Foxford, the Co Mayo company famous for its throws and bed linen, has recently started to produce a small range of upholstered furniture. This consists of four styles of sofa, with armchairs to match, that were designed by the company's creative director, fashion designer Helen McAlinden.
Each is made by hand in Ireland by small scale upholsterers. The quality is excellent and the prices represent good value: sofas average €2,000 but start at €1,600. There's a button-back chesterfield, a linear cushion-back sofa, a curve-back formal sofa and a wood-framed French-style sofa. Each can be seen and ordered from McAlinden's shop, No 6, Castle Market, Dublin, and from Foxford in Co Mayo.
Each piece can be ordered in dozens of fabrics, some new, in fantastic colours. Delivery times are six weeks, maximum. No 6 is also currently in sale mode, with 50 per cent off bed linen and varying discounts on the sofas. It has also recently started to sell beds by Kaymed.