Wish List: Low-budget Valentine’s Day love-in

Esther N McCarthy spends some time in the bedroom this Valentine’s weekend — purely for research — and suggests a fry-up for breakfast to complete the low-budget, love-in. 

Penneys is continuing its blue and white theme in the bedroom offerings. This duvet set is crisp and clean and lovely for spring.

Single, €14, double, €19 and king size will set you back €24.

If upcycling is your game — listen up.

Frenchic is a furniture chalk paint that is certified as 100% solvent and free of volatile organic compounds.

It is environmentally friendly, and safe around kids and animals.

What’s not to love?

Petals Floral Design are exclusively stocking in Cork City and delivering in Munster also. There’s something called ‘The Lazy Range’ which means, unlike most other chalk paints, you can paint without waxing.

They had me at lazy.

There’s nothing like a full Irish on a Saturday morning to go with your morning paper.

The George Foreman 10 Portion Grill and Griddle promises a quick and healthy grill, with the dual independent temperature controls giving you the option to grill and griddle simultaneously — great if you have a gaggle to feed.

Available nationwide from independent Irish electrical retailers. €89.99

For a rustic vibe in the bedroom, have a peek at the Tradition Sapphire laminate collection.

A rough plank floor and randomly chiselled V-grooves are made from natural laminate with a hand-scraped structure at an impressive price point. €18.95 sq yd - €22.66sqm from Select Floors and Tiles, Tramore Road, Cork. www.selectfloors.ie.

Drowning in a sea of Lego in my own house, I never thought I’d warm to any type of block as a lighting option but I must admit these look like a lot of fun.

The Light Stax Starter Set contains 12 blocks that light up when connected to another piece.

The black base is the power unit so when any piece touches this, it will light up in the individual colour and will pass on power to the next piece connected.

Get creative! €23.94 from www.red5.co.uk

Monochrome is the interiors trend that looks set to stay.

Add a little yin and yang to your living space with this cushion.

The rich black velvet contrasts the clean symmetry of the white stripes nicely.

Elegant, contemporary and €95 from Kelly Hoppen Ireland. www.kellyhoppen.com

This elegant Conran Ashworth desk is made from sustainable wood.

The legs are gently tapered and the collection uses glass tops to highlight the solid walnut and real walnut veneer.

Perfect place to write the memoirs.

Chapter 1: Now get a chair. €645. www.marksandspencer.ie