Many interiors shops are responding to the recession by cutting prices - even on items which have never been marked down before.
KEHOE INTERIORS is closing its Tullamore branch and has reduced everything in the shop by about 30 per cent. Some items have greater reductions but overall there is good value to be had in furniture that's on the interesting side of traditional.
Some of the nicest pieces include a plum oak dining table and six chairs that were €1,795 and are now €1,256; a crushed moss green velvet sofa that was €3,100 and is now €2,175; a wingback leather 5ft bed was €2,895 and is now €1,995. The Kehoe Interiors shop in Mullingar continues to operate as usual.
Kehoe Interiors, Old Mill, Offaly Street, Tullamore, Co Offaly 057 9360945; kehoeinteriors.ie
SURREAL DESIGNS in Galway is something of a secret source among interior designers. It produces high quality contemporary Italian kitchens that compare favourably with those made by big name companies, but cost a lot less. The company plans to renovate the showroom and is selling off all display models for half price. All must be sold by the end of November.
These kitchens are not cheap to start with (and have all the fancy features you'd expect) but, for example, a large configuration that was €28,000 can now be had for €14,000. This does not include fitting.
Surreal Designs, Unit 18, Briar Hill Business Park, Galway 091 764682; surrealdesigns.ie
INTERIOR IMAGE is more a showroom than shop. They are open by appointment only and have some brilliant furniture at keen prices. They work mostly with the trade but will also take orders from individuals and offer an interior design service. This month they are offering €250 off every €1,000 spent on furniture that they have in stock. One of the great things about this place is that there is no long wait for delivery - hundreds of different pieces can be delivered from their warehouse a couple of days after purchase.
The style of furniture is streamlined and modern but not too hard-edged. It's the place to find an elegant simple sofa with nice detailing at a reasonable price. Ask in particular about their new lighting range.
Interior Image, Hume Centre, Park West Business Park, D12 01 6205558; interiorimage.ie
INVESTING IN expensive furniture is made more appealing with a reduction. Roche Bobois, the French furniture company that makes super high quality furniture that's among the most stylish available in this country, will have 15 per cent off items from October 18th to 26th. This will include sofas and armchairs. There will be 10 per cent off all other items - even on the new collection just arrived from Paris. Big ticket items offer the best value. The new Diapason range, which comes in a resilient acrylic resin and is available in a choice of 28 colours, is just in. It includes a dining table, buffet and end table. For example, the dining table was €4,593 and is now €4,135.
Not cheap, but very beautiful and something that will last. The new Magnitude sofa which is upholstered in beautiful leather in an aubergine colour - the two-seater will cost €4,449 in the sale. There are many more pieces at lower prices: visit the store to see them all.
Roche Bobois, Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford, D18 01 6531650, roche-bobois.com
WHILE IN Sandyford, also visit Montana Furniture where furniture by an Italian company called Calligaris has been reduced by 15 per cent. Montana recently opened a new Calligaris studio in the store and is one of the few furniture retailers in the country to feature the whole Calligaris range.
The Jam Chair, as featured in the Big Brother house this year, is down from €165 to €139. The Play Table is reduced from €739 to €629.
Montana also has a 20 per cent reduction on Respa mattresses until October 24th.
Its best selling mattress in the range, the 5ft Posture Care mattress, is down from €379 to €299.
Montana Furniture, 11 Maple Avenue, Stillorgan Industrial Park, Sandyford, D18 01 2937000; montana.ie
ONE OF the strongest points of Living, the furniture shop in Bray, is its bed and mattress collection. Until October 25th, it has some good reductions on both. The RESPA Back-care Supreme Mattress (see www.respabeds.ie/ html/backcaresup.htm) has been cut from €429 to €319 for a double size and from €679 to €539 for a Super King. Theseare super-comfortable, promises Living owner Barry Rochford
If you don't need a luxury mattress or are on a tight budget but still want a semi-decent bed, the Standard Deluxe Collection of Mattresses is down from €269 to €199 for a double. They are probably best for non-frequent use, ie, for a guest bedroom.
Living also has someUNO double bed frames from Danish Design Company TM Line (a partner company of Bo-Concept) available in oak or walnut. They have been reduced from €595 to €395 (mattress not included).
Living, Castle Street, Bray, Co Wicklow, 01 6751898; living.ie
THE BEST deal at Mobilia is a sofa from Koo International called Longue. It has been reduced from €3,300 to €2,500. A two-seater with an integrated chaise longue, it has dimensions of 269cms long by 92cms deep or 180cms deep at the chaise and is upholstered in a cool grey fabric. Also see Fluida Shoe Storage towers reduced from €345 to €295. These have 10 drawers and come fully assembled in a neutral grey.
Mobilia, 14 South Great George's Street, D2; 01 6779844; mobilia.ie
SALES ARE also the best time to pick up household items such as quality bedding.
At Bottom Drawer in Brown Thomas, luxury pure goose down duvets offer particularly good value. King size was €295 and is now €150 (all sizes are available). Piu Belle 400 thread Egyptian cotton bedlinen is down 50 per cent.
A king duvet cover with pillowcases was €275 and is now €137.50. The Frette Hotel Collection bed linen is down 40 per cent - the first time ever this top bedlinen has been marked down. A king duvet cover that was €245 is now a more palatable €147. Towels by Descamps, Ralph Lauren and Emmanuel Ungaro are all less 20 per cent.
Bottom Drawer; Brown Thomas, Dublin 2; 01 6056666
MINIMA, THE company that deals in high end Italian furniture, is an order-only business but it often sells off pieces from its showroom or warehouse at bargain prices. This is not a shop and is accessible by appointment only: check in by e-mail to hear about reduced pieces.
Info@minima.ie
MURPHY SHEEHY, the long established fabric shop on Castle Market, is celebrating six month since opening its second shop, in Dún Laoghaire, with a special sale.
Prices will be cut by 50 per cent and there are even savings of 10 to 20 per cent to be had on new-season fabrics.
Murphy Sheehy Interiors stocks a huge selection of fabrics on-the-roll, which offers a far more immediate and rewarding experience than trawling through sample books and then waiting for your order to arrive.
There will be 30 per cent off faux silk damask, down from €17 to €13 a metre - this is great for quilt bedding and cushions - and 20 per cent will be taken off cotton ticking and Spanish cotton mix prints (popular for both curtains and upholstery).
Murphy Sheehy Interiors, 3 Corrig Avenue, Dún Laoghaire 01 202642; murphysheehy.com
