Decorative barware, wonderful worktops and three of the best speakers

Get the worktop edge

Leading Edge is a range of top-quality stylish laminates in 15 patterns, including stone, available at In-House. Worktops cost about €185 for a 60cm by 410cm length. Lengths vary by pattern from 360cm to 410cm with double-edged 67cm and 90cm widths available for breakfast bars. Irish Times readers who present today's column at any In House Kitchens (tel: 1850 212 214 in-house.ie) premises can buy the worktop less 10 per cent. Matching upstands are also available. Offer ends October 31st.

At the Santry warehouse, Furry Park, Old Airport Road, you can also buy a variety of discontinued worktops, in full lengths 360cm, and half-lengths, 180cm, from just €60 each.

Let there be light

Minimal is a sleek and simple new range at National Lighting (tel: 709 9070, nationallighting.ie), Western Retail Park , Knockmitten Lane, Dublin 12. Its metal frame is available in polished chrome, brass or the coloured enamelled finishes pictured, and it comes with a two-metre-long wire and a halogen energy-saving bulb that you can buy in warm pearl (good on the skin), opaque, florescent or energy-saving options. Priced €58.89.

Each Irish Times reader who presents today’s column can buy it less 10 per cent. Cluster, for maximum effect, over a dining table or island.

Enamel to make the kitchen pretty

Add some Indian summer sunshine to your kitchen countertops with this range of enamelware from Mini Moderns. It includes a baby blue measuring jug, €20; a bright yellow butter dish with beechwood lid, €28; storage containers with beechwood airtight lids, small €25, medium €30 and large €35; and a mustard-yellow kettle with beechwood handle, €50 each, that will work on gas, electric, Aga hob, solid fuel stove and even a camping cooker. West Cork-based The Old Mill Stores (tel: 028 34917 theoldmillstores.ie) is offering 10 per cent off to Irish Times readers who buy from their online store.

Keep your (wine) cool

This Haier 25-bottle single zone wine cooler is an under-counter model that has a glass front. Normally €399, it is reduced to €199 at Dominic Smith Electrical (dominicsmithelectrical.com) The Village Centre (tel: 01 296 5511), Main Street, Dundrum, Co Dublin. Offer ends September 30th.

Trending . . . Decorative b

arware

There was a time when any home that ever hosted guests boasted a decent home bar, complete with a set of decanters filled with amber nectars of brandy and whiskey. Then dining became informal. Waterford Rebel is a new collection of blush, amber and crystal glass barware from upscale home site Amara (tel: 0044 1376 321 100, amara.com) that will make you want to revive an element of formality in your home bar.

It includes decanters with liquor type punched into a dogtag label, €169; cocktail and martini glasses, €43 each; a spikey vase with a gold neck, €155; and a studded gold bottle opener, €43. They’re warm enough to add ambiance to sideboards and mantles – even if you don’t actually use them.

Three of the best . . . speakers

A collaboration between designer Piet Hein Eek and Leff Amsterdam, this tiny but mighty speaker, 8cm by 5cm, connects to your mobile phone or computer using Bluetooth. It comes in copper, brass and chrome finishes. Price €185.04 from UK-based Black by Design (tel: 0044 1889 502 716, black-by-design.co.uk)

Bloombox by Boris Design Studio (borisdesignstudio.com) is the brainchild of two Hong Kong-based Swedes, Anna Karlsson and Katarina Ivarsson, who believe you should play music to your plants. The wireless device uses a back-loaded horn with two 10cm full-range speakers to give rich, crisp sound. It costs about €1600.

These ceramic and terracotta i-Phone amplifiers take their cue from Nipper the dog who inspired the record label His Masters Voice and are the ultimate in low-fi design. One of five design graduates on website Achica.com the speakers are available to pre-order from the designer Camilla Lee (camilla-lee.com). Expect to pay about €170.