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<p>In suburban gardens, you might want to open out your garden into the wider landscape, or you may want to soften or obscure it. File picture</p>

home and gardens

Peter Dowdall: Winter is an ideal time add the wow factor to gardens

'Winter strips the garden back. The bones of the garden are suddenly visible, and the space naturally feels more relaxed.

<p>A Dublin-made bombe marquetry bureau and a large portrait of a lady with mask, both at Woodward's.</p>

home and gardens

Cork auction features antiques from convent and Bishopstown and Rochestown residences

<p>A 19th-century inlaid foldover card table at Mullen's of Laurel Park.</p>

home and gardens

Antiques: Everything from card tables and Dresden bowls to a Morris Minor

bloming gladiolus field

home and gardens

Garden Digest: Events to enjoy your green space in February

Interior of living area of modern home extension with skylight and large patio doors

home and gardens

Home Q&A: All you need to know about your property's oil tank

Home: See how interior designer Jackie Tracey curates living spaces

home and gardens

Home: See how interior designer Jackie Tracey curates living spaces

Turn on the style: Pick the the perfect taps for your kitchen

home and gardens

Turn on the style: Pick the the perfect taps for your kitchen

Kenilworth Residence

home and gardens

Back to the future as the 1980s interior design trends take over

In the kitchen: Our top three super sink organisers

home and gardens

In the kitchen: Our top three super sink organisers

Modern loft style concrete patio for sitting and drinking coffee.

Garden Q&A: What's the best way to deal with moss on my lawn?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

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

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

Sat, 24 Jan, 2026

Antiques: Extraordinary objects at New York's Winter Show

Antiques: Extraordinary objects at New York's Winter Show

The Winter Show offers an array of objects distinguished not only by quality and rarity but by depth of scholarly research and provenance

Sat, 24 Jan, 2026

Prampolini abstract, Scott lithograph and Warhol Marilyns at Lismore sale

Prampolini abstract, Scott lithograph and Warhol Marilyns at Lismore sale

Among the other artists in the auction are Matisse, Sean Keating, Charles Tyrrell, Joan Miro, Norman McCaig, Maurice MacGonigal, Patricia Jorgensen and Henry Moore

Sat, 24 Jan, 2026

Modern and minimal stylish living room with furniture and large round window, 3d rendering

How to select a spiral staircase style to suit your home

A tightly proportioned upright shot, the major advantage of standard spiral stairs is space-saving

Thu, 22 Jan, 2026

Close up the rat in dry leaf background. Animal contagious disease concept.

Home Q&A: Can I rid my house of mice without using traps or poisons?

Kya deLongchamps shares advice on (kind) mouse management

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

planting broad bean seeds west sussex allotment in February

The 10 must-do gardening jobs for February

And it doesn’t just have to be outdoors. If the ground is too hard, there’s plenty to do inside — from sowing seeds to tending plants

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

Beautiful red amaryllis flowers on table in room

Garden Q&A: How can I perk up my amaryllis flowers?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

Jennifer Sheahan: Five design ideas from Maison et Objet 2026 for our homes

Jennifer Sheahan: Five design ideas from Maison et Objet 2026 for our homes

From hidden pianos to invisible electrical plates, the biggest names in international design showcase exciting pieces

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

Wish List: Cool colours, desks that declutter, and refreshing rugs

Wish List: Cool colours, desks that declutter, and refreshing rugs

Esther McCarthy looks for ways to liven up a room in seconds, from lighting to paintings and furniture

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Cork artist: 'Recovery from a spinal injury rekindled my dreams'

Cork artist: 'Recovery from a spinal injury rekindled my dreams'

Carol Ahern talks to Home Editor Eve Kelliher about how a spinal cord injury changed her 'life and perspective'

Sun, 18 Jan, 2026

How to use this year's light, bright colours in our homes

How to use this year's light, bright colours in our homes

'Colour is having an everything-goes moment, but many were surprised by Pantone’s announcement that a milky white is Colour of the Year for 2026'

Sat, 17 Jan, 2026

The Wild West heads east for a showdown in New York

The Wild West heads east for a showdown in New York

William I. Koch's historically valuable $50M Western art collection, including works by Remington, is auctioned at Christie's, reflecting Koch's pursuit of authenticity.

