Inside Out: Four fab picks to add va-va-voom to our homes

Eve Kelliher chooses four of the week's top interior looks and ideas to make our lives and living spaces more fun

Fri, 09 Aug, 2024 - 17:20

Eve Kelliher

Back to basics

We’re supposed to want to escape to a spa-like bathroom. But I’m in love with that other home interior trend creeping into the smallest room in the house — taking the outdoors in.

That’s why I pore over the type of glossy mood-board ideas that show outsize plants and cathedral-style windows (not The Valley of the Squinting variety; we’re not total all-singing, all-dancing exhibitionists).

This type of forest or jungle-inspired haven lets us feel we're getting up close and personal with nature — without the trouble of embarking on a hearty camping trip complete with interesting insect bites and minus the hairdryer.

This set-up from Grohe shows the aptly named Rainshower concealed smart-control shower system in chrome, €1,763.47, and water-saving basin mixer, €329.05.

Tech-masking is key to the range, says Grohe says it aims to balance tech features on display with wellness spaces so the space feels like a sanctuary: “Our bathrooms are supposed to be a haven away from the constant barrage of emails, social media, and messages.” Tell that to any power execs pinging mighty missives from the comfort of their porcelain thrones.

See Grohe

Clean sweep

It promises to reinvent the mop as we know it, so form an orderly queue, please as the Dyson WashG1 goes on sale from August 20. The company’s first dedicated wet floor cleaner, €699.99, the WashG1 has been engineered to tackle wet and dry debris in one go.

Most of us vacuum our homes regularly but don’t know why we carry out the necessary chore of wet floor cleaning “beyond the vague notion of hygiene”, according to Charlie Park, Dyson.

However, cleaning with water is “essential”, adds Park, to remove tough, dried-on stains.

The WashG1 is the company’s first dedicated wet machine to wash hard floors across large spaces, with a one-litre clean-water tank to cover flooring up to 290sq m. Absorbent microfibre filament rollers counter-rotate to remove spills, debris and dried-on stains.

See www.dyson.ie

French connection

Admit it: You’ll be feeling nostalgic after the Paris Olympics have drawn to a close on Sunday. And you might want to say a little “bonjour” as Emily in Paris revs up for action again on Netflix (season four, part one releases in mid-August and part two drops in September). So here’s what to do: Check out the Savoir trend from DFS.

Savoir embraces the essence of Parisian nous, celebrating all that’s airy and light with bursts of contemporary colour and blending modern and vintage with a flair that will give your space some je ne sais quoi.

We adore the DFS Enchanted right-hand facing corner sofa, €1,949. And – it’s pink. Très jolie.

See DFS

What lies beneath

The versatile Venture Plank collection from Havwoods features the stunning Fendi Prime herringbone planks. The multi-tonal herringbone planks are designed to contrast with traditional interior detailing such as wall panelling and ceiling mouldings, adding an on-trend feel.

This high-performance, engineered board comes in a spectrum of shades, with options from 12mm-21mm thick, 175mm-260mm wide. Venture Plank is ideal for most residential and commercial applications, and all products are suitable for installation over underfloor heating.