Wish List: Eight buys to add joy to your life and your living space

From curved seating to groovy conversation pits and from tech to design, Eve Kelliher checks out ideas to refresh every room

KITCHEN MAGIC

We see a lot of this room this season and if it’s whetted your appetite for a kitchen revamp, listen to advice from someone with the recipe for restyling success. 

Limerick native Aine Browne, of kitchen company Cucine Lube, says: "It’s important to keep in mind that the right kitchen can add to the resale value of a home. New modular systems, new accessories, and new materials make this an exciting time to buy a new kitchen which can modernise the heart of the home." 

I love the reeded presses in the Oltre kitchen, above. Made in Italy, Cucine Lube crafted kitchens come in a range of finishes. You can visit the showroom in Ballysimon, Limerick, or explore online at CucineLube.

COUNTER ATTRACTION

It’s been the year of the kitchen — in the past 12 months, Silestone® by Cosentino introduced its new series Urban Crush. We love Lime Delight from a collection that uses dusty tones to create an industrial backdrop in raw and eclectic spaces. 

Urban Crush is produced under HybriQ+® technology, which implies a more sustainable manufacturing process with 99% reused water, 100% electric energy from renewable sources and a minimum of 20% recycled materials in its composition.

HAIR AFFAIR

The Dyson Supersonic hair dryer is a draw for tech lovers and haircare fans alike. Why is it so special? The motor is located in the handle rather than in the dryer’s head, as with most hair dryers. 

It’s light to hold and hair doesn’t snag in the dryer. It comes with a toolbox of innovative accessories, including concentrators and a diffuser, which attach to the hair dryer’s head magnetically (so satisfying) and securely, and a game-changing flyaway attachment that acts like a straightener — a lifesaver when you can’t get a last-minute salon appointment. 

And of course, this hair dryer is powerful and fast. The tool uses a focused airflow, is engineered for balance in the hand, is quieter than others and has an extra-long cord. 

Dyson says the Supersonic is better for hair as it "intelligently controls the temperature to help protect hair from heat damage" and measures air temperature 40 times a second to regulate heat output. 

The Dyson SupersonicTM hair dryer in Onyx Gold, RRP €399.99, is available from Dyson Demo Stores,  www.dyson.ie and www.dyson.co.uk. 

WATER WORLDS

Bathroom renovations are high on many homeowners’ agendas right now. Irish company Sonas Bathrooms says the focus for 2024 is on "functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics". 

We like the water-saving set-up by Sonas Bathrooms, above, which features the Alita exposed shower kit and wall-mounted basin mixer in brushed gold. See SonasBathrooms.

THAT'S MAGIC

This is one for the dressing table. Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Water Cream is ideal for layering under makeup or used solo to add a dewy, glasslike glow to the skin. 

The clue is in the name: It is a hydrating texture that doesn’t pill or slide. It’s €95 for 50ml, available in Brown Thomas and Arnotts and CharlotteTilbury. 

WINTER GLOW

This season Irish woollen mill John Hanly & Co celebrates 130 years of weaving elegance and warmth into homes. 

Originating from a disused flour mill beside the Nenagh river in Ballyartella, Co Tipperary, in 1893, the company has become a symbol of quality craftsmanship. 

It’s just released its new range of merino, cashmere and lambswool blankets and throws. 

Brian Hanly, managing director, is the fourth generation of the Hanly family to continue the legacy. ‘We are thrilled to celebrate 130 years of weaving stories and memories into our fabrics,’ he says. As for us, we’re obsessed with the oversized cashmere throw in Raspberry Herringbone, €199.45. See JohnHanly.

IN THE GROOVE

If watching Daisy Jones and The Six this year made you hanker after your own 70s pad, then the Fleetwood aesthetic from DFS could be for you. Drawing inspiration from the hit series, it’s a captivating blend of rock 'n' roll glamour, bohemian chic, and effortless cool. 

Curved seating is at the heart of this luxe yet laidback look. Check out the DFS Spherical corner sofa, €2,339, and Spherical swivel chair, €1,359, to channel that lounge vibe. Layer rugs, like the DFS Matias medium rug, €129, or Jair medium rug, €325, underfoot for your very own groovy conversation pit. See DFS.

OPEN SEASON

When did doorscaping become such a thing? It all starts at Halloween and just takes over by December. If you want to keep that porch party going all year round, try season-neutral ideas, like Homesense’s doorscaping box plant in a black pot, €27.99.