Wish List: New Year, new stuff

This week Esther N McCarthy concentrates on items that are actually good for us - like juicers that won’t live in the back of the cupboard and sandwich boxes made for healthy midday breaks.

Picture 1: Utilitarian design, fabulous colours, sustainable materials — it’s got to be Black+Blum. I’m liking this sandwich box they’ve come up with. No more squashed sangers, if the design lads are to be believed. You use the naturally anti-bacterial, sustainable bamboo chopping board and lid to create your sandwiches or assemble the ingredients for a meal later in the day. Made from lightweight aluminium, it’s available in silver, lime and pink for €25 from www.black-blum.com

Picture 2: It’s January so put down that Ferrero Rocher, you pup, and start juicing. The Desire juice extractor boasts a statement black and red colour combination and is made by the good folk at Russell Hobb, it’s €89 and is available from Dwyers Electrical, Harvey Norman, Cal Flavin in Youghal, Argos and James Lyons in Bantry.

Picture 3: Butterfly by Matthew Williamson is such a beautiful collection. My favourite at the moment is this porcelain hummingbird plate, the colours are just divine. You couldn’t throw a sloppy lasagna on that, sure you couldn’t? €24.80 in Debenhams at time of typing.

Picture 4: VOYA’s products are ones that I’m really sitting up and taking notice of at the moment. Better known for their excellent seaweed lotions and potions, these candles are made by hand with organic beeswax and organic essential oils. There’s zesty mandarins and floral patchouli with some cloves thrown in for good measure. I like that they are packaged in recycled paper boxes using recyclable glass. €44 for 3X 10cl candles and €44 for the 38cl size. www.voya.ie

Picture 5: Meet Spidergran, one of four framed scenes depicting “Double-0 Gran” a regular old lady with a double life. Based on the Spiderman hero and made from a sculpting material called sculpey, it is a quirky look at how we can choose to grow old disgracefully. The piece is hand-modelled and then baked in the oven before being hand-painted by Joanne Bolger, the hands behind 3DeePortraits. The supermarket “goods” are then hand drawn and painted. Available on www.irishmadegifts.com

Picture 6: Kilkenny stores are showcasing Paddy McCormack’s selection of copper, iron and bronze pieces, as well as one-off sculptures, lamps, candlesticks, vases and bowls. The candleholders make for eye-catching centre pieces and cost €150 from Kilkenny stores nationwide. www.kilkennyshop.com

Picture 7: Designer dog bowls may be barking mad but if your pooch is part of your family you might want to treat him — and your home to the cute Cath Kidson Spot pet bowl. From €8.50 www.cathkidston.com