Ireland's homes interiors & living magazine july 2014

Ir el a nd’s

Homes Interiors & li v ing

Summer

ireland’s largest selling monthly interiors and lifestyle magazine

41

36 Pages of

garden renovations outdoor furniture food & drink

WIN

pages of readers’ homes & kitchens

Over £1,000 worth of prizes

Belfast Holywood Kilkenny Cork

Gardening Grow your own food

Special

Bathrooms Luxurious Retreats

Travel

Limerick & Glasgow

Cookery The BBQ Book

July 2014

Silestone Authentic Life ®

Kitchen and Bathroom Surfaces Each element that surrounds us contributes to build our reality.

That’s the authentic existence, the existence that defines who you are.

Silestone® lets you express character and emotion through your kitchen and bathroom. The only quartz worktop with bacteriostatic protection, and available in over 80 varied stunning colours and three exclusive textures.

THE ORIGINAL QUARTZ

Live the authentic life, live your life with Silestone®.

“I love architecture and fashion, but the authentic things are in the houses we live, in the clothes real people wear.

That’s what I tell people on my blog.

That is Authentic life.”

Macarena Gea (Blogger and Architect)

Silestone Integrity Sinks ®

Prices from

®

720€ / £599 INCLUDING FITTING! * VAT not included. Through participating studios only

www.silestone.com

Worktop PULSAR (Nebula Code Series) / SUEDE Exclusive Texture / INTEGRITY Sink Blanco Zeus

COSENTINO DUBLIN / Tel: (0) 1626 7334 / Email: ireland.uk@cosentinogroup.net

15 10

YEARS

Reject all Imitations.

Choose Silestone.

The Original Quartz

TRANSFERAB LE

WARRANTY

BACTERIOSTATIC PROTECTION

NATURAL QUARTZ

Drumleck, Castlebellingham, Co. Louth (Exit 15 of M1, only 45mins from Dublin & Belfast) T: 042 937 2625 E: info@oconnorkitchens.ie Phone to arrange a consultation

www.oconnorkitchens.ie

Contents i s s u e 2 2 9 J u LY 2 014

62

N Bielenberg ER ’S G E TH D LIN ZIN Kilkenny OR LAN SEL GA NPhilip E IR EST MA RG HLY A L NT O M

Ir el a nd’s

Homes InterIors

76

& li v ing

Summer

ireland’s largest selling monthly interiors and lifestyle magazine

41

Special 36 Pages of

garden renovations outdoor furniture food & drink

WIN

pages of readers’ homes & kitchens

Over £1,000 WOrTh Of prIzes

Belfast Holywood Kilkenny Cork

Bathrooms Luxurious Retreats

Cover Stories 24 Summer Special 52 Bathrooms 113 Cookbook 118 Travel 124 Gardening

July 2014

Gardening Grow your own food

86

Travel

Limerick & Glasgow

Cookery The BBQ Book

07 9 771470 720118

£3.50

Readers’ Homes

62 Instantly Smitten

Chrissie has lovingly rescued and restored her Georgian home in Kilkenny.

76 Stylish Living

From bachelor pad to functional family home, Tony and Darren have made the most out of their Belfast property.

86 Coastal Charm 104

A beautiful contemporary and elegant home full of light in West Cork.

Reader’s Kitchen

104 Sleek & Spacious

Simon and Clare picked a stunning kitchen from Robinson Interiors for their Holywood home.

Features YELLOW TITLE = SUMMER SPECIAL

5

14

16

18

20

22

24

36

52

102

110

113

118

121

124

128

cookbook

Stylish accessories for your home.

In House News

The latest interiors news.

Eco News

Keeping it green.

Create the Style: Bedroom Soft summer pastels.

Showroom Profile

This month we visit Ness Domestic Appliances.

Designer Profile

Keep an eye on the time with Eimear O’Connor.

Inside Out

Renovating and redecorating this summer.

It’s Summer

All you need for relaxing and entertaining outside.

36

Summer special

Bath Time

Showers, tubs and accessories.

Denise O’Connor

Redesign and Renovate: Storage.

Cheers to Summer

Keep cool with these summer cocktails.

Cookbook

homestyle

5

Jamie Oliver’s Foodtube: The BBQ Book by DJ BBQ.

Destination UK: Glasgow

A city break worth taking this summer.

Destination Ireland: Limerick

Explore this beautiful Irish County.

Gardening Grow your own food.

Style Icon

The Alessi Tea Matter Melodic Tea-Strainer by Alan Chan.

Competitions 21 Velux is offering one lucky reader the chance to win £1,000 worth of New Generation products. Total prize value £1,000.

22 Eimear O’Connor is offering one reader the chance to win an Inspired Time clock. Total prize value €35.

117

113

Homestyle

Penguin Group are offering five readers the chance to win a copy of Jamie Oliver’s Foodtube: The BBQ Book by DJ BBQ worth £7.99. Total prize value £39.95.

110

Summer cocktails

Publisher Mike Keenan finance director Suzanne Livingstone commercial manager Bobby Keenan Advertising manager Vanya Campbell

Ireland’s

Homes Interiors & living

Advertising sales executive Tanya Neeson

JULY 2014

editorIAL Margaret Connolly, Sara Larkham

No 229

designerS Jenny Ferris, Michael Robinson, Walter Steele administration Heather Withers Credit Control Yvonne Watson Contributors Penny Crawford-Collins, Philip Lauterbach, Mandi Millar, Marie McMillen, Ashley Morrison, Denise O’Connor, Deirdre Prince, Lisa Sykes

Subscription Rates UK – £40, ROI – €57.90

Europe (Air mail) – £59.04 Outside Europe (Air mail) – £95.64 Surface Mail (any destination) – £58.08

Bangor address

PO Box 42, Bangor, Co. Down BT19 7AD Tel: 028 9147 3979 Fax: 028 9147 4219 email: accounts@ihil.net advertising@ihil.net editorial@ihil.net competitions@ihil.net dublin address

Ashgrove House, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin Tel: (01) 2722616 Fax: (01) 2722617 www.ihil.net

COMPETITION WINNERS FROM THE MAY 2014 ISSUE

1 READER WINS A FOX POUFFE FROM THE NEW WILDLIFE COLLECTION FROM ORWELL AND GOODE. TOTAL £95.

Vine Campbell, Kilkeel.

1 READER WINS A €100 VOUCHER FOR THE NEW MOURNE SEAFOOD BAR ON CHARLOTTE QUAY IN DUBLIN. TOTAL €100.

Kim Bardon, Knocklyon.

© Copyright of all material published in this magazine belongs to: Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living magazine

All prices quoted in the magazine are the recommended retail price at the time of going to press and should be used as a guide only. Prices may vary due to the exchange rate and can be checked with retailers.

Member of Audit Bureau of Circulation

T

his issue we have 36 pages of inspirational summer style for your home. Firstly, we look at renovating and redecorating from the inside out to make the most of the light coming into the back of your home, and how best to utilise your exterior space to make the most out of your garden. Then we move on to our ‘It’s Summer’ feature where we bring you all of the latest garden furniture and accessories for lounging and dining this summer. Even our cookbook this month, Jamie Oliver’s Foodtube: The BBQ Book by DJ BBQ, has lots of tantalising recipe suggestions for cooking alfresco and to wash it all down we bring you some of our favourite summer cocktails.

For those looking for culinary inspiration indoors, Simon and Clare’s Rational kitchen from Robinson Interiors in Belfast has been a welcome addition to their Holywood home and is perfect for entertaining as well as daily cooking.

Moving from our reader’s kitchen to our readers’ homes, this issue we visit Darren and Tony’s Belfast abode which has been transformed from a bachelor pad to a welcoming family home. In contrast to this city dwelling is the rural Georgian property that Chrissie has lovingly rescued and restored in Kilkenny. Chrissie has successfully turned this house into a comfortable home without destroying any of its charm. Staying in the south of Ireland, we also take a closer look around a striking, contemporary coastal home in West Cork. Previously a very dated bungalow, we’re sure you’ll agree this property is now a stunning modern day family home.

Bathrooms also come under the spotlight this month as we look at classic and contemporary bath tubs, showers and accessories to turn this room of the house into a luxurious retreat that is both functional and stylish.

For those of you looking for a luxurious retreat outside of your own home, then turn to our travel features that take in the beauty of Limerick and also the buzz of Glasgow. Why not book into a local hotel for some pampering and enjoy all that both of these cities have to offer this summer.

Finally, if you have a home or know someone who has a home that you would like to see featured in the magazine, contact editorial on 028 9147 3979 or email editorial@ihil.net

18 YEARS OVER 4.2 MILLION* SALES ABC VERIFIED *4,296,540 combined sales to December 2013 Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living 4,116,075 All Ireland Kitchen Guide 180,465

homestyle An inspirational selection of the latest traditional and contemporary furniture, fabric and accessories for your home.

Funky Florals

From Designers Guild is Kaori; beautifully hand-drawn floral sprays scatter over a beautiful soft aqua background in this vivacious printed bed. Magenta petals mix with leaves of soft jade and lime and are framed by the characterful charcoal illustrations. Reverses to a textured geometric print, and is finished with wonderful overlocked jade border. Luxury 200 thread count percale cotton. Double duvet cover, £90/€115; Oxford pillowcase, £25/€31 and Housewife pillowcase, £20/€25.

For Irish stockists phone 020 7893 7400. www.designersguild.com

homestyle HAPPY DAYS! Happy Days melamine platter from Hunkydory Home. At 36cm diameter it’s large enough to serve cakes, sandwiches and snacks on and when they’re all gone it will make your guests smile. £9.99. Phone 019 1645 4004. www. hunkydoryhome.co.uk

Trendy Trellis

Fired Earth’s hand decorated Trellis wall tiles in Zigzag. These eye-catching tiles measure 14.8 x 14.8 cm and cost £199.58/€229.12 per m2. Phone Belfast, 028 9023 8000 and Dun Laoghaire, 01 663 6160. www.firedearth.com

Quirst Quencher Four long mixer glasses with an icelip jug from LSA International. £75/€100.50. Phone Bedeck Home, Belfast 028 9066 9828 and The Linen Green, Mogashel 028 8772 9153; House of Ireland, Dublin 01 6711111; Brown Thomas, Dublin, 01 6056666, Cork 021 4805555 and Limerick 061 405221 and The Orchard, Dublin 016288903. www.lsa- international.com

Jam House

Jam makers set from Mrs Allsorts. The set includes four vintage style glass jam jars with polka dot printed metal lids (two pink and two green); four self adhesive labels, jar covers in yellow, blue, pink & green, string ties and one personal jam recipes notebook. £10.

Phone 0121 3300346. www.mrsallsorts.com

Lovely Lounger

The Arioso chaise longue from Roche Bobois. €2,170.

Phone Dublin 01 6531650. www.roche-bobois.com

6

Have you heard...

“It is very refreshing to be on the receiving end of such good customer support” Steve, Co. Cork - May 2014

neptune.com NEPTUNE STORES:

Neptune by Global Village Co Dublin 01 405 5035 Neptune by Malone & Smyth Co Fermanagh 028 6774 1885 Neptune by Browsers Co Limerick 06 141 4490

PREMIER PARTNERS:

Co Dublin Blackrock Kitchens 01 2108005 Co Kildare Country Kitchens 045 864 169 Co Kilkenny Castle Cabinets 056 7764800 Co Offaly Deanery Furniture 050 547066 N.IRELAND – Belfast Grosvenor Kitchens 028 9068 5363

PICTURED:

Price of similar sized Suffolk kitchen including those cabinets not on show is €17,200 / £13,750.

Harrogate 170cm table €995 / £795 with Long Island Linen Chairs & Covers €250 / £195 and Suffolk 4ft Sideboard €1,295 / £995

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homestyle Mirror mirror

This Georgian mirror from Smiths Briten and designed by Burlington, will add a sense of period charm to any room. Available in Polished Aluminium, Black Aluminium or Polished White finish. Dimensions: 55cm x 75cm. £249. Phone 0845 634 4321. www. purebathroomcollection.co.uk

Light Up Your Life

The AJ wall LED light from Louis Poulsen is designed by Arne Jacobsen and emits downward directed light. The shade is painted white on the inside to ensure a soft comfortable light. £649. Euro price on request. Visit Lighting Design, www.LightingDesignOnline.com www.louispoulsen.com

Top Table

Saturno dining table from Natuzzi. The legs have felt pads and lateral edges made of solid European oak with painted steel support frame (brown with the coffee top or white with the milk white top). It has a rag-applied finish, grey or smoked oak, with scratch-resistant acid etched effect, with extra-light back-etching for the milk white finish, or float glass for the coffee finish. From £1,700/€1,960. Phone Arnotts, Dublin 01 805 0400; House of Fraser (Natuzzi concession) Belfast 028 9032 0224; The 1933 Furniture Company, Navan 046 9093012; Franks Furniture, Dundalk 042 9335026; Gillespie & Wilson, Belfast 028 9047 1074 and Square Deal Interiors, Cork 021 4274045. For further information phone 01322 312550. www.natuzzi.co.uk

Delicate Design

Nara by Bedeck is inspired by beautiful Japanese flowers. A delicate design of hand drawn cherry blossoms set on a champagne background. The range includes a cream throw and cushion with delicate spot detailing and intricate metallic hand stitching. Double duvet cover, £70/€90; Oxford pillowcases, £15/€19; Housewife pillowcases, £12/€15 and cushion, £40/€50. For your local Irish stockist phone 0845 6030861. www.bedeckhome.com

Hip To Be Square

The Alice cabinet in harlequin from Living it Up. The hand crafted and uniquely painted chests are available in a range of colours, the lighter shades can help brighten a room with the darker colours helping to add warmth. £799. www.livingitup.co.uk 8

homestyle Beautiful Bowl Memories collection rice melamine bowl in two tone green from Doris & Boris. £8.99.

Phone 014 9182 2636. www.dorisandboris.co.uk

Trendy Twister

The OXO twist top water bottle will keep you hydrated on the go. A simple twist of the nonslip lid reveals a soft straw that’s comfortable to drink from, while another twist closes the lid again keeping the straw clean and germ free. With a generous 750ml capacity, the light and functional bottle has convenient measurement markings to help track how much you’re drinking. £10/€12.13. Phone 01142 420405. www.oxouk.com

Time for Tea

Glass Chai Tea Set from PUJI. This charming Chai Tea Set has been handmade from recycled glass. Each glass slots neatly into the distressed white wire holder making them easily transportable and easy to store. £24. Phone 020 8886 3000. www.puji.com

Party On The Flamingo party lampshade from Space 1a. Handmade and fashioned using organic cotton.

From £45.00 for a shade measuring 25cm x 25cm. Other sizes are available. www.space1a.com

Trendy Towels These pure cotton 550gsm towels from Sanderson are available in three striking yet complementary designs, Treetops, Ocelli and Ebba. Each design is available in three colour stories, Indigo, Aqua and Natural and come in guest, hand and bath sizes.

