Trending . . . Velvet touch
Penny Seume (0044-782- 7721817 pennyseume.co.uk) is a Bristol-based textile designer using site-specific imagery from urban settings such as New York and London as inspiration for her deeply textured and richly coloured fabrics. She recently collaborated with Anthropologie (anthropologie.eu) on a moody velvet fireside chair (above)
The chair sold out in jig time but she works on a commission basis and can even work to a streetscape that means something to you. You can order her fabrics direct.
The Big Apple cotton velvet on the sofa (pictured) marries fine art techniques and contemporary digital print and costs about €126 per metre. This sofa style takes five metres. An armchair will need between 3.5 and 4 metres. Seume also works with a furniture maker and upholsterer whose work you can see on her website. Delivery to Ireland is about another €34.
Button down your sleeping space for the winter
Bed down for winter by giving your sleeping space a makeover. A deep-buttoned bedhead is a feminine way to freshen up your bed. Aoki Interiors (051-614054 aokiinteriors.ie), based at 1 Parkside, Carrick-On-Suir, Co Tipperary, is offering 10 per cent off their entire range which debuted at last week's Ideal Homes show. The board, pictured, is upholstered in Momentum Reflect, a cotton-nylon mix fabric from Harlequin. King-size, it normally costs €429 and will use 3.5 metres of fabric at €61 per metre. The outlay is normally €642.50, however Irish Times readers can buy it or any other size board and have it upholstered in the fabric of their choice less 10 per cent upon presentation of today's column. The fabric on the bed is also a Harlequin design, a cotton polyamide mix called Momentum Vortex that costs €55 per metre. Offer ends November 30th.
Coasting into a real dog’s life
Debenhams’ Blue Cross sale is always a fertile hunting ground for affordable accessories to enliven rooms and surfaces. A canvas cushion, 30cm by 40cm, from the designer Ben de Lisi, has an applique felt design of houses to its front and a plain blue rear where there is a concealed zip fastening. It is now half-price, down from €47 to €23.50. Dog lovers will appreciate the designer’s pop art pack of four coasters, 10.5cm x 10.5cm, reduced 50 per cent from €12 to €6.
Crystal swings on new chandeliers
Victoria, a new collection of swish chandeliers designed by William Brand, is being stocked by Lamps and Lighting (01-6205752 lampsandlighting.ie), Unit 27, Canal Walk, Parkwest, Dublin 12. The crystal waterfall effect is theatrical yet modern. The range features a table lamp, a floor lamp and four different central pendant designs. The one pictured, 80cm by 70cm, takes 12 bulbs and normally costs €10,500. Irish Times readers who present today's column can buy it or any of the other Victoria lights less 10 per cent. Offer ends November 7th.
Blanket of stars
These gorgeous cotton/ acrylic/polyester mix blankets by German brand Ibena have just arrived in Kilkenny-based Meubles Furniture (056-7722034, meublesfurniture.com) in Kilkenny Retail Park. The blankets and throws, 150cm by 200cm, normally cost €49.99 each, Meubles is offering Irish Times readers who present today's column 10 per cent off. Delivery extra. Offer ends November 6th.
Three of the Best: Halloween interiors
These truly spooktacular skeleton paper lamps can be used both inside and outdoors. They are best used in conjunction with LED tea lights. You should also add stones to exterior bags to stop them blowing away. A set of six costs about €9 from Northumberland-based Hunkydoryhome (0044-191-6454004 hunkydoryhome.co.uk).
Traditionally, Samhain was the night when the souls of the dead came to visit their homes. Places were set at the table for dead family members, to encourage their spirits in and to include them in the festivities. Make any missing loved one laugh with this witch gravestone, €7, from Dunnes Stores. It should set the tone in your front garden.
The bathroom is a key location in any horror film worth screaming about. This "blood" shower gel comes in an IV-style bag and will make washing off the face paint that your sugared-up darlings insisted on wearing feel a little less like hard work. It costs about €9 online at UK-based Number 1 Gadget Store (0044-148-4430242 no1gadgetstore.co.uk)
