Bank holiday shopping: Bag a bargain for your home

Many of the big shops will end their summer sales this weekend, but there’s still time to pick up a good buy in big-ticket items

Bamboo Leaf pouffe, €49.95 at Meadows & Byrne
Bamboo Leaf pouffe, €49.95 at Meadows & Byrne

Arnotts The Dublin department store professes to offer up to 70

per cent off homewares this summer and, while the discount doesn't apply across the board, there are certainly good deals to be availed of until August 1st. The Derwent dining table and chairs from Carlton (now €2,499, down from €3,299) is a rustic classic, while the Natazzi Editions Palermo set of two sofas ( down from €6,129 to €4,299) is comprised of a nifty love seat and power recliner. In the bedroom department, it's possible to pick up a coveted King Koil king-size bed for a tidy €1,399 (down from €1,999). Arnotts, Henry Street, Dublin 1; arnotts.ie; tel. 01-8050400

DFS

Whether it’s a prime slice of retro seating or a statement piece for the living room, DFS has it on sale, until September 12th. The savings are generous, too, and amount to half price in many cases: the sale price on the

Comfort Large Corner

Group is €1,999 (down from €3,999). Their sumptuous and soft

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Jewel Right Hand

Facing Chaise End Sofa in grey is on sale at €1,777 (down from €3,718), while the clean-lined Botanic four-seater is €1,299 (down from €2,589). Elsewhere, the Keeper sofa bed offers a saving of €1,369 (it’s priced at €1,369, down from €2,738), and it’s perfect for visitors. DFS stores nationwide; dfs.ie; tel. 1800-535 580

Harvey Norman

Harvey Norman’s half-yearly clearance ends this weekend, although some of their reductions will remain beyond then. In terms of savings, the best bargain would seem to be the

Byron Corner

sofa, now on sale at €899 (down from €1,798). Foodies can also snap up a KitchenAid Artisan food mixer for €399 (previously €609). Elsewhere, growing families will find much to like in the utilitarian, yet still stylish Charlie storage bunk (€449, down from €699). Harvey Norman stores nationwide; harveynorman.ie; tel. 01-8971520

Brown Thomas

There’s up to 50 per cent off on a whole host of homewares and, according to a spokesperson, the best bargains are to be had in electrical and bedding items, and kitchen appliances. The DeLonghi Argento Kettle, designed to add a splash of colour to the kitchen, is currently €55, down from €110, while the popular Stellar Deep Pan Set is a clever investment at €150 (down from €300). If you want to bring a slice of five-star living home, the

Frette Hotel

Collection duvet covers start at €199 (down from €315) . Brown Thomas stores in

Limerick

, Galway, Cork and Dublin; brownthomas.com; tel. 01-6056666

Ikea

While Ikea doesn’t do sales per se, it is getting into the summer spirit with a smattering of special offerings, which vary from week to week. Pick up their natty Kanpper Mirror for €35 (down from €50), available until July 31. Ikea, St Margaret’s Road, Dublin 11; ikea.com; tel. 01-5413300

Kube

Italian designers Calligaris feature prominently in Kube’s summer sale , offering a 20 per cent discount on choice pieces until July 31st. Items to note include the

Tokyo

plum sofa (available in other colours) which is at €2,388 (down from €3,180), while the fashion-forward Duffy chair is €277 per chair. Both are available in Kube’s

Sandyford

shop. Kube stores in Dublin – Balbriggan, Sandyford, Rathgar, Long Mile Road and Cork; kubeinteriors.com; tel. 01-4569674

Meadows & Byrne

Meadows & Byrne is offering up to 70 per cent off selected items, particuarly in kitchenware and dining sets. Also worth a look is their outdoor furniture: the beach-inspired

Sheffield

bistro table and chairs combo will spruce up any garden (€79.95, down from €169), while its Banana Leaf pouffe works just as well inside as out (€49.95, down from €69.95). Sale ends August 1st. Meadows & Byrne stores nationwide; meadowsandbyrne.com; tel. 021-4344100

Designist

While

Designist

may not offer huge savings on bigger items, it’s a great place to pick up a small bargain or two. The Sagaform pestle and mortar (down to €25, from €37.50) and porcelain teapot (€25, down from €37) and cocktail set (€20, down from €40) are worth popping in for. Designist, 68 South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2; designist.ie; tel. 01-4758532

Dust

Interior designers Dust –

Lisa Marconi

and

Sarah Drumm

– are making friends and influencing people with their keen eye for the unusual and the non-beige (their words). Their sale, which finishes today, July 30th, throws up plenty of treasures: Missoni’s Bubble Gold light, a statement piece if ever there was one, is now €510 (down from €600), while their Concrete and Wood light pendant is 20 per cent less (€96, down from €120). We also love the Mint Glazed ceramic pendant light shade (€35.95, down from €44.95) and the marble-effect pendant lamp with matching ceiling rose (€108, down from €135). 4

Grantham

Street, Dublin 8, dust.ie; tel. 01-441 0160

Debenhams

Debenhams has plenty in the way of bargains in big furniture and beds (with savings of up to 40 per cent in some cases). Discounted sofas include J By Jasper Conran’s elegant New Farringdon corner chaise sofa (€1,274, down from €1,820); the chocolate Cara corner sofa from Ben De

Lisi

Home (€1,302, down from €2,170). Bargains are definitely to be availed of in Debenhams’ outdoor range: check the LA Malibu rattan garden hanging chair (€420, down from €600), or the Mikadu Acacia wood garden table and six chairs (€896, down from €2,240). Looking to improve sleeping conditions? A Simmons memory-foam mattress is a sound investment at 30 per cent off (now €364-€609, a saving of up to €261). Debenhams stores nationwide; debenhams.ie; tel: 1890-946 779

Marks & Spencer

As ever, the Marks & Spencer sale is so frightfully popular that sale stock is running perilously low (while bargains are reportedly few and far between, a store insider suggests that shoppers head to Liffey Valley in Dublin for the sale’s remaining furniture finds). There is a flat 20 per cent discount across furniture and up to 50 per cent off some outdoor furniture this weekend. Marks & Spencer stores nationwide; marksandspencer.ie; tel: 1800 656 641

Caseys Furniture

Caseys Furniture has basics galore at 50 per cent off until August 1st: its Loftus walnut small double bed frame, along with two matching chests, clocks in at a wallet-friendly €729 (down from €1,489), while the Tosca two and three-seater sofa bundle is on offer in neutral cream leather (€1,999, down from €3,698). We also love the Loftus Walnut double wardrobe (€799, down from €1,499), in an elegant design that will stand the test of time. C aseys Furniture stores in Cork and Limerick; caseys.ie; tel: 021 2427999 All prices and availability are correct at time of publication