Wishlist: Knitted Portraits

This week Esther N McCarthy considers luxe lounging on a delicate, but fabulous chaise and 21st century portraits in wool, would you believe? If you have a favourite product you’d like to see featured, email: [e-mail]

* So perfectly pretty, these designs are made for genteel cups of lavender tea on the veranda. A girl can dream. Check out the Blue Bell textiles starting from €3.95 at Boulevard Interiors, Douglas, Cork. http://www.boulevard.ie

* Siobhan O’Connor’s work focuses on collapsing the boundaries between traditional and popular culture by subverting our perceived normality — and all with a pair of knitting needles. Her Knitted Portraits I-IV are 40x40cm each and made by the pixelation and gridding of an image to make a knitting pattern. Each artwork is unique, with prices starting at €70. To commission your own knitted portrait contact [e-mail].

* This chaise oozes pure elegance, with delicate hand carvings, finished in a slightly distressed gold gilt paint and upholstered in a sumptuous raw silk fabric. Unique in that it has no back and therefore looks fabulous, with the arm rest either to the left or the right. This piece is pictured with the Jaeger-jewelled cushion — now pass me some grapes. Available from www.sweetpea&willow.com for €1,242. Check the website for delivery charges.

* Don’t let the name of the gorgeous collection put you off — The Spring Garden Collection can most certainly be used in summertime. The salad bowl, square platter and rectangular platter from €14.95 and FYI, Meadows & Byrne’s summer sale starts Monday July 1 at 10am. The shops promise to be stocked up in value with savings in fashion, accessories, gifts and dining.

* We’ve all heard the scary stories about the lack of bees about this summer. Fear not, you’ll have the place buzzing in no time with this cute decorative bee house. It’s designed to attract solitary bees to your garden.H20 x W12 x D12cm, available from Next stores nationwide for €10. (Wazzies not welcome!)

* If you want to know your arch from your elevation, and your Gothic from your Georgian, or you need to bone up on your knowledge of the Baroque before your next trip to Italy, have a look at Ivy Press’ 30-Second Architecture. The 50 most significant principles and styles in architecture, each explained in half a minute, is a lovely coffee table book. This is basically an attempt to demystify this often inscrutable subject, and sure it’s no harm to get an insight into the principles and styles of architecture. Edited by Edward Denison and foreword by Jonathan Glancey, it costs €15.

* This is an original sculpture carved from wood by Irish artist Conleth Gent. Gent describes his sculptures as “works of individualistic, personal expression. I hope they reveal my love of nature and my interest in the struggle of humanity”. It is an example of what is available from Oxfam stores nationwide. This one costs €150 and would be a stunning addition to any home — or would make a perfect wedding gift.