Talented young 'uns

The fifth annual Student Design Awards took place last week, this year in conjunction with our new partners the Crafts Council of Ireland. Remember last year's talented bunch? Conor (top pic) created these cute and colourful Gaudi-esque Multipooch seats, and Colm's cheeky mirror (bottom pic) is now available to buy at Inreda. 

Flatpack fever

With the advent of the first Ikea store in Dublin, two resourceful men have set up a company called Flatpack Services to help out shoppers at the Scandi superstore who may realise that the low-cost design dream comes at a price, that price being a frustrating battle with some instructions, a load of screw-y thingies and an alan key. They're charging an introductory rate of €25 per hour. Personally I was pleasantly surprised at my success in putting together the one major Ikea item I've ever bought, the Lillesand bed frame (pictured above). I put it together twice actually; the first time I was left with one leftover part thingy, and the second time (when I moved to my new house) I was left with two leftover part thingies. It hasn't fallen apart. Yet. We'll see how I get on the third time, when I have to dismantle it to take it out of my room for sanding the floors, having windows put in, etc etc.

FOUND IT!

I don't know how well I conveyed it, but that there title thingy is meant to be an exclamation of triumph and excitement. See, I've been thinking ahead to the more fun bits of my renovation (when I can take the plastic off my sofa and sit there drinking tea and admiring my handiwork) and the whole wallpapering the stairs thing. I love love love Orla Kiely's stem print paper, but you can only buy the geranium colour here, and I think the multi-coloured paper is a bit too nuts (either that or I'm getting too sensible). But this cheery, just-retro-enough Saplings wallpaper from Miss Print may be the absolute perfect solution. Now there's an achievement for the day. Well done me.

The wonderful Ilse Crawford

Another of my favourite designers, probably my favourite interior designer, is Ilse Crawford. Her designs are really individual and really homely, while still being really glam. She has designed some famously gorgeous spaces like Babington House and Soho House. We featured an interview with her in our September/October 2006 issue, and I pulled out these to pics to put in my book that's full of inspiration pics for my home-to-be. This bathroom proves that a small space can still be gorgeous, and I love the mix of wood and stainless steel in this kitchen.

Drama!

Sometimes it's hard to come up with an original look in your home - something a little different that hasn't been done a million times before, something that isn't just 'blah' and doesn't fade into the background. A little colour drama never goes astray - this black stairwell is a brave and striking choice, and it is so dramatic that it couldn't not be a talking point. It would seriously change the look of your space - but does your hallway have enough light to handle it? With this white painted floor and stairs, as well as the perfectly-positioned window at the top of the stairs, it works really well.  I love it, but I think that it would absolutely swallow up the hallway of my little mid-terrace palace-to-be. As ever, I dream on regardless. This paint is by Farrow & Ball, 14 Cornmarket, Dublin 8, Tel: 01 677 0111 or visit www.farrow-ball.com for mail order and your nearest stockist.

A very exciting day

Today is a particularly exciting day because I'll be getting the keys to my new house! After all of the negotiating and paperwork and emailing and phonecalling it's finally going to happen, and there were honestly times when I didn't know if this day would actually come. When I say 'new house', by the way, I mean 'extremely old house in need of serious TLC'. It was built in about 1936 and hasn't been modernised since. Gulp. Anyhow, obviously I have tons and tons of ideas - I spotted these stairs on the ever-inspiring design sponge that Helen T did a fab job on and it's an idea that I am totally nicking for my own hallway.

Retro tiles

Ok, so this room isn't a bathroom, but I love love love the tiles. This is the Parco Dei Principi hotel in Sorrento.

And the obsession continues

Of course - I can't just think about something briefly and then move along to other matters. No, it has to be an all-consuming issue that I obsess about at length. And so continues my hunt for lovely doors and windows! I've been poking through back issues, and I found the top two shots from Cornelia Murphy's house, featured in the March/April issue, and these lovely doors in Eva Byrne's house, which featured as My Favourite Room in the November/December issue. I've been calling and mailing around for quotes, so if anyone has recommendations I would love to hear all about them. Or, indeed, horror stories - it's good to know where potential danger may lie!

Drool-worthy kitchen

I find professional kitchens the most inspiring in terms of style; that stainless steel is so sleek and modern, and accompanied by rectangular porcelain tiles it looks really striking. Apparently Original Style, a UK tile manufacturer, was chosen to tile the kitchen that will be used in Series 4 of Hell's Kitchen. LOVE those brushed stainless steel tiles, swoon.

New Marimekko collection alert!

I always live a season ahead of most people, as we're always working issues ahead, so while everyone else is settling into summer I'm getting excited about new stuff for autumn. Check out the warm and wonderful fabrics from Marimekko for autumn 2009.

Zed-fest

Oh wow, two of my favourite things in one day. I just received an email informing me that it's National Bed Month. I would love to combine my celebration of that and World Book Day by vegging out under a duvet with a stack of books until March 31st, but sadly that's just not feasible. What is feasible, nay, necessary is me finally getting around to buying a proper new mattress for my huge new bed from Ikea. Apparently Stearns and Foster are one of the world's most prestigious bed brands, up until now only available in the US but are launching for the first time in Europe in Arnotts, of all places (Harrods Schmarrods, eh). They sound so swanky that I'm afraid to ask about the price - they contain up to four layers, are sprung right through from the base upwards and contain materials like alpaca and cashmere, and they have a patented Shock Absorber foundation spring system. Sounds a recipe for some seriously indulgent snoozing.

Ta-daaaa!

Here it is in all its glory: my new home. It's clear to see why I could afford it!!! I obviously have quite a job on my hands, but I'm looking forward to getting stuck in.

Art in the garden

The Crafts Council had lots of crafts on display at Bloom - how much fun would it be to have these bright and cheerful ceramic flowers in your garden? And decidedly more low maintenance than the real thing.

Paint glorious paint

I love when new paint pics come in, they're always so beautifully styled, and really bring home the extent to which your paint shades create a particular mood in a room. Here are the latest shots from Dulux. The emphasis is clearly on a soft, homely vibe with a warm and comforting air.

Holy smoke Batman

This is actually unbelievable - it's the Sorapot teapot designed by Joey Roth. Now that, my friends, is functional art on a pretty awesome level. Imagine brewing your morning cuppa in that?! My friend Niamh pointed it out to me on the San Francisco MOMA museum store website. It costs $200 on there, and on the Sorapot website they have it at €158, I didn't see anything about postage, but it would make a fab wedding pres for the aforementioned pal who is getting married next year.