Inside Out: Five finds to make homes fun, fab and fascinating
Candelabras and candlesticks of all kinds can always be relied upon to spook the guests.
Particularly ones you've invited round for dinner and definitely if you’re going for that, "Come here, taste some of this cake I made earlier — as in, way, way, way earlier" Miss Havisham vibe.
I’m in love with this candlestick from Homesense, €9.99. I think it’s the colour.
Before you say it, I know it is from the company's neoclassical range so it might not be Halloween décor, strictly speaking — but if you're really picky and want to be very on point there are plenty of black and monochrome-themed looks in the Homesense autumn/winter collection to choose from; see above. Trick or treat!
I am intrigued by this forest-themed look from DFS, pictured here — and the name is even better: Bougie Blooms!
Styled as “the cool eccentric aunt to the cottagecore and grandmillennial trends, bringing humour and a celebration of dark florals to modern heritage style”, it is all about florals.
You can make more of an impact by choosing block velvet furniture pieces like the DFS Dame sofa, €1,099, accent chairs, €419 and €469, and banquette footstool, €359, and dialling up the accessories.
See DFS.
We spritz our plants, so why not our faces? Protect your skin from pollution, blue light and solar radiation with one quick spray.
That's the latest advice from skincare specialist Yon-Ka, whose Vital Defense Multi Protection Mist, aims to target environmental aggressions.
Acting as an invisible, protective veil which keeps the skin under a breathable protective film and additionally, regenerates the cells, this hybrid mist boosts the skin's self-defence systems, while soothing and moisturising.
The scent features essential oils of sweet orange, green mandarin and magnolia. Non-sticky, non-greasy and non-comedogenic, it is a nice little multi-tasker — it sets make-up and can also be used on the hands and hair for added protection.
Priced at €52.50, it’s available from Yonka and selected Yon-Ka salons and clinics nationwide.
There’s always room on the bookshelf for a volume filled with humour as well as inspiration. From the multi-award-winning author of Marathon Man comes the memoir Unsinkable. Weeks after a joy-filled footballing trip around France Alan Corcoran learned his dad, Milo, had stage four cancer.
Just days later, Milo died. Grief-stricken, 25-year-old Alan decided to raise money for charity by attempting a 500-kilometre length-of-Ireland sea swim (15 times the distance of the English Channel) from the Giant’s Causeway on the north coast to County Waterford on the south coast.
Corcoran takes to the pool and prepares in solitude. Eight months later, he dives into the coldest deep end to begin his open-water adventure.
The sea swim was a tribute to the adventure athlete’s dad who was also the former president of the Football Association of Ireland.
Alan is also the director of a documentary film, Unsinkable. The book is available in hardback and paperback from Amazon and to order from bookstores.
Everyone who’s anyone seems to want a utility room — or a utility room upgrade — these days.
I’ve been snooping about and asking how much the fabulous melamine resin quartz grey style looks they show here would set us back. They tell me the price depends purely on the number of units/elements, sizes and finishes selected.
These styles can incorporate a laundry-sorting unit featuring three pull-out drawers complete with laundry baskets, or a unit that raises your appliances to the optimum ergonomic work height.
Wall units utilise space above appliances in order to maximise space — and then there’s a broom cupboard and a sink base unit with waste and rubbish sorting areas.
I am particularly taken with the cloakroom/hallway unit and the shoe cupboard incorporating shoe holders and a seated area for pulling on and off footwear. Visit Kube showrooms in Cork, Dublin and Galway or see Kubeinteriors.
