Person: Carol O

The Gwyneth Paltrow touch: Lifestyle shop takes interior design to new level of affluence

The Goop Lab, sprung from Gwyneth Paltrow’s website, in California takes interior design to a new level of affluence, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 11 Nov, 2017

Getting crafty with your Christmas shopping

Carol O’Callaghan looks at what’s on offer at the Glucksman Craft Fair at the UCC gallery next weekend.

Sat, 04 Nov, 2017

Barbara Hulanicki's newest collection taps into her personal favourites

Carol O’Callaghan looks at the work of fashion designer turned interior designer Barbara Hulanicki. 

Sat, 21 Oct, 2017

Top 5 tips to consider when shopping for the perfect rug

The floor is your canvas when it comes to choosing a rug that’s right for you, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 14 Oct, 2017

The Corkman who conquered the world

Carol O’Callaghan reviews the life and internationally renowned work of Irish-American architect, Kevin Roche

Sat, 07 Oct, 2017

Self styling: Cushions are becoming a statement of design

Carol O’Callaghan explores the elevation of the cushion from casual accessory to design statement

Sat, 07 Oct, 2017

Blackwater beauty: The hidden treasures and tales of Ballynatray House

Carol O’Callaghan pays a visit to Ballynatray House and discovers tales of serendipity, love-at-first-sight and hidden treasures.

Sun, 01 Oct, 2017

Cork's Open House programme has something for everybody

Carol O’Callaghan takes her pick of the events at this weekend’s Open House programme in Cork city

Sat, 30 Sep, 2017

Design matters: What to expect at the London Design Festival

Carol O’Callaghan takes a look at what’s in store for visitors to the London Design Festival this weekend

Sat, 23 Sep, 2017

Decoding craftsmanship at Cork event

Carol O’Callaghan previews an event in Cork attracting some of the biggest names and influencers in design and craft-making today

Mon, 18 Sep, 2017

Talking shop: What's new for interiors in autumn and winter

Carol O’Callaghan gets an update from design and lifestyle boutique owners on what’s new for autumn and winter and their personal favourites. 

Sat, 02 Sep, 2017

Runway to room: Autumn features that are straight from the fashion world

Carol O’Callaghan takes a look at what’s on offer for the home this autumn, but inspired by the colours of the fashion world

Sat, 26 Aug, 2017

How to have shelving that is both fashionable and functional in your home

Carol O’Callaghan explores the versatility of shelving for its practical application in addressing storage issues and also, for its convenience as a way to display books and other decorative items around the home

Sat, 19 Aug, 2017

Eight annual Cork Craft Month delivers on cracking designs

Carol O’Callaghan has a day out to see some of the Cork Craft Month events taking place in September

Sat, 12 Aug, 2017

Taking care of your bed linens

Carol O’Callaghan gets advice from the experts on choosing, maintaining and laundering bed linen

Sat, 05 Aug, 2017

Plywood: Material of the modern world

Carol O’Callaghan visits an exhibition dedicated to plywood - an often overlooked material which has now captured the imagaination of architects and designers with its sustainable on-going value.

Sat, 22 Jul, 2017

Open up your hallways to give a proper welcome to your home

Hallways are typically narrow features in most Irish houses that serve as thoroughfares, but

Sat, 15 Jul, 2017

Everything you need to know to be the perfect Airbnb host

Airbnb is the new version of taking in lodgers but it is becoming increasingly competitive. From mattresses to pillows and linens, Carol O’Callaghan gives the lowdown on how to stay ahead of the crowd.

Sat, 08 Jul, 2017

The dos and don'ts of being a guest and hosting one

Being a house guest or host can be fun, but there are rules for both parties, writes Carol O’Callaghan

Sat, 01 Jul, 2017

Five top trends for a summer makeover

Carol O’Callaghan picks five top trends for a summer makeover

Sat, 24 Jun, 2017

Be in the now with a mindful home

Mindfulness is not just in your head, it can also be applied to your surroundings, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 17 Jun, 2017

A return of quality interior design before we became a throw-away society

Interior shops are expanding and new ones opening, offering products from some unexpected sources, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 10 Jun, 2017

