ShoparoundWhether it's faux fur for your bedroom, Regency stripes for your wing back chair or lavish silks for your curtains, Murphy Sheehy fabric shop on Castle Street is brimming with ideas.
Established in 1949 as a dress fabric supplier, the business became the fabric shop of choice for the theatre and art world. However, demand from homeowners and interior designers in the last 10 years has prompted the shop to expand into the upholstery and curtain fabric business.
The compact premises in the heart of Dublin is crammed full of rolls and rolls of gorgeous silk, linen, contemporary prints, vintage-style florals, broderie anglaise, fun fur, chenille, suede and velvet. Most of the fabric is sourced in Spain and France with some from the UK.
"Because of our space constraints, people have to come in and root around. There are some great jewels to be found. Otherwise we are happy to help people find what they are looking for," explains Fionn Adam, who runs the shop with his sister, Jane, and mother, Geraldine.
Silk is very popular for curtains at the moment, according to Fionn. People are going for neutral old-fashioned colours - gold, fawn, cream and bronze, he says. (Fabrics cost from €18 to €25.50 per metre.) Double width pretty vintage-style floral prints in linen union (linen and cotton mix) suitable for a very big drop cost €25 per metre.
Upstairs there is a great selection of faux or fun furs, from €18 per metre. While the leopardskin print fabric may not be to everyone's taste, the wolf fabric or plain black or cream fur fabrics will certainly add a wow factor to couches and beds in a contemporary setting.
Making a comeback recently is broderie anglaise and old mattress ticking-style striped material (€15 per metre). Upholstery weight suede and velvet are available in a host of colours (€25 and €18 respectively). For traditional homes, embroidered Regency striped material costs around €20 per metre; a stunning bronze and white woven chenille €19.
For something really special, check out their Indian hand-embroidered cashmere. Priced €27.50, it is available in a range of different colours and patterns.
Murphy Sheehy and Co Ltd
14 Castle Market, Dublin
Tel 01 6770316
