Like the look of this week's houses?

Alanna Gallaghershows how it's done

A lot of style to steal throughout this house

THE INTERIOR of Newlands in Malahide is awash with stylish ideas to steal from the contrasting colours in the daughter's bedroom (Designer's Guild Marine paper on the walls, €46 a roll, with the shelving picked out in Colour Dew paint, also by DG) to the numerous statement furniture pieces by London-based designer Julian Chichester (+44 20 7622 2928), including the lovely Regency long wave black stained oak sideboard, at €3,350.

In the dining area is a wonderful rose-print sofa, a slick take on traditional chintz that uses a print called Bellini by Mulberry, at about €100 a metre. The fabric on the chairs is Zig-Zag, from Brunschwig Fils (€172 a metre). The interior is by Beechgrove Interiors (048 2588 0012).

The diningroom reflects the use of high quality craftsmanship, from the glass-topped dining table and adjacent mahogany bookcase, both by Fassbinder English (01-661 7678) to the Scandinavian-inspired console table by Antrim-based John McKinney (048 25 8800887).

He's also responsible for the on-trend bedroom cabinets and wardrobes.

The house has a sunroom that channels the old-school Bahamian mood with tropical aplomb. From the fern-laden foliage to the walls that wear Artichoke from Paint Library (+44 20 7823 7755), about €58 for a five-litre tin, it's a verdant vibe throughout. The finest example is the Palma House fabric on the sofa by the window, by Brunschwig Fils (about €75 a metre). The sofa itself is a Tavistock design by Zoffany and costs €3,300 using 20 metres of fabric.

A fresh look inspired by New England

THE KITCHEN at Woodridge in Rathmichael is a very clean and cool take on the traditional farmhouse.

The palette is New England in mood while the pine dresser to the fore is painted in Colortrend's Garden Country green. This sizable piece comes in two units, a top and bottom, to answer all your storage problems. The base unit features four sliding doors and costs €1,151. The top is a six-drawer glazed rack, costing €1,536.

The table has turned legs, is painted a shell white and has an old-style cutlery drawer. It costs €781 while the upholstered side chairs are €134 each. All these pieces are from Strawbridge (0404-40502) which is in Mount Usher Gardens in Ashford.

Another good source of country originals and reproductions is John McGrane at Delvin Farm Antiques in Gormanstown who also makes painted Chalon-style kitchens (086 246 5615).

The solid poplar, hand-painted kitchen was created by Dún Laoghaire Kitchen Centre (01-230 0336) and has a mix of granite and wenge counter tops. Expect to pay €15,000-€30,000 for something similar.

The overall look was created by Avril Crampton Designs which can be contacted on (01-295 9945/087 281 8198).

Net yourself a tennis court

WITH WIMBLEDON only a couple of weeks away thoughts turn to whites, grass courts and strawberries so it's game set and match to 4 Shrewsbury Road which has both a tennis court and swimming pool.

A tennis court has always been a status symbol and there are some 20 courts on Shrewsbury Road, says Danny Grouden of DG Surfaces, who's installed several artificial courts at the alpha address. He also supplies Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club.

And while you want the court to look like it's grass, a natural grass court is not a good idea, says Danny. "With the Irish weather you'll only get to play tennis on it for about two months of the year."

For looks and play, artificial grass is best. This features a stone foundation that is topped with a layer of Tarmac before laying the artificial grass, which "looks rather like a plastic carpet". The "pile" of the grass is filled with sand for additional bounce. It's not cheap: an artificial private court will set you back €45,000; or €55,000 if you want to add floodlights.

A grand old look

THE DININGROOM at 77 Terenure Road East is a smart mix of antiques and reproduction pieces.

The Edwardian diningroom and chairs are originals, circa 1900, and have satinwood inlay as has the matching serpentine sideboard. This dining suite was bought from Hugo Greene of Greene's Antiques in The Mall, Drogheda, Co Louth (041-984 5656). It can source similar pieces to order. A suite of a similar calibre will cost from €25,000. At the moment, Greene's has a serpentine mahogany sideboard by James Hicks of Pembroke Street, in Dublin, complete with maker's mark, for €14,500.

The seagrass flooring throughout was a big hit in the 1980s and 1990s but has become much harder to find in recent years. Is it ripe for a comeback? Isolde Corkery of Slaney Interiors (053 937 6817/087 267 2277) in Bunclody, Co Wexford, who created the interior thinks so. "It suits old properties and is a very good backdrop for oriental carpets," she says. It costs €36 a sq yd, fitted, and the price includes a Durafit underlay. The Natural Interior (01-4737444) also has a great range of flooring.