It’s never been more important to support local, independent retailers, so we’re highlighting a selection of Irish interior and lifestyle stores that offer lots of stylish pieces for your homes and special gifts for friends and family this Christmas – and all year round!
BTS Concept Store, Queen Street, Coleraine
BTS Concept Store is an interiors and lifestyle store based in Coleraine on the beautiful Causeway Coast. Inspired by the muted tones and natural textures of the coast, the store celebrates simple coastal living with a Nordic twist. Having launched as a pop up for three months in 2014, the store has grown year on year and relocated to larger premises in 2019. The bigger space allows owner Tracy McAllister to showcase more furniture, lighting and homeware from such brands Ferm Living, HAY, Normann Copenhagen, HK living, MUSTARD and Tom Raffield to name a few. As well as offering a carefully curated selection of furniture, lighting homeware and accessories the store launched a kids concept within the store this summer. k i d s @ BTS offers a range of unique gifts and clothing in muted tones from brands Liewood, Gray Label, Banwood, Wee Gallery, BIBS and Ferm kids. Customers can shop in-store, on Trouva and online at btsconceptstore.com
Find, Cow’s Lane, Temple Bar, Dublin
Find is both an online and bricks and mortar store dedicated to creating lasting and meaningful connections with the things that we live with and which surround us. It is about enduring relationships with antique, vintage, handmade and crafted items. Find is about creating mood-scapes of the reclaimed and reimagined brought together in environments that inspire and stimulate. Find specialise in design-orientated furniture, objects of true beauty and art pieces, selling everything from gilded skulls to preloved furniture, handmade goods, organic skincare, jewellery and Annie Sloan Chalk paint. Through it’s unique photography and styling Find also offers an enjoyable, engaging and easy to use online shopping experience at findonline.ie
2020 ART, Kings Road, Whitehead
Textile artist Vicki Foster recently opened the doors of 2020 ART in September. Based in the idyllic seaside town of Whitehead, Co. Antrim, 2020 ART is a contemporary gallery/gift shop representing emerging and established Irish artists. ‘I’ve met so many talented artists the length of Ireland through my years of work, and always dreamt of opening my own shop which would be a platform to both promote and showcase their fabulous artistry,’ explains Vicki. 2020 ART is a hub of talent from throughout Northern Ireland and Ireland and prides itself on being friendly, welcoming store where you will find a unique piece of art, or a lovingly crafted one of a kind handmade gift. Look out for designs by Aoife Slattery Ceramics, Red Earth Designs, Thomas Powell Pottery, Nicola Parkes Upholstery, Wee Beasties and many more. Follow and contact @20.20art and facebook.com/2020ARTWhitehead
Maven, Lisburn Road, Belfast
Maven is a furniture and homeware shop in Belfast offering a considered selection of largely Scandinavian and Irish products. Housed in the picture perfect Reid Memorial Hall, just off the Lisburn Road, Maven was recently voted Independent Retailer of the Year. With brands such as Hay, Muuto and Ferm Living sitting comfortably beside Superfolk, Mourne Textiles and Studio Donegal (and many, many more), you can find everything from the perfect gift to the most stylish sofa, and everything in between. With a belief that everyday items should be enhanced by great design and that shopping should be all about the friendliness, Maven is a treasure trove that will make your heart beat a little faster and make you leave with a smile. Maven is also home to coffee & plant shop Coffee x Cactus where you’ll find a huge selection of unusual houseplants as well as the most delicious sweet treats and lunches. You can also shop online at wearemaven.co.uk
A Broader Picture, The Promenade, Portstewart
A family run business, A Broader Picture started in the garden shed of proprietors Brian and Siobhan 20 years ago! It was picture framing mainly, but they began to introduce some pottery, cards, prints and moved in to their first shop about a year later. This is the same shop they are still in today, and the business has evolved and grown over the years and now offers a carefully considered selection of products to help you create a relaxed, authentic and comfortable home. Some of the Irish brand products they stock include McNutt of Donegal throws and scarves, So Soy candles, Field Day, Hunter Paper Co, stationery, Thomas Diem pottery, Original Aran Co. knitwear and a new addition Porcelain White Ceramics. As well as visiting their gorgeous shop you can also shop their products online at abroaderpicture.com
The Designerie, Main Street, Bushmills
Purchase with purpose this Christmas by visiting The Designerie in Bushmills – an innovative social enterprise operated by Enterprise Causeway on the beautiful North Coast, that gives back! Your purchase will help local people and fledgling businesses to grow all while helping you to choose the perfect piece for your home or that unusual gift you’ve been searching for. You can browse local and Irish craft items, choose from carefully selected interior pieces, and you’ll also be able to connect with the makers who create these piece and learn of the stories behind them. From beautiful linen cushions, comfy armchairs to the perfect statement hat and handbag, you’ll be inspired by the creative atmosphere and knowledge that you’re making a difference to local small businesses by choosing to spend here. Most of their beautiful pieces are also available to purchase in their online shop thedesignerie.co.uk
Chalk & Easel, Main Street, Ballinspittle, Co.Cork
