Homes, Interiors & Gardens - Irish Examiner

Sign in

<p>Outdoor furniture from Ikea, left, and Bo Concept, right.</p>

home and gardens

Save or Splurge? We try two metal garden furniture sets

Lightweight metal tables and chairs are perfect for Ireland’s changeable weather

<p>The Away hard-shell carry-on suitcase. </p>

home and gardens

Wish List: Super suitcases, cool kitchen gadgets, perfect picnic blankets

<p>If your plants are looking pale and tired or are not performing, chances are they're hungry, says Peter Dowdall. File picture</p>

home and gardens

Garden Q&A: Should I be feeding my plants regularly?

Antiques: A hot Georgian wine cooler and a cool Edwardian desk in Cork

home and gardens

Antiques: A hot Georgian wine cooler and a cool Edwardian desk in Cork

Lupin flowers in bloom at Lake Tekapo

home and gardens

Peter Dowdall: How to give lupins the TLC they need to thrive

'I live in a tiny house. Here's how I use mirrors to expand space'

home and gardens

'I live in a tiny house. Here's how I use mirrors to expand space'

Photovoltaic

home and gardens

Home Q&A: What's the best way to use farm buildings for their solar energy potential?

Kya deLongchamps.jpeg

How to turn your living space into a sustainable super home

Home with veranda at night

home and gardens

Home Q&A: How do I qualify for the solar electricity PV grant?

Interior design ideas for every home at London's Wow!house

Interior design ideas for every home at London's Wow!house

We visit the ultimate interior design showhouse, where we find ideas to elevate spaces and rooms of all sizes and styles

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

'I turned my car into a tiny home on wheels. See the small-space living ideas I love'

'I turned my car into a tiny home on wheels. See the small-space living ideas I love'

The former Home of the Year winner takes to the roads of Kerry in her car-turned-microcamper for her annual summer adventure

Sun, 15 Jun, 2025

Laura Nolan Horgan: 'A tablecloth makes people sit longer at the table'

Laura Nolan Horgan: 'A tablecloth makes people sit longer at the table'

From vision boards to reality, Laura Nolan Horgan reveals how a health crisis helped her shape her dream life

Sun, 15 Jun, 2025

Paint primer: How to know your emulsion from your acrylic

Paint primer: How to know your emulsion from your acrylic

Kya deLongchamps offers a brush-up with the perfect summer paint guide

Sun, 15 Jun, 2025

Garden Digest: Summer events for your diary

Garden Digest: Summer events for your diary

Exhibitions, shows and demonstrations

Sun, 15 Jun, 2025

Wish List: Eight fun and fab buys to liven up our homes inside and out

Wish List: Eight fun and fab buys to liven up our homes inside and out

We clock analogue timepieces and salute SodaStream's sparkling successors

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Antiques: Oscar Wilde's desk and a royal carriage bag

Antiques: Oscar Wilde's desk and a royal carriage bag

Heritage, history, beauty and rarity at an upcoming auction, writes Des O'Sullivan

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Antiques and Fine Art: London calling for Treasure House Fair

Antiques and Fine Art: London calling for Treasure House Fair

Des O'Sullivan eyes the spectacular collectables at the Treasure House Fair

Sat, 14 Jun, 2025

Cast your vote for Ireland's favourite buildings and spaces

Cast your vote for Ireland's favourite buildings and spaces

Eve Kelliher checks out the variety of architectural designs in the running for RIAI Public Choice awards

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

sunsplashed window

Let more light into your home without adding extra windows

Brighten up your home without installing a new window. Kya deLongchamps has illuminating tricks

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

opened pvc window in room at apartment

Home Q&A: What's the best and fastest way to clean windows?

