SHOWHOUSE
Cloakroom
We have lined two walls with Sliderobes, in a rich burgundy back painted glass with a high gloss burgundy interior. We painted the walls, ceilings and wood work in a burgundy paint which contrasts beautifully with the grey oak floor. All of the timber flooring in the house has been supplied by Bearfoot Flooring.
Study
The inspiration for this room was a gentleman’s club. We felt that men are often forgotten in the show house so we wanted to do something that might appeal to the male visitor. The palette for the study is titled ‘Camouflage’. This is a sophisticated palette of dark muted shades and the colour collection pulls together kaki greens and dark olive tones mixed with sharp greys and lifted with a sophisticated shade of platinum. Robert Mooney has custom built the office furniture and we commissioned a freestanding bar from Kian.
Guest Bedroom
The colour palette used in the guest bedroom is titled ‘Lemon Zinger’. Dark metallic shades are softened with soft earthy tones and accented with a burst of citrus yellow and the bedroom furniture is from a beautiful collection by Home Couture.
Family Bathroom
Here we have really had fun with paint. We have used timber panelling and have painted the walls in stripes which we carried up over the ceiling. This really demonstrates how you can create a stunning effect very easily and inexpensively. Again the sanitary ware is by Arcon Supplies.
Childs Bedroom
Here the colour palette is titled ‘Candy Coated’. It is playful and colourful as we wanted to move away from the traditional blue or pink for our Nursery. We also used Wallables which are fun new interactive wall decorations.
Master Suite
On the first floor we’ve created a master suite where we wanted to break
IRISH INDEPENDENT
up the room into different zones. The colour palette for which is titled ‘Keep Sake’. Rich mocha tones are mixed with dusty whites and accented with gorgeous jewel-like Jade. We built a free standing wall to separate the dressing area from the sleeping area and the wall also acts as a backdrop to a stunning freestanding bath. The placing of the bath in the dressing area allows the master en-suite to spill out into the bedroom emphasising the sense of luxury. The white glass doors of the Sliderobes wardrobes give the effect of Oriental paper screens, and we commissioned a bespoke circular ottoman in a stunning jade satin for the dressing room over which we hung a fabulous vintage style chandelier. In the bedroom itself we have covered the wall behind the bed in a mocha and jade wallpaper from Osborne & Little and have used wall lights rather than table lamps either side of the bed to give that hotel feel. Throughout the house we have used a number of stunning blankets & throws from Irish company Simple things. These throws and blankets are made from the very best Peruvian alpaca fibre and are wonderfully soft. As you move around the Showhouse you will notice some fabulous pieces of work by the Sculptor John Coll. The sash windows used throughout the house are all supplied by Senator Windows and there is a stunning fully glazed bay off the dining area. So come along and see what the Ideal Home of Creativity and Design can do to whet your appetite to make over your home into the home of your dreams.
■ TV3’s Ireland AM will be broadcasting live from The Sliderobes Showhouse on the morning of Friday 16th so you can get a sneak preview before the doors open!
07
A Designer Garden at an Ideal Price Tag Redlough Landscapes, together with award-winning landscape architect, Elma Fenton, have taken charge of this year’s Showhouse garden at the Spring Ideal Home Show. Nuala Ryan takes a sneak peak at their great design.
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ccessible and affordable. These are the key words that sum up the exciting and contemporary wraparound garden created by Dublin company, Redlough Landscapes, with the help of landscape architect Elma Fenton, for this year’s Spring Ideal Home Show’s Showhouse garden. The concept behind this year’s design, explains Alan Coffey, Landscape Manager at Redlough Landscapes, was to create a high-end garden on a site that replicates the average external space of a standard suburban house and to highlight the creative potential that exists in this relatively small area. As Alan notes, even a small external space has great garden potential. And when coupled with great design and high quality, affordable materials, it reflects a top-quality product created on a budget that realistically reflects today’s economy. One of the main aims of the project was to show how easy it is to freshen up your garden despite a limited budget. From the rustic effect of the corten steel archway and raised planters to the fantastic colour of the Perspex wall, all the materials used in the garden’s design are in most people’s price range. Double doors lead from the Showhouse onto a beautiful stone terrace giving you the immediate impression of coherence between interior and exterior, along with a feeling of fluidity and spaciousness. The small retained stone wall is another great feature of the garden and brings its own personality to the space. Trees create a wonderful sense of height in the garden, while Elma explains how the use of the foliage of seasonal plants and shrubs are used to create a
lovely texture. And for those with busy lifestyles, the low-maintenance and ecofriendly artificial grass is the perfect solution. The garden also uses a resin-bonded surface, which is an excellent alternative to blocks or paving offering a smoother, contemporary look. Although slightly more expensive than ordinary gravel, its many advantages include weed suppression and the flexibility to be laid over existing tarred or concrete surfaces. Ideal for driveways and patios, this resin-bonded surface could be a welcome addition to your own garden. “Today”, Elma says, “people are more willing to invest money in their own spaces. In fact, the concept of ‘don’t move, improve’ has become very important. People are using their gardens a lot more, and are staying in and entertaining at home. So remember, even with a low budget you can still improve your garden.” For more information on Elma’s work, visit www.ellenlandscapedesigns.com. For more information on Redlough`s work visitwww.redloughlandscapes.com For over 25 years, Redlough Landscapes LTD has been creating beautiful gardens, with a strong focus on customer satisfaction. Listening to their customer’s needs and using computer-aided design to help visualize the end product has enabled them to deliver gardens on time and within budget. Redlough Landscapes have won Landscape Contractor of the year 2009, 2010 and over 10 ALCI awards along with being awarded the Bord Bia Quality Mark. For further information visit www.redloughlandscapes.com
SPRING IDEAL HOME SHOW 16TH – 18TH APRIL 2010 – RDS DUBLIN