Emily Connell opened Chalk & Easel in October 2016 as an interiors shop trying provide customers with products that are simple, functional, natural and made to last. ‘I love to give customers a really calming experience while they shop so there’s always candles and music and at this time of year I have the stove going too,’ comments Emily, who tries to source locally from small, independent makers as much as possible, but also has a lot of European stock too. ‘I like to listen to my customers and the type of stock has evolved organically based on their needs. I do get some tourists, but mostly I know all of my customers from coming in and out over the last four years and I am so grateful for every customer who has helped to keep the doors open, fire lit and music playing,’ adds Emily. In April of this year Emily got a website site up and running which now allows customers near and far to browse and shop with her, check it out at chalkandeasel.ie
Industry & Co., Drury Street, Dublin
Design concept store Industry & Co. brings together a collection of timeless, quality, Scandinavian-inspired homeware, lifestyle goods and gifts that are sure to delight visitors this Christmas. The award-winning lifestyle store and eatery off Drury Street – the heart of Dublin’s creative quarter – features much loved brands such as Ferm Living, Arran Street East, McNutt of Donegal and Hay DK. Established in 2010 by sister and brother team Vanessa and Marcus Mac Innes, Industry & Co. has become one of Dublin’s leading independent design stores and a firm favourite with lovers of Scandinavian design, Irish craft and great food. Under the supervision of Creative Director Vanessa, their enchanting seasonal product selection has started earlier than usual this year to make sure shelves are piled high with the most beautiful gifts from across Ireland and Europe. Shop Industry & Co.’s full product range online at industryandco.com
McAuliffe’s Craft Shop, Dunfanaghy, Co. Donegal
McAuliffe’s Craft Shop is an intergenerational family business, located in the heart of beautiful Dunfanaghy, along Donegal’s magnificent Wild Atlantic Way. 2020 is an important year for Mc Auliffe’s, as it marks a century in business, and one hundred years of celebrating and promoting Ireland’s rich heritage of craft and design. The family pride themselves on sourcing and handpicking all products, with expert craftsmanship and originality in mind, and the shop is now home to some of the most exciting designer/makers from the island of Ireland. In 2019, they added an elegant new retail space upstairs in the shop. This was named No.33, after the original 1800’s dwelling house where the shop now resides. No.33 was designed by blending the age-old traditional features of the building with modern architecture and design, creating something truly special. Here you will find a beautiful and creative lifestyle collection for the home. Discover more at mcauliffescraftshop.com
Irish Design Shop, Drury Street, Dublin
Jewellery designers Clare Brennan and Laura Caffrey founded the award winning Irish Design Shop 12 years ago and specialise in selling the best of Irish made craft and design. Four years ago they launched the Áras homewares range which has been extremely successful and they have now expanded the collection with some great new products and a consistent new look across the range. Clare and Laura have designed and created each product in collaboration with some of Ireland’s most skilled craftspeople.The Áras collection is a range of simple products for the home to be enjoyed daily and the new pieces include felt placemats and coasters based on the Georgian era coal covers dotted around Merrion Square, wool house socks made in the Donegal town of Glenties in a traditional flecked yarn. There’s table linen, a stunning crystal decanter, a calendar, hardbound notebooks, limited edition screen prints and much more. Also look out for their gift boxes, which allow you to send Irish self-care and homeware treats to friends and family. Shop inshore and online at irishdesignshop.com
Born and Bred, Ann Street, Belfast
Born & Bred exists to help artists thrive. Founded in 2014 by Linzi Rooney (an artist herself), their day-to-day work involves mentoring makers, welcoming people into their studio and selling beautiful, locally-made gifts in their Ann Street shop. All of the pieces for sale in the shop are created by artisans and craftspeople in Northern Ireland and offer unique gifts, whether a small Harland & Wolff crane from Cowfield Design, a Jawbox Gin mug or indeed one of their own branded beanies! There are a selection of prints from Northern Irish artists to choose from as well as stylish jewellery, homewares and some local food and beverages. So whatever the budget or the kind of gift you ar elooking for, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to supporting local and gifting a little reminder of home to someone this year. wearebornandbred.com
The Leitrim Design House, The Docks Art Centre, Carrick-on-Shannon
A not-for-profit organisation, The Leitrim Design House nurtures Irish craft and design. Housed in The Dock, a beautiful 19th century Courthouse building, located in the heart of Carrick-on-Shannon, it showcases a distinctive range of 100% Irish made products. Its flagship gallery, considered one of the landmark visitor attractions in the region, has been recommended by the Design & Craft Council of Ireland as one of the leading craft and design outlet in the country. The selection of work on display is carefully curated with a strong emphasis on quality, design and innovation. From jewellery to homewares and much more, wWether you’re looking for an authentic gift, a limited edition piece, an original piece of work or a handcrafted item, they have something for everyone and items to fit every budget. Visit them in-store or online at leitrimdesignhouse.ie
Jo & Co., The Linen Green, Moygashel
Owner Joanne Cathers is passionate about health and wellbeing and all things healing and holistic. From her store, Jo & Co. based at The Linen Green, Moygashel, she offers a range of salt lamps, aroma diffusers, crystals, essential oils and natural products. In fact, Joanne boasts the biggest range of salt lamps in Ireland! All of these products would make a great gift for yourself or a thoughtful one for someone special, especially at a time when it’s so important to take care of yourself and others. Phone +44 (0) 28 8772
Introductory image credit: The Designerie
