Bargain Hunter

Fresh fabrics 
Why not armchair travel to a tropical place with fresh new fabrics from Voyage Decoration? Co Offaly-based Woodgrove Interiors (tel: 057-9352858 woodgroveinteriors.com) on Store Street in Tullamore is offering Irish Times readers who present today's column 20 per cent off the fabric range and all of their home accessories. The curtain fabric, Voyage Otterly, with a birdcage motif, can be purchased for €63 per metre instead of its usual €79 per metre. The Voyage Maison Marcus armchair, seen here upholstered in Arielli fabric, can be purchased less 16 per cent, down from €950 to €795. The Priya fabric on the cushion usually costs €56 per metre but Irish Times readers can buy it for €44 per metre. Offers end July 10th.

Plate up
Vale of Avoca-based furniture and product designer Chaim Factor's (hillpicketstudio.com) cheese knives and boards have garnered a big foodie following and make a lovely housewarming gift or wedding present. The handmade pieces are made of select Irish and European hardwoods. They are being offered less 10 per cent to Irish Times readers who present today's column by Design Loft, at Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow (087- 2707496 designloft.ie), to mark their first birthday. Buy the boards, €60 (now €54), the knives; a soft cheese or butter design, €25 (now €22.50), the hard cheese design, €35 )now €31.50), and the matching wave-edged platter, €80 (now €72). Offer ends July 10th.

Tropical cool
Give your sunny outside space a tropical theme with this garden parasol that has been hand made in Madagascar using bamboo and features a painted canvas canopy. This turquoise coloured design, 200 cm by 220cm, is reduced by 25 per cent, down from €195 to €145 at Sandymount-based Mira Mira (01 219 6668 miramira.ie)in Dublin 4. There is a pink version of the same dimensions reduced from 20 per cent from €195 now €155.

L-shaped in the garden
A six-piece aluminium and polysynthetic rattan modular set upholstered in waterproof polyester, that can be made into an L-shaped seating arrangement or two sun loungers, is reduced from €899 down to €699 at Irish online shop Rattan Cube (01-549 7381 rattancube.ie). Included in the set is two armless chairs, three chairs with backs, and one matching footstool that can double as a table. The set comes with citrus coloured scatter cushions. Delivery nationwide is free. Offer ends June 30th.

Smart alternative

Wooden decking in our Irish climate can rot if not treated properly and regularly. A super smart and lazy alternative is this Lama range of natural wood effect porcelain tiles which come in five finishes; ash, walnut, oak, white and grey. They come in two sizes: 20 cm by 120 cm, designed for interiors; and 15 cm by 60 cm, which can be used both inside and outdoors. The price for both is based on a square metre basis and has been reduced 25 per cent from €44.25 psm to €33 psm at City Tiles and Bathrooms (

[ citytilesandbathrooms.ie ]

) in Dublin (01-4595250), Unit 5, Red Cow Retail Park, Ballymount, Dublin 24 and Cork (021-4840012), Unit 6 Togher Industrial Estate, Cork city.

Orange crush

Bring a pop of colour to your outdoor space with this orange crush coloured powder-coated metal frame garden chair, 68cm by 54cm by 84cm, down 17 per cent from €120 to €99, and the matching metal garden table, 80 cm by 76 cm, reduced 20 per cent from €199 to €160, at Mylestone Interiors (064 6626331

[ mylestoneinteriors.ie ]

), East Avenue Road, Killarney, Co Kerry, while stocks last.

Three of the best ... deck chairs

The humble deckchair is still one of the most comfortable seats to lounge in when the sun shines – just don’t forget to bring them back indoors when the rain comes. This traditional- style Beside The Seaside deckchair from Homebase features a briny motif that will look the business on the beach, in the back garden or on a decked terrace or balcony. It costs €49.99 Personalise your deck chair with portraits of the family. Why not use this Prezzybox idea (00-44 -0844-2495007

[ Prezzybox.com ]

) and design your own collage using free to download software Picasa (

[ picasa.en.softonic.com ]

) and paying your local Reads (reads.ie) a visit. They can print on canvas for as little as €10 but will have to see the fabric first. Is it a rocking chair? Is it a deckchair? This hybrid design by London-based Richard Ward is designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Have it in the lounge on dull days and take it outdoors when the sun shines. Made from sustainable steamed beech, the fabric is water, mould and UV resistant. It also folds up flat. It costs about €306 from WaWa (00- 44- 207-729 6768

wawa.co.uk

Trending ... water balloons

Summer is here and along with Panini stickers, the humble water balloon is one of this year’s essential pieces of garden kit for kids of all ages. Fill them up using the little funnel, tie and throw at walls, washing and other people. Every home should have a couple of packets in a kitchen drawer for use whether the sun shines or not. You can buy them in corner shops and supermarkets. These are from Tiger Stores (

[ tiger-stores.ie ]

) and cost €1 per pack.