Latest news with #Kukoon
Irish Independent
30-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Take to the floor: The best rugs and wood flooring for your space, plus expert tips on how to clean them
In Irish homes, the overwhelming fashion is for hard floors and rugs, usually large enough that the front feet of the furniture can rest upon it. 'A lot of people would love to have a cream-coloured rug, but they're put off by the thought of maintenance,' says Clare Walsh of Kukoon Rugs. The Newry-based rug store is run by Walsh and her brother Paul Vallely. They sell accessibly priced rugs of their own design, made by their partner company in Turkey. Their solution to the maintenance conundrum was to introduce a range of machine-washable rugs. 'They were an instant success. People understood the concept straight away.' Their first generation of flatwoven washable rugs, which are still available, are made of recycled cotton (80pc) and polyester (20pc) with a jute backing. They're printed with vintage patterns, often resembling a traditional Persian rug, and cost €285 for a 2 x 3m rug. 'Some people love a flatwoven rug,' Walsh says. 'But they're not for everyone.' Their next iteration, the Everyday Collection (€225 for a 2 x 3m rug) is also machine washable to 30 degrees and made of recycled cotton with chenille (30 pc). Chenille is a tufted yarn that can be made from a range of materials. In this instance, it's cotton and polyester. Walsh felt the rugs were still too flat. Working with their partners in Turkey, Kukoon evolved a range of soft washable rugs (€325 for a 2 x 3m rug). These too are printed but, with a 12mm pile, are soft to the touch. They look and feel like a low-pile carpet. The Soft Collection is 57pc recycled cotton and 43pc chenille with a recycled cotton backing. 'It's a balancing act between sustainability and cost,' Walsh admits. 'The only way to make the rugs softer, while keeping the prices low, was to increase the amount of chenille. If a more sustainable rug is more expensive, people still choose the cheaper option.' While all these products are machine washable to 30 degrees, a large rug would require a very large washing machine. 'Most people don't intend to put them in the washing machine but they're not afraid to take out the scrubbing brush. Because they know they can clean the rug easily, people are ordering them in lighter colours and using them under the dining table or in the kitchen.' ADVERTISEMENT Kukoon has more washable rugs in the pipeline, including a fluffy rug, a loop-pile textured rug, and one made from imitation jute. 'We like developing products that don't already exist,' Walsh says. 'It always takes longer than my optimistic brain thinks it will, but we like to be the first!' For those with a little more to spend, you can't beat a wool rug. 'There's a misconception that synthetics are more durable,' says Phoebe Holland of Witness the generations of Persian rugs which have outlived their owners to sell as antiques. was founded by her parents, Brendan and Dominique Holland, in 1994. Back then, Holland's Wood Floors and Rugs was a small family business with a shop on Cork's MacCurtain Street. 'Local people still call us Holland's,' says Phoebe, who left her corporate career to join the family business 10 years ago. 'We had to modernise. I saw the potential in that and my father trusted me to do it.' Now, has a strong online presence (the clue's in the name) and a large store in Douglas, Co Cork. Most rugs at are made of wool, all of which is responsibly sourced. And while no pure wool rug is machine washable, all can be spot cleaned. 'Don't use chemicals,' Holland says. 'Dabbing with Woolite and warm water will get rid of most stains.' When choosing a rug, Holland recommends using the company's online visualiser. 'Rugs are difficult to pick and people struggle with sizing. It needs to look balanced in the space.' In terms of style, Holland has noticed a resurgence of interest in traditional Persian and Turkish rugs: 'Part of that is nostalgia. People remember these rugs from their grannies' homes. Now, so many modern houses have hard edges, a traditional rug is a great way to add a sense of history.' A hand-knotted Persian rug is a big investment. They can cost as much as €10,000 for a 160 x 230cm rug. 'We also sell a range of reworked vintage Persian rugs,' she explains. These vintage pieces have lain unsold in storage units for decades, often because the colours and patterns weren't fashionable. Now, they've been upcycled. 'Some of them have been sun-bleached, or shaved in parts, or given touches of modern colour. But they're still hand-made and they're still Persian.' Prices for a 200 x 300cm reworked Persian vintage rug range from €1,100 to €2,000. 'It's a shame to cover up a beautiful wood floor with a rug!' says John Flannery of Havwoods, a company that supplies and fits wood flooring. 'You should look at the floor first. The rug is a flexible option. It will change many more times than the floor will.' While wood flooring is famously timeless, he's noticed a trend for dark wood floors in contemporary homes. 'We've two projects where the wood floors are matte black!' Plank floors are in demand, especially in large spaces with planks as wide as the budget will allow. 'The wider the plank, the more expensive they get,' he says. Other layouts, including chevron and herringbone floors are also becoming popular. 'Modern herringbone uses longer pieces of wood so it doesn't look like a school floor.' Wood flooring from Havwoods starts at €105 per metre for a plank floor and €120 per metre for a herringbone pattern, both including installation. 'Always order from a company that offers a full supply and fit service. That way you have a warranty for the installation as well as the floor.' Flannery's other recommendation is to clean a wood floor using only a spray mop and a pH-neutral cleaner: 'You won't find the cleaner in the supermarket but any reputable flooring outlet will sell it.' Beware of products marketed as pH-friendly, as these may contain lemon juice. 'They smell nice but they'll erode your floor,' he warns. 'Lemon juice destroys wood floors.'
