H&L FEATURE OCTPBER 2019

Directory

WELCOME

TO OCTOBER’S HOME & LIVING

Winter has well and truly settled in it’s fires and blankets time!

Christmas decorations are starting to creep into shops, however I prefer to get Halloween out of the way first.

I have been tempted by festive displays, after all it's only 60 more sleeps until Santa and with the mid-term next week it will be here before we know it.

This month we are looking at living rooms. We have top tips for buying one of the big spend items for your home - the sofa. It’s a question I get asked a lot as it’s such an investment and both costly and uncomfortable when it goes wrong.

In next month’s Home and Living we will be knee deep picking out our favourite Christmas decorations, and of course the best gifts for all your interior minded family and friends.

Noelle Casey

and the Killarney Advertiser Team

ACCESSORIES Accessories are like jewellery for your home, and just like jewellery can make or break an outfit.

The right accessories can transform your space, so when you have your sofa and curtains all decided upon, the fun part of finding the perfect cushion, throw, picture to set off your scheme is next. McElligotts new accessories are well worth a look.

Corcoran's Furniture & Carpets Ltd. Hal-Lou Furnishings Sliding Wardrobes Maurice Prendiville Acme Blinds Factory Carpets Direct Ardfert Furniture Cremur Moriartys of Killorglin McElligotts Killarney Furniture & Carpet Centre Kadri Bormeiter Lots Ted Healy M.D. O'Shea Boyles The White Room

064-6691112 064-6632401 064-6620633 064-6632612 064-6620633 064-6639392 066-7134361 066-7124555 066-9790688 066-71 41327

www.corcoransfurniture.ie www.hal-loufurnishings.com www.komandor.ie

064 - 6631694 087-2826902 066-7194846 064-663 9000 064-6620200 066 976 1110 064-6640600

@killarneycarpetcentre (Facebook) @kadribormeister (Instagram) www.lotsworldwide.com www.dng.ie/branches/details/8853 www.mdoshea.ie www.toplineboyleskillorglin.ie www.thewhiteroomkenmare.com

www.acmeblinds.com www.factorycarpetsdirect.ie www.ardfertfurniture.com www.cremur.com www.mok.ie www.mcelligotts.ie

Weekly Deliveries Kerry, Cork & Limerick

Kelby Collection

Skyla Love Seat Watkins Collection

Loretta Corner Majella Collection

SLX Roman Blinds

Wood Roller Roman Blinds

Cahersiveen 066 9473026 Manor St, Tralee 066 7180541

Rock St, Tralee (Outlet Store) 066 7126779

Newcastle West 069 667777

Cork Road, Killarney

064 6691112 Home & Living | October 2019

CHOOSING CURTAINS

TO MAKE A ROOM STAND OUT As any decorator will tell you, curtains make a room — but only when chosen correctly.

When it comes to window treatments, it's a matter of colour and fabric, length and lining, and custom-made versus offthe-shelf. With so many decisions, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Here are some of our top tips:

Ready-made versus Made to Measure

Ready-made curtains are a great option, and they start at affordable prices. The pros are that you can buy them off the shelf and take them home ready to use.

They are often washable, so are very easy to keep clean. You'll find a good range of colours, including bright shades. The cons however, are that they are more expensive than the ready-made versions and you may not be able to find the perfect colour match for your room.

Also they don't normally have padding or blackout lining so won’t help retain heat.

They also come in set width and lengths which may not fit your window or need altering to do so.

To create a sophisticated atmosphere, choose neutral tones or self-prints. Colourful fabrics and bold textures are a

better choice if you’re looking to create a dramatic statement, but they can make a room feel a little smaller.

For warmth, heavier fabrics such as velvet and wool will exclude draughts, as will medium-weight fabrics, if lined and interlined.

Lightweight fabrics let daylight filter through, while pale colours reflect. If draughts and privacy aren't a problem, consider unlined curtains or sheers, alone or combined with a blind. Work with a big sample, at least two yards, since a smaller piece may not show the fabric's true drape. Also remember sunlight will fade fabrics over time. If the room in question gets a lot of light it's smart to avoid bright colours, since they tend to fade faster.

