From love seats and wall art to bespoke design elements crafted by a carpenter, the team share the homeware items and interior pieces that were well worth the investment.
Holly O’Neill, Editor, IMAGE.ie; Beauty Editor, IMAGE Magazine
I’ve been told that my granny would put orange scarves over her lamps to make the house feel warmer and this ‘70s kitsch penchant must be genetic because I bought this enormous €6 Ikea rice paper lamp shade plus a €13 multi-coloured Tapo bulb to set it to burnt orange to feel like I have an enormous sunset over my bed. I fully copied it from Eloise Preen’s stunning London loft and it’s the best under €20 I’ve ever spent to feel cosy at home.
Jennifer Sheerin, Events & Branded Partnerships Assistant
I would say my best investment is my John Rocha vase! There is nothing better than receiving a beautiful bunch of flowers and having a gorgeous vase to put them in. My mum always told me the three things I should invest in when having my own space is bedsheets, good towels and a nice vase for flowers.
Dominique McMullan, Editorial Director, IMAGE.ie
When I first moved out of my parents house, I “invested” in champagne coups from Ferm Living. Of course, I envisioned a terribly glamorous life where they would be used regularly, and I thought they were the most beautiful and exciting things I had ever seen, never mind owned. Now, 15 years later, they don’t get as much use (they never got that much use if I’m honest) but they still sit on a shelf where I can see them, and I still feel joy just looking at them, like they are waiting for the next moment of celebration — that is just around the corner.
Sarah Gill, Features Editor, IMAGE.ie
In practical terms, the best investment I’ve made has been in a good quality, ultra plush mattress topper. I picked one up from JYSK last summer, and at the time I really resented the price tag, but it has made my bed so much more comfortable and I genuinely look forward to jumping into it each night. There’s that old saying about spending your money on what separates you and the ground, and I’d be inclined to agree. Good shoes, good mattress, good tires… But I don’t drive, so a good sturdy Leap card.
Elsewhere, I got this vinyl storage shelf from Urban Outfitters recently, and I love being able to actually see my records. What I would really love is a low ‘70s-style wooden console table, but this one’s good as a place holder until I buy a house/win the lottery/rob a bank.
Finally, and this might not count as an investment because it was a gift, but my mother got myself and my sister this adorable stained glass tortoise lamp from Time Pieces in Roscommon a couple of Christmases ago, and it’s one of my very favourite interior pieces that I own. I love that all three of us have one, and it has this gorgeous glow that makes me extra cosy while I’m sinking into my lovely bed, listening to my lovely records.
Megan Burns, Editor, IMAGE Interiors; Deputy Editor, IMAGE
My partner and I bought our first home last year, and were lucky enough to have lots of furniture passed onto us by family. This meant that when it came to the very few pieces we did buy, we had more budget to spend on things we knew would be sure to last.
My favourite is undoubtedly our Long Island Loveseat from Neptune (we bought ours from Browsers in Limerick). Each one is made to order from quality materials with a lifetime guarantee, it has a loose slipcover so it can be recovered years down the line if needed, and it’s a gorgeously generous size, ideal for curling up in. I can’t emphasise this enough – it’s the most comfortable chair I’ve ever sat in, and I look forward to doing so for many years to come.
I’d also recommend Foxford linen sheets, and super soft towels from Soft State – small luxuries that make every day more enjoyable. The list of things we’re waiting to invest in is long – lamps, matching tableware, rugs, garden furniture – but I’m happy to wait as we gradually find pieces we’ll love for a long time.
Emily O’Neill, Marketing Account Executive
When it comes to interiors, I love all of the finishing touches. It’s the little details that finish a room and make a house a home. My brother and sister in law recently moved into their new home and I bought them the ‘Abhaile’ print from Gemma Cowan Art. I know it is something they both planned on buying themselves so I knew they would love it. I had it framed in a gorgeous gold frame and it now hangs beautifully in their hallway. I am currently decorating my bedroom and I have the same print to hang when it’s finished. The lovely Gemma recently released her new collection, titled ‘The Space Between’ which was created to bring ‘calm, soul and story to your space’.
Sophie Power, Chief Operations Officer
I absolutely love interiors and recently moved into my forever home and it has been such a joy to work on and see each room come to life, slowly but surely. When I am thinking about designing a room, I follow my gut on what I like but I do a lot of online research for inspiration and swear by Pinterest mood boards to really help you nail down your vision. My best interior investments to date have been working with a great carpenter (JMS Custom Designs) to create bespoke design elements that add interest in each room.
Our twin boys room has really high ceilings and I found a gorgeous double bunk bed on Pinterest that I fell in love with, and James was able to re-create using gorgeous oak wood and custom lighting; it is a real show-stopper and makes me smile every time I see it.
In terms of off-the-shelf great investments, I do think a Samsung Frame TV elevates a TV room’s look. Guests at our house often mistake it for a piece of art and I love how you can get creative with changing up the art to match your mood or the season.
While Soho Home creates such enviable pieces, I love taking inspiration from it and then finding a cheaper version – my green Charlotte velvet king sized bed from Feather & Black was the perfect such find and helps add a hotel feel to our bedroom.
Investing in interesting hardware to add to your shelves or cabinets is also a gamechanger – I found these incredible Lo & Co viola marble handles and added them to our bookshelves for a unique finish.
Lighting can also transform any space and you can get creative on sourcing from small suppliers on Etsy, my Soho Home curve floor lamp is a favourite in our living room, as is this Anthropologie tassel chandelier over our dining table and this Zara Home ceiling light in our hallway which looks far more premium than its price tag!
Shayna (Sappington) Healy, Branded Content Editor & Wedding Content Writer
My family often jokes that I’ve been drinking coffee since I could walk, and they’re not far off… After drinking lots and lots of coffee in my life, I’ve come to be very particular about my brew. I’ve always sworn by filter coffee with freshly ground beans, but making an entire pot for just myself seems wasteful. So, I recently invested in a Nespresso machine.
This one is very narrow, so it takes up minimal counter space and makes a single cup of coffee in sizes ranging from an espresso shot to a full mug. The best part, though, is that the quality of the coffee is top-notch (unlike other machines I’ve tried in the past). They have a handy online subscription where you can mix and match flavours from Colombian to Vanilla to even teas and hot cocoa. Most recently, I bought espresso shot pods to mix with cold milk for a tasty iced coffee at home – hands down the best kitchen purchase I’ve made!
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