Ikea have a Summer Sale on in Dublin with up to 75% off! Hop to it – you only have until 18th July!!

This stunning new print collection from DigetexHOME takes inspiration from the petal prints seen all over the catwalk for this summer and features large oversized blooms in bold vibrant colours reminiscent of an exotic garden.

Featuring digital flower prints of roses, sunflowers, oriental lilies, and many more, these prints are available on blinds or sheer blinds, cushions, murals and wallpapers which is the perfect way to instantly update your windows or walls with pretty petals and blooms that will last way beyond Spring and Summer. 

Images via DigetexHOME

Pip Studio, hailing from Amsterdam, have a new homeware collection which is being stocked in Urban Outfitters across Europe now. The collection features lovely reversible duvet covers, quilts and cushions which combines polka dot, floral, striped and check patches and polka dot piping. The products are on Urban Outfitter’s website with brilliant special web exclusives so get on there to see if anything takes your fancy!

All images via Livingetc

Bespoke wallpaper is really in at the moment…I guess it’s a good excuse for letting your children (or you!) write on the walls. Wallpaper like that of British Design Talent below offers consumers a personalised design experience where the wallpaper is an unfinished template which can be completed at home. The finished result is totally unique!

Many homeowners now like contemporary design in at least one room and so the wallpaper below by Basso and Brooke is perfect for creating that modern look. Clashing a bold design with traditional and antique furniture also stands out from the crowd. This type of wallpaper is best used in either a large spacious room or even in very small spaces like a downstairs loo.

Another option is not for the faint hearted. If you want to transport fashion design or pay homage to your favourite designer in your interior choices, make a dramatic statement with wallpaper like that of Vivienne Westwood’s below. The wallpaper is sold as a complete panel to give the impression of draped and folded fabric.

Whatever your choice, make sure you invest in some good quality lining paper to remove lumps and bumps before hanging wallpaper and never cut corners…always trim away excess from the existing length and start a new strip on the next wall!

Happy wall-papering…

A trend crossing the Atlantic from the USA should help office staff ‘walk while they work’…all they apparently need is an office treadmill to escape the sedentary slump created by sitting for hours on end.

Now Accell Fitness are asking us this all important question…

STUCK IN A RUT BECAUSE YOU’RE GLUED TO YOUR DESK? OFFICE WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE – AND ASK THE BOSS FOR A TREADMILL

Accell Fitness’ top of the range, Tunturi T70 and T80 folding treadmills are high performance designs that will look good in the office and work quietly with whoever can take a walk while they work – perhaps talking on the phone, reading a report, or during a coffee or lunch break.

The reason for this new phenomenon is due to a bit of research telling the experts that ‘sitting constantly uses virtually no calories and makes your digestion sluggish so even standing up is better!’ Imagine that!

Well if you do fancy uniting against your boss and getting a treadmill make sure you get these ones as at walking speed both machines are very, very quiet…

Bright = Summer Sun (fingers crossed)

Images via We Heart It

Just a little reminder to all of you who love to spend money on making your homes beautiful…the Interior Design & Art Fair is on this Friday 14^th – Sunday 16^th May at the RDS in Dublin.

A number of well known interior companies, such as, BoConcept, Galerie Lisette and Roche Bobois will be at the event, as well as lesser known companies which also have a lot to offer! If you are interested in Contemporary Art, it’s also worth your while to take a wander down as a number of Irish Galleries will be featuring work.

There will also be a few lectures over the three days which go a little something like this…

Friday 14th May 2010

2:00 pm:
Optimise Your Home
by Denise O’Connor, Optimise Design

4:00 pm:
Working with Colour
by Liz LaCumber, Liz LaCumber Interior Design

Saturday 15th May 2010

2:00 pm:
Illuminating — The Psychology of Lighting Your Home
by Rocky Wall, Wink Lighting

4:00 pm:
Mixing The Old With The New – The Value of Good Design in Antiques
by Niall Mullen, Niall Mullen Antiques

Sunday 16th May 2010

2:00 pm:
The Process of Interior Design
by Maria MacVeigh, MIDI, Maria MacVeigh Design

4:00 pm:
Irish Design on the International Market
by Joseph Walsh, Joseph Walsh Studios

For more information go to http://www.idafair.ie/

On 14th July, the French national holiday, Bastille Day or “La Fête Nationale” will be celebrated, commemorating the storming of the Bastille in 1789, and to mark the occasion, Newtons is introducing the gorgeous “Versailles” collection to its already beautiful collection of French inspired bedroom furniture.

I have always longed for a bedroom decorated in gorgeous fairytale cream French furniture, but the other half deems it “too girly”, so to see this collection finished in Boudoir Black as well as the traditional White makes me grin with wicked pleasure.

This exceptional range from Newtons radiates grandeur with its sensational and dramatic lines, however with a price tag of only £749 you don’t have to actually be of royal descent to own it. The ornamental detail of the fresh French White is delicately emphasized by the hand painted 24 carat gold leaf, whereas the Versailles Noir is finished in Boudoir Black and creates an ambience of seductive majesty.

With stylish coordinating furniture including a bedside, chest of drawers, Chateau Armchair and a Chateau Chaise, the Versailles collection is guaranteed to bring a certain ‘je ne sais quois’ to the bedroom…

I finally painted and designed ‘The Den’ in my house over the long weekend and I am really happy with it! I painted the walls and desk white and have made sure every item in it is bright and bold. There are a few final touches to make and I will definitely be ordering some of these cushions to add to the funky look.

These fantastic designer cushions are from Hunkydory Home and you can choose from the Boston or West Highland Terrier in shades of grey and black. On the front of the cushion is a close up portrait and on the reverse is a picture of the full dog.

My favourite though has to be the ever popular Happy Hot Dog cushion which features the front of a dachshund on the front of the cushion and the bottom on the reverse. These fantastic designs, by American designer Supon Phornirunlit, are great on their own but I think I will order two of each (when I have a bit of spare cash) as they are even better as a pair.

These hand silk-screened, cotton canvas cushions with feather insert retail for £35.00 which isn’t cheap, but as you know yourself, you can’t put a price on design!

All images via Hunkydory Home.