Eoin Lyons has put together a compendium of shops for homemakers; here he writes about four new kids on the block
The property boom has brought with it an unquenchable interest in homewares and furnishings. Never has there been such a strong interest in feathering one's nest. New interior shops are opening on an almost monthly basis, and a growing number of home-produced magazines compete against one another on the news-stands. From large retail outlets on the motorways, to small specialist shops in new commuter towns, we've never had so much choice.
Trends may skitter across the horizon like clouds - pale wood floors and white walls are now decidedly "out", while exuberant patterns and colours are in - but with 17,000 new homes built in Dublin alone last year, retailers in the furniture and homewares businesses are enjoying the boom.
In Style Source Ireland Interiors, I've put together a directory of dozens of home decor shops, and hope that it will be a useful guide to everything from the austere to the baroque, the inexpensive to blow-the-budget furniture. New shops are opening at a rate of knots, however, so here is news of four shops that have opened recently - too late to be included in the first edition, but worth a look.
FURNITURE CONNEXIONS
Furniture Connexions is a new Irish-owned 1,860sq m (20,000 sq ft) showroom off the M50 in north Dublin. It stocks furniture made at the company's factory in Monaghan as well as German brands. You'll find sofas, beds, dining tables and so on. On first glance, what's on offer does not appear to be very different to other large-scale M50 shops; but look carefully and you'll find some gems.
Veer toward basics - for example, simple, moderately priced dining tables, upholstered beds and leather sofas in zingy colours. The best of these are for secondary rooms, rather than star pieces. Children's bedroom furniture is particularly good here, as are storage units, chests of drawers and non-fitted wardrobes in various veneers. Furniture Connexions, M50 Exit 5, Unit 10, Northpark, North Road, Dublin 11. (01-8800000) www.furnitureconnexions.com
INTERIO
Forget those sparsely laid-out shops that cry "less is more" - more is most definitely more at Interio, a new shop in Ennis, Co Clare. While there are plenty of minimalist features, the shop is put together in such a way (with plenty of small room "scenes") to show how colours, patterns and va-va-voom shapes can bring some fun to living rooms. Interio was opened about a month ago by Orla Holland, formerly of Brown Thomas and Galleria. Upholstered sofas and beds can be customised to suit any size, fabric and wood finish, so it's possible to create very individual furnishings. Everything is manufactured in Europe, so delivery times are reasonable. Interio, Quin Road Business Park, Ennis, Co Clare. (065-6843626); www.interio.ie
SEAGREEN
Seagreen opened last week in Monkstown, selling furniture as well as clothing and gifts. I like the chic Lambert line best: imagine deep, traditional sofas and armchairs with a great flop factor and look out for the ones in Chesterfield style. You can expect to find richly coloured cushions, throws and rugs that are one part Missoni and two parts Designers' Guild. The swish interior also has sparkly Art Deco-style mirrors and candles by Wild at Heart. After shopping, visit the organic cafe. Seagreen, Monkstown Crescent, Monkstown, Co Dublin. (01-2122656); www.seagreen.ie
INTERIOR LIVING
A restored Victorian building with three levels creates a unique space for Interior Living, a shop opened a few weeks ago by interior designers Simone Kelly and Trixie Leahy. They believe successful decoration is all about the mix, so you'll find 19th-century French furniture, 1950s Danish, Art Deco styles, and armchairs, made to order in your preferred style.
They source hand-blocked wallpaper by Irishman David Skinner and sell cowhide rugs from €700. Dark wood panelled walls have cabinets displaying smaller items such as room scent from Florence and smart writing paper by Lavery. Interior Living, MacCurtain Street, Cork. (021-4505819)
Eoin Lyons is signing copies of Style Source Ireland Interiors (Currach Press, €24.99) today at Brown Thomas, Grafton Street, Dublin 2, from noon to 2pm, on Level 3