Clean windows are a real summer pleasure and this two-ingredient sparkle hit will transform how you wipe down your glazing

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

Flowers on the mountain field during sunrise. Beautiful natural landscape in the summer time

Peter Dowdall: How to create a wildlfower garden rich in biodiversity

'We must manage expectations when planting a native wildflower mix. What emerges might not be a Hallmark image of a meadow, but something that looks more like a ditch, and that’s exactly the point'

Fri, 13 Jun, 2025

Wish List: Eight fun and fab buys to liven up our homes inside and out

Wish List: Eight fun and fab ideas for summer living

Mary Cate Smith clocks analogue timepieces and salutes the SodaStream's sparkling successors

Thu, 12 Jun, 2025

Why are our gardens being invaded by aphids?

Garden Q&A: Why are our gardens being invaded by aphids?

A warm spring has encouraged rapid and early colony growth, with many aphids to be found now on acers, roses and honeysuckle

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

Summer garden

Garden Q&A: What flowers should we plant for colour at a July wedding?

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

Mon, 09 Jun, 2025

Save or Splurge? Glass cabinets for a dining room or kitchen

Save or Splurge? Glass cabinets for a dining room or kitchen

They're trending in living spaces and we check out two glass-fronted cabinets that would look good in a dining area or kitchen

Mon, 09 Jun, 2025

Colorful garden

Garden Digest: Ideas and club events for your June diary

Check out all the garden visits, tours, talks, events, campaigns and online resources for the room outside

Sun, 08 Jun, 2025

All aboard: Cork bus station and port are just the ticket for bride

All aboard: Cork bus station and port are just the ticket for bride

As Cork’s cityscape stars in a designer photoshoot, Eve Kelliher talks to the creatives involved

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025

Backyard with barbeque and dining table

Barbecue glow-up: Budget-friendly ideas for outdoor entertaining

Here are six super ways to get the summer party started. They're cost-effective, trending, and will elevate your al-fresco experience

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025

Everything from dinosaurs to dining sets at two summer sales

Everything from dinosaurs to dining sets at two summer sales

Des O'Sullivan finds plenty to enhance spaces indoors and outdoors at a garden sale in Cavan and an online event by James Adam

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025

Wish List: Eight ideas to treat ourselves and loved ones

Wish List: Eight ideas to treat ourselves and loved ones

Esther McCarthy spots surprises for seafarers and a bamboo bonanza for birdwatchers

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025

Antiques: Dealers and collectors under starter's orders at Limerick Racecourse this weekend

Antiques: Dealers and collectors under starter's orders at Limerick Racecourse this weekend

More than 60 stands offer everything from Irish art and furniture to jewellery, silver, vintage fashion, militaria, coins and banknotes to porcelain

Sat, 07 Jun, 2025

Lemon ice tea

Peter Dowdall: How to grow your own summer cocktail botanicals and garnishes

You don’t even have to have a large garden — a few well-chosen pots on a sunny windowsill or patio can give you everything you need

Fri, 06 Jun, 2025

Animal magnetism: How to use sculpture to create a garden focal point

Animal magnetism: How to use sculpture to create a garden focal point

Peter Dowdall highlights the importance of creating a focal point in the garden

Fri, 06 Jun, 2025

Six ways to use mirrors in your garden or outdoor space

Six ways to use mirrors in your garden or outdoor space

Mirrors can reflect your style in any type of outdoor zone from a tiny balcony to a sprawling yard or patio area

Thu, 05 Jun, 2025

Home Q&A: What's the most sustainable real-flame heating for outdoors?

Home Q&A: What's the most sustainable real-flame heating for outdoors?

When you burn anything outside, including timber, it produces carbon dioxide, and therefore it has a carbon footprint

Thu, 05 Jun, 2025

White bathroom, white tub

How to get 'The White Lotus' look in your home interiors

As the HBO social satire returns to our screens, the five-star set design is getting trendsters talking

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Lupines on the shore of Lake Tekapo

Garden Q&A: What causes holes in lupin leaves, and what's the remedy?