Guest, £10/€13; hand, £14/€18 and bath £25/€31. Phone Coverwell of Ballinhassig, Cork 021 4885291; Emporium Fabrics Kilrea 028 2954 0119; The Fabulous Fabric Company, Ballymakeera 026 45235; Hamilton Interiors, Dundalk 042 9320123; Hampton Furnishings, Lisburn 028 9267 2220; Homestyle Blinds and Interiors, Ballymena 028 2565 5565 and Ballyclare 028 9334 2693; Home Decor Centre, Omagh 028 8224 3832; Interiors by Marie, Galway 091 766786; JA Shannon, Kilkeel 028 4176 2315; Mix ‘n’ Match Interiors, Meath 01 8259553; Roycroft Interiors, Lisburn 028 9266 9595. For further Irish stockists phone ROI 01 2765811 or NI 0844 5439500. www.sanderson-uk.com 10

Not the Soup!

‘Oh no! Not the Soup’ spatula

by Clare Loves. This funky wooden spatula will bring a smile to any kitchen. £12. Phone 014 9487 4101. www.clareloves.co.uk

Hanging Honeycomb Set of three paper honeycomb decorations from Hampton Blue. The set consists of one large mustard honeycomb, one medium green honeycomb and one small pink honeycomb. Each one is finished off with a ribbon for hanging and can be used multiple times. Approx size: 12”, 10” and 8”. £6 for a set of three. www.hamptonblue.co.uk

In the Pink

Neon pink bottle from Oliver Bonas. £6. Phone 020 8974 0110. www.oliverbonas.com

Let’s Go Dotty Merino dotty throw in red polka dot from Ville & Campagne. Made in Yorkshire with great care, Merino wool is one of the finest type of wool: light but yet very warm and comfortable. It comes in warm red, light blue, pale grey, navy blue and grey with multi colours.

Measures 200cm x 140 cm. £89. Phone 0207 3700474. www.villeetcampagne.co.uk

Pull Your Socks Up

Marimekko ‘Socks Rolled Down’ pitcher in turquoise. £60. Phone Inreda, Dublin 01 4760362 and Maven, Belfast 028 9066 5176. www.marimekko.fi/eng

Trendy Tealights Gisela Graham tin ladybird or butterfly tea light holders from The Contemporary Home. 7cm tall. £4.50 each. Phone 0845 1308229. www.tch.net

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homestyle Fringe Benefits Rainbow set of guest towels from Ville & Campagne. Hand woven in Tunisia and made from pure cotton with hand-tied tasselled fringes, they come in a set of three warm colours: red, green and turquoise. £24.75. Phone 020 7370 0474. www.villeetcampagne.co.uk

Beautiful Bedding

Silk and cashmere bed throw from Shibumi.

Made of 70 per cent cashmere and 30 per cent silk, they are available in a variety of colours, including bracken green or opaline blue.

The throws measure 7ft by 9ft and are fully reversible. £280 each. www.shibumistyle.com

Gorgeous Glass The Fantasy range of glassware in blue from Swedish homeware

brand Sagaform. The pack consists of 4 glasses each in a different design. £13.95 www.sagaform.com

Everything’s Rosy

Cath Kidston Chelsea rose mug, 11.5cm high. £6.50. Euro price on request. Phone Belfast 028 9023 1581, Dundrum Shopping Centre, Dublin 01 2964430 and Donaghaee Garden Centre, Donaghadee 028 9188 3603. www.cathkidston.co.uk

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Mint Design Primrose chair in mint from Oliver Bonas. £59.

Phone 020 8974 0110. www.oliverbonas.com

Have you heard...

“I’m just in love with Neptune” Holly, Co. Dublin - May 2014

neptune.com NEPTUNE STORES:

Neptune by Browsers Co Limerick 061 414490 Neptune by Global Village Co Dublin 01 4055035 Neptune by Malone & Smyth Co Fermanagh 028 67741885 Neptune by The Orchard Co Kildare 01 6288903

PREMIER PARTNERS:

IRELAND Blackrock Kitchens Co Dublin 01 2108005 Lots Co Kerry 066 7127117 Country Kitchens Co Kildare 045 864 169 Castle Cabinets Co Kilkenny 056 7764800 1933 Furniture Company Co Meath 046 909 3012 Deanery Furniture Co Offaly 050 547066 N. IRELAND Belfast Grosvenor Kitchens 028 9068 5363

PICTURED:

Suffolk 150cm Rectangular Seasoned Oak Table €795, Montague Lloyd Loom Dining Chairs €245, Cushions €55, Accessories by Neptune

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Inhouse news Topform Launches its 2014 Colour Range Topform, Ireland’s leading provider of high quality laminate kitchen worktops, has recently launched its new colour and texture range to the Irish market. Selecting the latest innovations and contemporary designs from around the globe, Topform’s contemporary colour range introduces more vibrant gloss décors and new linen textures such as Linen and Ivy to present its spectacular new 2014 laminate collection. Their flagship product, TopShape, a contemporary square edged laminate worktop, now exhibits 34 colours in its complete décor range and TopPlus, the company’s premium range of laminate-based kitchen worktops now features 49 colours in its new range, while its complementary Splashback collection has extended its size and colour range to offer more choice to suit all tastes. Along with its new colour collection, Topform is also introducing a new contemporary 25mm Slimline square edged worktop, the only one of its kind produced in Ireland. Topform Marketing Manager Aislin Le Provost commented, ‘Our 2014 product launch is not just a matter of colours, it’s the whole combination of textures, surfaces, sizes and décors that combine to make our new range so exciting.’

Phone Galway 1800 947 000 (ROI) 091 631616 (NI). www.topform.ie

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Wirefree Children’s Blinds from QMotion UK New European safety standards have been announced for 2014 in an attempt to improve the safety of blinds and reduce risk to children. The stylish children’s range of wire and cord free automated blinds at QMotion UK eliminates the risk completely. These wire free blinds are an easy solution that not only gives parents and guardians peace of mind but they’re virtually silent to operate and can help to regulate the temperature of the room too. There are over 400 beautiful fabrics and colours to choose from including a range of light filtering, decorative and beautiful blackout materials. Children can also personalise the design by choosing their favourite family photo or picture to be printed on to a fabric. Fabrics can also be easily replaced to suit new décor or for cleaning purposes. The operation of these innovative window solutions can be controlled in a single room or multiple rooms in the home with no wiring needed, simply functioning at the touch of a button via remote smart phone

or tablet. The pioneering system is operated with a concealed recyclable battery that has a life of up to five years with minimal hassle during installation and little maintenance. Prices start from £674 including fabric.

Phone 0845 4501606. www.qmotionshades.co.uk

Cosentino’s Ultra Compact Surface - Dekton The world leader in the production and distribution of quartz, natural stone and recycled surfaces, Cosentino has launched Dekton by Cosentino.

Brand new to the market place, it provides an ideal architectural solution for both interiors and exteriors. The result of a 128 million Euro investment and 22,000 hours of research and development by the Cosentino Group, Dekton is an ultra-compact surface, which is a sophisticated mixture of raw materials that are used to manufacture glass, porcelain and quartz surfaces. A completely new and innovative category of surfaces, Dekton is the perfect material for designers, architects, house builders and developers as it can recreate any type of material with a high level of quality and can also be used both indoors and outdoors thanks to its high resistance to UV rays and large formats, making it easy and quick to install. Dekton offers endless design possibilities, allowing designs to flow indoors

and outdoors and at all levels both horizontally and vertically with colours and textures that move freely. It can be used for a variety of applications, including kitchen worktops, floorings and coverings; bathroom floorings and coverings; furnishings; exterior facades where Dekton covers the walls of any building like a layer of skin; floors and swimming pools. The initial Dekton range is available in 10 different references grouped into three collections: Solid Collection, Natural Collection and Tech Collection. These three collections fully identify with the natural references of the material. Solid colours, natural stone, slate, cement and rust are some of the finishes and colours that Dekton® will be manufactured in.

Dekton will also be available in three finishes; polished, matte and slate.

Phone Dublin 01 6267334. www.dekton.co.uk

Non Fiction Graphics, Dublin With no work after the 2008 economic crash, John Morrissey, decided to go back to college and up-skill. ‘I was always interested in Design and Art (I have a City & Guilds in CAD Design),’ explains John. ‘So I did a BTEC HND diploma in Graphic Design as a mature student (I’m 48) at Colaiste Dhulaigh, Raheney.

In the last year of college for our ‘End of Year Show’ we each had to make a graphic piece (A Poster, Piece of Animation, 3D model etc.) that described what we thought about a certain place, That year it was the Grand Canal Dock area in Dublin 4. I thought it looked a bit like a Carnival or a Circus - a nice place to go and look at but you wouldn’t want to actually live there on a permanent basis! So, using both my

Carpentry and Graphic Design skills I made a 3D Circus sign complete with light bulbs.

As soon as I finished it a few people who saw it asked if I could make them something similar and Non Fiction Graphics grew from here. I started doing some of the vintage markets and now there’s a couple of shops in Dublin city centre that stock some of my pieces and I also sell them through my Website, Facebook and Twitter pages where you can design your own letter or word. All the pieces are designed and made by me in my workshop in Dublin 5 and sent to my customer base throughout Ireland, the UK and as far as Germany to date.’

For further information log on to www.nonfictiongraphics.com

BUCKLEYS THE STONE WORKS

Bespoke Fireplace Packages

from €1995 to €2495 Step 1

Choose from five of our custome made fire surrounds

Step 2

Select an insert from our range of multi-fuel fires

Step 3

New collections from IKEA It has been a busy few months for IKEA as they continue to spoil us with new collections. The IKEA PS 2014 Collection has an ‘On the Move’ theme for this year. Each piece is modern, affordable, multi-functional, and perfect for small space living, responding to the needs of many young-in-mind urban people that frequently move home. ‘We had their needs and dreams in mind when designing these joyful, beautiful and flexible products,’ says David Wahl, designer at IKEA of Sweden. From the modern to the traditional, NORNÄS is a brand new series showcasing the raw and natural feel of pinewood and the clean lines of modern Scandinavian design. It is made solely from trees sourced in the far north of Sweden and therefore opens up to endless home furnishing solutions that can be customised to fit every home. The IKEA PS 2014 Collection

Contact us or visit our showrooms to arrange a survey and have your fireplace installed.

and the NORNÄS Collection are both now available in store.

Phone Belfast 0845 3551113 and Dublin 1890 987 938. www.ikea.co.uk/www.ikea.ie

www.buckleyfireplaces.ie NORNÄS Collection

97 Malahide Rd. Dublin 3.

01-8532934

Ballyedmonduff Rd. Stepaside, Dublin 18.

01-2946865

Econews Gorenje launches new generation of eco-friendly fridge-freezers Gorenje is thrilled to be launching its technologically advanced NRK 6192 TX freestanding fridge-freezer, which features ground-breaking Advanced IonAir technology.

The A++ rated Superior line model uses ions to purify the air in the fridge which destroys up to 95 per cent of all bacteria, mould and odours.

Stuart Benson, national sales manager at Gorenje UK said, ‘It’s fantastic to be introducing our most technological and ecofriendly refrigerator at a time when there’s a growing demand for food preservation, energy efficiency and hi-tech gadgets. Our engineers have worked tirelessly to perfect Advanced IonAir technology, which we feel really sets our new fridge-freezers apart from the rest.

By using ionisation to constantly circulate negatively charged ions, a natural microclimate is created within the fridge which leads to a new level of freshness.’

The model incorporates a Multiflow 360° intensive ventilation system which maintains optimal temperatures in the fridge, and NoFrost plus technology which eliminates ice from the entire appliance and prevents food from drying out. The Ion Generation fridge- freezer also features an ecoprogramme which saves energy when nobody is home. Stuart adds, ‘Intelligent AdaptCool advanced sensor technology is the final piece of technology in our Ion Generation line which keeps track of user habits for seven days and adjusts the temperature when the fridge is more frequently opened. This greatly improves efficiency and adapts to each and every household, leading to energy consumption savings of up to 50 per cent.’

For more information Gorenje’s new ION Generation fridge-freezers phone 020 8247 3980 or visit www.gorenje.co.uk

Recycled Rugs These gorgeous rugs from Ellie Ellie are all made from recycled wool, which has been re-spun to create individual check designs. The rugs are incredibly versatile and can be used as anything from a picnic blanket in the summer, to a cosy blanket on a chilly evening. £24.

Phone 020 7384 3355. www.ellieellie.co.uk

Click & Grow Click & Grow is an easy-to-use electronic smartpot that grows plants without watering and fertilising. You don’t have to have any knowledge about gardening, instead everything will be taken care by the smart technology. Click & Grow measures all the necessary parameters and doses an exact amount of water, fertiliser and air, according to the plant’s needs. No more constant watering, guesswork and worrying whether your plant is getting exactly what it needs – the smart technology takes care of all of that for you.

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The Smart herb garden comes with cartridges for basil, thyme and lemon balm.

Refill cartridges will be available for chilli pepper, mini tomato, peppermint, rosemary, sage, sugar leaf and lavender and the company are testing various kinds of lettuce and even strawberries.

The backbone of the Smart Herb Garden is the growth medium, a nanotech material engineered to supply plant roots with the right amount of oxygen, water and nutrients at any time. £99.99.

Available from www.2tech.co.uk

New designs at

T: 028 2564 0206 Algram "Bridgewater House" 1-5 Railway Street Ballymena, BT42 2AA

www.algram.co.uk

@algramballymena

Create the Style...

Summer Style Florentine double bed in Sky soft wool from sofa.com. ÂŁ795. www.sofa.com

...in the bedroom

Bring some summer style into your bedroom with this season’s pretty pastel shades.

Bed Time Dazzler bed from Loaf. £695. Phone 0845 4680698. www.loaf.com

Fresh Flowers Blue anemone jam jar from Berry Red. £12.

Phone 01432 274805. www.berryred.co.uk

Side Kick Range side table in oak and brass from Made. £149. Phone 0845 557 6888. www.made.com

Blind Side Wimbourne Sepia from Hillarys Wood Works collection. Prices start at £129, W42cm x D60cm including measuring and fitting. Phone 0800 9166516. www.hillarys.co.uk

Well Lit The Wisdom floor lamp from Natuzzi. £700/€810. Phone Arnotts, Dublin 01 805 0400; House of Fraser (Natuzzi concession) Belfast 028 9032 0224; The 1933 Furniture Company, Navan 046 9093012; Square Deal Interiors, Cork 021 4274045. For further information phone 01322 312550. www.natuzzi.co.uk

Little Extras Set of three glass bottles from Marquis & Dawe. £9. Phone 01925 767611. www.marquisanddawe.co.uk

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s u m p t u o u s s h ow r o o m s ...

Ness Domestic Appliances For over ten years Ness has been a supplier of high end kitchen appliances sinks and taps. Their showroom gives consumers an opportunity to see the vast array of appliances that can be installed in their kitchen from Küppersbusch (as featured on BBC ‘Masterchef’), Gorenje, De Dietrich, Fagor and Foster Sinks & Taps.

Küppersbusch allow the customer to decide on colour of glass with different metal trim kits. They are the first company to introduce copper trim kits as shown.