The Journal
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Get the look: From vibrant pop art to Joanne McNally's Zig Zag stool
ADD SOME COLOUR to your home with these fab new colourful finds. The ZigZag stool at CA Design can act as a stool, a side table or a pedestal for a plant. The Zig Zag stool at CA Design As spotted in the home of Joanne McNally, we love the colourful, glossy Zig Zag stool by Polspotten at CA Design (€385). A fun and versatile piece it can be used for a multitude of purposes be it a side table, a plant stand, a pedestal for a treasured possession of a stool. The glossy lacquered finish comes in a range of colours including pale blue and pink as well as olive green and coral red making this a great talking point in any room whatever your personal taste or style. Addison Ross. Addison Ross. The Bobbin Lamp by Addison Ross Blending style, functionality and technology, these new LED Bobbin lamps by Addison Ross deliver brilliant illumination while bringing a brilliant pop of colour to your home. They are available in 10 stunning colourways including cherry, sage, yellow, watermelon, pink, orange and cappuccino so there's a shade to suit every décor style and mood. €150. Ciara O'Neill's new releases Artist Ciara O'Neill's latest series of paintings Wildflowers sold out on the day of the release. A new original series of Wildflowers paintings will be released in July. Thankfully fans of her work can choose from three limited edition fine art prints of the series released last week. Artist Ciara O' Jacinta Fahy Her Echoes original paintings and prints are also currently available online as well as her popular mini paintings which, at €240 each, always sell out quickly. Ciara has over 60 limited edition fine art prints in her collection priced between €110 and €440 depending on size and format. Outdoor rug by Kukoon. Kukoon's colourful outdoor rugs Not only does Irish company Kukoon Rugs stock brilliant spill-proof, stain resistant, washable rugs that are made from recycled cotton and chenile but they have just released their range of indoor/ rugs which come in a variety of sizes, colours and patterns. If neutrals are more your thing you can opt for their Rubus, Saule or Souci designs or if you want to add a punch of hot colour to your outdoor space go for this Ruskin style in terracotta. Prices from €35 to €235 depending on size. Advertisement The beautiful ethical rug by Ellie Dunne and The Galway Wool Co-op. Naoise Culhane Naoise Culhane 40 Shades of Green: Ellie Dunne x The Galway Wool Co-op The 40 Shades of Green blanket is a new and unique collaborative piece between Ellie Dunne, a young artist with Down Syndrome, and the Galway Wool Co-Op. The 40 Shades of Green blanket named after the Johnny Cash song of the same name calls to mind the palette of the Irish landscape and blends Ellie's artistic vision with the skill of the spinners and weavers of the Galway Wool Co-Op; a farmer-owned and run co-operative which is dedicated to preserving the cultural significance of Irish wool and restoring its economic value for farmers. This very special ethical piece measures 140cm x 180cm (plus fringe) retails at €675 and is available from this Thursday April 30th from Irish Design Shop and Nordic Elements. , and The mini vases at Hopeless Botanics start at €7. Colourful vases at Hopeless Botanics Hopeless Botanics are suckers for colour and have put together a range of vases that are simply lovely for holding flowers or foliage or simply as decorative items. Their vases start at just €7 for some of their colourful mini vases going up to around €65 for their larger Heikki vases. The colourful mini vases are easy to style – perfect with just one of your favourite flowers from the florist or a piece of foliage from the garden. Also popular with shoppers at the moment are their hand painted Odina vases which start at around €20. Colourful items from the The Stockholm 2025 range at IKEA. IKEA. IKEA. Ikea's Stockholm 2025 collection IKEA's Stockholm 2025 collection celebrates 40 years of timeless Scandinavian design and is designed to work whether you're investing in several pieces at once or adding to your existing furniture collection. The focus is on timeless design and