Bunny in my Cappuccino

On Monday I had a meeting with clients at one of my favourite spots in Limerick - The Sage Cafe at 67-68 Catherine Street. I ordered a cappuccino to give me an afternoon boost and this is what I found when I received it. I'd say my clients thought I was a bit nuts with my delighted reaction to receiving this charming little bunny face in my cappuccino as I had to take a photo but to me it put a little sparkle in my day and certainly a smile on my face.
Maybe it's those little things - like this - that give people a boost - make us smile and just help us keep going throughout the day.
We should all try to do something for someone to make their day a little bit nicer, happier and easier - whether it's holding open a door for someone and actually waiting for them to reach it, helping them with their groceries or walking them across the street - it makes them feel good and the good samaritan meter inside you will be shooting through the roof:)



So, what are you going to do today to brighten someone's day?

Bathrooms in Galway

This is kind of a silly post but being on the road all the time - I do have to know the best places to drop in for a coffee and yes, a trip to the bathroom. On several recent trips to Galway - I've come across some pretty stylish spots.

In the Hotel Meyrick in Eyre Square in Galway - this stylish bathroom greeted me. It was light and the wallaper added a fun graphic look. I stopped there for lunch the other day and had a delicious and simple Ploughmans' Lunch with thick bread, ham, cheddar and a little side salad. It hit the spot. It's a great place to pop in for a cuppa and a meet up with friends.

I finally step foot in the g Hotel a few weeks ago after reading about it and seeing photographs of it for sometime. It was just as I expected - filled with loads of colour and wit - unusual and fun. I was greeted by this dark moody bathroom which funnily enough did not suit the sunlight, colourful rooms outside but nonetheless it was chic and cool. I was tempted to stop for lunch in the g but it was a bit too early in the day so I had to move on. Next time though!

These wall tiles undulated giving the illusion of billowing padded walls.

Further north, just outside of Galway in Barna- the bathroom at The Twelve had this cool long communal sink in the middle and a huge gold framed mirror against the wall. The hotel is lovely and removed from the hubub of Galway city - I'd love to go back and stay--- maybe for my 10th wedding anniversary? No time for lunch there either but I'll make a point of stopping my next trip up to the City of Tribes.

Seen any cool bathrooms yourself lately? Always good to know about for us busy sales people on the road!!!

Traveling Around Ireland

My new full time job keeps me on the road pretty much every day of the week. To be honest, I don't mind it at all, after all there are some really great sites to behold from the windows of my car. I can't resist pulling over quickly by the side of the road and snapping some of the local views. This is the beautiful Rock of Cashel (not on the most beautiful day) but nonetheless a wonderful sight to see rising up over the landscape. It is going through a bit of restoration at the moment so on the other side there is a whole lot of scaffolding so I tried to capture the best view for you. For those of you that don't know, the Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for several hundred years prior to the Norman invasion. This was one of the first places I saw when I visited Ireland for the first time in 1998.

Below the Rock of Cashel are the ruins of Hore Abbey, a Cisterian Monastery. It sits in an open field surrounded by these walls covered with lush moss.

The town of Cashel itself is architecturally really beautiful and I'd never had a chance to walk through the town before. The courthouse is down a small side street.

This is a small boutique hotel on the main street, the name is escaping me right now.

The main square in Cashel.

This is the Cashel Palace Hotel - I only stepped inside briefly but it has wonderful old-world charm. It was built in 1730 in a Queen Anne style and is surrounded by 28 acres of gardens and land. Check out the website and you'll see what I mean http://www.cashel-palace.ie

This is Devil's Bit Mountain which is actually located 30 km from Cashel just outside Nenagh where I live. The reason I have a photo of this is that local legend actually says that the Devil took a bite (thus Devil's Bit) out of this mountain and flew off dropping it in Cashel to form the Rock of Cashel. You can hike to the top of this mountain which I have yet to do - hopefully this summer. If you look closely to the left of the "bit" there is a huge white cross up on the summit.

This is what it is like living in Ireland - history and legends surround us every day.

I love it!

Country Living Magazine's February Issue

I love this Buttercup and Daisies hand printed wallpaper from Katherine Morris. The woodwork has been painted in James acrylic eggshell paint by the Little Greene Paint Company. It is just the colour blue I am smitten with.

So sorry I've been so absent from my blog of late - with my new full time job - the week just gets away from me and while I have the best intentions of sitting down and hammering out some great posts - it seems my weekends often get occupied by doing much more interesting things such as laundry, cleaning and of course ironing!!! But we all have these things to do so I promise to try to make more of an effort.

