Relax on the slats
The Manta armchair by iBride was designed by Benoit and Rachel Convers and features slats of high-pressure laminate that let the light through, similar to the shadowplay of louvred shutters that emulate the movements of this great marine creature. While the edges of the laminate remain black, you can choose from five weatherproof colours; black, red, orange, grey or natural wood. It costs about €945, ex-delivery, from UK-based Lime Lace (limelace.co.uk) where there is a also a small Graphite stool that resembles a fishbone and costs about €299, ex-delivery.
Down by the riverside
Time to set sail for the wide blue yonder to get inspiration. Sanderson (sanderson-uk.com), available at Aughrim-based Collette Ward Interiors (collettewardinteriors.ie), looks as if it has been mining the waterways of Kerala for ideas for its recent Waterperry collection of prints and embroideries. Prices start at €64 per metre for the cotton prints (the magnolia and blossom pictured), up to the riverside damask, €105 per metre. The fabrics are also available in co-ordinating wallpapers.
Get your teeth into storage
Get your teeth:You may not want to hook these apex predators but installed in kids bedrooms to help tidy away toys, or in the bathroom as a laundry basket, these quirky creations look cool as a school of storage. Made of polyester felt by Uczarczyk Designs, run by a Polish graphic designer and sculptor Jolanta Uczarczyk who is based in Krakow, prices range from €119 to €183, ex-delivery, through her wesbsite uczarczyk.pl.
Something fishy afoot
This Flamant tableware features coral and crustaceans as decorative motifs in the broiled colour a lobster takes on when it is cooked. Side bowls cost €29.95, plates €31.95 and serving platters €135, available at the Orchard in Celbridge (theorchard.ie).
This brass Bon Vivant bookmark by Octaevo is a lovely way to decorate simple crisp white napkins and bring a fishy flavour to repasts. It costs about €11.70, ex-delivery, from UK-based Unique and Unity (uniqueandunity.co.uk).
This herring-shaped cushion by Adams Braut can be bought online from DaWanda (DaWanda.com) where it costs about €18, ex delivery.
Trending: Brutalist Gardens
Brutalist planters made from concrete-look tiles is a way to design an outside space that ties in with a very modern concrete kitchen, be it units, countertops or floors.This design is from Halo Tiles, is weather-resistant and lets the plants within do all the talking. They cost €45 per sq m. (halotiles.ie)
Three of a kind; sea blues
Milkpaint uses casein and lime to create an earthy render. This kitchen is by Timeless Kitchen Cabinetry, based in Illinois, US (tkcabinetry.com). A 230g bag will make about one litre and costs €24.99, plus €8 for delivery, from milkpaint.ie.
The wave motif in Carolyn Donnelly Eclectic's classic Rosie range works well with a painted brick wall. Try San Francisco Bay by Benjamin Moore Paints. The side plates and bowls are €6 each and the matching cups are €5 at Dunnes (dunnesstores.com).
Mylands Paints (mylands.com) is Britain's oldest family-run paint manufacturer, to order from MRCB. Try Maritime No. 236 floor paint, about €79.50 for 2.5 litres, with marble matt emulsion, €96 for 5 litres, on walls and eggshell, €116 for 5 litres, on skirting.