Sat, 17 Jan, 2026

Revealed: The five secrets to selecting your super sofa

Revealed: The five secrets to selecting your super sofa

Kya deLongchamps shares five super seating secrets to making that essential purchase

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

Peter Dowdall pays tribute to Seamus O'Brien, a conservationist, colleague and friend

Peter Dowdall pays tribute to Seamus O'Brien, a conservationist, colleague and friend

The head gardener of the National Botanic Garden, Kilmacurragh, made a major contribution to Irish and international plant conservation

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

Clematis 'Montana rubens.' Grows to 9 - 10 metres. Flowers in May. Needs moist, fertile soil. Chalk is beneficial.

Gardening: A beginner’s guide to pruning clematis

With good choices and sensible pruning, you can enjoy clematis all year round — but when it comes to pruning, you need to know your groups

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026

Jennifer Sheahan: New year, new paint colours

Jennifer Sheahan: New year, new paint colours

Check out the shades we can expect to see on walls this year

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026

Balcony power plant on an apartment building

Can I install solar panels on my apartment balcony to cut energy costs?

I live in an apartment. Can I install a solar-PV balcony system to reduce my energy bills?

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Killarney woman reveals what it's like to have Dermot Bannon transform her home

Killarney woman reveals what it's like to have Dermot Bannon transform her home

Homeowner Norita O’Donoghue and architect Dermot Bannon talk to Eve Kelliher about filming tonight's episode of RTÉ’s ‘Room to Improve’

Sun, 11 Jan, 2026

Woman reading in dark room

Home Q&A: The fastest way to report a power cut

If the power dies, check your fuse box first to ensure nothing has tripped, and if it has, try resetting it

Sun, 11 Jan, 2026

Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott: Period perfection meets future interior trends

Zooey Deschanel and Jonathan Scott: Period perfection meets future interior trends

Renovation and reinvention are on the horizon. Carol O'Callaghan takes her cue from the trendwatchers

Sat, 10 Jan, 2026

National Gallery puts art inspired by Turner in the picture

National Gallery puts art inspired by Turner in the picture

Artists inspired by JMW Turner and Hilma af Klint feature in upcoming shows, writes Des O'Sullivan

Sat, 10 Jan, 2026

Canaletto's theatrical masterpiece brings Venice to New York

Canaletto's theatrical masterpiece brings Venice to New York

A theatrical masterpiece is up for auction at Christie's, writes Des O'Sullivan

Sat, 10 Jan, 2026

Anonymous Woman Making a Meal in a Microwave Oven

How to reduce our exposure to microplastics in the home

Kya deLongchamps shares advice on how to minimise the presence of minuscule fragments of plastic in our living spaces

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Peter Dowdall: 'Cork showed real imagination in 1985 when it turned a derelict site into a public park'

Peter Dowdall: 'Cork showed real imagination in 1985 when it turned a derelict site into a public park'

Urban green areas are not just outdoor sitting rooms, writes Peter Dowdall as he contemplates the redeveloped Bishop Lucey Park

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Save or Splurge? We try two armchairs in cosy, tactile fabrics

Save or Splurge? We try two armchairs in cosy, tactile fabrics

Sink into seating so inviting you'd almost be tempted to stay sitting pretty until spring has sprung

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Jennifer Sheahan: I live in a tiny home. This is how I declutter

Jennifer Sheahan: I live in a tiny home. This is how I declutter

'A January clearout is not a ruthless drive for minimalism but a necessity -- my tiny home has storage limitations'

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Budget or Blowout? We give two heat-pump dryers a whirl

Budget or Blowout? We give two heat-pump dryers a whirl

The lowdown on two German-designed heat-pump dryers, from settings to energy-efficiency

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

At home

Home Q&A: How to dry clothes indoors safely and sustainably

When it's cold and wet outside, there are ways to be more eco-friendly with our tumble-dryer use

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Vogue Williams launches chic new furniture range

Vogue Williams launches chic new furniture range

Eve Kelliher checks out the podcaster's new collection with EZ Living Furniture

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Peter Dowdall: Trees like this oak in Rochestown in Cork root us in the wider story

