Wish List: Eight buys to add colour and comfort to our home

Mary Cate Smith seeks sublime seating, has a yen for a yoga mat, and eyes cool canine accessories

Black hobnail jug and black hobnail tumblers by Irish master potter Kevin Callaghan.

Cool under the collar 

While I don’t have any pets due to being in rented accommodation, I will never stop dreaming of the day I say yes to the pet. 

I browse animal rescue shelters like most people my age browse property, and I can’t wait for a good girl or best boy to burst into my life. 

Stylish leads for our pets.

While I would never put pressure on my imaginary best friend, I also think they’d be "best in show" with this chic pastel yellow dog lead, €54,95, available at Collarofsweden.com. Christopher Guest, if you’re reading this, hit me up.

A world of wonder 

For those of us who daydreamed about scruffy singer/songwriters instead of listening to our Geography teacher, do you regret it now? 

Pub quizzes certainly aren’t as fun or lucrative. Make sure your child doesn’t accidentally go to Austria instead of Australia (they actually have a desk for this very thing) and buy them a child-friendly map like the World Textile Map, €79, from Ferm Living. 

Not only is it a cute wall decoration, but it also encourages questions about animals, countries, and people — oh my! 

Encourage your child to find their inner explorer, and hey — maybe you’ll learn something too. Available in selected stockists or on Fermliving.com.

Seat of honour 

In the kingdom of Kerry, Goose Island Workshop creates wooden objects that are works of art in themselves. 

Bespoke pieces from Garry Marcham.

History, tradition and an integration with the land he works from, designer Garry Marcham creates bespoke pieces from chairs to stools, each bringing warmth and character to the space they inhabit. 

I’d like to pull up one of these elegant chairs to my table and feel good about investing in a timeless design from a master craftsman. You can see more of Garry’s work on Gooseislandworkshop.ie or email to discuss commissions at [e-mail].

Cheese, glorious cheese 

Cheese is an acquired taste, much like my personality, or so I’m told. 

Whether you’re a fan of soft, semi-soft, hard, blue or souped-up cheese is an indulgence we Irish cannot resist. 

Connemara Marble cheese knife and slicer set.

While cheese lovers rarely compromise on quality, our utensils can often let us down. Who wants to eat cranberry-infused Wensleydale with a bog-standard knife? I have the ultimate solution. 

The Connemara Marble Cheese Knife & Slicer Set from Hennessy & Byrne, €50, looks as opulent as the Brie I’m about to devour.

Including a cheese slicer/plane and knife, both made from stainless steel, each piece is finished with handcrafted marble handles. Forget the Calvita, this is for the grown-ups. You can buy this directly on the website at Hennessyandbyrne.com, and visitors are welcome to the workshop in Wicklow.

Ooh la lotus 

The words insouciant, chic and effortless more often than not refer to Gallic design. 

Mar yoga mat has a secure grip.

When it comes to fashion, interiors, architecture, and design, the French do it best. As part of my recovery from recent spinal surgery, yoga is part of my weekly routine. Downward dogs have never looked as good when paired with a stunning mat from Hercules Studio. 

I quite fancy myself with the limited edition Leslie David Studio Breathe In mat, €150 or the Mar in midnight black, €120. 

Both boast a secure grip, which is essential for anyone recovering from an injury. I’m adding to my basket at En.hercule-studio.com.

Celtic comfort 

We talk so much about treating our bodies with grace and kindness, yet some of us are still reaching for poor-quality towels that chafe the skin. 

The importance of investing in good towels was bred into me from a young age. The small act of taking a shower, drying myself off with a sumptuous towel, and applying body butter became a self-care ritual for me that always feels decadent, no matter how quick the shower. 

I recently came across Irish brand Inish Living’s lush towels that are absorbent yet super soft. 

Made in Portugal with Egyptian cotton, I can’t wait to incorporate these into my morning routine. 

Certified B-Corp and run by a physiotherapist-cum-Pilates trainer, this Irish brand is well worth supporting. Browse these and other products at Inishliving.com.

Earth, clay, and fire 

If, like me, your pottery collection takes centre stage on your tablescape, turn your attention to Irish master potter Kevin Callaghan.

The Irish designer’s collections are unassuming with splashes of table flair; alive with gestural brushstrokes and pops of colour. From Japanese tea bowls to mugs, platters, jugs and vases, each piece feels distinctly characterful.

Stop by the shop and studio at the Craft Village in Donegal Town or add some joie de vivre to your earthenware by shopping at Kevincallaghanpottery.com. Drinking vessels start at €20 and go up to €98, and bowls are from €37.50.

Heart of glass 

There comes a time in every woman’s life when a ditsy floral home accessory simply will not do.

This is not your ordinary crockery.

The Hobnail collection from Klimchi is not your ordinary crockery. It’s got an edge, and at the ripe old age of 42, it’s an edge I’m on board with. Glasses start at €33.95 and jugs from €85, collect individual pieces to make a bold statement or build up your collection to get a full suite. 

Shop this wonderful Czech-designed glassware at Klimchi.com.