Tangerine dream
An orange bath may not be something you've ever considered for your home – but one glance at the Calabar free-standing bath from Adamsez, painted with the rich and mellow Farrow & Ball shade Charlotte's Locks, may be enough to change your mind. In a cold climate, a touch of orange is a great bathroom colour choice, warming up the chilliest days and making that tub look even more inviting. It's just one of many ideas you'll find at PH Ross's state-of-the-art new bathrooms showroom at Hanlon's Corner on the Old Cabra Road in Dublin.
Designed by the architect John-Henry Boyle with a clever mix of crisp birch backgrounds and bespoke black ironwork, its bathroom layouts come from leading suppliers such as Ideal Standard, Flair and Merlin, and have been carefully chosen to provide everything from classic styles to cutting-edge fittings. In-house experts from PH Ross – which is celebrating 40 years in the plumbing business this year – will be on hand to offer advice on selection and installation. phross.ie
Try a dash of mustard
According to the UK company Atkin and Thyme, interiors trends for 2018 will be dominated by a palette of black and beige, with metallic and mustard-yellow accents. Black is apparently going to be the "new neutral" – black walls in the halls, here we come – and in this moody new world, beige consoles, lamps and mirrors won't fade away but will stand out in sharp relief.
For something even sharper, a small but well-chosen dash of mustard will go a long way – but only if surfaces are kept minimal, which means lots of decluttering, not a simple matter as the festive season arrives trailing its annual debris of lights, decorations and assorted bits and bobs.
Atkin and Thyme works with artisan producers, sourcing one-off handmade objects using traditional methods. They say sculptural brass side tables are due to make a comeback, while for the eco-conscious among us, wooden cabinets such as the Broadway four-door sideboard (£699), with its environmental palette of browns and off-whites, will "reflect the inspiring power of nature in interior design". atkinandthyme.co.uk
In stitches
The selection of wools in glorious shades and funky textures which are currently available would tempt even the most long-lapsed knitter to get back on the handcrafting trail. Having recently completed a throw made out of multicoloured granny squares, I'm now happily ensconced in a cushion, using giant needles and the dove-grey chunky I got in Aldi a couple of weeks ago.
Should you want to stretch yourself beyond plain old knit and purl, however, this is the time to sign up for a workshop at next month’s Knitting and Stitching Show. Why not learn how to make cables and bobbles, or knit two socks – or sleeves – at once? Or go totally mad and find out how to needle-felt a chicken, embroider a raised rosebud or create a framed fabric landscape for your wall? You could even get the kids making snowflake decorations, or folded paper flowers - and keep them busy from here until Christmas. All materials are provided.
The show is at the RDS, Dublin, from November 9th to 12th: workshops last for 60 minutes (€13) or 90 minutes (€16) and can be booked in advance – until November 5th – at the knittingandstitchingshow.com/dublin.
Cosy up for less
So now we know: Jon Snow's dashing fleeces are made from Ikea rugs, and Daenerys Targaryen's fabulous white-striped overcoat of armour was cobbled together from strips of fake fur and leather.
If you fancy going all Game of Thrones as the winter chills set in, Aldi can help give your living space the look and feel of a five-star cave. Its forthcoming selection of Specialbuys has the furry theme all wrapped up: fake fur cushions, in silver, charcoal and chocolate, cost €12.99; throws, equally cosy for living room or bedroom, are €39.99; a faux sheepskin rug, which comes in mink, dark grey or white, is €16.99. Cutest of all is the tiny furry stool with pine legs, available in round or square shapes and a choice of brown or grey shades, at €19.99.
Available from 129 stores countrywide on Sunday October 29th, while stocks last. aldi.ie
It’s not to early to talk cards
Full marks to Alone, the charity which this year celebrates 40 years of helping older people to age at home, for its 2017 range of Christmas cards. One (pictured above), which reproduces the bejewelled blues of a panel from Harry Clarke's gorgeous stained-glass rendering of Keats's poem The Eve of St Agnes, would steal the show on any festive mantelpiece. Available in packs of eight which feature two designs, the cards cost €9.50, and 10 per cent from each sale goes directly to the charity. They can be bought from Dubray Books, Hodges Figgis and the National Gallery of Ireland as well as bookshops, galleries and gift shops countrywide. alone.ie