Peter Dowdall: Trees like this oak in Rochestown in Cork root us in the wider story

'To stand in front of a tree that has lived far beyond our lifetime is to be reminded that what we do now will shape the world long after we’re gone'

Thu, 25 Dec, 2025

Catwalk colour trends to brighten up our homes for 2026

Catwalk colour trends to brighten up our homes for 2026

Kya deLongchamps looks into fashion-forward colour-rich themes for the year ahead

Sun, 21 Dec, 2025

How to buy furniture in the sales — and avoid costly mistakes

How to buy furniture in the sales — and avoid costly mistakes

Winter sales, which often start on December 26 and stretch beyond January, offer a chance to pick up that essential piece for your home

Sat, 20 Dec, 2025

New York art sales generate nearly €2 billion in a week

New York art sales generate nearly €2 billion in a week

Connoisseurs drove the recovery of the market in the last quarter, writes Des O'Sullivan

Sat, 20 Dec, 2025

Nativity scene by Pieter Brueghel the Younger's painting sells for nearly €6m

Nativity scene by Pieter Brueghel the Younger's painting sells for nearly €6m

'The Census at Bethlehem' sold for above its estimate, for £5,164,000 (€5,903,300), at Sotheby's Old Masters and 19th-century paintings auction in London this month

Sat, 20 Dec, 2025

Christmas Lights

How to save money by keeping energy bills low this festive season

Ensure the next bi-monthly bill is not a new year’s kick up the kilowatts. Use seasonal savvy so power costs don't skyrocket, says Kya deLongchamps

Thu, 18 Dec, 2025

Jennifer Sheahan: How to make your own Christmas crackers and gingerbread truffles

Jennifer Sheahan: How to make your own Christmas crackers and gingerbread truffles

As the countdown begins in earnest, these are quick and easy ways to make your own fun and sustainable festive treats

Wed, 17 Dec, 2025

Solar panel generate electricity for ev charger

Is a home battery worth the cost? The 2026 pros and cons of PV solar storage in Ireland

Should we include a battery in every new PV-solar system?

Sat, 13 Dec, 2025

Antiques: Silver chess set, fine art and furniture at James Adam auction

Antiques: Silver chess set, fine art and furniture at James Adam auction

Grandmaster collectors will find everything from a silver chess set to fine art at James Adam, writes Des O'Sullivan

Sat, 13 Dec, 2025

Des O'Sullivan: While Francis Bacon and Sean Scully are to the fore abroad but the Irish art market must evolve

Des O'Sullivan: While Francis Bacon and Sean Scully are to the fore abroad but the Irish art market must evolve

'Paintings by Irish turn-of-the-20th-century and later artists are in short supply. The best are in public and private collections from which they emerge only rarely'

Sat, 13 Dec, 2025

Out with Celtic-Tiger-era stark whites: Warm neutrals and espresso browns are making a comeback in Irish homes

Out with Celtic-Tiger-era stark whites: Warm neutrals and espresso browns are making a comeback in Irish homes

Inspiration is coming thick and fast for spring-time decorating projects as new colours launch

Sat, 13 Dec, 2025

Wish List: Seven savvy buys to spruce up your home

Wish List: Seven savvy buys to spruce up your home

Mary Cate Smith picks perfect plants, sources a classic read, and perks up as she brews green caffeine potion

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

Cat wearing scarf walking on the snow

Peter Dowdall: Walk on the wild side and seek out sustainable winter garden bling

'Real garden sparkle comes from those tough, generous, wildlife-friendly beauties that actually belong outdoors in our climate'

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

How to make your Christmas bulbs last longer

Gardening: How to make your Christmas bulbs last longer

If you're considering buying bulbs to add to your yuletide decor, think carefully about when you buy them and where you put them

Thu, 11 Dec, 2025

Backyard after a Week of Rain

Garden Q&A: My lawn looks a mess this winter. What can I do?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

A Jack Russell Terrier running in backyard with steel fence and green lawn.

Home Q&A: I want to adopt a dog, but my garden is not fenced

My garden is very rural and not enclosed, but I am at home most of the day. What can I do to change the animal charities' minds?

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

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