As many of you know, the British edition of Country Living magazine is probably one of my most favourite magazines ever. I've been reading it for some 20 years and every issue always inspires me. It's not just their great decorating and cooking ideas but there incredibly enthusiasm for protecting the British countryside, British products, food producers and the animals that live in the countryside.

The photographs featured in this post were taken by Simon Bevan - and part of an article in the February issue called Best of British. As always, they were beautifully styled by Caroline Reeves and Ben Kendrick. The article encourages readers to invest in home-grown design and features a range of wonderful products from potters and artists to wood turners and textile designers.

This is such a great way to break up a big white wall. I love how the display shelves are also white so they almost disappear onto the wall. The mix of pillows on the grey sofa gives it the perfect dose of colour and it feels so inviting.

This wonderful still life of paint swatches, fabric and buttons is a little feast for the eye.

Yummy blue woodwork and that great big Belfast sink overlooking the garden is the ideal set up for a kitchen. The blind is made of Wicklewood linen in blue from Blithfield & Company.

I love the simplicity of this sunlit kitchen - especially that blue jug on the table and that cosy stack of throws.

Another lovely little still life with textiles and a charming blue an white bowl.

You'll be seeing more from my favourite mag in the upcoming posts - I just got the March issue and it is yet again packed with goodies. If you haven't read Country Living - do pick up a copy. It is the magazine I'd like to live inside!!

Rainbow Magic

I know you've all heard me talk about the amazing rainbows here in Ireland before but they never cease to make me smile and I marvel at their magic. The other day I was in Ballina/Killaloe and a rain storm came through in it's usual quick mad fashion. Of course it was still sunny and above you can see the church in Killaloe through the rain shower with the sun sinking low on the horizon. By the way, about 10 minutes earlier I was waiting at the traffic light down by Molly's pub in Ballina and the church bells, from that church, were playing Amazing Grace and it was travelling across the river to me sitting in Ballina. Another magical moment.

No sooner had the shower gone through when this is the sight, below, that I saw when I turned around in the other direction. Now you have to admit, that is magical isn't it? If you look closely you can actually see that it is a double rainbow - it's faint second tier off to the right.

On the back road to Nenagh along Lough Derg, this massive rainbow was stretched high and wide over this housing estate - unfortunately I could not capture it's full width.

But you get the picture!

It's sunny enough today that they could be out again. Enjoy your weekend.

An Irish Palladian In County Cavan

Above: John Coote and his Irish Wolfhounds.
The Autumn issue of Image Interiors magazine featured this beautiful Palladian house that is the home of interior designer John Coote. (All images taken by Rene Kramers and styled beautifully by Eoin Lyons) Bellamont Forest was designed by Sir Edward Lovette Pearce around 1730. Situated in Co. Cavan, it is considered to be one of Ireland's finest Palladian houses.

The house, which was actually owned by his ancestor, Captain Richard Coote who gambled away much of the estate and sold it in the 19th century to the Smith family. But in 1987, John arranged to pay the house a visit and found it was for sale - in a few short months it became his but it took 22 years to restore and revitalise the neglected property.

Above: The grand entrance hallway.
His hard work and dedication has paid off as the house now stands as an incredible example of fine Georgian architecture. Furnishings have been pared down and simplified to highlight the exquisite architectural details, flooring and grand spaces.

Above: The sitting room has a rug based on a 19th century English design - the cosy deep armchairs are part of the Coote & Co. collection of furniture designed by John.

Above left: A library filled with rich fabrics and plenty of books, right: contemporary blue and white porcelain from Amsterdam.

Above: The dining room has a dramatic coffered ceiling and the table, another Coote & Co. design can sit up to sixteen people.

I just love these floorboards.

Above: The landing on the first floor features a magnificent cupola and more beautiful flooring made from a 150 year old Baltic bridge found in a salvage yard in Tipperary.

Above left: In his daughter's bedrooms, John used loads of fabric that he'd actually received from the Duchess of Abercorn - the effect is marvelous. Right: In another bedroom, a painting by Irish artist Robert Healy hangs above the bed.

Above: Beautiful examples of the fine stone flooring that was found under four inches of concrete.

Above: The outbuildings, when completed, will house 5 bedrooms suites, a concert hall and a showroom for Coote & Co.

Above: The new kitchen is in the vaulted basement space - ideal for big gatherings.

I find the house just beautiful in it's simplicity and it's dramatic architectural details and it so nice to read about someone who has basically dedicated the last two decades of his life to restoring this Palladian masterpiece to it's former glory.

To see more of the beautiful range of furniture that John designs - go to www.cooteandco.com.