehouse in Clonmel, CJM Furniture in Cork city and Munster Warehouse in Waterford.
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If she’d have a gun herself this wouldn’t have happened, you know.
Guns are great.
Please.
Show some respect for the victim.
Typical Democrat.
No class!
I didn’t see you react much when tons of those hate speeches are poured on this site.
Typical Democrat?? You know we are not America right?
Typical Democrat. – WTF
joey you troll you’re talking about pumping people full of lead just above him. zip it up.
@Jester.
Chill out and put a sock in it.
‘You know we are not in America right’
Hard to tell here sometimes given the proliferation of Donald Trump articles.
Anyway.
Let’s not digress.
RIP.
Trolley Troll-land
‘Above him’
Ah, I see where you’re coming from. Actually, I run the system by date not popularity.
This was a tragic accident. My position ‘below’ is one of self defense. In the home.
Different scenarios altogether.
Typical Democrat, as opposed to what? Nazi? Communist?Dictator?
A troll calling another troll a troll………
I`ve seen it all on the journal now….
:-)
@Rob, while I am as eager to laugh at the little trumpets as the next man, no one can deny that the journal has been awful recently. It seems to be completely ignoring the many recent, domestic political events and putting all resources into Trump articles.
Not to mention the infestation of American style libtards.
Feck sake.
She didn’t stand a chance if she was black…
Who had a loaded weapon at as a prop at a ‘role playing’ exercise. That’s the equivalent of searching for gas leaks with a lighted candle!!!!
Its probably easier to use a real gun than find a ‘gun prop’ in America …
Idiots teaching idiots how not to be an idiot!!! Who goes to a gun seminar with loaded weapons anyway IDIOTS
playing (or ‘simulating’) with guns is not smart, though it might make you feel like you’re an anti-tyranny freedom fighter
I think it’s time for police forces to review their training methods. Seems to be a lot of itchy fingers to close to triggers.
I despise guns, but if I lived in many parts of the US there’s a good chance I think I’d feel I had no choice but to have one. Even in Ireland, I can understand people living in country areas with little or no policing having guns.
I lived in the Bronx for a while. First thing I did upon arrival was purchase a Colt handgun.
A man can sleep well at night knowing there’s a Peacemaker close at hand.
Being allowed shoot any a**hole who illegally enters your house with evil intent is one of the greatest pieces of legislation American lawmakers ever saw fit to pass.
I was in Astoria in Queens and it was grand, but yes, parts of the Bronx a fella would need something more for peace of mind back then anyway. This was before NY was cleaned up.
Compared to here where it’s highly likely that an intruder with countless previous convictions will get a slap on the wrist and freely roam the streets again to carry out more crimes.
Knowing there’s a strong possibility that upon intrusion the air will be filled with lead helps concentrate the mind of any punk.
For the record Joey is “Pro life”
i hope the first thing you did, before you first rushed out to get your hands on your very own gun to love and cherish, was to get a handgun permit
For the record Joey makes up stuff.
I’d have no hesitation in sticking a knife in an intruder if it happened here in my house. I made that decision a long time ago and have often thought about it since. I think the Padraig Nally case ten years ago focused a lot of minds, and the subsequent law change focused many more.
Actually I never had to use it, thank God, but it was comforting to know help was at hand particularly given the high rates of crime in the area.
@Rob.
No contradiction there.
Innocent life as opposed to someone with evil intent.
Kinda depressing that I would have to point that out though.
However.
http://www.kmov.com/story/32723542/meriwether-co-officials-arrest-3-in-connection-to-elderly womans-assault just one example.of horrific home invasion just this week – a lot of elderly ladies being targeted – this one beaten and set on fire – is no wonder people are fearful and feel they need guns for protection..
stop yer spoofing joey
Stop yer jesting…..joker.
what about people who like guns the engineering, the craftsmanship, the power etc… I hate that they can kill innocent people and some with issues can use to cause a massacre , but using this logic kitchen knifes should be outlawed as most knife murders are caused by kitchen knifes. Same with cars and a-lot of other things.
‘Irishman claims to have lived and worked in the Bronx’
Read all about it in ‘Great Hoaxes of the 21st century’
Hahaha.
JustMade, You can kill anyone with any object if you put the effort in. Guns are only made to kill though. They have no other everyday purpose unlike knives.
