Home & Living, April 2016

Welcome

T

o Home & Living this month! Our weather is brightening (apart from the odd storm warning) so it’s time to look to the outside of our homes and get it summer ready!

Our garden feature this month showcases The Killarney Park Hotel Terrace Garden. It gives you a whole host of ideas for your own patio and outdoor space. If you don’t have a garden, take a look at our orchid arrangement and enjoy your creative side by bringing the garden into your home.

I am lusting after a new patio set and our Notebook page gives our top picks for dining al fresco.

Happy gardening and enjoy sitting out and admiring your work when it is done!

Yours in decorating,

Noelle

and the Killarney Advertiser Team

You’re Invited! . . . to a free in-store customer event at Pat McDonnell Paints, Tralee.

Hear from leading Colourtrend Colour Consultant, Adele Roche and learn lots of Hints & Tips from all our team.

Contact us at decorating@killarneyadvertiser.ie

Sparking interest A FIRE bowl is a great way to encourage your guests or family to sit out and enjoy the garden. It makes a wonderful conversation spot as you generally have no technology in your garden.

So take a break from your TV, phone or tablet and toast some marshmallows over an open fire.

Why not do a spot of cooking in the Morso Forno outdoor oven – perfect for pizza.

Check out the outdoor living range, including the Forno oven and outdoor fire pit, available from Boyles Patio and Stove Centre, Tralee, see info@ boylesstovecentre.com

Book your place with a member of our Tralee team at 066 719 0990

Choose between 12-1pm & 2-3pm, Saturday, 7th May

Venue Manor West Retail Park, Tralee

info@mcdonnellpaints.ie | www.mcdonnellpaints.ie

Home & Living - April 29

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Note book TAKE a seat and enjoy your garden We all live hectic lives but there is nothing more calming than five minutes with a coffee in the garden, or when the weather warms up, dining al fresco en famille, sans technology to recharge our batteries.

Here are some of our top picks for those picture-perfect moments outside.

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Roma Rattan 6 seater Round Set e2,399, Ballyseedy Garden Centre The Hvar Lantern Collection e377.95 for all three, Meadows & Byrne Greywood 6 seater Acacia, MD O'Shea's Roma Rattan Bistro Set e799 Ballyseedy Garden Centre Sheffield Bistro Set e169 Meadows & Byrne

WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN THIS MONTH YOU can still plant lily bulbs in pots for summer colour. These are great as you can move them around the garden or patio. Use a good multi-purpose compost and a 12-inch pot is sufficient for three bulbs. Cover with more compost and water.

Dig a 5cm or more layer of compost or manure into your bed.

Apply some mulch around your trees and shrubs.

Feed your trees and shrubs. Honeysuckle and clematis will now be putting on growth, tie in new stems.Trim your winter flowering heathers.

Deadhead daffodils and tulips, leave the foliage intact to die back naturally.

Plants

Expert Planting Advice

Fencing

Garden Furniture

Shanahans Garden Centre Shanahans Garden Centre, Farranfore, Co. Kerry

t: 066-9764211 e: kerryflowers@eircom.net

Bring your garden inside WE ALL love the idea of bringing the outdoors in, and an orchid arrangement will help you do just that. It’s really simple to put together a stunning orchid display. All you need is a pot or bowl from around the house.

I’ve used a footed white bowl from Lane Brothers in Tralee and an old trifle bowl for mine. I also have some orchid compost, from Ballyseedy Garden Centre, and moss from my garden.

I left the orchids in their plastic pots (for ease of soaking them later) and just placed the orchid compost around them to keep them steady. You can add some small ivy plants if you like, pop the moss on top and voila, you have a very professional-looking orchid arrangement for your table.

Word to the wise – keep it out of direct sunlight.

Water orchids when they dry out and don’t ever leave them sitting in water, as root rot sets in and your orchid will die. Depending on where your orchid is situated it will dry out at different times. Just check it regularly and put it under the tap allowing all the water to run through.

