A recent visit to the new Classic Furniture shop in Carrickmines proved to be a revelation
It's not the most glamorous place, but some of the furniture compares well with big-name imports sold at double the price.
There are a lot of hard-edged glass tables, and Mexican furniture, but also some great bedroom furniture. Head upstairs first and check out the wonderful cube drawer chests veneered in ebony (from €750) and red laminates (about €1,500) - all very Milanese. Slick-looking wardrobes with clever storage inserts don't cost the earth (prices from about €1,200) and have a high-gloss lacquered finish. Delivery and assembly is free. Classic Furniture, The Park, Carrickmines, Dublin 18 (01-2076566), and branches nationwide.
Apres provence As the name suggests, French Country Interiors specialises in the pale, painted furniture often associated with Provence.
It's a look that has become familiar in this country; many furniture shops do little else. But for the past 16 years Michael and Celine Kennedy have been selling antiques, not reproductions. More recently, they have also started to sell Art Deco furniture. Deco sits easily with most contemporary furniture and its popularity means it may have a strong resale value in years to come. Use a console in a hall or living room, €700. French Country Interiors, Abbey Street Cahir, Co Tipperary (052-41187).
Indonesian inspiration Becky and Conrad Byrne, live in Indonesia, where they own an Irish bar, for six months of the year. In their shop, Villa & Hut, at 79 Main Street, Gorey, where they are for the rest of the year, they sell a line of Asian furniture which they supplement with finds of their own, sourced during their sojourns in Indonesia. Most of the furniture is from Bali and Java, and comes from fair-trade sources. The wood comes from either reclaimed or recycled timbers. The shop has a large range of hardwood dark furniture, from beds to dining tables, and smaller items such as mirrors and lamps. It's a good place to find character-building blocks for a room. www.villaandhutuk.co.uk