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nstalling a new kitchen is not something that you undertake annually, and therefore, the advancements and introduction of new technology can be vast between the instalment of one kitchen to the next.

Kitchen retail showrooms have limited space to display all the appliances on offer, so the Ness showroom offers kitchen retailers the perfect platform to bring customers to see the full range from the brands stocked up close and in action.

Customers can come along, explore all of the latest products and even see them functioning. An expert sales team is on hand to talk customers through the type of cooking they want and suggest the most suitable appliances for their lifestyle, thus ensuring they get the correct product for their needs.

This can all be arranged by appointment and offers customers first hand experience of the products they

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are considering for their new kitchen.

Customer evenings are also a good way to demonstrate the products from different brands and Ness often have visiting chefs demonstrating to potential customers.

Ness are constantly updating their showroom offering and have just introduced the stunning new Küppersbusch Copper Edition. Exclusive to Küppersbusch, the new Copper Edition offers a selection of premium kitchen appliances for kitchens with style and customers will be able to view these new appliances for themselves at the Ness showroom.

Contact Details: 63 Dows Road Belfast BT8 8LB Phone 028 9082 6223 www.nessappliances.co.uk Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 9am-5pm

Customers enjoying a Küppersbusch demo evening at Ness.

The EDD 9960.0 extractor from Küppersbusch

competition

WIN £1,000 of

VELUX windows

Enter for your chance to transform your home with daylight.

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hen it comes to improving our homes, bright and airy rooms are at the top of any homeowner’s wish list and the simplest way to achieve the desired result is with daylight. Transformative and beneficial, natural light has the power to improve every aspect of your life, from your wellbeing to your sleeping patterns.

Leading roof window manufacturer VELUX has made the best even better by introducing a new generation of windows that take daylight, design and energy efficiency to exciting new levels.

The new generation of products from VELUX have been designed to make a light, bright home even easier to achieve. By offering sleeker and slimmer designs the products allows access to even more daylight in every room.

A number of subtle, but significant changes make this VELUX’s most exciting range yet. From the Thermo Technology, which improves insulation to the new INTEGRA control pad, which allows you to adjust your windows and blinds at the touch of a button, VELUX windows are designed to help you achieve a happier, healthier home.

VELUX is offering one lucky reader the chance to win £1,000 worth of New Generation products. Find out more about all of VELUX’s products at www.velux.co.uk or find inspiration at www.buildinginspiration.co.uk

COMPETITION Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living magazine along with VELUX is offering one lucky reader the chance to win £1,000 worth of New Generation products.

How to enter Answer the following question: What is the name of the new VELUX control pad?

Send your answer, name, address, email and phone number marked VELUX Competition to Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living magazine, PO Box 42, Bangor, County Down, BT19 7AD or Ashgrove House, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin or enter online at: www.ihil.net Entries must be received no later than 5pm Friday 4th July 2014. One entry per household. One separate email /postcard for each competition. Judge’s decision is final. No cash alternative. Prizes are non-transferable.

If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter please include your email address with your entry.

designer profile

Photography by Niamh McNally.

Eimear O’Connor ‘Quality time’

Successful designer Alison Appleton’s fascination with tea began in childhood, starting in her grandmother’s house in Galway where tea was the centre of everything – not surprising for an Irish household!

‘Make Time’

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ince graduating from a four year BA in Furniture Design, Eimear O’Connor from Sandyford in Dublin, has become a member of the Craft Council of Ireland, set up her own business ‘Avo Design’, taken part in the Crafty Pop-up Shop in Dun Laoghaire, and has also been nominated for the International Arts and Crafts Design Awards 2014.

‘I’ve always had a passion for creativity,’ Eimear explains. ‘I’m excited to simply draw or paint, so a career in design was always going to be the right path. I chose furniture because it can be challenging. Whether you do something small or something big, you need to think of the aesthetics of your piece, its functionality and its environment. I believe that high quality should be affordable and accessible to everyone. Your home is as important to me as it is to you and as a designer, I want to do it justice. That’s why I went into business for myself; I can stand over every piece I produce. My clocks were designed, made and packaged in Ireland, using Irish materials. As a designer, it’s important to be environment conscious too, the wood is FSC approved Irish Birch Plywood, the oils I use are sustainable and all the packaging can be recycled. Each one is hand finished and packaged by me.’

Eimear continues, ‘The environment is important because that’s where I draw inspiration; the world is full of fascinating forms. I also like to fold paper into origami forms, deconstruct them and use the fold lines in my designs. My clocks are inspired by both the organic and the geometric. They are three organic forms with a geometric feature.

This gives them their unique, edgy feel and the oiled birch plywood is beautifully vibrant.’

Phone Dublin 085 7111289. www.avodesign.org

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COMPETITION Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living magazine along with Eimear O’Connor is giving away an ‘Inspired Time’ clock worth €35.

‘Inspired time’

How to enter Answer the following question: How many years was Eimear’s BA in Furniture Design?

Send your answer, name, address, email and phone number marked Eimear O’Connor Competition to Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living magazine, PO Box 42, Bangor, County Down, BT19 7AD or Ashgrove House, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin or enter online at: www.ihil.net Entries must be received no later than 5pm Friday 4th July 2014. One entry per household. One separate email /postcard for each competition. Judge’s decision is final. No cash alternative. Prizes are non-transferable.

If you would like to receive our monthly newsletter please include your email address with your entry.

Have you heard...

“My Neptune garden set is my pride and joy.”

Deromot, Co. Cork - March 2014

neptune.com NEPTUNE STORES:

Neptune by Global Village Co Dublin 01 4055035 Neptune by The Orchard Co Kildare 01 628 8903 Neptune by Browsers Co Limerick 061 414490

PREMIER PARTNERS:

Co. Cork Pavilion Garden Centre 021 4888134 Co. West Meath Fernhill Garden Centre 090 64 75574 Co. Tipperary Clonmel Garden Centre 052 61 23294 Co. Dublin Jones Garden Centre 01 8401781

PICTURED:

Cadiz Dining 6 Seater Set €2,745

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Large hardwood orangery measuring approximately 7 x 4m from Hampton Conservatories. Plain casement window style, lead pattern clerestories for added detail, gothic cresting and finial to complete roof lantern, bi-folding doors, finished in a Stony Grey. From ÂŁ30,000.

Inside Out Bring light into your home all year round with your choice of décor and the addition of an open-plan scheme to the back of your home with floor to ceiling windows that allow light to flood in and afford views of the surrounding garden and countryside. Alternatively, the addition of a conservatory to the rear of your home allows for year round enjoyment of outdoor views. Don’t forget about the exterior space of your home and the extra living space it affords. Whatever your budget, the garden has plenty of scope when it comes to increasing your home’s overall living space.

Home improvements

A Lick of Paint A great way to freshen up the look of your home with ease, and not a lot of commitment, is to change up the colour scheme of the room by redecorating with paint.

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ake sure that before you start you have everything you need to begin to redecorate, and if you are unsure you can hire a professional to help you. Choosing your colour scheme can be daunting but take your time and look at colour charts, enjoy the experience. Take into consideration the size, shape, direction and most importantly the light in the room. Also test before you buy; you may think you like a colour until you see it on your walls, so tester pots are perfect to make sure you like what you are buying.

Layer up colours to create more interest in the room. Cool colours will generally make a room feel larger, while warm colours will bring a room in to make it feel cosier. You can keep things calm with a neutral palette, and if you use only one colour in the room you can afford to use a slightly stronger tone.

Earthborn Clay paint. From £32.70 per 2.5L.

Create drama with bright colours.

Don’t be afraid of darker tones.

Expert Advice Cathryn Helsby from Earthborn paints gives some advice on choosing colours in the home ‘Choosing colour is not just about personal preference, but about making the most of your space. The right colours can make rooms appear larger, or even alter the ambient temperature, so it’s important to consider what you are trying to achieve in any given space.

‘Using light neutrals with a hint of colour such as Wood Smoke or Piglet make rooms seem light and bright, while the touch of colour prevents it from feeling too blank or cold. Because Earthborn paints are clay based, they are naturally absorbent of light, so lighter tones will give a soft light and won’t create a glare.

‘Conversely, to create a sense of warmth in airy rooms, feature walls can soften your scheme and make spaces seem more snug. Opt for a rich tone such as Reading Room or Ruby Ribbon.

‘Conservatory extensions give another opportunity to use colour cleverly. To create synergy between your indoor and outdoor space, pick a colour from a nature, such as a soft green like Gregory’s Den, or a sunny colour like Lemony or Jemima.’

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Home improvements On trend green in your office space.

Reader’s home ‘A Hidden Treasure’, March 2013 - this shows a lovely dining area flowing into a living area with an open archway.

Cool neutrals for a relaxed environment.

Extension & Renovation: Open-Plan Living Open-plan living areas are becoming ever more popular, and it is a great way to really open out space and use it to its full potential. Whether you are extending or opening out what is already there, you will need a professional to help you with the planning and construction.

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t is best to go in with a realistic idea of what you want from your open-plan living area. Briefing your designers or architect, they can then guide you through what is possible within the space you have or what extending would involve and cost.

A great added feature to an open-plan living area are floor to ceiling windows, replacing walls, or part walls, with glass. This allows lots of natural light to flood in and really opens out the space further. Even if the current structure of your home doesn’t allow for floor to ceiling, you can greatly expand your window size to create the same affect. If you already have an open-plan living area then this is something to consider, and likewise if you are in the planning stages it is something you should discuss with your architect, particularly if you have a beautiful garden that you can look out onto. You could extend the room further by adding in glass double doors leading out onto a patio where you can enjoy those summer evenings. More window space brings a sense of freedom to the home, almost bringing the outdoors inside, so it can really create a tranquil atmosphere, not to mention the benefits that natural light has on your mood and well being.

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Home improvements Reader’s home ‘A Total Transformation’, October 2012 - lots of light flows in from the extended conservatory.

Reader’s home ‘Mix and Match’, April 2014 - this shows a beautiful open-plan kitchen running into a well lit conservatory.

Reader’s home ‘Open Up’, July 2013 - this beautifully illustrates how large windows work in an open-plan area.

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Home improvements Reader’s home ‘Old Meets New’, May 2012 - an example of how large glass doors can look stunning from the outside.

Reader’s home ‘Let there be Light’, August 2012 - a perfect example of a beautiful open-plan living area, the corner sofa really helps to create the illusion of separation in the room.

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Home improvements

Extension & Renovation: Conservatories Another way to extend into your exterior space, and in turn add more space and light to your home, is with a conservatory.

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hether traditional or more contemporary in design, a conservatory can be a useful addition in many homes and often functions as another living room where you and your guests can enjoy relaxing all year round, particularly in the summer months when, whatever the weather, you still get to enjoy the lush, green backdrop of your exterior space.

Expert Advice Hampton Conservatories ‘By adding a conservatory or orangery to your home you can create extra living space where you can work, relax, enjoy your family or entertain guests. Moreover, it can add to a home’s value and desirability.’

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Home improvements 4

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1 Otto two and a half seat in Almond Dexter’s linen from sofa.com. £1,645. 5 Purlsol solar control window film. 3 Harrogate Blue Rollers from Hillarys. From £69, for W 61 x D 76cm, including measuring and fitting. 4 Large hardwood lean too conservatory with projecting pavilion from Hampton Conservatories.

Measures approximately 7m x 4m excluding pavilion with sunrise gable detail, plain Victoria casement window style to complement the existing house and two sets of double doors opening outwards. Finished in an off white. From £30,000. 2 Conservatory Flooring from Haddonstone. Cast stone flooring suitable for indoor or outdoor use. Five different standard sizes can be combined to create many different patterns. Prices start from £3.90 for a 30 x 30cm tile.

Shown in Bath (creamy-yellow), also available in Portland (grey-white), Terracotta, Coade (honey-yellow) & Slate colours. 6 Add timeless elegance to your conservatory with the Georgina suite (set includes: two armchairs, three seater sofa and coffee table/pouffe) from The Orchard. €1,999.

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Home improvements 1

Outdoor Renovation: Balconies Ruth Maitland, Seasonal Interior Designer, IKEA Belfast offers some advice on utilising your balcony space to get more from this outdoor space. ‘

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he sun is out, well almost! It’s that time of year again when we are all thinking about sprucing up our gardens and pulling the outdoor furniture from the shed.

However, not all of us are lucky enough to have sprawling lengths of garden to play around with, so what do we do with small spaces for outdoor use? One prime example is balcony areas, low on ground space but brimming with opportunity and possibilities to make your mark on it. When you can’t spread out, spread up! Go for multi-functional outdoor furniture, for example, something that can be used as storage, but also to grow plants in or on, and to hang plant pots from.

‘It is all about being clever with your space, and choosing furniture that ticks many practical boxes that will save floor space, yet still brighten up your balcony area in a winner.

Choose a folding table and chair than won’t take up too much space when being used, and can be folded away when not, and for those occasions when you do need the space in a more relaxed setting, nail a hook into the outdoor wall for you to hang the chairs on to keep out of the way.

‘Don’t forget all those lovely finishing touches from lanterns to flowers and decorative solar lights, which will turn your balcony into a special sanctuary for the summer season.’

IKEA S/S14

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Home improvements

Outdoor Renovation: Patios & Decking Leading off from the back of your home, perhaps joined by a set of French windows at your kitchen, a patio and/or decked area can help to divide and organise your outdoor space.

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our materials help dictate the overall style and feel, so make sure your patio accurately reflects the style of your home. Stone pavers and terracotta tile are common with Mediterranean houses, while brick is most often seen in traditional homes.

Concrete works well with most spaces, so it’s a great option to use when you’re unsure what direction you’re heading. After you figure out your foundation, decide whether you want a covered or uncovered space. You can add a pergola, arbor, awning or trellis for some shade, or you can let the sun shine in and go without.

Instead of, or as well as a paved patio area, you might like to add a decked area to extend the living area of your house into the garden. Good decking looks stylish, blends well with

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the environment and suits traditional as well as contemporary architecture. It is a quality product that will last a lifetime and is therefore excellent value for money. It is easy to look after, can be painted or stained to choice or left to weather naturally.

Patios and decked areas of your garden can be made more homely and inviting with your choice of waterproof furniture and furnishings. As well as occasional and more formal seating, rugs, throw pillows and chair cushions all come in waterproof fabrics. Rope or string lighting are popular mood setters, as are candles and lanterns.

Fire pits and patio heaters are great for cooler nights, and of course a designated barbecue area is a must when the weather allows the cooking to be moved outdoors.

