New looks, discounted
Arnotts are going all “Grand Designs” this summer with new homeware collections as well as new collections from existing brands. Give your indoor or outdoor dining spaces the sleek Nordic look with Adelaide chairs from BoConcept (€259) or Content by Conran’s collection of tables and sofas. The Conran Fera collection of occasional tables is especially attractive at the moment with the round table duo on sale at €389, the console table with shelf at €659 and the nest of square tables at €469.
In the kitchenware department, the Mini Moderns range brings colour and pattern to fabrics and accessories, while Rig Tig, from Denmark, marries smart design with sustainable manufacturing practice. And for a comfy night’s sleep – whatever the weather – check out the crisp bed linen from Swedish company Grand Designs. The diamond-patterned design in light blue is currently priced at €128 for a double duvet set. arnotts.ie
Get crafty at Brown Thomas
If you fancy a crafts voyage around Ireland you could begin at Brown Thomas on Grafton Street, where a new pop-up shop features the work of 13 Irish designers and makers. In collaboration with Design Ireland, the dedicated space on level three will be open from this Tuesday (July 4th) until August 19th, a showcase for work from all over the country – and, indeed, for the country itself.
John Ryan’s new collection of decorative stoneware takes its inspiration from the rugged coastline of the Wild Atlantic Way. From the banks of the River Moy in Co Mayo, come warmly-coloured blankets and throws by Foxford Woollen Mills. The spectacular botanical landscape of the Burren is mirrored in The Burren Perfumery’s handmade organic cosmetics. The animals and birds of the Irish countryside animate the glass paintings of Roscommon’s Black Hen Designs; the bowls and jugs of Jerpoint Glass Studio glow with the hues of Kilkenny’s wildflowers; and Field Apothecary’s candles celebrate the scents of rain, peat, lichen and ivy.
Our traditional crafts skills are central to the handcrafted furniture by Ciaran Cooper from Monaghan, whose great-grandfather actually was a cooper, and Rathgar-based metalsmith Siobhan Sacker, whose Gilded Hound range of handmade solid copper and brass pieces utilise materials sourced from small Irish producers.
Craft traditions from further afield feature too, in the framed porcelain landscapes of Stephen Farnan, from Belfast – his new collection was inspired by his travels in Asia – as well as the Eastern-influenced scribble pots and stacking vessels of Adam Frew from Portstewart, Co Derry.
Both Farnan and Frew will be in Brown Thomas next Saturday (July 9th) from 2pm to 4pm, along with Andrew and Vida Pain of Black Hen Designs, to talk about their work. This kicks off a series of “Meet the Maker” events and live demonstrations; the following weekend, it’s the turn of Gilded Hound, Caulfield Country Boards, me&him&you and The Burren Perfumery – which will continue until the weekend of August 5th and 6th. brownthomas.com
A day out at Lisnavanagh
Total relaxation is always the order of the day at Lisnavanagh House near Hackettstown, Co Carlow, and next Saturday’s Garden Open Day (July 8th) offers visitors a chance for some serious chillout. There’ll be walk-in meditation sessions and tours of the historic house, where the Bunbury family has lived since 1702. Bring a picnic and relax on the lawns, or explore the 14 acres of Victorian gardens. There’ll be cookery demos from Joanne Hepburn, the Ballymaloe-trained chef and founder of confectioners Hepburn & Co, as well as the chance to try out her yummy marshmallows in such flavours as Sicilian Lemon and Poppy Seed, or Black Cherry with Toasted Almonds. Entry is free of charge but booking is essential for cookery classes. lisnavagh.com