You should also mist your moss and orchid replacing the moss when it goes brown.

Then just sit back with your cup of coffee, relax and admire your fabulous handiwork!

Before Home & Living - April 29

Let fabulous fabrics enhance your home HAVING fun with fabric and wallpaper colours and textures can transform any home into a palace.

Lorraine Wall of Wall’s Interiors created the elegantly classic yet modern ambience in this Georgian-style residence in Mallow. “It is a period home but I have added a few contemporary colours for a young feel, as it is home to a young family,” said Lorraine.

“I went for bold colours on chairs and accent pieces, as well as choosing wallpaper appropriately for children’s rooms. There is some old-style furniture but with a blast of colour at the same time.”

The wallpaper choices include pieces from the Casadeco range as well as fabrics from the Harlequin Amazilia range.

The bathroom features Sanderson Vintage wallpaper in the Squirrel and Dove design while bedroom wallpaper selections as well as fabrics are relaxing and comfortable.

Some of the eye-catching furniture in the house uses fabric from the Fontington upholstery range.

The kitchen cushion fabric on the windows is from the Prestigious Mezzo collection.

The Persian rug in the hallway picks up the teal and duck-egg blue theme.

Wall’s Interiors, Mallow, can be contacted on 022-21972 and email lorrainewallinteriors@gmail.com or see www.wallsinteriors.ie

“I went for bold colours on chairs and accent pieces"

Walls interiors Harlequ in Amazilia Fabrics

GET THE LOOK Co rco ran's Qu ee n An

Co rcora n's A sh

n Ch air €599

le y Bed

Hal-Lou Furnishings Chaise Longe La rge Lib rar Myle sto ne Interior y Book ca se s €2,199. 00

Co rco ra n's Win g

Ch ai r €639

Fren ch Grey Farrow & Ball Pat McDonnell Paints Home & Living - April 29

How to Prepare and Paint your Deck Your guide for the perfect painted deck

by Pat McDonnell Paints 1. Your decking timber should be free from dust, dirt, mildew, algae and other contaminants. That’s why we always recommend that you use a suitable cleaner before you paint.

2. Decking cleaners are specially formulated to clean and revive weathered or tired looking deck boards, they remove moss, mould, algae and prepare the surface for your coating. We recommend Farbex Multi-Surface Cleaner as your decking cleaner (refer to manufactures instructions on how to use) 3. If your deck has any nail holes or cracks always fill these with suitable External Timber filler. We recommend Prestonette and Osmo Exterior wood fillers.

4. We recommend using either Sikkens HLS or Ronseal Decking Oil/Stains for your deck

5. Always use a high quality applicator when coating your deck, we recommend a 3” or 4” Brush ether by Wooster, Corona, or Harper and Green. Refer to manufactures guide if you can use a Roller as some brands need to be applied by brush only.

6. With all your preparation work done, start at the far end of your deck and apply your coating one/two boards at a time in the direction of the woodgrain.

7. Apply your product in long, smooth strokes and always coat end to end - never stop half way through to start the next board(s) as you will get a uneven finish 8. Most new decks will require two/three coats, a previously coated deck one/two. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions

‘WE ARE CARETAKERS OF THE PLANET’ ON THURSDAY evening last a large crowd gathered at the new Renewable Energy Centre in Cremur for an information evening on renewable energy systems. Various speakers gave an insight into the broad range of renewable technologies which are now available at Cremur to those wishing to go green and play their part in the race to becoming carbon neutral.

The information night covered a full range of sustainable and renewable technologies which included heat pumps, heat recovery and demand control ventilation, solar PV and thermal, thermodynamics, underfloor heating and external air stoves. The new energy showroom has a full range of demonstration and operational models of the various systems on display, covering all aspects of renewable technologies.

“Our aim is to provide high spec, cutting edge renewable technologies, which are affordable to those both planning new builds as well as those wishing to upgrade or retro-fit these systems,” said a spokesperson.