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1 Divide the various areas of your garden to create outdoor rooms as shown here. As well as the distinction between the flags and the pebbles to mark out areas within this garden, the awning from Hillarys offers shades and serves to divide the dining table from the unshaded relaxed seating in other areas of the garden. Awnings can be made from 200cm to 7m in width, and with projection sizes from 1.5 to 3.5m. Prices start from £1,595, including measuring and fitting. They can also be fitted with heating and lighting, perfect for cool summer evenings. 2 Millboard’s composite decking from Garden House Design is a new generation of innovative anti-slip and maintenance-free external flooring. It looks as beautiful and warm as natural timber, but with no wood content – so will stand the test of time. Price on request. 3 Flagstones have been a popular choice in country homes for decades. But, recent months have seen the traditional style floor finish increasingly sought for contemporary settings. This latest trend highlights the popularity of mixed style interiors, which give homeowners the freedom to create an eclectic look, rather than sticking to a specific design theme. As shown here with these Burgundy flagstone from Indigenous, many surfaces can also be continued outdoors, with plenty of stones offering additional non-slip benefits.

Price on request. 4 Beautiful designs are possible with Historic Flag from Tobermore with the offering of a Historic Circle range available in a 2.24 metre diameter size to complement the flags. This can add a key style feature to your outdoor area. Already available in the soft, mellow tones of Bracken and Slate, an exciting new colour has just been launched. The gorgeous rich new colour has been named ‘Harvest Gold’ and is now available to order. Prices on request. 5 An elevated decked area of the garden in perfect for relaxed or formal outdoor dining. 6 Decking can add interest and design to your outdoor space.

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Home improvements

Outdoor Extension: Garden Rooms

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hile decked areas and patios help to extend your living space outdoors, let’s face it, when it’s cold or wet they aren’t highly desirable places to be if unsheltered and exposed to the elements, however, your outdoors can still offer extended living space with the addition of an outdoor room. This can take the form of a summer house.

Wheel Bench from Podology. Price on request.

The Camargue® from Garden House Design is an innovative terrace covering equipped with an aluminium bladed roof system, that can be closed off on both sides with windresistant Fixscreens®, glass sliding walls, Loggia® sliding panels or a combination of both. From £6,900.

A contemporary outdoor room from Garden Rooms NI offers extended living space without the need for planning permission. They also come with a ten year structural warranty and can be made any shape and size up to 330sq. ft. From £7,490 plus VAT.

Outdoor Renovation: Luxurious Living

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f space and budget allows, what could be more luxurious than the addition of an outdoor swimming pool!

Above: Dekton by Cosentino swimming pool in Zenith and over head framing in Kadum.

Price on request. Right: HI-MACS® does not absorb moisture and is extremely stain-resistant.

Its resistance to impact and UV rays makes this solid surface the best ally against the environmental stresses of the summer season. This new generation acrylic stone is not only used in furniture, but also in protective surfaces for facades and swimming pools as well as in lights and even sculptures. Price on request.

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Home improvements 1

Outdoor Renovation: On a Budget

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ast but not least, it’s surprising what a lick of paint and some well placed planters can do for the outdoors of your home. If you don’t have the budget to completely renovate your home exterior with patios, decking or a garden room, you can still inject personality and make it a natural extesnion of your home interior with a bit of thought and creativity.

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1 These synthetic rattan flower pots from Wovenhill are a great way to add colour to any outdoor area and are designed to cover already potted plants; they can be easily changed and moved to suit your garden 365 days a year. £72. 2 Inject colour to your outdoor pace with some well chosen paint colours. Shown her are Farrow & Ball’s Churlish Green, Parma Gray & Calluna to spruce up these outdoor chairs. 3 If you don’t have thousands for an outdoor room, why not consider investing in a gazebo to section off a sheltered area of your garden. KARLSÖ gazebo with curtains from IKEA. £90/€120.

Stockists D Dekton by Cosentino Dublin 01 6267334. www.dekton.co.uk E Earthborn Paints Heritage Building Products Ltd, Ballymena 028 256 85055 Pat McDonnell Paint Sales, Centrepoint, Cork 021 4320200 Batchelors Quay, Cork 021 4275781 Stoneware Studios Ltd, Cork 024 90117. www.greenshop.co.uk F Farrow & Ball Alan Espey Interiors, Newtownards 028 9181 5076 Farrow & Ball Showroom, Dublin 01 6770111 Gareth McFarland, Moygashel 028 8775 0077 Helen Turkington Interiors, Dublin 01 412 5138 www.farrow-ball.com G Garden House Design 01903 774774. www.gardenhousedesign.co.uk Garden Rooms NI Newtownards 028 9181 0180. www.gardenroomsni.com

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H Haddonstone Nicholl Plaster Mouldings, Belfast 028 9044 8593.

Mid Ulster Garden Centre, Maghera 028 7964 2324.

Powerscourt Garden Pavillion Estate, Enniskerry 01 2046014. www.haddonstone.com

Hampton Conservatories Portrush 028 7082 4100. www.hamptonconservatories.co.uk Hillarys NI 0800 181958.

ROI 1800 409468. www.hillarys.co.uk HI-MACS® Fraser McLauchlan, 0113 3870857. www.himacsuk.co.uk I IKEA Belfast 0845 3551113.

Dublin 1890 987 938. www.ikea.co.uk www.ikea.ie Indigenous 01993 824200 www.indigenous.co.uk P Podology Wicklow 086 8118928. www.podology.ie Purlsol London 0208 992 4024. www.purlsol.com S Sofa.com NI 0800 254 5005.

ROI 1800 939122. www.sofa.com T The Orchard Dublin 01 6288903. www.theorchard.ie Tobermore County L’Derry 028 7964 2411. www.tobermore.co.uk W Wovenhill Stratford-upon-Avon 01789 741935. www.wovenhill.co.uk

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It’s Summer!

Yes, it’s time to dust off your garden furniture, get the barbecue out and enjoy relaxing and entertaining outside.

Neptune Pesaro sofa set. £2,370/€2,985.

summer special

And Relax!

As well as a formal outdoor dining table and chairs, for those long, lazy summer days invest in more informal furniture for your garden. A coffee table and chairs set, sun loungers and luxurious day beds will prove a welcome addition and really make your outdoor spaces as inviting as those indoors.

1 All weather rattan weave day bed from Wovenhill. £599.

2 Alegrano corner suite table, corner sofa, and two stools from Dobbies. £1,799. 3 Reuben cushion, £5.99; blue Dakota cushion, £9.99; blue bazaar embroidered cushion, £12.99; herringbone pom pom throw, £29.99, all from Dunelm Mill.

4 Neptune Monaco 4 Seater Sofa and Cushion Set. £1,225/€1,495. 5 The MeroWings forest tree trunk €299, tree seat €159 and stone bench, €59 can be enjoyed outside on the terrace, balcony or garden. The materials used are water repellent and breathable. 6 The Vista collection from Gloster. Prices on request. 7 Neptune Provence sun lounger and cushion from Browsers. €475.

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summer special

Finishing Touches...

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Cushions, throws and outdoor rugs add comfort, personality and colour to your outdoor furnishings.

Pappelina Molly multi rug from 95% is suitable for use indoors and outdoors. 70cm x 100cm. £62.

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Karenza & Co hydrangea and magnolia cushions.

41cm x 41cm. £39.50 each.

Tesco outdoor floor cushion. £120.

Add colour outdoors with this bright lambswool throw from Iapetus. £89.95.

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Summer Siesta Take time out on a warm afternoon with a good book and a quick nap while lounging in a balmy corner of your garden – bliss!

Featuring space enough for two, the Jardine Double Lounger from West Elm is the perfect spot to kick back. Its crafted from FSC-certified tropical wood in a driftwood finish that’s weather-resistant. Price on request.

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Little extras summer seating

benches

Haddoncraft Charleston seat. £999. haddonstone.com

Montpellier two seater bench. £250. neptune.com

Green garden bench. £2,530. mooredesigns.co.uk

Portofino bench. £145. gardenhousedesign.co.uk

deck chairs

Personalised Deckchair. £65. jonnyssister.co.uk

Upcycled seaside deckchair. £75. littlemillhouse.co.uk

Jellyfish print deckchair. £129.99. in-spaces.com

Mysingso beach chair. £20/€25. ikea.com/ie

loungers

Love sofa. £399. livingitup.co.uk

Carmen chair. £250. oliverbonas.com

The Kirv nest. £3,995. mooredesigns.co.uk

Tulum sun lounger. £279. boqa.fr

swing seats

Lucia swing chair. £95. oliverbonas.com

Grey hanging chair. £69. idyllhome.co.uk

Svinga hanging seat. £120/€130. ikea.com/ie

Teardrop hanging chair. £349. livingitup.co.uk

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summer special

Time to Dine As the weather picks up it’s time to move your dining from indoors to outdoors. Whether a lazy breakfast in the morning sunshine, a chilled out lunch in the afternoon or dinner in the evening with friends and family you will need to invest in a table and chair set that suits your lifestyle needs. Whether wood, rattan or metal, traditional or contemporary there is plenty of choice available today to meet your entertaining needs.

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1 Lomond dining set in natural mango wood and black metal from Made. £499.

2 Monaco ten-seater set from Browsers. €3,595. 3 Derby Chairs and Table from Cane-Line. Prices on request. 4 The Roma collection from Gloster. Prices on request. 5 Neptune rectangular Bordeaux six seater set. £3,695/€3,575.

6 Kingsbury six-piece dining set and six multiway chairs from Dobbies. £799.

7 Honeysuckle and Vine Capri six-piece set from Woolworths. £99.

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summer special

Finishing Touches...

Parasols, gazebos and awnings provide welcome shade when entertaining outdoors.

KARLSO hanging parasol from IKEA. £55/€55.

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This five-metre Elite Sail Shade from Garden House Design is the perfect choice for creating a relaxing shady spot in the garden to protect you from the heat of the sun. These shades are a versatile alternative to gazebos or umbrellas. £242.

Awnings from Hillarys can be made from 200cm to 7 metres in width, and with projection sizes from 1.5 to 3.5 metres. Prices start from £1,595, including measuring and fitting. They can also be fitted with heating and lighting, perfect for cool summer evenings.

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Party Planning Give summer garden parties that little something extra with creative food and drink presentation and some fun, quirky finishing touches.

Brighten up drinks and cocktails with these pretty patterned floral straws from The Oak Room. Each pack includes 30 colourful paper party straws to serve with drinks at parties and special occasions. ÂŁ3.75.

Little extras alfresco dining

glasses

Chevron Print Juice Glassware. £29. westelm.com

Swirl Embossed Wine Glass. £5.99. dorisandboris.co.uk

Sagaform Glass. £14. cloudberryliving.co.uk

Pop Up Wine Glass. £5.95.

Red5.co.uk

lanterns

La Rochelle Lantern. £37.50. annabeljames.co.uk

Blue Lantern. £12. debenhams.com

Large Porthole Lantern. £55. marksandspencer.com

Miners Lantern. £11. coastalhome.co.uk

dinner plates

Butterfly Dinner Plate. £3.50. marksandspencer.com

Orla Kiely Wallflower Candy plate. £10. berryred.co.uk

Iza Pearl Garden Party Cha Cha Dinner Plate. £4.99. creative-tops.com

Melamine Dinner Plate. £2. wilko.co.uk

salad bowls

Bamboo Salad Bowl & Servers. £35. puji.com

Leaf Salad Bowl. £7.50. marksandspencer.com

Camille Salad Bowl. £10/€12. dunnesstores.com

Koziol Salad Bowl & Servers. £30. koziol-shop.co.uk

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Chill ‘n’ Grill Barbecue season is here, so it’s time to kick back and enjoy cooking and eating al fresco!

The Belle Rattan Lazy Susan from White Stores ensures everyone gets share when it comes to eating outdoors this summer. £69.95.

Little extras bistro BBQ

bbq

Gourmet 4 Burner Gas BBQ. £349.99. dunelm-mill.com

Banquet Charcoal BBQ. £69.95. primrose.co.uk

Weber Genesis E-330 BBQ. £1,119.99. hillmount.co.uk

LILLON Charcoal BBQ. £90/€110. ikea.com/ie

Bamboo Handle BBQ Tool Set. £10. tesco.com

Masterchef Apron BBQ Tool Set. £20. tesco.com

utensils

World Foods USA BBQ Tools. POR. dunelm-mill.com

Set of Barbecue Tools. £32.95. annabeljames.co.uk

tABLE & CHAIRS

Mali Bistro Set. £149. made.com

Joules Garden Table & Chair Set. £135. joules.com

Merano Bostro Set. £229. dobbies.com

Flower Bistro Set. €249. theorchard.ie

patio heaters

Colorado Chimenea. £129. livingitup.co.uk

Kadai 70cm firebowl. €299. theorchard.ie

Firefly Patio Heater. £45.95. primrose.co.uk

Dragons Fire Heater. £499. livingitup.co.uk

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Garden Picnic Forget the table and chairs and get back to basics with a picnic in your back garden. Step back to your childhood with a blanket spread out on the grass and a hamper full of delicious treats.

Memory Lane picnic collection from Sainsburys. From ÂŁ1.50.

summer special Vintage Ivy flask and cup from Dotcomgiftshop. £12.95.

Field Rose acrylic wine glass from Cath Kidston. £5/€6.

Sandcastle bowl from Clare Loves. £19.

Two person barrel picnic hamper from Cotswold Trading. £73.

Tesco bright folding picnic chair. £10.

Joules retro-style red bottle carrier from Hintons Home is just the job for picnics or when you just need to carry a couple of bottles out into the garden. £16.

This seagull picnic blanket from Anorak at Clare Loves is super practical with a resistant cotton top and water resistant nylon backing. £36.

Set of 12 vintage doily blueberry picnic cutlery sets from Dotcomgiftshop. £4.95.

Rice extra large melamine lunch picnic box from Boris & Doris. £46.99.

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summer special

Brightly Burning Add atmosphere to your outdoors with your choice of lighting and patio heaters, both of which will allow you to continue enjoying entertaining outdoors long into the evening.

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summer special

Stockists B Boris & Doris 0208 2966632. www.borisanddoris.co.uk Browsers Limerick 0353 61414490. www.browsers.ie

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1 Lantern Lighting from The Orchard.

Prices on request. 2 The LED tub chair from The Glow Company is made up of a white polyethylene outer with a multi coloured LED heart that phases through seven key colours in two modes, slow fade or strobing, or it can be held on your favourite colour. IP65 rated weatherproof, this stylish chair can be used either indoors or outdoors; simply charge from the mains for up to five hours for a fantastic eight hours use. £299. 3 Illuminate your outdoor spaces with a dancing flame from Samba

by GlammFire. €1,490 (excl. VAT). 4 SOLVINDEN solar lights from IKEA. £18.

5 The Helios from Technoheater is a revolutionary new outdoor portable heater which has achieved the British Standard (BS EN 60335-1:2012) and is one of only very few patio heaters to have secured this for both indoor and outdoor use. Technoheaters are ideal for use by families, as unlike traditional gas patio heaters, there is no risk of burning, as they are cool to the touch. From £599. 6 This firebowl from Idyll Home is perfect for warming up summer evenings. 59 x 59 34.5cm. £39.95.

C Cane-Line www.cane-line.co.uk Cath Kidston Belfast 028 9023 1581.

