Eoin Lyons on sales, openings and trends in the world of interiors.
ROOMS WITH A VIEW The Morgan Hotel has a new bar, courtyard and bedrooms designed by interior designer Brian MacDonald of Design Farm for hotelier Paul Fitzpatrick. MacDonald also designed The Beacon in Sandyford, and while it has a similarly high-drama interior, The Morgan is more intimate. Individual touches include specially commissioned artwork for each of the 40 new bedrooms, which are decorated in shades of white and fitted with etched, mirrored wardrobes, Philippe Starck chairs and glass wall bathrooms. It's all light-hearted fun: hanging egg chairs, very tall black leather couches, chandeliers . . . you get the picture. The outside courtyard has a Parisian look, with a day bed suspended from the ceiling, while the bar has 1940s-style banquettes. There are a number of apartment suites for short-term let at €900 per week. Standard double rooms range between €130 and €200. The Morgan Hotel, Fleet Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2 (01-6793939), www.themorgan.com.
MAKE YOUR HOME HEAVENLY There are presents we want, and there are the presents we get. To make sure you give something that doesn't need a receipt attached, visit the Heavenly Interiors show today and tomorrow at the Minerva Suite in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (10am-6pm). Clodagh Hannon of The Tramyard Gallery will have "present-sized" artworks and Vsosky Joyce rugs designed by Graham Knuttel. Amelia Aran, the children's shop in DúLaoghaire, Co Dublin, will have toy carts, storage boxes, bed linen and larger pieces of furniture such as bunk beds and cots, while The Far Pavilion in Bray, Co Wicklow, is decorating its stand with a silvery look - pretty chandeliers, nickel lamp bases, Venetian mirrors, painted furniture and lots of smaller gifts. The Dalkey Design Company and the Enniskerry Trading Company are also taking part, as is the Antique Flower Garden in Blackrock, Co Dublin, which will have examples of arrangements that can be ordered before Christmas. Apart from goods for the home, there will also be Glynis Robins clothing and Elva Robins jewellery.
NOT JUST FOR KIDS Although Peoba, a new shop that opened last week in Dundalk, specialises in furniture and bed linen for children's bedrooms, you don't need to be a parent to visit. Sinead O'Callaghan, who owns the shop, has gathered together furniture such as lockers, drawers and wardrobes that are part-Swedish and part-English in style. Beds and cradles use un-dyed fabrics and anti-allergenic mattresses. There are accessories such as these colourful boxes, and the shop also offers an interior design service for children's playrooms and bedrooms. Peoba, River Court, River Lane, Dundalk, Co Louth (042-9354222).
CONRAN TO THE CORE A lot of furniture inspires two responses: yawns and more yawns. Content by Conran, a line designed by Sir Terence Conran and now available at Arnotts, Dublin 1, doesn't look particularly exciting at first glance. However, the range includes many high-quality, nicely designed, adaptable pieces. How good they look depends on what you do with them. The aesthetic is very Conran, with plenty of oak (bookshelf, €690); Scandinavian references (cross-leg side table, €265) and the odd draw on traditional furniture, such as a chesterfield sofa with deep seat (€1,900).