Decisions Decisions

Designer's Block is a blog that I often look at. Every so often the designer will post up a couple of pictures and you have to choose which one is your favourite. Both pictures will be of a living room or a dining room or a bedroom or whatever, but both have gone for a very different look.

Well on that note, I was browsing through pictures of sitting rooms last night on Crowson and I found these three and I couldn't decide which one I preferred. In the end I decided that my favourite is the second one, Kaimana. I love how the designer wasn't afraid to use colour. It was a brave move to introduce all that pink into the room and it really brings the whole room to life.

Alaska

Kaimana

West Coast

My second favourite is Alaska, but I decided that it was too cold to be really comfortable.

IKEA

Here's the latest update on a much coveted event - the opening of Ireland's very first IKEA. (I can't wait!) This article appeared in this morning's Irish Independent...

An Bord Pleanala is due to begin a public hearing today into plans for a
massive IKEA outlet on the outskirts of Dublin city.

The Swedish furniture giant has already secured planning permission for the 30,000 square metre retail warehouse in the Ballymun area.The move was
approved after the Government lifted a cap on shop size that had limited all
retail outlets to 6,000 square metres.

A number of parties have appealed against the planning permission, including the National Roads Authority and Green Party TD Eamon Ryan.

Their concerns include the lack of infrastructure to deal with the extra
traffic that would be caused by the IKEA store. An Bord Pleanala's hearing into
the matter is expected to last three days, with the organisation set to make its
final decision known in late May.

Flowers & Butterflies

I think this has to be one of the most beautiful chandelier's I've ever seen. It's just so pretty! The flowers are so cute and pretty, then the brass border on the top and base make it look a bit more grown-up and antiquey!


It costs £40. from Monsoon Accessorize Home. I can't find out if they have a Home section in any of their Irish stores but you can order online, delivery to Republic of Ireland costs £7.95.

How great would this light look low-hanging over a dining table, set for dinner with a group of your very best girl-friends! Maybe with these napking rings and votive holders decorating the table... These are also from Monsoon Accessorize and cost £15 for a set of 4 napkin rings, £8. for the votive holder.

Reader's Question

Was just having a read of your blog and saw your post about glass doorknobs… I wonder if you know of a good place to source crystal-type cabinet knobs? Either online or instore. Finding it very difficult to get ones that don’t have a big lump of white plastic at the base ...
Thanks, Lynda

I seem to be having the same problem as Lynda as most of the cabinet knobs I've come across have the chunky plastic base that you described. Some of the better ones I can find are shown below...

This one does have a chunky base but as its chrome instead of white plastic I think you'd get away with it. This one costs US$15. from Rejuvenation



Antique Hardware do an Astoria Glass Cabinet Knob for US$4.99, This one has slightly more detail in the glass so it may not suit every cabinet, but it has a glass base which you might prefer.



This is also a nice one, with a very simple base from Period Features It costs GB£6.50 before post & packing.

I spoke to Maeve from Yesterdays, where the door knobs in the last post came from and she has informed me that they have a selection of drawer pulls in brass/crystal that might suit the need. They cost a very reasonable €6.95. There are no pictures on the site yet but if you email her she can email you some pictures. You'll find Maeve's contact details through the yesterdays website.

Otherwise I'd suggest keeping an eye out in antique shops or fairs, you need a lot of patience for this but its so rewarding when you do eventually stumble across exactly what you're looking for! And finally, there's always ebay!

Feel free to email me with any more questions (that I may or may not be able to answer!) Contact details are in my profile.

Door Knobs that Sparkle

If you want to feel like you're opening the door to a secret hideaway each time you enter your bedroom / living room then I've found what you need! I found these glass door knobs on yesterdays. I love the simplicity of the clear glass one and there's something so glamorous about the amethyst one, which would look great with in any room with a lot of black in it.

What a great way to finish off any room with a bit of charisma!





These cost €29.95 for a pair, €3. delivery cost (worldwide), not bad for an instant touch of glamour!

Tubs

I'm a big fan of tub chairs, I love a room where you have a matching set of furniture and then a mis-matched but co-ordinated tub chair. It can be a great way to introduce some pattern into an otherwise plain room.

I love these two that I found at Woodies. The detail in the pattern is eye-catching but not distracting.




The chairs cost €379.99 each from Woodies, if they're not exactly what your looking for then Argos have plain cotton covered tub chairs (click here to view) for €134.99 that could be easily covered in different fabric. If you go down this road then why not use a nicely patterened fabric, get a little extra and get some cushions made for your sofa (if it's plain) to carry the look throughout the room.

The closest Woodies to Limerick are in Tralee, Cork or Clonmel, but I've been told that there's one coming to Limerick very soon, it will be next to the Jetland Shopping Centre.

New York Deli Cup

Here's my latest have-to-have item - I have to have these cups! The New York deli cup is described as the icon of New York City. This famous paper cup has been around since 1963 and currently there are more than 180,000,000 per year carried out of New York delis full of hot coffee!

Now you can have your very own ceramic one that you can pop in your microwave or dishwasher. I found this on elsewares for just $12. before post & packing.

What a perfect way to have your coffee and a newspaper on a Saturday morning!

Unusual Bed Linen!

Ok so this probably isn't the classiest post I've ever done... but a friend forwarded me an email with these pictures of bed linen and towels so I thought I'd share them with you as they gave me a laugh!








Don't think they're widely available yet though... or that I'd let them in my house if they were! I'm sure there are plenty of bachelors that would like to furnish their pad with these though!

A Collection of Coat-Hangers

I've been on the lookout for a nice wall-hook for coats recently and I thought I'd share a few of my favourites that I found on a website called Yesterdays.

I love this chestnut one beause its so traditional, I love the idea of leaving notes and messages for the rest of the family and there's even a little ledge to store your chalk (and to stop the dust getting all over your coat...). This one costs €99.00 with €5. worldwide shipping



This next one is, in my opinion, an even better version of the one above. My better half (incorrectly..) tells me that I'm an obsessive planner so if he was to buy me a coat hanger I'm sure this would be the one he'd pick! It costs €124.95 with €10. worldwide shipping.



The one shown below is so old-fashioned with the brass nameplates and chestnut base. It costs a very reasonable €19.95, €3. worldwide shipping



And if you'd like something a little different or more feminine (it is National Women's Day after all!) then this is a gorgeous piece. This one is made from hundreds of pieces of old mosaic tiles and is best described on the Yesterdays website by saying "A pastiche of gentle rose images on a mosaic background evokes playful childhood memories of scrapbooks and sticky fingers. What little girl wouldn't love to hang her coat up on these hooks..."



That one costs €59.95 with €5. worldwide shipping. Yesterdays has some really beautiful products, the website is well worth a look. There are stores in Cork and Kilkenny, but they ship worldwide.

On the website, Yesterdays describe themselves as having a "reputation [which] has been built on an ability to rediscover the forgotten beauty of the past".

Chandelier Chic

I love chandeliers or unusual lights. I think a large detailed chandelier can make such a statement in the entrance hallway of your home, if you have the space for one. Here are a few of my favourites that I've found from Light Design Ltd. a lighting company on the Tramore Road, Co. Cork.


Barleycorn Pendant


Autumn Sprig-Style Pendant

They also have more classical ones like this...


Ages Antique 12 Light Chandelier Pendant

Or this one...


Cream/Gold Candle Effect Chandelier Pendant

Or slightly more "off-the wall" designs like this one, this wouldn't be my taste but might look good in a trendy bar or cafe!



Cognac Glass Pendant


There are many more to see on the website and there are many many more to see in the showroom, details on the site.