Dublin 01 6753618. www.cathkidston.com Clare Loves 01494 874101. www.clareloves.co.uk Cotswold Trading 01386 853331. www.cotswoldtrading.com D Dobbies Lisburn 028 9262 6960. www.dobbies.com Dotcomgiftshop 0208 7462473. www.dotcomgiftshop.com Dunelm Mill Belfast 028 9066 7250. www.dunelm-mill.com G Garden House Design 01903 774774. www.gardenhousedesign.co.uk GlammFire www.glammfire.com Gloster Fernhill Garden Centre, Westmeath 064 75574. www.gloster.com H Hillarys NI 0800 181958 (s).

ROI 1800 409468 (s). www.hillarys.co.uk Hintons Home 0844 870 7976. www.hintonshome.com

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I Iapetus 01684 566929. www.iapetus.co.uk Idyll Home 01270 812717. www.idyllhome.co.uk IKEA Belfast 0845 3551113.

Dublin 1890 987 938. www.ikea.co.uk www.ikea.ie

K Karenza & Co. 01252 621145. www.karenzaandco.com M Made 0845 557 6888 www.made.com MeroWings www.merowings.com N Neptune www.neptune.com (s).

S Sainsburys www.sainsburys.co.uk T Technoheater www.technoheater.co.uk Tesco Direct www.tesco.com The Glow Company 0845 5059090. www.glow.co.uk The Oak Room 01992 501040. www.oakroomshop.co.uk The Orchard Kildare 01 6288903. www.theorchard.ie W West Elm 0800 4049780. www.westelm.co.uk White Stores 01268 578750. www.whitestores.co.uk Woolworths www.woolworths.co.uk Wovenhill 01789 741935. www.wovenhill.co.uk 95% www.95percent.co.uk READER’S REFERENCE: (s) = Phone for stockist details.

For Su Cockt mmer a BBQ Id ils & e as go to page 1 10 51

The Dornbracht Horizontal Shower combines six water bars recessed above a reclining space, pre-programmed with three settings which allow the flow rate and temperature to be automatically adjusted. Available in Ireland exclusively from Versatile Bathrooms and Interiors. Price on request.

Bath Time Our attention on design is usually focused on the living room, kitchen or bedrooms, but as we start our day getting ready in the bathroom, and end our day washing away all your stresses, it is important not to overlook this room in the home. Create a warm and inviting, luxurious haven that you will happily spend time in.

bathrooms

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The Cove TR from The Radiator Shop is a stylish, oval tube towel rail in polished stainless steel finish, which comes with a 25 year guarantee. With three sizes available. From £295/€339.

Fusion from Porcellana brings delicate traditional patterns right up to date for all areas of the home. Price on request.

f you are thinking of going for a complete overhaul with a new suite then you are taking the opportunity to have everything exactly the way you want it, so take your time and really think about what it is you want and need. Planning is key, taking into consideration the positioning of drainage and piping to avoid disappointment. Although you may want to completely change the look of your bathroom it is advised to keep the toilet and sink where they are due to the plumbing, however, if you are really unhappy with the placement it is something that can be changed.

Take into consideration what you and your family’s personal needs are for this room. How often do you use the bath? How much storage do you need? What kind of shower would work best and are there other showers in the home? Do you want fitted or freestanding furniture?

Taking time to ask yourself these questions will help you to better know what you need out of your bathroom.

There are many different options for bath tubs, from freestanding, classic styled tubs to a more clean line fitted tub; try and go for a tub that will be somewhat timeless to your taste. Likewise with showers, there are many options to consider; you have walk through, wash room style showers, showers fitted over the bath, sliding doors and hinged doors; it is all about personal preference. Once you have decided on these aspects of the room you can move on to the design.

In many cases, transforming your bathroom into a tranquil retreat only takes a few tweaks. Wall colour can play a vital role in setting the atmosphere of any room and the bathroom is no different. Cool and neutral tones will add a relaxed feel to the room, where warmer tones will help to create a cosy and inviting environment.

Paying attention to the little extras needed in the bathroom can really help with the overall look of the room; keeping the towels and bath mat in the same colour scheme as your bathroom will keep it looking stylish, and keeping all the other bits and pieces to the style of the room will make all the difference. As these things are easily interchangeable, you can change up the look of the room in a cost effective way simply by replacing these things as and when you feel like it.

Bisque Archibald towel radiator.

Available in over 2,000 colours thanks to Bisque’s colour match service. Seen here in beige quartz.

From £665/€810.

Neptune Brunswick wall lamp from Browsers.

Price on request.

Expert Advice

Neptune Chichester 1,240mm oak countertop washstand from Browsers. Price on request.

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Tiffany Jones, Resident Designer, Browsers.

Ambient light has been overlooked in the bathroom in recent years, but now that many of us are spending more and more time in our ‘home spa’, we are looking at ways to make it even more relaxing. One good way of creating ambient light is of course candles, but instead I think wall fixtures add character to a room as well as allowing you to relax in the bath with a good book and not be blinded by your overhead spotlights. Or being burnt by candle wax for that matter! I love the Neptune Brunswick wall lamp, it features a gorgeous linen shade and simple chrome fixture and most importantly has an IP rating of 44, which means it can be used almost anywhere in the bathroom.

bathrooms

Hayburn & Co. elegant curved vanity unit complemented by book matched marble and complementary mirror. Bespoke vanity commissions from £4,000 plus Vat.

Tubular Bath and Basin Sets from Perrin and Rowe. Four Hole Tubular Bath set with Deck Mounted Handshower from £919/€1,118; or three hole tubular basin mixer and pop up waste from £465/€565.

The T80Z range from Triton. From €199.

Dekton by Cosentino bathroom surface in Ananke. Price on request.

The new Vero furniture collection from Duravit is by Zurich based designer Kurt Merki jr. and features elementary cubic shapes with carefully balanced proportions and a strong design identity. The collection is available in six finishes - Mediterranean Oak (shown), Tcino Cherry, White High Gloss, Brushed Dark Oak, Brushed Walnut and Dark Chestnut. Vero Tall Cabinet from £640/€800; Vero Vanity Unit for console with 2 drawers from £740/€925, Console sold separately; Vero Basin from £276/€345; Vero Bath including Vero panel from £1,282/€1,602.

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The Chichester 960mm Undermount washstand from Neptune, painted in Fog ÂŁ1,570/â‚Ź1,980.

Little extras bathrooms

bath mats

Betty Jackson bath mat. £25. debenhams.com

Andrea House bath mat. £28.50. occa-home.co.uk

Nautical bath mat. £13. sainsburys.co.uk

Pappelina pappelina.com

toilet brushes

Toilet brush holder uni. £374. thepurebathroom.com

Ceramic holder, Oscar & Eve. £21.99 oscarandeve.co.uk

Holborn Toilet brush. £15. sainsburys.co.uk

Paul Costello Marble holder. £17/€20. dunnesstores.co.uk

toilet roll holders

Italian style holder. £14.95. houseofbath.co.uk

Rode toilet roll holder. £59. black-by-design.co.uk

HJALMAREN toilet roll holder. £5. ikea.co.uk

Freestanding toilet roll holder. £16. sainsburys.co.uk

Bale Hawaii blue. £10. very.co.uk

Orla Keily stem towel. From £5. occa-home.co.uk

towels

Boho towels. £14. matalan.co.uk

Mykonos towel set. £35. villeetchampagne.co.uk

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Decorated bathroom by Little Greene. Crooms Hill wallpaper, £52 per roll; skirting painted in Invisible Green 56 intelligent eggshell, £51 per 2.5L; floor painted in Invisible Green floor paint, £57 per 2.5L. Bath painted in Atomic Red 190 intellignt matt emulsion, £41.50 per 2.5L.

Little extras bathrooms

soap dispensers

Julien Macdonald soap dispenser. £16. debenhams.co.uk

Ceramic dispenser. £9.50. berryred.co.uk

Umbra Orvino soap pump. £12.50. redcandy.co.uk

Salle de Bain dispenser. £8. marquisanddawe.co.uk

toothbrush holders

Enamel ware holders. £6. nookshop.co.uk

Crackle glass holder. £6. sainsburys.co.uk

Rode toothbrush holder. £49. black-by-design.com

LOSJON holder. £1.75 ikea.co.uk

laundry baskets

Rustic bathroom accessories. From £5. sainsburys.co.uk

Rattan laundry basket. £120. mobiusliving.co.uk

Wheelie good laundry bag. £200. homecandy.co.uk

Willow laundry basket. £45 bhs.co.uk

Television mirror. £64.99. skandivis.co.uk

Tuxedo mirror. kallista.com

mirrors

Seascape bathroom mirror. £15. matalan.co.uk

Nautical round mirror. £125. puji.com

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bathrooms Solitaire 600S range from Pelipal. Price on request.

The Kelly Hoppen MBE bathroom collection for Crosswater, combines sophisticated style with premium craftsmanship. Wall mounted basin two hole set is £249 and basin tap is £299.

Villeroy & Boch Futurion walk-in shower enclosure includes shower tray and wall mount set. From £1,966.

Part of the Pure Bathroom Collection from Smiths Briten, the Pure Frameless Single Door Quadrant. From £575.

The Twyford Bathrooms Xeno2 from the Karameg Collections.

Contemporary design with a strong link between ceramic and furniture. Available from Beggs & Partners.

Price on request.

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bathrooms Brand new EauZone Plus collection from Matki. The wet room panel combine simplistic elegance of stunning clear low-iron finish with solid 12mm glass. Price on request.

Stockists

B Beggs & Partners Belfast 028 9023 5791. www.beggsandpartners.com Bisque Arcon Bathroom Concepts, Dublin 01454 1384.

Ideal Bathrooms Ltd, Dublin 01 4609911.

The Radiator Shop, Newtownards 028 9181 5991.

Versatile, Navan 046 9029444.

Beggs and Partners, Belfast 028 9023 5791.

PJ Nolan, Carlow 059 9131764.

Waterloo Bathrooms, Dublin 01 2842100. www.bisque.co.uk Browsers Limerick, 0353 61414490. www.browsers.ie

Axor ShowerProducts designed by Front for Hansgrohe. From £1,608.

C Cosentino Dublin 01 6267334 (s). www.dekton.co.uk Crosswater Soaks Bathrooms, Belfast 028 9068 1121.

The Yard, Belfast 028 9040 5600.

Versatile, Navan 046 9029444. www.crosswater.co.uk D Duravit 0845 500 7787 (s). www.duravit.co.uk H Hansgrohe 01372 465655 (s). www.hansgrohe.co.uk Hayburn & Co. Ahoghill 028 2587 1442. www.hayburn.com M Matki For your nearest Irish stockist visit www.matki.co.uk

N Neptune For your nearest Irish stockist visit www.neptune.com P Pelipal 0166 184 2304. www.pelipal.com Perrin & Rowe Bodel Distributors, Lisburn 028 9267 2412 (s).

Kitchen Accessories, Clondalkin 01 4570821 (s). www.perrinandrowe.co.uk Porcellana Belfast 028 9024 0040. www.porcellanatilestudio.com Pure Bathroom Collection www.purebathroomcollection. co.uk T The Radiator Shop Newtownards 028 9181 5991. www.theradiatorshop.co.uk Triton 024 7634 4441. www.tritonshower.co.uk V Versatile Navan 046 9029444. www.versatile.ie Villeroy & Boch AJ’s Elite Bathrooms, Newry 028 3025 2333.

Blu Bathrooms, Wexford 053 9166623.

Glenhill Merchants, Belfast 028 9066 9444.

Haldane Fisher, Newry 028 3026 3201 (s). www.villeroy-boch.com 

READER’S REFERENCE: (s) = Phone for stockist details.

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Instantly Smitten An abandoned Georgian property in Kilkenny has been lovingly rescued and sensitively restored into a comfortable and stylish home which is perfect for Chrissie.

Editorial and styling Penny Crawford-Collins. Photography Philip Lauterbach.

‘Despite its poor state we were instantly smitten; it had so much charm and character with period features in every room. I could see that it had huge potential.’

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ix years ago Chrissie spotted this house in a local estate agent’s window and her curiosity got the better of her. ‘Just out of interest we decided to go and have a look at the property. Despite its poor state we were instantly smitten; it had so much charm and character with period features in every room. I could see that it had huge potential,’ she recalls.

Despite the daunting prospect of the mammoth task that would be involved in this project, Chrissie couldn’t bare the thought of this house being snapped up by someone else. No novice at restoration she knew from the outset that the house needed a complete overhaul – being neglected for some time, ivy and laurel had grown through the windows, the old heating system had long given up leaving considerable damp and mould that had taken its toll over every aspect of the property from the roof down. ‘Somehow I seem to be attracted to houses that need renovating as every house I have ever lived in has been a restoration project.’

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‘I was keen to make the house comfortable without destroying any of its charm...’

Any work carried out had to adhere to very stringent building regulations, ‘It was very important to restore the house using ethical, breathable materials and to concentrate on insulation and a heating system that wouldn’t drain me financially and would respect the structural integrity and original features of this lovely house,’ says Chrissie.

Engaging restoration specialists M&S Construction and a conservation engineer, the work took around eighteen months to complete – from re-roofing using original slates to lifting the entire ground floor of granite and slate to install a geothermal underfloor heating system. ‘I was keen to make the house comfortable without destroying any of its charm. Fitting underfloor heating meant I didn’t have unsightly radiators everywhere.

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‘Fortunately, the house had so many original features the emphasis was on preservation wherever possible.’

Every window was carefully restored by a master craftsman and hemp insulation from ecological building systems was used to pack the cold spots behind all the original shutters. ‘Fortunately, the house had so many original features the emphasis was on preservation wherever possible.’

After a complete re-wiring, the walls were lime plastered and painted throughout with lime chalk paint. All the original stone floors were exposed and the wide floor boards all sanded and stained or hand painted, such as the black and white chequered floor in the hall.

With the décor, Chrissie opted for a soft, chalky palette, and combined with her quirky collections of ceramics, china, antiques and modern pieces conjured up an atmosphere that is both rustic and stylish.

Chrissie explains, ‘I love simplicity, texture and earthy tones.

Antiques and recycled pieces are an essential part of my style when it comes to interiors, I love to scout around salvage yards and auctions and there is nothing more satisfying than when I find something that will suit the house and won’t break the bank.’

With her dream home new complete, how would she look back at the journey from transforming the property into exactly what she wanted? Chrissie concludes, ‘Although there were many moments of panic, such as standing in the cellar looking up at the sky, all the hard work and the attention to detail has really paid off. I am so pleased with how the house has turned out and glad to have contributed to keeping its authenticity and spirit alive. However, a house like this is never finished; it’s definitely a work in progress.’

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Create the look From the kilkenny home This beautiful Georgian home in Kilkenny has been decorated with classic and rustic pieces to great effect.

Peony resin floor lamp from Shimu. The base of this very striking lamp is produced from resin, carved with a motif of peony flowers. W 50cm x D 50cm x H 175cm. £255.

Phone 0800 088 6800. www.shimu.co.uk

From the New Ganges Collection by Frith Rugs.

100 per cent wool and hand knotted in India this new collection is available in two sizes. 2.74m x 1.83m, £699 and 3.66m x 2.74m, £1,399.

