Like the look of this week's houses? Fiona Tyrell shows how it's done
Dine in style by investing in an imposing table and chairs similar to those bought by the owners of 1 Pear Tree Field in Minnie Peters in Dún Laoghaire (01 2805965, www.minniepeters.ie). The 249 cm long Chalon Canadian pine table is available in a number of finishes, €3,095. The Doris chairs cost from €735 each with loose or fixed covers.
The purple Empire-style chairs were bought at auction and hand-painted by the owner before being reupholstered in purple velvet. Gilded mirrors can be purchased at Frame Art in the Swan Centre (01 4978575) from €199 and hand-limed. The Louise Kennedy crystal candlesticks, €95 each, are available from Brown Thomas's giftware department (01 6056666). The honey-toned room is swathed in raw silk made-to-measure curtains, by Brian S. Nolan (01 2800564); prices start from €38 per metre. The Italian marquetry table in the window is a family heirloom given to the couple by an aunt who bought it on the island of Capri. Similar styles are available in Francis Street's many antique shops. The jug and basin set is by Nicholas Mosse, available from Kilkenny Design and other stores.
Bring the look of your livingroom back to basics. The true blue and off-white colour scheme of the Côte D'Azur is reflected in the shabby chic interior of this Cap Ferrat home. Original spongeware crockery such as the jugs and basins featured are difficult to come by.
The best place to find them is at a country auction such as Purcell Auctioneers (0509 20270, www.purcellauctioneers.com) in Birr, Co Offaly.
The next auction takes place on Saturday May 20th at 11am. Glynis Robins's Dalkey Design (01 2856827) stocks old-fashioned, Egyptian cotton white eiderdowns, from €200 as well as original spongeware jugs and basins, from €85 and upwards each. Square-shaped micro-gingham cushions like those shown are available at Pia Bang Home (01 888 3777), price €25 each.
Similar-but-different blue striped cushions by Lexington American Cottage are available from Helen Turkington Interiors, (01 412 5138) price €55 each.
Upgrade your great outdoors experience by improving the look and feel of your garden furniture as the owners of this home on Lombard Street did.
A couple of classic polypropylene chairs, by Verner Panton, come in 10 different colours and cost €206 at Design Flow (01 8349724).
The garden table with granite inlay is available from Homebase, (01 4569044), price €359.99.
The stainless steel outdoor patio heater was purchased in Powerscourt House Garden Centre (01 2046014) for €399.
Similar styles are also available from Woodies DIY, from €299 upwards. The cedar decking and wall cladding on the outside back wall help expand the indoors outside as do the folding doors, which were brought in from England through the Folding Sliding Door Company (0044 8456446630, www.foldingslidingdoors.co.uk).
Foliage such as bamboo set in terrazzo planters, from Decor (01 4759010), €150 each, and creeping ivy lends the space a lived-in look.
One of the lead roles in number 49 Belgrave Square is played by a Villeroy & Boch New Haven bathroom suite from Ideal Bathrooms (01 4609911, www.villeroy-boch.com). The oval bath and sink are mounted on maple veneer frames and cost from €7,650 and €4,962 respectively. The toilet costs from €2,004.
A frosted glass window and floating side cabinet, also part of the New Haven set, priced from €4,530, complete this pared-down but spacious room.
The Antica limestone floor (01 2960136, www.antica.ie) provides the bathroom with a five-star hotel finish, €100-€150 per metre.
The owners of this home are not afraid of colour and used Farrow & Ball paints in bold matte colours such as Chinese blue, Parma grey and lime white throughout. The paints are available from a selection of paint merchants including MRCB Paints (01 6798755, www.farrow-ball.com). Prices start from €73 for five litres.
The two main reception rooms are furnished with B&B Italia sofas and chairs, from Haus (01 6795155). Prices start from €2,295 for an armchair and €4,185 for a two-seater couch.