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

Irish Examiner

14-06-2025

Inner pieces
Analogue activities are making a major comeback, from mindful colouring to crafting with clay. Research shows that puzzles allow you to slow down, disconnect, and strengthen the short-term memory.
Shop Vibes & Scribes' handpicked selection of art and travel-inspired jigsaws with pieces catering for jigsaw juniors to power puzzlers.
Pieces & Peace Souk Marrakech, €24.99, transports me right back to a wonderful week I spent in Morocco, captivated by the colours, textures, and flavours of the beautiful Berber country.
Pop into the store to browse the full range or shop online at Vibesandscribes.ie.
Al-fresco furniture
Interiors lovers, here's a tip: carve out some time in your schedule to visit family-run business Bracken's, situated in the Gorey Business Park. I've fallen head over heels for the Nardi Maximo outdoor five-piece modular sofa.
Made from regenerated resin and textiles infused with recycled content, it isn't afraid of a bit of bad weather. Imagine you and your doggos, cats, or humans stretching out on this bad boy with a book/treat/toy mouse.
For smaller spaces, Bracken's has plenty of quality alternatives for different spaces and budgets. Run, don't walk to this department store of dreams, visit the website,Brackeninteriors.ie at your own risk.
Blooming bargains
If you think ditching the plastic-wrapped fresh fruit and veg is but a smug move, think again. Anyone who has tasted the flavours and aromas of fresh, seasonal, local produce will admit the contrast is undeniable.
One of my favourite stalls in the English Market in Cork is The Roughty Foodie, offering the Holy Trinity of farmers' produce, fruit, veg, and the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. From wild sweet peas grown in Howe Hill to Bushby's chemical-free strawberries and pink peonies, their bouquets are incredibly well-priced.
Houseplants range from €4 and bunches from €7. Check out @theroughtyfoodie on Instagram and the website at Theroughtyfoodie.com.
Carbonated comeback
There was so much to love about the 80s; hair metal, yellow Walkmans, mix tapes and Tom Selleck's moustache. Along with chained-up payphones (what was that about?), the most coveted item in any 80s household was the SodaStream.
Transforming your water and drinks into sparkling sodas, the technology behind it was fantastical. As a diehard San Pellegrino sparkling water fan, a carbonator would save me money and waste.
Highly reviewed is the Aarke Carbonator 3 Sparkling Water Maker, €210, a sleek stainless-steel device with a matte burgundy finish. Created by those harbingers of taste, the Swedes, the aesthetic will not just blend into your kitchen but elevate its surroundings.
The reviews are unanimously good, plus it's BPA, cordless and electricity-free. Get yours at Faerly (Faerly.ie), an Irish online shop with sustainability at its heart and plastic-free shopping to boot.
Mapping our history
Long before we relied on Google Maps, paper maps were as commonplace as the white sliced pan. From the treasure maps made by older sisters to Easter egg hunts and roadside consultations, maps formed part of the fabric of daily life.
As a post-colonial nation, it feels especially poignant to reclaim the landscape, original boundaries and Irish place names of the past. I haven't seen anything on the market that resembles these charming 3D wooden maps from Sligo business Outcrop.
From €99, this West Cork map showing Kenmare, Sheep's Head, Bantry Bay, and Mizen Head is crafted from formaldehyde-free bamboo plywood and comes with a custom-made engraving. Purchase online at Outcrop.ie.
Eternal flames
No screensaver can ever imitate the truly mesmerising look of fire burning from a wood-fired stove. Studies indicate the hypnotic flames of a real fire reduce blood pressure and calm the nervous system.
Regardless of inclement weather, the RB73 Quaruba XL mobile outdoor fireplace, €2,095 from Croghan in Wexford, will stand the test of time. Made with Corten steel, the stove rusts over time, forming a protective patina to combat erosion.
Chilly nights become cosy gatherings with this fire in your outdoor furniture arsenal. You may want to consider implementing a ban on acoustic guitars — just saying. This is available in-store or online at Croghan.ie.
Sleep on it
Sometimes we just want an item to do exactly what it says on the tin — no gimmicks, no fads. That's why I love this classic Monocle alarm clock from Unbound in Cork.
At just €16.99, you can set your alarm for the morning and actually leave your phone outside the bedroom.
I'll try anything for a good night's sleep: misting lavender, counting sheep, writing to worry dolls and shoving the poor craythurs under the pillow. But what if it was as simple as ditching the phone? Time to test the theory.
Available at unbound.com or at the Bridge Street store in Cork.
Negative space
Storage containers are my absolute weakness. Some people like hiking, others (ahem) like transporting items from one storage box to another one. Fruitless, maybe? Fun, oh, yes!
So, when I spotted this mini-stool with extra storage, I was already thinking of ways to fit it into my tiny house. The geometric striped stool in yellow ochre just screams summer.
It's available for €200 at Next or Next.com.