Phone 0845 490 0600. www.frithrugs.co.uk

Oxford lantern in large from Mobius Living. £59.50.

Phone 0845 299 6331. www.mobius-living.co.uk

Finsbury indoor rattan dining chair from Wovenhill. £99. Phone 017 8974 1935. www.wovenhill.co.uk 75

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY MORRISON. EDITORIAL BY MANDI MILLAR. STYLING BY MARIE MCMILLEN.

Stylish Living Tony and Darren have turned a functional bachelor pad in Belfast into a funky family home.

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hey say that two’s company and three’s a crowd – but for Tony and Darren, four proved the perfect number. Darren had bought this Belfast period home eight years ago and had been living there for six years when he and Tony decided to move in together with Tony’s children India and Parker who are frequent visitors.

‘We’ve done quite a lot to the house in terms of redecorating and that was quite an upheaval but when people ask what the biggest challenge was I’d have to say Darren bore the brunt of it, suddenly finding three other people in a house where formerly he only had to please himself!’ says Tony. ‘I brought all my stuff and anyone with children knows how much stuff they bring!’

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Darren had bought his home eight years ago to be more centrally located for his work. He’d been looking in this locale as it was an up-and-coming area – and he has been proven right too. The two receptions rooms had already been knocked into one so, as well as the great location and the potential, it was that open-plan reception space that really caught his imagination. ‘Interestingly, that’s what really appealed to me too when I first saw it. In fact when we decided to move in together we looked at a number of properties, places we could create together, but none of them really matched up to this one which is why we decided to stay and combine our ideas here,’ says Tony.

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Since then he and Darren have been busy creating a home together – in fact little of the original house survives in decorative terms. ‘It was quite a task and took the best part of three months – and we lived here throughout it all! It really is like a new house now because we replaced the kitchen, installed a damp proof course, re-wired and re-plumbed. We also replaced the old sapele internal doors with more contemporary styled ones, put in double glazing, new floors and replaced the old boxed-in banisters with spindles which really opened up the hallway. We even managed to find room for an ensuite off the master bedroom by taking the plumbing into an existing walk-in wardrobe. Most of the work was cosmetic – though the re-wiring and re-plumbing were incredibly dirty jobs – it felt like there was grit in the butter for weeks!’ says Tony.

Thanks to Darren’s practical approach to home-making though in the previous six years, the pair had a sound property to work with for their make-over. ‘Darren would definitely be the more practical – with him it’s about function over form. I’ve always been more interested in style and the combination of our strengths worked well together so we didn’t clash,’ says Tony. ‘For instance, Darren suggested the gloss finish door in the kitchen would be more easily wiped down and the ensuite would take the pressure off the family bathroom. He suggested black-out linings on the bedroom curtains so the early morning light doesn’t wake you and made sure the rooms had both ambient and task lighting.’

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When it came to styling the rooms though, Tony took the lead. Colour and pattern were other major players with feature wallpaper adding drama and colour to rooms, while accessories help tie schemes together. ‘The choice you have with a period property is to keep with the old-style look or to take it more contemporary. We’ve gone for the latter but with twists of more traditional styles,’ says Tony. ‘The pattern of the wallpaper in the master bedroom is very traditional but blown up to that scale gives it a decidedly contemporary edge – similarly with the Arts and Crafts style roses on the drawing room wallpaper which again, at that scale, are much more stylish for today.’

Now, however, with the hard work behind them, Darren and Tony can at last sit back to enjoy what they’ve created. ‘We work well together as a design team as we complement each other. We’ve managed to transform what was a bachelor house into what we hope is a funky space which is stylish yet practical. Yes it’s much busier now than it used to be when Darren had it to himself but that is what family life is all about and that is what has made this a home for the four of us.’

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Create the look From the belfast home Tony and Darren’s funky Belfast home has stylish and contemporary décor throughout.

Newgate Pluto starburst clock.

The clock has metal spokes and dark wood rays with a brass effect dial and metal hands.

From £99. Phone Curio Interiors Ltd, Belfast 028 9033 9905.

Visit www.newgateclocks.com for further Irish stockists.

The Calligaris Ice Chair refracts light in a crystalline design and creates a very modern dining statement. From £126.

Phone Arnotts, Dublin 01 8050400; Frank Mcgowan & Co Ltd, Dublin 01 8706100; Furnityour, Westmeath 090 6498374; Instore, Limerick 1890 252805; Montana, Dublin 01 2937000; Morans Homezone, Navan 046 9093012; Regency Interiors, Cork 021 4271245; Sienna, Waterford 051 595005; Studio Twenty One, Limerick 087 8320834 and Uno Modern Living, Ballymena 028 2563 2046. www.calligaris.it

Arcisi Murano vases from Natuzzi. These glass-works were made on the island of Murano, meaning that they have been created in respect of a thousand-year old tradition by Master craftsmen. From £620. Euro price on request. Phone Arnotts, Dublin 01 805 0400; House of Fraser (Natuzzi concession) Belfast 028 9032 0224; The 1933 Furniture Company, Navan 046 9093012; Franks Furniture, Dundalk 042 9335026; Gillespie & Wilson, Belfast 028 9047 1074 and Square Deal Interiors, Cork 021 4274045. For further information phone 01322 312550. www.natuzzi.co.uk

Love Blocks from Live Laugh Love Ltd. £8.95.

Phone 01342 842599. www.livelaughlove.co.uk 85

Coastal Charm This beautiful home in West Cork has been redesigned into a striking, contemporary and elegant space.

Photography by Philip Lauterbach. Editorial by Penny Crawford-Collins.

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rchitect Fintan Duffy of dhb Architects was given the task of redesigning this bungalow, which was a previously very dated property, into a modern day family home. Due to sheer determination, careful planning and creativity the results speak for themselves.

Accessed by a narrow single track, the site boasts a stunning vista overlooking the beautiful West Cork coastline which more than compensated for the dated dwelling that existed on the site. The task was to capitalise on the views, reconfigure the layout, allowing as much light into the house as possible.

Though Fintan’s intention was to create a stunning contemporary retreat that was easy to maintain he was also keen to harmonise the design with its impressive surroundings.

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‘This was the basis of the design, the owner is a keen cook and wanted a specific kitchen dining area that was central to the design of the house which also merged the inside and out,’ explains Fintan.

The project however was driven by very stringent planning regulations, and Fintan knew that getting planning on this protected coastline wasn’t going to be easy. Cork County Council were adamant that they would not allow the old bungalow that existed to be demolished, so this structure had to be incorporated into the design and Fintan had to come up with an innovative solution that would meet the strict planning regulations imposed and also fulfill the homeowner’s brief.

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Although the existing structure was a substantial size it was dark and lacked the modern day comforts that the family required. The family wanted a space that would maximise the views and so incorporated an area where they both cook and socialise. ‘This was the basis of the design, the owner is a keen cook and wanted a specific kitchen dining area that was central to the design of the house which also merged the inside and out,’ explains Fintan.

The whole planning process, however, wasn’t straight forward and took nearly three years to be agreed. Cork County Council insisted on pitched roofs and a traditional feel to the new additions. The southern side of the bungalow was demolished and extended and the northern section was built up to create a two storey section with the kitchen dining and living area situated at the hub of the house, making the most of the stunning panoramic views of the Cork coastline.

The new design utilises natural materials such as stone and wood that pick up on a traditional design throwing in modern additions that all sit perfectly into the surrounding landscape.

Local builder Michael Leonard was the contractor charged with delivering the build of the highest finish standards.

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Fintan had seen Michael’s work and realised he would be able to produce the end result that both he and the client were after. He explains, ‘I wanted to employ a local builder and tradesmen, Michael’s work was of the highest standard so I knew he was the perfect choice and would produce the results. After all the planning delays the build itself ran according to plan and only took eleven months to complete, providing the owners with five bedrooms, two ensuite, a separate bathroom, study and utility area with an open plan kitchen dining and living area.’

Not only were the aesthetics and design of great importance but the house had to be exceptionally well insulated and highly energy-efficient.

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The winters in Cork can be harsh at times so it was important that the house would be warm and cosy, the underfloor heating provides a lovely gentle heat and large the double-glazed windows allow for the views while minimising heat loss. Space heating is provided by a combination of underfloor and central heating from an oil-fired boiler and a series of solar panels provides most of the hot water requirements. A good, south-facing orientation, combined with generous areas of glazing, maximises solar gains and the cedar brise-soleil are angled to prevent mid summer overheating.

When it came to the interiors they have been kept simple and pared down utilising subtle tones with accents of colour introduced with some of the furnishings. All the internal finishes were chosen for their quality, aesthetics and textures.

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The streamlined kitchen has a vast expanse of stainless steel which gives it an industrial edge.

It was designed to be functional and practical with plenty of storage and worktops and offers a space for casual dining with the open plan design also enabling the cook to easily engage with guests at the dining table during more formal entertaining. The practical layout and cohesive styling mean the kitchen dining and living area blend beautifully together, as well as with the garden and the owners now have the sociable modern space they required.

The owners wanted a modern design that benefited from the surrounding views, the end result is a perfect illustration of how Fintan has designed a stunning piece of architecture that has understood the aspirations and requirements of the owners while meeting all the planning restrictions that were imposed by the local council.

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Create the look From the baltimore home

Moonrise cushion by Amy Sia featuring a black and white marbled print. 45cm x 45cm. £70. www.amy-sia.com

Contemporary and striking pieces decorate this beautiful property in West Cork.

Orla raspberry table lamp from House of Fraser. £90/€117. Phone Belfast 0844 8003705, Dundrum 01 2991400. www.houseoffraser.co.uk Dansk by Gloster strikes a familiar chord with its clean, tapering lines that reflect a classic, Danish furniture design for all seasons. Price on request. Phone Fernhill Garden Centre, Westmeath 064 75574. www.gloster.com

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Cattelan Italia Pepe bar stool from Lime Modern Living.

From £259. Phone 018 9251 2611. www.limemodernliving.co.uk

Homi ng i n on

Homing In On This issue we bring you a beautiful selection of interior books to help inspire you this summer.

Outdoor Living

By Selina Lake, published by Ryland Peters & Small. £19.99.

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elina starts by showcasing her Outside Inspirations in the form of flowers, lighting, fabrics, furniture and decorations. She then focuses on beautifying every aspect of outdoor living, providing ample inspiration and practical suggestions for transforming a garden, deck, terrace or even just a balcony into a lush outdoor room that’s perfect for lounging, relaxing and entertaining. Selina also goes further afield, with dozens of ideas for simple yet stylish picnics, BBQs and summer fetes. Parties are also covered, with inspiring suggestions for weddings, barn dances and other celebrations. Throughout, imaginative ‘DIY ideas’, insightful ‘Style Tips’ and ‘Selina Loves...’ sections are full of inspiring suggestions for how to recreate the look at home.

At the Water’s Edge

By Sally Hayden, published by Ryland Peters & Small. £19.99.

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n ‘At the Water’s Edge’, writer and stylist Sally Hayden celebrates the timeless allure of houses by the water and the relaxed, informal simplicity of seaside style. The book is packed with evocative images of beautiful places and spaces that offer a blissful escape from the stresses of modern life. The first section, ‘Inspiration’, focuses on the key elements of easy waterside style, including colour palettes, fabrics, furniture, accessories, and display.

In the second section, ‘Homes’, Sally explores 12 stunning real-life coastal homes that capture the spirit of living by the water, and offers inspiring insights into creating spaces for easy and relaxed living.

At the Water’s Edge is not only a glorious treat for the eyes - it will also inspire you to emulate the laid-back, barefoot chic of summery, waterside style all year round, wherever you live.

A Woman’s Shed

By Gill Heriz, published by Ryland Peters & Small. £19.99.

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very woman deserves a shed of her own, somewhere to retreat to for some quiet time, to create or grow, to write or paint, or just to contemplate the view. Gill Heriz has interviewed over 80 different women, and Nicolette Hallett has photographed their sheds inside and out, to collect together this unique insight into why women have sheds, and what they do in them. There are sheds for puppet-makers, sculptors, and writers, as well as farmers, furnituremakers, and woodcutters. There are sheds that can be lived in, sheds that are full to the rafters, and sheds that are simply sheds, with the usual collection of gardening tools, lawnmowers, and seed packets. Virginia Woolf once argued that, for women, writing fiction required ‘a room of one’s own.’ These women have taken that premise a step further - to the end of the garden - to find their own very personal space.

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Redesign & Renovate:

Storage This issue Denise O’Connor discusses the need for adequate storage and the overall impact good storage solutions can have on the layout and function of your home.

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’m often asked where to start when planning a renovation or refurbishment project. My advice is to begin by analysing how you use your home – really look at what is working and what is not and this will help you see your focus areas and most importantly where to invest your money to get the best return.

Without this kind of planning you could actually find that you make your situation worse. You might even be pleasantly surprised to find that small adjustments to your home will make a massive difference.

An issue many households struggle with is poor storage. This can have a massive impact on the day-to-day lives of the inhabitants.

Good storage is critical in creating a well-

By Denise O’Connor of Optimise Design

functioning and great looking space. Things like utility spaces and laundry rooms are spaces that my clients get really excited about. And I can understand why.

I recently converted an unused box room into a laundry space in my own home. This simple move freed up space in a host of other rooms throughout the house, I now have plenty of space for drying clothes and storing the multitude of paraphernalia that goes with laundry.

Having this kind of designated storage is far more efficient and effective than a multipurpose storage cupboard or room as these spaces tend to fill up quickly making it almost impossible to access or find anything.

Good storage means that even a very modest space can be perfectly optimised. When you have the right kind of storage you will find you don’t need much space in your home.

Think carefully about what your storage requirements are. Are the items being used every day? Do they need to be accessed frequently, in which case they need to be easy to get at? Let what you need to store dictate the kind of storage that you select.

You don’t have to hide everything away.

Open storage units can be an attractive feature. Again think about what you are storing but be realistic about how tidy you are.

Open storage looks great as long as you are organised and tidy.

Use wall space for hanging things like brushes mops and ironing boards to free up valuable floor space.

Colourful boxes are a great way to brighten up a child’s room and also be organised.

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When it comes to storing kids’ stuff, look for storage solutions that allow them to access their things easily. In play rooms and bedrooms try filling open shelving with colourful boxes of varying sizes that they can reach and investigate.

This is also a great way to encourage a little more independence.

Put children in charge of tidying away their own coats hats and bags. Fun or colourful hooks hung at varying heights to suit even the smallest members of the family work really well as it gives them easy access to all their hats, coats bags etc.

For older children, try to give them their own cupboard for storing schoolbag, sports equipment etc. This is a great way to de-clutter hallways and hopefully put a stop to coats piling up on the banister at the end of the stairs.

Don’t feel that you need to hide things away – a home should be enjoyed and trying to keep everything concealed, especially children’s toys, is a battle that cannot be won.

Denise O’Connor is an architect and MD of architecture at interior design consultancy Optimise Design, Dublin 01 6619020. Visit the Optimise blog at www.optimise-design.com Follow us on pinterest www.pinterest.com/optimisedesign

Storage units can be an attractive feature think about what you are storing but be realistic about how tidy you are, open storage looks great as long as you are organised and tidy.