When it comes to fabric, linen, silk, faux silk and velvet are the best choices to use for window treatments since they tend to hang the best, but faux silk tends to be the most durable, and in a particularly sunny room, don't deteriorate as quickly as real silk.

A trick to remember when measuring hanging curtains higher than the window will give a sense of height to the room.

Clarke & Clarke & Ashley Wild available from Corcorans Furniture & Carpets

Home & Living | October 2019

Moriartys of Killorglin

TIPS FOR BUYING YOUR

PERFECT

Sofa

Buying a sofa is one of the most important investments you're likely to make for your home.

McElligotts Killarney McElligotts Killarney Most interior designers will tell you to invest in a good sofa as it’s a piece of furniture where we lounge, read, eat and drink, entertain family and friends, watch TV and sometimes even sleep - so it makes sense that we take the time to buy one that's going to last for years to come, right? And the saying 'buy-once cry once' comes to mind.

From taking measurements to choosing a good frame - these are things you should consider before buying a new sofa:

Try before you buy You know when you're on the hunt for a new mattress and you do the age-old bottom test? Well, the same theory applies to a sofa. The average sofa has a seat depth of at least 60cm, which gives plenty of room to manoeuvre if you have long legs and allows you to tuck them under if you're shorter. But seat depths do vary, so definitely try out different styles to ensure you get the one that suit all the family. It’s also very important to check the total width, excluding armrests, if you like to stretch out.

Good bones

When we shop for a sofa we tend to get lost in the looks but what it’s built on is as important. Ask what the frame is made from and what is the manufacture’s guarantee.

Spend as much as you can afford on a quality frame – it will see you through many years of lounging.

Sofa so good

Remember that what's inside a sofa is just as important as what's used on the outside. When it comes to the back and seat part, feather-filled cushions are high on comfort, but they will need regular plumping, while foam or fibre fillings may flatten out and lose their shape over time and may not be as comfortable to snuggle up in. Choosing a combination of feather and foam is the perfect compromise as feathers give the squish while the foam provides structure. Another option is back cushions filled with feathers and seat cushions filled with foam or fibre.

Fabric

Whether you go for a bold colour, pattern or a neutral, your choice of upholstery fabric will have a huge impact

on the room, so choose carefully to ensure it fits with your scheme. Natural materials may fade in strong sunlight, so go for a synthetic fabric if the sofa will be near a window. It's particularly important in a busy family home, and if you have a dog or cat, opt for a fabric that's easy to spot clean. Loose covers are another option, as they can be removed for cleaning and some are washable too.

Measure twice There’s an old saying ‘measure twice, cut once’, the same goes when you’re buying a sofa. There is honestly nothing worse than buying furniture that doesn't fit into your home, and you may not be able to return it, or if you can there may be a lead time of up to eight weeks. So, before you do anything - measure up. Get out the tape measure and make sure you're certain of the maximum sofa dimensions that will fit and suit your space. If you’re still not sure, get some paper and make a template on the floor. Also, check the dimensions of any doors the sofa will have to pass through on delivery – your unscuffed walls and the delivery guys will thank you.

Corcorans Home & Living | October 2019

Texture “I don’t know how to pull everything together?”

This is the question I get to asked thousands of times during design consultations.

The easiest way to tackle this is to start working with texture. The fabric headboard, soft furnishings and designer bedlinen will help to create that luxurious feeling that is so important for a good nights sleep.

During this project different materials, colours and patterns were mixed considering the style of the bedroom. The Waterford Crystal lamp helps to form a graceful atmosphere.

Interior design by Kadri Bormeister

BOOK NOW FOR…

on-site consultations • colour schemes design schemes • design consultation • house staging

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE

Add style

with accent chairs

When you’re furnishing your living room you don't have to go all ‘matchy matchy’ - in fact I would go as far as to say you shouldn't if you want to add depth and style to your room.

Buy one or two sofas, depending on the space available.

Also, use accent chairs which often pro-

vide better seating options when you have people around, and it can also work for members of your family that don't want to stretch out on a sofa but prefer a more structured seat. They are also a great way to add more personality, style, pattern or colour to a room.

Home & Living | October 2019