Shoparound: Dublin's Capel Street is a Pandora's box for home decorators - dodgy hardware stores jostle with homely furniture outlets who compete with upmarket and super-expensive design shops.
One gem on the street is Lumina Lamps, which specialises in contemporary lighting, and is living proof that there is no need to sacrifice style when looking for affordability. Located at 103-104 Capel Street, Lumina Lamps was opened two years ago by Gearóid and Eimear Murphy. Gearóid also runs a shop in his home town, Gorey, Co Wexford with his sister Elaine.
Murphy is going for the affordable end of the contemporary lighting market and went into business when he found it difficult to buy stylish lighting for reasonable prices for his new home - "with lighting, the Gucci tag can't be seen, " Gearóid reasons.
Murphy has over 300 fittings from Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany and the UK on display in his Capel Street showrooms. At the front of the shop an eye-catching fixture, Sputnik, combines opaque glass globes and stainless steel into a 1950s light fixture. A range of mirrors incorporating fluorescent tubes cost from €175. We really liked Wofi Dia Rise and Fall, which costs between €330 and €380. This chic light fixture made from satin nickel and is rise-and-fall counterweighted. It works from a single power point.
Ice Cube, a range of chunky glass cube-shaped lights, is a big seller. A single pendant light in this range costs €60 and a five-light fixture is priced at €180.
The best value in the shop is the stylish Bullet Light, a fixture which can operate from a single power point and is a steal at €70. We were also quite taken by funky recessed lights for your shower made from chunky glass costing from €67. A small corner of the shop is devoted to teardrop chandeliers with pretty lilac or amber glass beading.
Lumina Lamps is process of setting up an online ordering system and plans to open displays in furniture stores around the country.
Lumina Lamps, 103-104 Capel Street, D1, tel 01 8748652 www.luminalamps.com
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