I’m not s librarian, but I think I’m going to buy a gun soon, a big gun,a big shiny gun! #librarianslivesmatter
It’s only legal in some states, and I’m not sure New York is one of those states.Anyway, the best gun to keep is a pump action 12 guage.The sound it makes when cocked usually sends the cocroaches scurrying.
There’s one common denominator, though;people.So, by the same token, people should be made illegal,right ?
“filled with lead”, you’re a complete mo***n Joey, and naming a gun ” Peacemaker”, that’s truly messed up.
Know something Gerry.
I stopped reading your comments a long time ago.
Joey, you do know that in New York a persons intrusion into your home does not give you the right to shoot them right? New York have neither the Castle Doctrine or Stand Your Ground laws. In court you’d have to prove that it was justifiable amd necessary
Shoot first – talk later – the key to survival.
RIP.i hope they throw the book at him.
Not sure what happened here, I’ll wait on Jason Culligan to tell us the full and proper details. He knows a lot about guns and cops.
Jason will be along shortly, he is busy on another forum explaining why it is perfectly ok for some countries to drop bombs on other countries but not vice-versa.
He’ll be here soon having beaten himself off to “guns and ammo” magazine.
Jason backs up everything he says with real facts which is in complete contrast to the left who use emotions. More of Jason please
lol ‘real facts’, his typical facts come from right-wing opinion pieces, he has been proven wrong with actual facts on a multitude of occasions.
Yeah, he’s some boyo. People believe that it’s a left/right issue for cops to shoot unarmed people. It’s not, it’s just absolutely mental.
“Jason backs up everything he says with real facts” Hmmmmm
i think that was sarcasm
Yeah, if you call what Breitbart,etc.,spew,as facts.Yeah, sure…
is breitbart still an opinionated blog or are people trying to pretend its news now? i see arianna huffington is trying a similar, failed sidestep
Jason will tell us what she was shot with and why it was a poor choice of weapon to use in this type of situation. He’ll also tell us that 125 librarians dies in car accidents last week and that is much higher than one innocent woman being shot to death in a tragic accident while teaching people how to shoot people and so we have nothing to worry about except Hillary Clinton and Social Justice Warriors.
Guns are too dangerous to be freely available to any idiot that wants them. People who still dont understand probably dont realise they are idiots.
If you love guns then join the army.
or buy a computer game
Call of Duty, Black Ops(oops ?)2
American police just cannot help it
They have to shot somebody
their whole training structure needs to be changed
They are not an Army so they need to stop acting like one
Poorly trained,poorly educated police forces in America.If only they would read more books,even the Police training manual (if such a tome exists !) would be a start.
Was she Black?
No, she was a librarian…
What was her … erm … ethnicity?
Because y’know some people of some ethnicities probably should know better than to go near armed police, particularly in Florida (allegedly).
culture, boss?
Actually there is no corilation between etnicty and police shootings in the US its the same across the board as was highlighted in AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF RACIAL DIFFERENCES IN POLICE USE OF FORCE Roland G. Fryer, Jr Working Paper 22399 http://www.nber.org/papers/w22399 NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 July 2016
Why in the hell did they have live rounds. This is stupidity on an epic scale. I’m so sorry for her family.
“unimaginable event” Says it all really. Did no one think that two people using live rounds in an exercise might just hit someone? That’s the problem nobody seems capable of thinking things through
police have said it is another case of librarians resisting arrest it is now time to take the guns away from the murdering police
Even while roleplaying they cant resist squeezing the trigger.
Never, ever, point a firearm at someone. A gun is always loaded, even when it’s not. Role play, where required, can be effected perfectly well with plastic, orange water pistols (which can never be confused with the real thing). (This is not the first such occurrence in the very same scenario in the US).
Pray?
Prey?
Spot the deliberate mistake class !
In the name of God do something about the guns over there
“The only way to stop a bad librarian with a gun, is a good librarian with a gun” – NRA
You couldnt make this up if you tried…..
The gun nuts in America justify being armed because its not ‘guns’ that kill people, its a mental health issue.
How was it an unimaginable event?
Did they ever here of blanks? Top brass should be sacked straight away.
Librarians lives matter.
Struggling to understand the relevance of her being a librarian to the story….? If she had say, worked for Burger King, would the headline have been “fast food restaurant worker shot dead in police seminar” ?
Not trying to be pedantic, just don’t get the relevance to the story?
That’s exactly what the media would have said.It creates some background.
Reads like an obituary. RIP.
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