High-end furniture bargains, the perfect set of curtains and classy, affordable kitchens are all featured this week - enough to make your neighbours green with envy
Irish heart, English style
Next time you're in London, take some time to visit Michael McGrath's shop, Bermondsey 167. McGrath, originally from Co Galway, is a prolific designer: he was head of menswear at Burberry for seven years - playing a big part in the brand's image transformation - and has worked with Bally, Dunhill, Aquascutum and Gieves & Hawkes, modernising the menswear offering of each.
His shop, named after the address in Southwark, the area immediately south of London Bridge, is his first solo venture out of the corporate fashion machine. It sells clothes made under his own label, M2CG, a play on his own initials, and notably includes shirts that are manufactured in Northern Ireland using Italian fabrics. They are tailored to fit close to the body and are different but not outlandish, masculine rather than dandy-like. McGrath also produces knitwear for men - imagine a waxed merino wool jumper - and accessories such as ties. Prices are expensive - shirts cost £140 (€177) - but pick up any item and you'll see it's made in a traditional high-quality way. The hook is that something bought here has more integrity and originality than anything from a bigger brand, be it Topman or Gucci.
Bermondsey 167 is not only the vehicle for McGrath's own designs: "lifestyle" store is the description that fits most easily. You will find products for the home (he does consultancy work for Armani Casa and Ralph Lauren Home) from around the world. South America is a major source for unusual items, such as sculptural lamps made from dried coconut leaves. He sources directly from artisans who work with natural materials, from semi-precious stones and reclaimed wood to recycled paper. The aesthetic, however, is polished and slick rather than eco-hippy. A number of furniture pieces, designed by McGrath, can be made to order. Although most of what's on offer is for men, there's also a selection of jewellery for women made from vibrant, coloured stones.
167 Bermondsey Street, Southwark, London, SE1 3UW. Tel: 0044-207-4073137
Curtains up
Mary Wrynne is one of the most brilliant curtain makers in the country, known to any interior designer worth their salt. She has three showrooms and employs 20 people in her workrooms.
Curtain-making is her pleasure as well as business. "I could eat, drink and sleep sewing - when I'm stressed I spend a few days working on the curtains just to relax." She loves the craft of curtain-making, evident in the meticulous finish of what passes through her hands. Home visits are a must: she insists on taking her own measurements before discussing what might be best and has the solid knowledge and great eye that comes with decades of experience.
"I'm proud to say I've never fallen out with a customer, but I won't sell anything that is not right. I believe in giving people what they need, not necessarily what they want. If someone wants swags and bows but their windows aren't suitable, I won't do it."
The fabrics she uses include names such as Beacon Hill, Colefax & Fowler and Robert Allen. "Cheap curtains are like cheap shoes. It makes me cringe when good fabrics are used badly - if you're not interested in quality, don't come here," she says, adding that quality doesn't always mean curtains end up wildly expensive. A budget can be stuck to - within reason. Privacy is also another issue for many of her clients: "We never take photos or replicate the same thing twice."
Mary Wrynne Interiors, Bridge Street, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim, tel: 071-9650641; 6 Midland Court, Longford, tel: 043-49770; Kehoe Interiors, Mullingar Business Park, Mullingar, tel: 044-9345225; www.marywrynne.ie
A Plush new home
Plush Interiors in Sligo has moved to the Quayside Shopping Centre. The shop, run by Aideen McGarry and her sister-in-law Trish McGarry, is a place that's something of a secret. At the moment, it has a classic solid wood dining table with a deep black stain for €760. It seats 10 people and has upholstered chairs in shocking pink fabric to match for €159 each. Even one of these could be fun in a hallway. A summer sale is now in progress.
A Provençal-style solid French oak table that can seat eight people is reduced from €2,300 to €1,900. It is made from high-grade oak and doesn't have the green tinge sometimes associated with cheap oak, but a rather lovely honey tone.
The shop also sells sofas by John Lynch, one of the longest established upholsterers in the country. Everything is made by hand in his
Co Monaghan workrooms. The sofas are available in Roma or Designer Guild fabrics and can be bought as seen on the shop floor or custom-made to any size or style. At the moment, there's a deep button back Chesterfield sofa in rich red velvet with quirky silver buttons that was €4,150 and is now €3,300. Plush Interiors has also started to sell wallpapers by Cole & Son and other household items such as Kitchen Aid appliances and Le Creuset pots.
Plush Interiors, 29 Quayside Shopping Centre, Sligo. Tel: 071-9154912
Attention on deck
Summer is the time to re-varnish decking but it's a messy task. After power-hosing away as much of the old varnish as you can, think about choosing a new shade from Sikkens, a good UK wood-care company whose products are available at MRCB, Cornmarket, Dublin 8. One of the best shades is Rosewood. It is preferable to the muddy brown colour which most decks are painted and is dark but with a warm hue. But remember, you can never go back to any lighter colour: it will be impossible to remove from every little groove.
www.mrcb.ie; www.sikkens.co.uk
A fine furnishing anniversary
French furniture retailer Roche Bobois is celebrating one year in Ireland at its flagship showroom in the Beacon South Quarter in Sandyford, Dublin. A second store is in the pipeline for the company's line of traditional French furniture.
Roche Bobois in Ireland is run by John and Dorothy Power (right), who have backgrounds in banking and IT. "We're delighted with the reaction from furniture buyers, interior designers and architects. We brought Roche Bobois to Ireland because we felt there was a limited range of good quality, designer furniture. We're catering for the middle- to upper-end of the market who want top quality, unique furniture with a wow factor," says Dorothy Power. Much of what you'll see has that wow factor but to varying degrees; some pieces are beautifully low-key and others are bold and colourful.
Roche Bobois has been producing furniture for 40 years and is renowned for a high level of craftsmanship. Two collections are launched each year with styles ranging from contemporary to ethnically inspired. John Power says the high degree of customisation is a big draw. "At this level of the market people like to buy unique pieces, they want something that nobody else has in their home. With our products, they have a choice on every element, from colour, fabric, texture, finish, stitching, piping and size." Each piece is made to order.
John and Dorothy Power have found that Beacon South Quarter is an ideal location. "Many other interior retailers have opened here and it has become an excellent one-stop shop for furnishing needs," says John. Bo Concept and Diamond Living are neighbours and another French company, Ligne Roset, is opening later this year.
Roche Bobois has also linked up with Bang & Olufsen to provide furniture for its new home cinema room in Donnybrook. In particular, the Voyage Immobile low modular seating is proving popular.
The new summer collection is now on display, and to celebrate their first anniversary, they are selling off pieces that have been displayed on the shop floor at great prices. For example, the low modular seating mentioned above is available with height-adjustable backrests and removable slipcovers.
A chaise lounge that was €2,085 is now €1,460 and a corner armchair that was €1,930 is now €1,351. A stiletto sofa with a chaise section was €5,056 and is now €3,540. A swivel armchair in brown chenille was €1,670 and is now €1,170.
Roche Bobois, South Beacon Quarter, Sandyford, Dublin 18. Tel: 01-6531650, www.roche-bobois.com
Kitchen confidential
Brendan Gallagher is a joiner based in Waterford who specialises in kitchens. He supplied kitchen units and bookcases for a renovation I've been working on in the southeast. For that job, he built New England-style units, painted in eau de nil, with a white Carrara marble counter top. They look more expensive than they cost due to the finish and detailing. Gallagher can source almost any kind of door handle and accessory but best of all is his can-do attitude. He can be contacted on 086-2641547 or e-mail bgall@iol.ie