Bargain Hunter: Hip Hop seating, Happle lamps and cool beds for kids

Olaf bed offers stylish sanctuary

With its shuttered doors this Olaf bed, 206cm by 96cm by 172cm, offers little ones a place to cocoon themselves away to play or sleep. The design comes in slate grey or white colours and features two shelves for toys or books. The bed with mattress normally costs €983 but is reduced 27 per cent to €718 in the summer sale at Kilkenny-based Meubles Furniture (056- 7797949 meublesfurniture.com). The bed on its own is down from €784 to €619, a reduction of 21 per cent. A three-foot foam mattress is now half price, reduced from €199 to €99.

Versatile privacy of Duette blinds

This range of Duette double accordion pleat blinds has a honeycomb construction that helps block heat and absorbs sound, making them ideal for large glazed areas keeping it cool in summer and retaining heat in winter. Available in 100 colours each blind is made to order. The top panels pictured, about 100cm by 30cm in size, normally cost €148 each.

The bottom-up privacy panels, are pulled up rather than down to allow light to stream in whilst shielding you from view. They measure 100cm by 200cm and cost €240 each. The other blinds pictured are free-hanging top down designs that have a choice of operating systems including inherently child safe options. Prices for a 100 cm by 100cm window start at €159.

Apollo Blinds (01-8723155 apolloblinds.ie) on Dublin's Capel Street is offering Irish Times readers who present today's column free measuring and free fitting as well as 10 per cent off the entire Duette range. Offer ends July 8th.

Mix it up with a Hip Hop seating system

This Hip Hop seating system is modular in style – each seat can be on its own to create eye-catching loungers. When the different styles are combined you can build a large sofa system that can even include a lazy-boy-style recliner option. Available in 20 different colour options at Arnotts (01-8050400 arnotts.ie) the sofa is reduced in the summer sale by 14 per cent from €4,795 to €3,999. Each element can also be purchased separately.

The chaise longue, normally €1,149 is reduced 13 per cent to €999; the single recliner is down 14 per cent from €1,399 to €1,199; its matching ottoman was €449 and is reduced 22 per cent to €349; a corner chair is reduced 16 per cent from €899 to €749 while an armless chair that was €899 is €749. The sale, which includes Kartell accessories and Ligne Roset floor models reduced by 50 per cent, ends July 31st.

Happle lamps for a splash of colour

From its quayside base in Westport, Co Mayo, Liberties (098-28232/50273 liberties.ie) has an alluring range of home accessories that you don't think you really need until you see them. Take these green-stemmed fruit-shaped Happle table lamps by Qualy, for instance.

They have more than just novelty appeal. They also add colour to bedrooms, halls and room corners. The Happle and the mini Happle glow from within and come in red, green or white colour options using a 5W energy-saving bulb to avoid overheating.

Liberties is offering Irish Times readers who present today’s column 20 per cent off either size, reducing them respectively to €52 and €41. Postal and package is an additional €6. Offer ends July 1st.

Trending . . . in the shade

For pure inspiration London-based The Linen Works (0044-203744 1020 thelinenworks.co.uk) offers beautifully styled ideas for the home including reprising an institutional favourite, the roller towel, for use at home. The online shop sells towels for the Aga, from about €28 or for use in busy bathrooms, about €40, ex delivery.

Pictured is a pastoral picnic scene that features printed throws, about €257 and printed cushion covers, about €83 each. The scene can easily be replicated in your own corner of the country using cotton voile which costs just €5.50 per metre at Castle Market-based Murphy Sheehy (01-6770316 murphysheehy.com). For more shade you can buy Irish linen sheeting there which costs €35 pm. Tie each corner like a handkerchief and affix to bamboo lengths for a portable, cool piece of shade.

Three of the best . . . Let’s chill

Summer tastes better with a cool glass of your favourite tipple served al fresco. This double ice bag from UK-based online store The Gift Oasis (thegiftoasis.com) is a foldable, portable design and costs £6.99 (ex delivery). Icebag. com offers single bottle bags from €4.95.

This cool-looking acrylic double walled insulated ice bucket includes a lid and ice tongs and costs €35.50 from Meadows and Byrne (01-2988429 meadowsandbyrne.com). It comes gift boxed so is perfect for a small wedding or housewarming present too.

The beaten copper finish of this Franklin ice bucket gives it a timeless feel. Big enough to fit two bottles it costs about €75, ex delivery through UK-based Artisanti (0345 259 1410 artisanti.com)