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

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Save or Splurge? Striped summer cushions for indoors and out

Save or Splurge? Striped summer cushions for indoors and out

Here are two of our favourite picks. And whether cushions are designer buys or high-street treats, make sure you bring them inside at night

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

House and garden

Home Q&A: All you need to know about Local Property Tax changes

As property values have increased by 23% nationwide from November 2021 to December 2024, it's worth noting certain changes

Mon, 02 Jun, 2025

Jennifer Sheahan: How to use paint and pattern to transform any room

Jennifer Sheahan: How to use paint and pattern to transform any room

Used cleverly, the right colours and patterns can make a small room feel spacious, a large room feel cosy, a low ceiling appear higher'

Mon, 02 Jun, 2025

Garden Digest: Summer events for your diary

Garden Digest: Summer events for your diary

We check out the garden ideas, tours, fairs and online resources available to help you boost your room outside

Sun, 01 Jun, 2025

Green plants on city building roofs

Easy home improvements that don't require planning permission

We can make dramatic changes to a property without planning permission under specific conditions, says Kya deLongchamps. She reveals the best projects to crack on with this summer

Sat, 31 May, 2025

Works by leading Irish and international artists at outdoor exhibition in Cork

Works by leading Irish and international artists at outdoor exhibition in Cork

Des O'Sullivan previews the contemporary art and sculpture event in the grounds of Castlemartyr Resort

Sat, 31 May, 2025

Nine foot beauty queen portrait sets auction record for a living female artist

Nine foot beauty queen portrait sets auction record for a living female artist

'Miss January' by Marlene Dumas shows a beauty queen nude from the waist down, apart from a pink sock

Sat, 31 May, 2025

Inside Out: From a Lego garden to a paint colour called Fairy Fort

Inside Out: From a Lego garden to a paint colour called Fairy Fort

Home Editor Eve Kelliher spies six snazzy ideas to brighten up our lives and our living spaces this summer

Fri, 30 May, 2025

Hallways: Interior designers show how to make an entrance

Hallways: Interior designers show how to make an entrance

Hallways should be an inviting space rather than a dumping ground for shoes. We talk to the team from TV's 'The Salvage Squad'

Fri, 30 May, 2025

Cork snappers in the picture for quarter-century celebration

Cork snappers in the picture for quarter-century celebration

East Cork Camera Group to showcase a stunning collection of images in Midleton to celebrate its landmark 25th anniversary

Fri, 30 May, 2025

How a pergola adds drama and focus to your summer garden

How a pergola adds drama and focus to your summer garden

A pergola can also serve year-round, as an airy overhang on the patio or free-standing, marking out a sitting position

Fri, 30 May, 2025

Sidewalk with nicely manicured landscape and brick houses in England

Home Q&A: How to make a complaint about an unauthorised development

'Making a complaint regarding planning is something to weigh carefully, as it’s a serious (but sometimes necessary) thing to do'

Wed, 28 May, 2025

Jennifer Sheahan: Find the perfect sofas and armchairs for a tiny home

Jennifer Sheahan: Find the perfect sofas and armchairs for a tiny home

Small-space living doesn't mean compromising on style or comfort

Tue, 27 May, 2025

Peter Dowdall: Action stations at Mallow Home & Garden Festival

Peter Dowdall: Action stations at Mallow Home & Garden Festival

We sampled the atmosphere at Mallow Home & Garden Festival as it took up Chelsea Flower Show's 'resilient gardening' baton

Mon, 26 May, 2025

Tomatoes

Garden Q&A: Why are the leaves on my tomato plants curling?

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

Mon, 26 May, 2025

Wish List: Eight ideas for home and outdoor living this summer

Wish List: Eight ideas for home and outdoor living this summer

Mary-Cate Smith admires a mirror, clocks a cool timepiece and finds tempting tablescaping accoutrements to elevate backyard cookouts

Mon, 26 May, 2025

Art worth millions to change hands at Dublin sales

Art worth millions to change hands at Dublin sales

Des O'Sullivan previews auctions headed by Paul Henry (Whyte's), Gerard Dillon (deVeres) and Roderic O'Conor (James Adam)

Sat, 24 May, 2025

Garden Digest: May and June events for your diary

Garden Digest: May and June events for your diary

Garden shows, demonstrations, fundraisers and a Munster rugby legend

Sat, 24 May, 2025