Eoin Lyons with the latest from the world of interiors
CUSHION KING
Ciaran Sweeney started out as a teacher, moved into fashion, then art, and is now producing a range of items for the home. Printed silk velvet is a recurring element in his clothing, so it's not surprising his new cushions and throws are done in this fabric.
Each piece is dyed and printed by Sweeney in Dublin. Already available at Liberty in London, they are now in Harrods, too. Architectural features or script-like images often inspire the motifs. Most of their appeal lies in extraordinarily rich colour: some are mottled emerald green, others winter white, inky grey and hot pink. They're for those who want something lush, rich and glamorous.
In Ireland they can be bought at Bottom Drawer in Brown Thomas. Cushions cost from €145 to €195. The strong colours look best on a bed, against plain white linen. Contact Sweeney on 01-4113953.
ART MODERNE
Much of the visual style of the 1920s and 1930s interior scenes in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator was popularised in early Hollywood by Irishman, Cedric Gibbons, MGM's art director and designer of the Oscar statuette. What is usually described as Art Moderne, a style that is more hard-lined than Art Deco, emphasised streamlined surfaces and geometric forms.
Both of these features are found in a 1920s sideboard, newly-arrived at O Twentieth Century Furniture on Cow's Lane in Dublin (01-6770679). It could well be a piece straight off the set of The Aviator: masculine, solid and with a richness of material typical of the time: macassar ebony from the East Indies with a sharkskin cover door. At €7,250, it's an investment piece.
Peter Johnson Interiors, also on Cow's Lane, has a number of lamps made from enamel shades that once hung as wall lights in the Meath Hospital. He designed a base and turned them into desk lamps, which carry a price tag of €375 each. Situated between these two shops on Cow's Lane is Retrospect, where a 1950s Lloyd Loom wicker bucket chair - good for a bedroom, or as an occasional chair, is €75.
WOOD YOU MIND
The Odessa Club at 13 Dame Court in Dublin makes a feature of a wall, in one of the upstairs lounges, covered in small blocks of oak. Slightly battered, they once made up a parquet floor. Peter O'Kennedy, musician and part-owner of the club, designed the feature as an alternative to traditional panelling, and the result is a similarly warm atmosphere. He found the wood at the Dublin Architectural Salvage Company in Crumlin (01-4734368), where reclaimed parquet - often from schools, churches or convents - is available in oak, mahogany and teak, at €30-€50 per square yard.
MAKEOVER MAGIC
The team behind the TV interior makeover show, Beyond The Hall Door, has set up a business that offers a similar service - but this time offscreen. The presenters, Sinead Moore and Lisa McNulty, work with painters, carpenters, plumbers and electricians who appear on the show. They promise professional design, bespoke craftsmanship and - particularly attractive - completion on time and within budget. Contact them at transformations@beyondthehalldoor.com or 01-6622500.