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.

Danish delights

Danish label Day Birger Et Mikkelsen design clothes that are just the right side of different; elegant, with a twist, and not just the same-old same-old that you'll see all over the place. It's no surprise to see that their homewares strike just the same notes. They're available in Ireland from Eden Home and Garden, Temple Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin. Tel: 01 764 2004. Web: www.edenhomeandgarden.ie

Designs to swoon over

So, I'm just back from Copenhagen and I have a new designer to be obsessed with: Louise Campbell. Pottering through a proliferation of Royal Copenhagen designs, I noticed that the charming, modern designs appeared to be by a lady called Louise Campbell, and then when I was in the Louis Poulsen showroom her name cropped there too. So, when I dug a little deeper I found a whole host of beautiful designs to become besotted with. The first two pics show the office of the Danish Ministry of Culture, which she designed, and which rather amusingly incorporates a punching bag that allows not only the minister and staff but also any visitors to relieve tension on the spot with a good wallop! Next we have her designs for the Royal Copenhagen Elements collection, which is what initially drew me to her work. She also created this very cool The More, The Merrier candleabra for Muuto, and this one-off Fatso pendant light (part of a series)  for Louis Poulsen.