0 of 8Add a touch of style to astudy or sittingroom with this grey polyester upholstered boardroom chair which has vibrant orchid coloured button detailing, a shade nominated by Pantone, the colour people, as the colour of 2014. The 86cm by 81cm by 86cm seat is available at Michael Murphy Furniture (michael murphy.ie) at New Ross Retail Park (051-448944), New Ross, Co Wexford, and Edward Street (045-431868), Newbridge, Co. Kildare, where it is now half price, reduced from €955 to €499. THREE OF THE BEST . . . The Weather Diary collection, by Marimekko, is designed by illustrator Aino-Maija Metsola and inspired by Nordic weather patterns. This 32cm serving platter (left) costs £73 (€88) from UK-based Cloudberry Living (0044-7780693034, cloudberryliving.co.uk), ex delivery. THREE OF THE BEST . . . Take your cue from art school and decorate with dreamy watercolours and vibrant brushstrokes. Former theatre designer turned contemporary impressionist painter, Jessica Zoob, has created a capsule collection called Desire (right) for fabric company Romo’s Black Edition which launches next week at Maison et Objet. The fabric and wall coverings feature six of Zoob’s paintings, with further works translated into a range of cushions. One of these features the artist’s most celebrated work, Passion. Fabrics start from €87 per metre and cushions range in price from €86.50 to €136.50 each. For Irish stockists, see romo.com. TRENDING . . . SACRED SPACEWant to take some time out and get some head space? The god pods, designed by Solearth Ecological Architecture (01-6165712 solearth.com), sit in the grounds of Glenstal Abbey (061-621000, glenstal.org) and offer a stylish place to commune with whatever spiritual deity you fancy. The pods come with wood-burning stoves and cost from €80 per person per night. You can also attend the monastic community’s prayer gatherings and tune in to their food-for-the-soul world-famous Gregorian chants. The self-catering pods don’t have internet access but you can get online at the guesthouse where you can also join guests for lunch. THREE OF THE BEST . . . Petite Friture Blurred Lines Nijimi pillows (right) offer intense watercolour works on delicate percale cushions in round, 50cm in diameter, and oval, 70cm by 43cm, shades of pansy blue or pink. Made by French designer Constance Guisset they are available through fab French site Petite Friture (0033-1445413 95, petitefriture.com. Guisset was voted designer of the year at Maison et Objet 2010. Brighten up your home with a pop of colour underfoot. The Udaipur, a flat woven cotton Indian-style rug from the Rug Company’s Studio Collection, comes in zesty shades of pink, orange or blue and is on special offer at Maoliosa, (087-9114946, maoliosa.com) which shares space with Minima in The Waterfront Building, Hanover Quay, Dublin 2. This dhurrie design, 229cm by 152cm, is down from €525 to €367.50 in the January sale. Use it to decorate floors or walls. Also reduced are marble coffee and side tables by Elle Decoration’s 2013 British Designer of The Year, Bethan Gray. Her black Carve marble coffee table, 80cm by 33cm, has a walnut base and is down from €1,990 to €1,592. A side table, 46cm by 56cm, in the same series has an oak base and is reduced from €1,250 to €1,000. Sale ends January 31st. During this time there is also 15 per cent off all new furniture orders. Mullan Lighting Design, based in Mullan, Co Monaghan (047-86584, mullanlighting.com), is a shining example of strong Irish design. The company, which employs nine people, is returning to prestigious Paris-based design show, Maison et Objet, next week to show its gorgeous range of lighting to more international interior designers and architects. To mark the occasion, the company is offering Irish Times readers who present today’s column the chance to buy this beautiful warm antique brass industrial-look MLWL178 Cullen wall light, 25cm by 1cm, normally €200 for €139.90. This price excludes the bulb and offer ends February 6th. To buy online, use code Bargain2014. An Irish dresser is a storage solution that allows you to channel traditional crafting and show off some of the family crockery. This dresser from Flowerhill Furniture (046-9073593, flowerhillfurniture.com), 11 Flowerhill, Navan, Co Meath, comes in two sizes. The large, seen here, 150cm by 42cm by 200cm, has a solid painted pine body and a solid oak counter and is available in blue, green, grey or cream. Normally €1,299 it is reduced to €799. A smaller version, 100cm by 42cm by 200cm, is reduced from €899 to €549. Offers end January 31st.
Dublin riots, one year on: The man filmed himself spitting on election posters and calling woman candidates ‘slags’