ALANNA GALLGHERshows how it's done.
Colour consultant goes for power of grey
INTERIOR DESIGNER Lisa McNulty started life in fashion and this stylish foundation shows in her use of colour throughout her home at 72 Brighton Square.
As a colour consultant for Dulux she created the grey shades especially for her home. The tonally themed greys, lighter Lustrons on woodwork and French Mists on the walls are both now available from Dulux’s Moda collection. Keep grey contemporary by painting above the dado bright white, advises Lisa.
The fireplaces are original to the house but it is the addition of the matching overmantel mirrors that really creates a sense of symmetry. Lisa bought hers in The Old Cinema, in Chiswick, London (0044 208 9954166). Renaissance (01 8873809) is expecting another delivery of this style later this summer, price €395 each.
The fire baskets and firedogs complete this contemporary classic marriage. The Fibonacci fire basket and Meridian firedogs both cost €329 each and were purchased from Chesney’s in London. Try Livingstones in Dún Laoghaire (01 2801266). The fire openings were lined in ordinary yellow brick using grey grouting.
The floorboards were limed using white oil, available from most hardware stores, to give the antiqued finish.
The Tibetan wool rug is by fashion designer Marni and is available from the Rug Company. It costs approximately €573 per sq m.
In the diningroom, the Cesare wenge table is made by Ennco Franzolini for Tisettanta (0044 207 4912044). It costs approximately €1,865.
The hall features Chinese 17th century scholar chairs purchased from Watsham and Bohn, (012140741). A pair of chairs of a similar vintage are presently on sale, down from €3,300 to €1,650. These match the 2m-long stained oak alter table, also 17th century, from Andrew Martin. Their son’s room has a wall mural that was created using adhesive stickers available from the Museum of Modern Art (01 6129900). Prices €19 and €25.
Hand-made kitchen mixes old with new
EVERYONE'S GONE home-made home crazy, thanks in part to the recession. Lissadonna is a traditional Irish long house that oozes cheap chic charm. The kitchen's painted units started off life as Georgian shutters bought by the owners at auction from John Dunphy of Sixmilebridge (061 369533). They cost €360 to buy.
The owners had a carpenter from McArthur and Associates in Birr, Co Offaly (087 298 7350) build them into kitchen units. These they topped with slick grey Corian.
The island was built to match. Any good kitchen company can do similar. What makes this one stand out from the crowd is the old pine countertop that was supplied by their carpenter.
The chair with the barley sugar arms and legs is another antique. So too is the French sideboard. Try Minnie Peters (01 293 3919) who can source pieces similar in style.
Mixing old and new really adds texture and personality to a room. The secret is to start trawling auction houses and second-hand stores for pieces that have potential and finding somewhere to keep them until you need them.
Bright is right for little girls
THE LITTLE girl's bedroom at Mellary is a brilliant mix of acid brights. It fuses powder puff girl styling with fashion's favourite summer '09 shades.
The strongest pieces in the room were all sourced from Ikea in Belfast, from their All Dressed Up story. The Mammut wardrobe, price €108, and matching cartoon-style bed, price €119.05, set the scene while the Ekorre rocking moose, €25.50 and Barnshig rug, €21.16 add more pops of colour. Ikea Dublin opens July 27th.
Clever children's bedroom furniture is hard to find. Another option is Faer Ambienti, a new Italian range of modular furniture available through Collier Kitchens (01 8423555). Prices from €2,500 for a fully fitted bedroom.
Despairing parents should also check out Howard's World of Storage whose Tub Trugs offer super storage solutions. They are virtually indestructible, come in a myriad of colours and are available in four sizes, from 14 litres, price €9.95 up to 75 litres, price €28.95.
Mellary also features a very fine galley kitchen created by Bray-based Domino Design (01 2866094) who built a kitchen for Tour de France winner Stephen Roche. Something similar will cost €11,500. To celebrate their 21st birthday in business they're offering customers 30 per cent off prices. To the fore is a Phillips Stremium System, a wireless music machine that you can place in any room in the house except bathrooms. The system on offer is affordable and can be retro fitted and doesn't require any cabling. The "mothership" unit costs €899. Each additional "satellite" costs another €299. Call the Phillips shop for details (01 4740788).
Discount furniture after washout summer
THE EXTERIOR of Wellfield offers rolling hill views from the comfort of several outside spaces.
But given the washout summer we had last year, many of us are reluctant to invest in garden furniture. Maison and Chateau have shops at Glanworth Mill, Co Cork (025 38555) and Carrick on Suir, Co Tipperary (051 649677) and offer super swish outdoor styles.
Bargain hunters will be delighted to discover their Waterford outlet store (051 843602) where stock is discounted up to 50 per cent. A Provence set, with granite top and metal chairs, is expected in the Waterford store in the next few weeks.
The right rug perfectly sets off wood floors. Wellfield features a traditional-style piece in pale colours to contrast with the warm wood beneath.
The Jan Kath collection at Rug Art (01 2690506) offers a variety of silk, hand-tufted designs to suit. Prices from €517 to €1,127.50 per sq m.