“Cremur provides a full installation service from initial site visit to system design, meeting client’s expectations with final handover of their new heating/ventilation systems. We guarantee and fully stand over all of the renewable technologies which we have on show in the new renewable energy centre.”

For the homeowner who wishes to install a reliable and advanced heating system, which is highly efficient and reduces their energy bills, the renewable energy centre at Cremur is a one-stop shop for sustainable and comfortable living that won’t cost the earth. By installing one of these systems homeowners can greatly reduce their cost of living whilst doing their bit for the environment helping to secure its future for generations to come.

“Think Renewables – Think Cremur”

“With the right approach you can rescue your deck and make it as good as new again!”

Aidan McDonnell Director, Pat McDonnell Paints

Pat Crean, Willia m Kirby, Stephen Walsh, Ger O'Keeffe, Darragh Crean, Ollie Hughes, Mike Teahon and Barry Twomey.

Pat Crean, Willia m Kirby, Stephen Walsh, Ger O'Keeffe, Darragh Crean, Ollie Hughes, Mike Teahon and Barry Twomey.

Exa mples of Conor McCarthy’s work at The Terrace at The Killarney Park Hotel and elsewhere.

Conor brings the outside in ONE gardening expert who is perfectly placed when it comes to making the most of the room outside is Conor McCarthy.

Conor, of McCarthy Landscape, offers everything from design concept to execution when it comes to creating enviable gardens for both private and business premises.

“I like the idea of connecting nature with the interior of a building,” said Conor.

In addition, it is Conor and his team that take care of the window boxes throughout Killarney, ensuring they look their pictureperfect best throughout the year and catch the attention of locals and visitors alike as well as those all-important Tidy Towns judges.

“Last year was the first year I took on the window boxes and I succeeded John Fuller in the role,” said Conor.

Not only that, but his work at the five-star Killarney Park Hotel’s Terrace Garden has won him a whole legion of new fans. “I sourced all the plants at Shanahan’s Garden Centre in Farranfore for The Terrace and Hogan Associates were the architects involved in the terrace job while the construction work was carried out by a building contractor,” said Conor.

Conor’s eye for detail comes from his design background and formerly worked in an architect’s office.

“About 50% of my work is new landscaping jobs and the other 50% is groundskeeping, for instance in hotels,” said Conor.

You can contact Conor at McCarthy Landscape on 087-2738110.

Home & Living - April 29

Birdwatch TO ENSURE you have some pretty birds to watch out for this summer, don’t forget to keep your feeders topped up with nuts, seeds, fats or make a bird cake with your kids. Pour some fat over cake or bread, add some seeds, nuts, oatmeal, grated cheese or dried fruits. Use a half-pound of fat per pound of dry ingredients.

Coconut shells or yoghurt cartons make suitable moulds. Hang from a tree or a hook. Fruit is also great and may attract several bids which may not otherwise visit your garden.

Keep an eye out for tree creepers which are so sweet to watch with their distinctive behaviour of creeping up trees looking quietly for food. When it reaches the top of a tree, it flies down to the base of another tree.

Coconut and Bird

Soak up the sun IF YOU are lucky enough to have a sunroom or conservatory or are planning an extension take a look at Corcoran’s new range of conservatory furniture called Sergio.

Make your sunroom or conservatory a place where you will want to enjoy your garden on a wet day or sit in the sun with a relaxing drink after work.

SUMMER GARDENING TIP Use shade cloth SHADE cloth can be essential during the summer Tree fragile Creeper... months. You can use it to protect young seedlings/starts or give larger, more established plants a break from the heat. Shade cloth is available at many garden, home and department stores. There are different grades of “shade” available, depending on the intensity of the sun you are attempting to partially block out. You should also be able to find metal hoops (semi-circles) that can be placed over your garden beds to prevent the shade cloth from touching or damaging plants.