Add new decorations to the Christmas mementoes that adorn your home every year. Frosty character water globes by Linea at House of Fraser are reduced from €8 to €6 for a set of three. They will add personality to mantles and side tables. There is also a typographical bauble for the tree that spells out festive cheer in a way that feels modern. It is down in price from €11.50 to €8.
The Craft Fair opens in the RDS next Wednesday, December 4th, and there is 10 per cent off everything on show including these sustainably-sourced Irish-made felt napkin rings from Dundalk-based Green Gorgeous (01-5547818, greengorgeous.ie), located at Creative Spark, Clontygora Court, Muirhevna Mor, Dundalk, Co Louth. Available in sets of four and six in colours red, purple, magenta, green and flock grey, savvy shoppers can buy them for €17.95 and €25.15 respectively on Wednesday. The fair is open from 10am to 10pm and runs until Sunday, December 8th. nationalcraftsfair.ie
Deck halls with this striking houndstooth checkerboard floor, the perfect backdrop on which to frame the Christmas tree. These black Nero Marquina and white Biancone Italian marble tiles, 10cm by 10cm, normally cost €117 per sq m. TileStyle (01-855 5200, tilestyle.ie), Ballymount Retail Centre, Ballymount Road Upper, Dublin 24, is offering Irish Times readers who present today’s column the tiles for €81.90 per sq m. Offer ends December 12th.
Hibernate in style under bed linen fit for a fashion queen such as Diana Vreeland, the former Vogue editor who was a big Chinoiserie fan. Emulate her aesthetic with this Chinoise-inspired printed cotton bed linen in the Butterfly collection by Matthew Williamson at Debenhams (debenhams.ie). The double is now half price, reduced from €109 to €54.50. The price does not include pillow cases. A set of two was €21.50 but are now also half price, €10.75.
Stay warm with Blankie, an Irish-designed lap duvet that is made of 70 per cent goose down, 30 per cent duck down and comes wrapped in a fully- reversible combed down-proof cotton shell. Use it while you work, on long car journeys or stargazing in the cold outdoors. The duvet, 152cm by 102cm, comes in six colours and is a great gift for new-born babies and for elderly parents. Normally €54.95, Mira Mira, 3 Sandymount Green, Dublin 4 (01-2196668, miramira.ie), is offering it for €49.45 to Irish Times readers who present today’s column in the shop or enter discount code 8830c128 online at checkout.
TRENDING . . . BOXING CLEVER Leigh Tucker’s new children’s collection for Dunnes Stores (dunnestores.com), Willow, is both smart and sweet at the same time. But it is her imaginative cardboard creations, a space shuttle, €45, a play house, €35, and a space rocket, €30, that will really put a smile on your child’s face. After you build the designs you can colour the cardboard to customise it to your child’s own desires. You can use old wallpaper or fabrics to create features. Why not gift one along with a tin of sweets and then use the sweet wrappers to create interesting textures on the interior and exterior.
THREE OF THE BEST . . . CHECK IT OUT Edinburgh-based Curious Cushions (0044-1315581433, curiouscushions.co.uk) has given traditional tartan a punk makeover paying homage to the movement’s first couple, Sid and Nancy, and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, who created the so-called street look. The 45.5cm squares (below left) cost about €85 (€101), ex delivery.
THREE OF THE BEST . . . CHECK IT OUT Next Home (ie.nextdirect.com/en/homeware) has contemporised the idea by taking it outside for a winter alfresco ambiance that would wow on Christmas morning if December 25th is a dry day. The store’s stylist has set the table using red check eyelet curtains as a tablecloth, €82. The stag jacquard cushion, €19, knit cushion, €30, cow cushion, €16, snowflake cushion, €7, faux fur throw, €96 and lambswool check blanket, €82, bring much-needed warmth to the picture. The table is set using Cameron, 32-piece dinner set, €44, Juliette, a 16-piece cutlery set, €25, and tea lights – a Star tea light holder, €4, cut-glass tea light holder, €16 for a set of three, and a squirrel motif, €16. A small cut-glass lantern, €38, a stag table lamp, €76, stag lantern, €11, and mercury glass vase, €16, add further interest. The pine cone wreath, €34, baubles from €11 and tartan cracker, €16 for a set of 12, add festive flavour.
THREE OF THE BEST . . . CHECK IT OUT While a cyclical hit in fashion circles, tartan and checks in an interior context have always had a touch of the old boys’ club about them. Check in all its glory has shed that clubhouse feel in favour of a punk aesthetic that feels decidedly modern. This Profile love seat, from Roche Bobois (01-6531650 roche-bobois.com), Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford, Dublin 18, is upholstered in a tartan by Jean Paul Gaultier, France’s one- time enfant terrible. The seat, 159cm by 76cm by 95cm, costs €4,640 and comes in four colour options.