It’s time to brighten up the home with a summery vibe

Match the one-day heat waves we hope we’ll get periodically over the next few months, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 03 Jun, 2017

Just relax and enjoy the possibility of a summer

We’re a nation of optimists, at least when it comes to the weather and the possibility of summer being a scorcher, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 20 May, 2017

Experts give their opinion on how to get some flair into your home with ease

If the thought of picking up a paintbrush over the weekend is enough to send you back to bed with a mug of coffee, there are other, simpler ways to spruce up your living room this season, says Carol O’Callaghan

Sat, 06 May, 2017

The Store Yard in Portlaoise is a home interiors treasure

Carol O’Callaghan went in search of a cup of coffee off the M1 and discovered home interiors treasure.

Sat, 29 Apr, 2017

Give your home an identity with fragrance

There’s a home fragrance industry developing in Ireland to meet the tastes of an increasingly discerning Irish audience, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 22 Apr, 2017

Meet Sinéad McDonagh, designer and trend forecaster for Penneys

Carol O’Callaghan talks to Sinéad McDonagh, the woman behind the stylish but affordable homeware choices at one of our most popular retailers — Penney’s.

Sat, 15 Apr, 2017

How the French decorate and arrange their homes is the subject of a new book

Fundamental good manners fail me when walking past a chic house exterior with windows stripped bare of curtains, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 01 Apr, 2017

Feng shui will improve the sense of flow and energy in your home

Carol O’Callaghan meets Nina Kati, an interior designer who applies principles of the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui to Irish homes.

Sat, 18 Mar, 2017

Local craft products are going global with Etsy website

For anyone who crafts products at home, there’s an attractive website where they can be sold without the huge expense of setting up a business, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 04 Mar, 2017

Some elaborate witty and reflective wallpapers which are trending this year

Walls are trending this year, but you don’t have to build one, just decorate what you have, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 25 Feb, 2017

Ikea creates a new range of designs for the under 25s

Sat, 18 Feb, 2017

How to make good chair choices

Planning and measuring up are essential when buying dining chairs, writes Carol O’Callaghan, who is currently on a mission to find the right ones for her new table.

Sat, 11 Feb, 2017

Ireland’s history of silver making is having a revival

Ireland’s long-standing craft of silver making is having a revival, brought about by a new generation of designers making beautiful and useful products, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 04 Feb, 2017

Hidden Ireland book reveals experience of staying in Irish country houses

Carol O’Callaghan meets the author and photographer behind a new book on Irish country houses that offer accommodation and hospitality to travellers looking for something different.

Sat, 21 Jan, 2017

NO FEE 08/01/2017 TextISLE Showcase 2017

Overseas buyers flocking to Showcase to see very best of Irish design

Carol O’Callaghan checks out a long-running exhibition where Irish design is attracting growing numbers of buyers from overseas and from the home market, too.

Sat, 14 Jan, 2017

The New Year interior colour trends you need to know about

Colour trends for the New Year offer all sorts of decorating possibilities, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 17 Dec, 2016

Choose the perfect gift for interior design fans

Christmas gifts don’t have to end up in the re-gifting box if you choose something both thoughtful and useful, writes Carol O’Callaghan.

Sat, 10 Dec, 2016

Hand-made gift ideas from Craft Fairs in the run up to Christmas

There’s an alternative Christmas shopping experience in craft and design fairs, where products and coffee stops are all under one roof, writes Carol O’Callaghan. 

Sat, 19 Nov, 2016

Get yourself slippers, a blanket and candles, now you’re living the hygge trend

The Danish approach to living is all about homeliness, simplicity, and companionship, writes Carol O’Callaghan, who unwittingly found herself in a hyggekrog as she browsed a book on the subject.

Sat, 12 Nov, 2016

The Lewis Glucksman Gallery at UCC transforms into a retail outlet next weekend

Carol O’Callaghan takes a look at the Glucksman gallery’s craft fair ahead of its launch by fashion designer Sonya Lennon next Friday night.

Sat, 05 Nov, 2016

We visit a secret stunner just off Tower Street in Cork City

Carol O’Callaghan visits a quiet cul-de-sac near Cork city centre and discovers a home designed for living, convenience and quality of life.