These Ribba picture rails from IKEA make great books shelves for childrens rooms.

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Sleek & Spacious

photography by derek robinson.

Simon and Clare visited Robinson Interiors and decided that a Rational kitchen on display in their showroom would be perfect for their home in Holywood.

What resulted was a contemporary and sleek design combining handmade elements with stand out features including a rather stylish pull out bar.

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e previously had a Rational kitchen in a birch repro finish that designer Michael had designed for us about five years ago in our old home,’ explains Clare.

‘It was still as good as the day and hour it went in and we were really impressed with the service from Robinson Interiors so we knew to go back to them for the new kitchen in our new home.’

However, as this was a new build there was a lot of work to be done before the kitchen could be installed. When the couple bought the house it was only a shell but through a lot of structural work that included pushing out the side of the kitchen to create a staircase down to the new cinema room, converting the existing garage to a cinema room and building a new garage off it therefore creating a terrace off from the kitchen.

This terrace was then sheltered partly with a glass roof and an astroturf putting green on the remaining area, transforming the already lovely space into something quite spectacular.

So with all this work finished, it was onto the kitchen design and style that was decided upon during a visit to the showroom.

Clare continues, ‘We wanted a cappuccino coloured kitchen in soft lacquer to match the colour scheme of the rest of the room. After seeing it in the showroom at Robinson Interiors we knew that would be perfect for the space. We also had complete trust in the designer Michael as we had used him before and were really impressed with his design skills and expertise. So impressed in fact that we got him to design our utility room, three walk-in dressing rooms and the spare bedroom.’

After their initial discussion with Michael, the couple gave him the design brief. ‘We really liked the concept of an island that was in the showroom and wanted it incorporated into the scheme. We would do a lot of entertaining so we also wanted a bar area for drinks and glasses,’ adds Clare. ‘It was Michael’s idea to house the mobile prep area in the island which is just great.’

With this in mind, Michael then surveyed the space and began drawing up plans. ‘He really did have a lot of input into the overall project,’ explains Clare. ‘We left the planning up to him and he then showed us all our options and we picked the exact things we liked.’

Michael incorporated smoked glass units with backlit illuminated led shelves in the bar and sideboard areas. As the couple were also inspired by the large painted, handmade display in the showroom, Michael designed an island that works perfectly in their space. The island is huge and measures 2,900mm x 2,900mm and was designed to not only accommodate the sink, bins, dishwasher and other practical elements, but as a piece of furniture to entertain around - hence the seating on both sides, and also to look stunning.

One of the unique features of this kitchen is the combination of the German Rational furniture and Robinson Interiors handmade furniture.

Michael incorporated the curved walnut base on the island and the handmade tray and chopping boards section. This softened the scheme to help blend with the couple’s more traditional furniture in the rest of the space.

There is a separate bar section with a handmade solid walnut top and sides that is housed in a secret door in the island. This can then be opened and pulled out as it is on castors, to the bar area of the kitchen (where the wine coolers are) and set up as somewhere to serve drinks behind. There are glasses and some bottles in this unit. It can then be put away after the party is over and no-one is any the wiser it even exists. Other hidden features include pull-out shelves in the larder, two pull out bins and pull out cutlery inserts.

Appliances were also sourced for the kitchen by Robinson Interiors with Michael choosing a range that would suit the family’s lifestyle requirements.

With such a stunning kitchen, it’s no surprise that the couple can’t pinpoint their favourite element. What has been created is a testament to the vision of both the couple and their designer Michael. Clare concludes, ‘We really don’t have a favourite feature in the kitchen. We love it all.

It’s great for everyday life but also for large parties! It really works brilliantly for us.’

Kitchen Contacts KITCHEN DESIGN Robinsons Interiors Belfast 028 9068 3838. www.robinsoninteriors.com

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Flooring: Porcelain tile with a semi-gloss finish.

APPLIANCES Fridge: Siemens Freezer: Siemens Cooker: Godin Extractor: Godin Coffee Machine: CDA Wine Cooler: CDA Microwave: CDA Dishwasher: Siemens

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Why advertise with Ireland’s Homes Interiors and Living?

of sizes to suit your budget * Range success record offering cost effective advertising * Proven all-Ireland * Targeting * Major monthly features reflecting trends in the interiors market

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c o c k ta i l s

Cheers to the Summer The sun is high in the sky, you have your sunglasses on and you are enjoying the beautiful weather in your own garden, there is only one thing missing from this picture, a deliciously refreshing summer cocktail! Here we have selected some of the most mouthwatering cocktails that are sure to complement your sunny afternoons perfectly.

Strawberry Mojito

A fruity twist to this Cuban favourite.

Serves 1 Ingredients 3 to 4 fresh strawberries, de-stemmed and cut into quarts.

1 lime cut into quarts 3 or 4 sprigs of mint 1 tbsp granulated sugar 60ml rum Splash of club soda Ice Method 1 Add strawberries, lime, mint (leaves only) and sugar to cocktail shaker, use a muddler or blunt kitchen utensil to mash the ingrediants together roughly.

2 Fill the shaker with ice (crushed or whole) and add the rum.

3 Cover and shake well.

4. Pour into a glass and add a splash of club soda.

Pina Colada

This classic never goes out of fashion, its sweet and tasty and will have you dreaming of the Caribbean.

Serves 1 Ingredients 35ml gold rum 1 tbsp Malibu 50ml coconut cream 50ml pineapple juice 4-5 pineapple chunks To serve (optional) Pineapple wedge Maraschino cherry Method 1 Pour the two rums, the coconut cream, pineapple juice and chunks of pineapple into a blender and blend until smooth.

2 To serve, pour into a cocktail glass and garnish with pineapple and a maraschino cherry.

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White Peach Summer Bellini

A light and bubbly cocktail that is easy on the pallet.

Serves 6 Ingredients 2 medium sized very ripe peaches, unpeeled, halved and pitted.

2 tbsp lemon juice 1 pottle of Prosecco Method 1 PurĂŠe peaches and lemon juice in a blender. You can add more lemon juice if you prefer.

Strawberry Daiquiri

A tasty favourite sure to cool you down.

Serves 1

2 Pour 2 tablespoons of the puree into each champagne flute.

3 Fill with Prosecco and enjoy!

Ingredients 5 or 6 fresh strawberries.

2 tsp white sugar 35ml white rum 1 tbsp strawberry liqueur 25ml lime juice Method 1 Put all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker and mash with a blunt kitchen utensil.

2 Place the lid on the shaker and shake well.

3 Strain the mixture into a glass and garnish with a strawberry.

Virgin Long Island Iced Tea

The great taste with out the alcohol, try this refreshing mocktail and skip the hangover.

Serves 1 Ingredients 120 mls carbonated cola drink 120 mls black tea, unsweetened 120 mls lemonade 1 lemon wedge Ice Method 1 Add ice to a pitcher.

2 Pour in the cola, lemonade and black tea, squeeze in the lemon and enjoy.

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Sangria

All the way from Spain, this drink was made for a hot day.

Serves 4 Ingredients 1 (750 ml) bottle of red wine 60 ml brandy 60 ml triple sec 2 tbsp fresh lime juice 2 tbsp fresh orange juice 3 tbsp sugar 1/2 orange sliced 1/2 lemon sliced 1 apple cored and cut into wedges A handful of sliced strawberries 1 bottle (750 ml) lemonade Method 1 Add everything into a pitcher except for the lemonade, cover and chill for 1 - 2 hours.

2 When time has passed, add the lemonade, mix and serve.

Limencello and Prosecco Cooler with raspberry ice cubes If you love Prosecco then you will love this refreshing beverage made for summer.

Serves 1 Ingredients 5 fresh raspberrys per drink 2 sprigs of mint 120 ml Prosecco 60ml Limoncello liquer Method 1 Put your glasses into the fridge to cool them down and place raspberries in the freezer for at least 15 minutes before serving.

2 Gently ‘smush’ mint leaves into each glass and add 5 frozen raspberries.

3 Add Limoncello, then the Prosecco and enjoy!

Horchata

This alcohol free cocktail takes a little more waiting time, but is well worth it. Traditionally enjoyed in Mexico, it is creamy but light.

Serves 4 Ingredients 450ml milk 200g of uncooked white long-grain rice 1 litre water 1 tbsp vanilla extract 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp almond flavouring 100g sugar To serve (optional) 1 cinnamon stick per drink.

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Method 1 Mix the rice and water and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.

2 Blend the water and rice for around one minute, at this point the rice should easily fall apart.

3 Strain the rice and water mix and collect the rice water.

4 Add the rest of the ingredients, mix and put in the fridge for 1 hour.

5 Serve in a tall glass and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Jamie Oliver’s Foodtube:

The BBQ Book

by DJ BBQ Beer Can Chicken: recipe on following page.

cookbook

Beer Can Chicken (Pictured on previous page.)

Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes Ingredients 1.7kg higher-welfare whole chicken 4 sprigs of fresh rosemary Olive oil Sea salt and freshly ground Black pepper 330ml can of your favourite beer Method 1 Before you start, check if your barbecue lid fits over the chicken upright. If not, don’t worry, you can lay the bird out flat – you just need to decide which way you’re doing it before you prepare the chicken, then set the bird aside to come up to room temperature.

2 Meanwhile, set up your barbecue for the heat canyon technique. Place a drip tray inside the middle of the barbecue. Cover with the lid and allow to heat up like an outdoor oven – you want a temperature of around 175°C/345°F.

3 Pick the leaves from 2 rosemary sprigs and bash in a pestle and mortar with a drizzle of oil and a good pinch of salt and pepper, then rub all over the chicken. Make sure the beer is at room temperature, then pour out two-thirds of it (or drink it!) and insert the remaining rosemary sprigs into the can. Now for the tricky bit – use both hands to pull the chicken’s rear apart and carefully manoeuvre it on to the beer can. If you’re laying the chicken flat, make sure you position the can so the hole is at the top to prevent the beer from spilling out.

Rad Rum Ribs

4 Place the bird upright on the middle of the barbecue, making sure the legs are pointing forward so it doesn’t topple over – a comical sight – and cover with the lid. Cook for around 1 hour 30 minutes, or until golden and cooked through, remembering to replenish with hot coals halfway, if needed. To check if it’s ready, pierce a thigh with a knife – if the juices run clear, it’s done. Remove the bird to a board to rest for 10 minutes (this is the perfect time to take some rad photos), then carve up and serve. Enjoy the juiciness, ness, ness.. Wow, this meal comes with reverb.

For the paste 5 tablespoons maple syrup 2 teaspoons chipotle chilli paste 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 1⁄2 teaspoons sweet paprika 1 1⁄2 teaspoons ground cumin 1 teaspoon Chinese five-spice 1 ⁄2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Jamie with the Foodtube chefs: Kerryann Dunlop, Christian Stevenson (aka DJ BBQ) and Jemma Wilson (aka Cupcake Jemma).

My mate Tim got me into this way of cooking ribs. He started with bourbon then we experimented with rum. I loved his version so started making my own tweaks and now we have rad rum ribs.

Total time: 3 hours plus marinating Ingredients Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 1.5kg baby back ribs, membrane removed

For the rad rum bbq sauce 4cm piece of ginger, peeled 3–4 cloves of garlic, peeled 125ml tomato ketchup 60ml dark rum 1 tablespoonWorcestershire sauce 3 tablespoons cider vinegar 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 ⁄2 teaspoon dried chilli flakes 50g soft dark brown sugar Method 1 Combine the paste ingredients and 2 teaspoons of salt in a bowl.

2 Pat the ribs dry with kitchen paper, then place in a tray and rub all over with the paste. Cover with clingfilm and leave to marinate in the fridge for at least 6 hours, or preferably overnight.

3 When you want to cook, remove the ribs from the fridge, shake off any excess marinade and allow to come up to room temperature.

4 Meanwhile, set up your barbecue for the half and half technique – you want a medium indirect heat. Place a drip tray inside the barbecue on the indirect side. Cover with the lid and allow to heat up like an outdoor oven – you want a temperature of around 180°C/350°F. 5 Rip off just over an arm’s length of extra-strong tin foil, stack up the ribs in the centre and tightly wrap. Place the foil parcel over indirect heat on the barbecue, cover with the lid and cook for around 2 hours, or until the meat is tender and starts to fall away from the bone, remembering to replenish with hot coals every 45 minutes or so.

6 Meanwhile, finely grate the ginger and garlic into a small pan on the hob. Add the rest of the BBQ sauce ingredients and 80ml of water.

photograph by Matt Russell.

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7 Simmer over a medium heat for around 20 minutes, or until thickened, stirring occasionally.

Season to taste and set aside.

8 Remove the ribs from the foil and brush all over with the BBQ sauce and any cooking juices.

Return to the indirect heat for another 30 to 40 minutes with the lid on, or until tender and golden, basting well every 10 minutes or so.

Remove to a board to rest for 5 minutes, then carve. Enjoy, ’cause these ribs rule!

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Mega Stuffed Sweet Potatoes Total Time: 1 Hour 20 Minutes Ingredients 4 large sweet potatoes, scrubbed clean Olive oil Sea salt Optional: 8 rashers of higher welfare smoked streaky bacon 125g Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese 4 spring onions, trimmed 1–2 fresh red chillies

To Serve Soured cream Method 1 Set up your barbecue for the heat canyon technique.

2 Cover with the lid and allow to heat up like an outdoor oven – you want a temperature of around 175°C/345°F. 3 Rub the sweet potatoes all over with a drizzle of oil and a good pinch of salt. Place on the middle of the barbecue, cover with the lid and

bake for around 1 hour, or until soft in the middle and crisp on the outside. Meanwhile, fry the bacon (if using) in a pan over a high heat (you can do this on the hob) until golden and crisp, then set aside for later.

4 Split the potatoes open, crumble in the bacon (if using) and grate over the cheese. Return to the indirect heat on the barbecue for a further 5 to 10 minutes with the lid on, or until the cheese has melted. Finely slice the spring onions and chilli then sprinkle them over the potatoes, serve with spoonfuls of soured cream and devour.

COMPETITION Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living together with Penguin Group are offering 5 readers the chance to win a copy of The BBQ Book by DJ BBQ worth £7.99 Total prize value £39.95.

How to enter Answer the following question: What was DJ BBQ’s friend called that inspired his Rad Rum Ribs?

Send your answer, name, address, email and phone number marked The BBQ Book to Ireland’s Homes Interiors & Living magazine, PO Box 42, Bangor, County Down, BT19 7AD or Ashgrove House, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin or enter online at: www.ihil.net

DJ BBQ.

Entries must be received no later than 5pm, Friday 4th July 2014. One entry per household. One separate email /postcard for each competition. Judge’s decision is final. No cash alternative. Prizes are non-transferable.

If you would like to receive our monthly Newsletter please include your email address with your entry.

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d e s t i n at i o n U K : G l a s g ow

Destination UK:

science centre

Glasgow Glasgow is one of Europe’s most dynamic and vibrant cities, and with the Commonwealth Games being hosted here in July, why not take a hop over to our Celtic neighbours and explore all there is on offer in this exciting Scottish City.

