Photographer Paul Massey

I was admiring a fab bathroom last week and trying to figure out where I had gotten the pic from (it was in the sizeable 'inspiration' folder on my desktop, saved under 'PERFECT BATHROOM LAYOUT'), when someone reminded me that it was that of photographer Paul Massey. I love his work, his interiors shots are always of homes that look as though they are lived in by people who love comfort, as well as having great taste, and who really live in their homes. I went on to his website and found a whole host of other inviting images, some of which are above. Enjoy.

Hanging out in the hall

Now, I know that I need to curb spending, with all that is there to pay for it's all about the fundamental stuff these days and the pretty things need to be left on the back burner. It's comforting to know that some things aren't going anywhere and that they'll be there to buy whenever I've saved and can justify buying them. Like this lovely Swedese coat stand, from Duff Tisdall - it's perfect for my hallway, as it's not bulky, it's wall-mounted and it has a lovely strong silhouette. It's not an immediate concern though, and at €410 I'm content to visualise how lovely it will eventually look when I can afford it.

NCAD graduate show picks pics

I finally got a chance to call up to the NCAD 2009 graduate show. It's just a short trot up the road from work, so it was a thoroughly pleasant way to spend a sunny afternoon. I really recommend paying a visit, you could easily spend a couple of hours there and there's plenty of food for thought. Anyhow, you must pardon my photography 'skills', but I took some pics of some of the work that I really liked. Take a look and don't forget to call up this week - you have until Sunday, it ends on the 14th. Above is a ceramic piece by Kim Murray from her collection called Keepsakes.




Brioni Connolly



Blaine O'Donnell



Tim Harden



Carol O'Connor





Margaret McKeever



Installation by Fionnuala Hanahoe

Sunnier times in sunnier climes

Looking at the extreme greyness outside the window, I can't help but yearn for a bit of brightness, and I'm quite sure that I'm not the only one. That led me to thinking about holidays, which reminded me of our stunningly sunny holiday in Sicily last year. For the most part we stayed in cheap n cheerful hotels and guest houses, but when we went to Syracuse we treated ourselves to the very lovely Hotel Gutkowski, a fresh, idyllic seaside spot. It was a combination of the pics on the website and the glowing reviews of the breakfast on tripadvisor that sold it to me. And, from an interiors point of view it's chockkers with inspiration. A very simple, fresh type of inspiration, just the kind I need to counter the dull as ditchwater weather and clear my head a little. 

Very exciting...if you're a bit of a nerd...

...like me! I'm excited about Kirstie Allsopp's new makey-do programme Kirstie's Homemade Home, which starts at 8pm on Channel 4 tonight. I love KA - she's absolutely hilarious when she gets narky with the househunters on Relocation Relocation (they often deserve it, it has to be said). Anyhow - this show is about Kirstie doing up a dilapidated cottage in Devon using traditional methods and crafts, apparently, so there's lots to learn about crafty-type DIYish stuff. That's a night in on the sofa for me so!

Jealousy

Just look at it! Look at the fabulous parquet floor in this bathroom! Well, to say I'm green with envy. I ab-so-lute-ly LOVE parquet floors. Everywhere, in every and any room in the house. I intend to trawl salvage yards high and low to find some for my new house. My dad shakes his head every time I mention it though. And then takes the opportunity to remind me how I've ruined the beautiful parquet floor in their hallway with high heels. Anyhow, these shots are courtesy of Little Greene Paints, this is their Ultimatt emulsion, a seriously hardcore paint that is built to take the pace in high traffic areas in the home. For Irish stockists contact 01 450 7154. Notice how black painted walls are a recurring theme these days? Maybe it's a recession thing, like that time at the Oscars after 9/11 when everyone wore black.

It's bloomin gorgeous out there

Having stepped off the plane from New York mere hours ago, I am now sitting at my desk a little dazed and confused. The beautiful day is making it all a little easier though. It's also making me feel all outdoorsy and finally ready for a little spring action. I have a tendency to get ahead of myself, however, and forget that it's not as warm as it looks. So for the time being I'll settle for more indoorsy ways of getting down with nature, like this oh-so-clever Kiikku indoor garden by Tonfisk, a walnut ladder with four removable flower pots that can also be brought outside when the appropriate weather eventually rears its head. Tonfisk also have a smart new extendable vase, Kasvu, made of porcelain and laminated walnut or oak, that can be adjusted from 17.5cm to 27.5cm to suit the height of your flowers. One of the founding designers of this successful ceramic design company is Irish man Brian Keaney, who is currently based in Finland. Tonfisk designs are available from Inreda on Camden Street, D2. Tel: 01 476 0362.

Just stay in

Oh yuckky yuck yuck, how could the weather be so hideous?! For those of you who need to get a design fix but can't bear to brave the outdoors, log on to the Finnish Design Shop where you can buy Mikko Karkkainen's Red Dot Design Award winning Tunto LED lamp - which will help brighten up that gross grey day outside.

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.