Things to See & Do loch lomond

Science centre

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If you are a lover of art, then start off your trip by heading to one of the many fabulous art galleries there are on offer within the city.

The City of Glasgow owns one of the richest collections of art in Europe, with paintings

by Degas, CĂŠzanne, Sir Roger the Elephant and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, to name a few. You will find a range of contemporary, cutting edge art, along with the more classic, traditional style. Admission to all museums in Glasgow is free, meaning you can take your time to explore them all at your leisure. Some of the Glasgow Museums you should see are The Burrell Collection, Gallery of Modern Art, Riverside Museum and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

d e s t i n at i o n U K : G l a s g ow For fun and excitement for all the family take a trip over to the Science Centre where you will find free interactive science shows, fun workshops, the amazing BodyWorks exhibition and three floors of fascinating displays showcasing science and life. Situated beside the Clyde River, you can take a walk over on a nice day. Let the kids run in the giant hamster wheel, although its not just for the children so jump in and give it a go yourself! You can also explore all things outer space in one of the world’s best planetariums; travel back in time, discover the wonders of the universe, and unveil all the myths and mystery of the stars. While you are here you can enjoy the huge Cineworld IMAX cinema, with a screen bigger than a 5-a-side football pitch.

Just twenty minutes outside of Glasgow city centre is the Sea Life Loch Lomond Aquarium.

Here you can take a close look at the many strange but beautiful creatures that can be found below the water’s edge. You can even encounter sharks and engage with some of the more friendly sea creatures in the hands-on rock pool.

Loch Lomond is beautiful in itself, being the largest body of freshwater in mainland Britain, so it is worth a trip out of the city on a nice summer’s day just for the stunning surroundings. While you are here soaking it all in, there are a range of activities to be get involved in, on land and on water, like canoeing and water skiing, fishing, golf, horse riding and you can even set up camp for the night.

If you happen to plan your trip to be here over July 23rd to August 3rd then why not experience the Commonwealth Games taking place here. Tickets are currently on sale for team sports and ceremonies for this prestigious event. Hosting an event like this is always a privilege and the atmosphere that goes along with it will be something that cannot be missed.

Eating and Drinking Just a stone’s throw away from the Kelvingrove Art Gallery is Firebird which offers an award winning menu of indefinable quality. It has a child friendly atmosphere with a delightful all day menu or you can enjoy a relaxing Sunday brunch menu, each Sunday. They boast that

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

west end spires

The City of Glasgow owns one of the richest collections of art in Europe, with paintings by Degas, Cézanne, Sir Roger the Elephant and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, to name a few.

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once you visit Firebird, you will want to keep going again and again.

Barolo Grill is quite new to the Glasgow circuit but it is already building quite the reputation. They pride themselves on their top quality Scottish steaks, meats and seafood, all cooked to perfection and served with a contemporary Italian touch. They also offer an extensive wine list, with the best in Italian varietals. They have an รก la carte menu, lunch and early dinner menu along with all the lovely Italian desserts. Perfect for any time of day!

The Old School House is the perfect place to relax in between exploring the city, you can have a lovely lunch or simply enjoy a few beverages in the lovely open beer garden. The pub itself has a lively atmposphere at the weekend but during the week is perfect for relaxing with the paper.

Accommodation Mar Hall Hotel Golf and Spa is set in a secluded woodland on the banks of the Clyde, within a convenient distance of Glasgow Airport. It offers the best of both worlds, with golf, a destination spa, luxurious suites, all within 20 minutes of the main shopping and hot spots within the city. The perfect place to retreat for some pampering after a days site seeing.

For a contemporary, trendy and relaxing place to rest your head at the end of the day, look to citizenM Glasgow Hotel. Situated right in the heart of the city, its interiors are funky and fun, while the staff are friendly and accommodating. This award winning hotel has all the mod cons, and you can even have a great view of the city.

Getting There Fly with Easyjet from Belfast or Dublin.

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riverside museum

If you happen to plan your trip to be here over July 23rd to August 3rd then why not experience the Commonwealth Games taking place here. museum of modern art

d e s t i n at i o n I r e l a n d : Li m e r i c k

King Johns Castle Limerick Image courtesy of Chris Hill

Destination Ireland:

Limerick Limerick is bubbling with beautiful Georgian architecture, grand museums and rugby-obsessed locals. The beautiful waters of the River Shannon will surround you during your stay in this unique and lively city which has also been named City of Culture for 2014.

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Things to see and do There are few better places to start than the beautifully restored Milk Market on Cornmarket Row. It is fun, energetic, with occasional pop-up restaurant events, artisan foods, antiques, music and art.

In the medieval heart of the city on King’s Island, step inside the 800-yearold St John’s Castle, once the site of the dramatic Siege of Limerick in 1690. St John’s remains one of the most intact medieval castles in Ireland, and boasts incredible views out over the River Shannon.

Make your way into the Limerick City Gallery of Art to find a superb collection of Irish paintings in the gallery that opened a €1.7 million extension in 2012. There is an impressive selection of pieces but a good starting point is to look for Chairopanes, Jack B Yeats’s portrayal of a fairground amusement. www.gallery.limerick.ie/ No cultural trawl is complete without visiting the impressive Hunt Museum with its outstanding displays: one of the finest collections of Celtic and medieval treasures outside Dublin, and works from Picasso, Renoir and Henry Moore. There’s also a children’s treasure trail, a gift shop, and a wonderful café overlooking the River Shannon. www.huntmuseum.com Explore the life of the Pulitzer prizewinning author Frank McCourt in his old school that’s now a museum. Although born in Brooklyn, McCourt was educated in Limerick and wrote the bestselling ‘Angela’s Ashes’ about his childhood there.

Leamy House, a delightful Tudor-style listed building tells the story of his impoverished upbringing. After your visit, join the Angela’s Ashes walking tour. It takes in a staggering 42 locations from the book, including the post office where he worked as a telegraph boy, and the beautiful Georgian Pery Square beside the People’s Park: two must-see Limerick attractions.

In 2011, Limerick was crowned European City of Sport, a deserved accolade for a place that promotes sporting excellence. A tour of the hallowed ground at Thomond Park stadium where Munster beat the mighty All Blacks 12-0 in 1978 is a great way to get a feel for Limerick’s sporting culture. You can visit areas usually reserved for players and officials, and visit the museum. www.thomondpark.ie When it comes to adventure sports, Ireland is the New Zealand of the Northern Hemisphere; and 95km of stacked mountain bike trails here are one of the jewels in its crown.

With Limerick being the City of Culture for 2014, things will be happening in the city at the drop of a hat with the help of super-cool cultural event organisers, Happenings, who will be springing offthe-cuff pop-up events with just 36-hours notice. Be it an outdoor movie screening, an al-fresco exhibition or a play, word will be spread via social media.

The Irish Chamber Orchestra’s big and little members will be making an appearance with their classical majesty while Proms in the Park promises orchestral

King Johns Castle Limerick Image courtesy of Chris Hill

The Blue Door Restaurant, Adare Image courtesy of Trayler-Smith

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d e s t i n at i o n I r e l a n d : Li m e r i c k RIVER SHANNON Image courtesy of Holger Leue

With Limerick being the City of Culture for 2014, things will be happening in the city at the drop of a hat with the help of super-cool cultural event organisers, Happenings, who will be springing off-the-cuff pop-up events with just 36-hours notice.

drama in the summer sun. Keep an ear out too for the curiously named Pigtown Fling music collective (including former Cranberries band member Noel Hogan), who will be creating a constantly evolving soundtrack for the festival and the city. www.limerickcityofculture.ie

Where to Stay The Castle Oaks House Hotel, set in a dream location in Limerick on 26 acres of beautiful mature gardens that lead down to the banks of the River Shannon offers warm attentive service and fabulous home cooked food. The Estate also offers a complex of luxury Limerick holiday homes for self-catering accommodation, the Riverside Mews, which are built to the style of a rural courtyard. www.castleoaks.ie Quaid cottage is a family owned and run traditional thatched farmhouse that is set in peaceful surroundings with its own private garden, close to the pretty village of Adare. The area is ideal for golf, angling, horse riding and touring. This heritage listed building has been owned by the same family for generations and many of the original features of the old cottage have been kept.

The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge is a small, luxury country house situated in the rural village of Ballingarry. The converted 19th century convent is surrounded by ten acres of mature trees, orchard and kitchen garden where fresh herbs and vegetables are gathered daily for the preparation of dinner. They also welcome pet lovers being one of Limerick’s premier pet friendly hotels.

The Stir Restaurant at the hotel has a reputation as being one of the finest Limerick restaurants offering light, modern cooking using fresh ingredients. www.mustardseed.ie Deebert House is a splendid Georgian residence with award winning gardens.

It’s the ideal touring centre in the heart of Ballyhourna Country. Adjacent to historic sites, golf, hill walking at Ballyhourna Mountains and bike trails, horse riding and Lough Gur Heritage centre. www.deeberthousehotel.com

Adare Village Image courtesy of Chris Hill

Getting There Situated just over two hours from Dublin City (M7) and one and a half hours from Cork (N20) and Galway (N18) and three and a half hours from Belfast.

Essential contacts www.limerick.ie

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gardening

Grow your own food!

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By deirdre prince

Beetroot

o be able to pick a vegetable from your garden or allotment and bring it straight into the kitchen to cook for your dinner is one of the most rewarding and satisfying experiences I have ever had. The thrill of flicking through seed catalogues or heading to the garden shop to see the vast array of vegetable seed packets just waiting to be plucked from the shelf and brought home, planted, nurtured and picked for the dinner table is an adventure I recommend to everyone. I’m afraid I cannot resist buying packets of seeds with the greatest of intentions of sowing immediately and the lofty thought of eating all that lovely produce. All of the vegetables listed below are my favourites to grow and will be eaten by my family which makes it all the more rewarding.

One of the best and easiest vegetables to grow from seed is Beetroot.

If you’ve never liked beetroot, try not to think about the pickled variety we’re all familiar with and start to think of this root as a delicious sweet addition to roast root vegetables. For a continuous supply during the summer, start sowing in March and continue to sow until July.

Once its seedlings emerge, watch out for slugs and snails but even in drought this vegetable seems to thrive. They are great for roasting, freezing and pickling. (Fig.2)

Carrot Carrots love a deep, free-draining soil in a bright spot in the garden.

There is nothing as deliciously sweet as carrots freshly picked and straight to the table. The carrots grown in your own garden may differ from the conventional carrot bought in the shop. Sometimes the shape is a bit curvy but doesn’t adversely affect the taste. (Fig.3) Carrot fly can be a problem with this plant but the female flies don’t fly higher than 60cm so planting in pots above this height will help. There are also carrot fly resistant varieties available and they really work as I experimented with carrot fly resistant variety planted beside the normal seeds directly into the ground and when I harvested the carrots, the non-resistant ones were riddled with holes while the resistant ones were perfect.

Tomatoes These are so easy to grow and are super nutritious. Nothing beats the taste of home-grown tomatoes, whether it’s the meaty beefsteak variety of the sweet-like cherry baubles. Sowing tomato seeds is incredibly easy.

Just scatter the seed over compost, cover with a plastic bag, keep moist and place on a sunny windowsill or greenhouse. Once the seedlings appear, remove the cover and when they grow to about 10cm tall, they are ready to transplant into their final position. They are very hungry plants and need to have regular feeding and watering. I have grown them in all locations in the garden and greenhouse and the cherry tomatoes in the photo (Fig.1) were grown outside in a sunny spot. I was lucky to have a bowlful to harvest as I picked a few every time I passed the plants.

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gardening

Runner Beans / Peas / Mangetout / Sugarsnap peas

Pumpkin

Legumes are easy vegetables to grow. Sow the large seeds in pots, keeping the seedlings away from slugs and snails. When they are big enough to transplant out, ensure they have moisture-retentive soil and keep them watered during their growth. They will need to have a support frame for the climbers or just to tie in the taller plants.

(Fig. 4). Even the flowers are a pretty addition to the garden while you’re waiting for the bonus of fresh peas or beans for your dinner.

(Fig. 5).

Pumpkin seeds can be planted anywhere really but they grow so large, that they really need a bit of space to spread out. They are a very satisfying vegetable to grow and once they are protected with straw from sitting on the soil, they make an excellent crop in the autumn. The flesh can be scooped out for making soup or pumpkin pie before transforming it into a scary lantern for Halloween. (Fig. 9)

Lettuce Leafy salad crops are very easy and quick to grow. They can be sown in any type of pot, window box or directly into a prepared bed. (Fig.10) The trick is to sow regularly and this will ensure a continuous supply. You can start as early as March in a warm spot and keep them moist and liquid feed if necessary. There are so many varieties to choose from and I have grown most but I think my favourite is Rocket because I love the taste and the pretty flowers. I also like Swiss Chard, again for the taste and the colourful stems. With a little care, you can enjoy a salad every day during the summer months with a great selection of lettuce leaves, fresh from the garden to your plate.

Strawberries You can’t beat eating freshly picked strawberries from your garden.

There is a sweetness that you cannot find in any supermarket. While I have grown them from seed, it is much easier and quicker to buy the plants from the garden centre. Again, the strawberry shapes can differ from the traditional ones, but taste delicious nonetheless. A great way to grow the plants is in hanging baskets as the fruit normally needs to be protected from sitting on the soil with straw. With the strawberries dangling from the baskets, they will not need protection. I managed to harvest a bowlful but they only really lasted for the length it took to take the photo! (Fig. 6)

The main decision to make when choosing suitable varieties for your garden is what will you eat. There is no point in planting pots of radish if you have no intention of eating it. Of course you could swap your harvest for something you will eat with friends but I think the joy is in eating what you have grown yourself. Don’t get over ambitious with a huge vegetable plot as this will seem overwhelming, particularly if you are new to growing your own. Starting small and slowly will ensure you enjoy the experience and as your confidence grows (pardon the pun), you can expand your repertoire and look forward to the self-satisfying knowledge that you will have a tasty harvest for your table during the summer months.

Raspberries Raspberry canes are very easy to grow and just a few plants can provide you with an abundant crop. (Fig. 7) They can be grown in any spot in the garden and even in containers. They like moisture rich soil in a sunny position. The plants will need supporting. I usually support them on a fence or wall with wiring to tie in the canes. I have had enough of a crop each year to allow me to make jam so I can enjoy the joy of summer during the winter months.

Cabbage I just love cabbage and I particularly love when they grow to a large size. (Fig. 8) They are great to grow from seed and once they are fed with nitrogen rich feed and well watered, they will provide an entire meal with just one head. Cabbage root fly can be a problem but this can be prevented by placing a collar around the base of the plants.

Deirdre Prince MLA Dip Arch Tech MGLDA Landscape Architect.

Phone Dublin 01 6350032. Mobile: 087 9916961. www.deirdreprince.ie Winner of gold medal and Best in Small Garden category in Bloom 2012 in conjunction with Patricia Tyrrell.

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