great quality materials so here you'll find natural materials such as pine, oak, leather, wool and rattan used across the furniture and accessories with attention paid to the handmade in the form of mouth-blown glass vases and handmade rugs that should last many years if cared for properly. While most of the collection is neutral in keeping with the timeless appeal, some of the colourful pieces in the collection also caught our eye including the brown, blue and white rug (from €345), the pure wool cushion covers (€18) and the green cabinet with brass fittings (€399). Clare O'Connor's unique hand-painted side tables. Clare O'Connor. Clare O'Connor. Clare O'Connor's abstract art side tables Clare O'Connor is a multidisciplinary artist and designer from Co. Meath who has created a brand of wearable art and homewares. She uses a dynamic juxtaposition of organic and organised forms, complimentary and contrasting colour and stripes to create vibrant and colourful pieces designed to bring joy to people's homes. Clare has just launched a new range of hand painted colourful side tables (€550). Made with acrylic, collage and resin each dynamic piece is completely unique. Joanne Mooney has collaborated with Turkish rug company Torug Rugto to create her Picnic Parade design. Joanne Mooney x Torug Rugto Irish influencer Joanne Mooney featured in our last Alliance Home Magazine but we had to include her again this week as the Irish woman has just launched her first ever rug design in partnership with Torug Rugto – a brilliant home decor brand based in Istanbul, Turkey. Joanne's 'Picnic Parade' rug design features squiggly edges, a gingham pattern and plenty of colour – all very characteristic of Joanne's personal style and is made in India from 100% New Zealand Wool – the first piece in what will surely become a world of colourful home accessories. €147.95 to €755.95 depending on size.
Irish Examiner
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Home: Five fabulous finds for our lives and living spaces
We are obsessed here at Home with the transformative powers of Kukoon rugs — seeing a sizeable abstract-patterned number from the range added to a living space is to witness a makeover at its best. Selecting from the variety online is like choosing artwork to display perpendicular to your personal Picassos. Kukoon Ruskin Aqua. Right now we're loving the company's suggestion to 'make your garden your new favourite room' — by planting an outdoor rug front and fore, naturally. See, while we may have the patio barbecue kit sorted, it's this extra touch that'll make that zone sizzle (sorry!). Flatweave materials ensure these 'superheroes' of the rug world are moisture-resistant and quick-drying; free delivery on orders in Ireland and Britain; see Kukoonrugs. Designs on Dublin Kerry man Bryan O'Sullivan will be among the world-famous names showcasing how design shapes our environment. Originally from Kenmare, London-based interior design superstar Bryan joins Shelley McNamara and Yvonne Farrell of Grafton Architects, Katie Harbison, New York, Paul McClean, LA, Suzie McAdam, Roisin Lafferty, and Maria MacVeigh, Dublin, for the inaugural Design Week Dublin (DWD), May 19 to May 25. Design Week Dublin, May 19-May 25, at Dublin's Docklands. Bryan's talk is on May 20, at 9.30am, at Anantara The Marker. Tickets for DWD are from €20; see Designweekdublin. PurePanel from Havwoods. Drama and depth See how the kitchen panelling by Havwoods pictured here adds drama and depth. The layered construction of engineered wood also boosts its durability, says John Flannery, Havwoods; Havwoods. Spirit of success The traditional Victorian-inspired glass bottle that contains Muckross Wild Irish Gin looks so appealing you'd almost be tempted to own it for its ornamental qualities alone — almost, we say. The botanical blend within wowed judges at the Berlin International Spirits Competition who named the craft tipple (€49.95 for 70cl) as their gold winner. Winner: Muckross Wild Irish Gin. Hawthorn, blackthorn, heather, rosehip, rosemary, bitter orange, grapefruit, juniper, angelica, and coriander are placed in the still at the same time. Bottled at 40% ABV, it's proved a surefire recipe for success — also recently scooping the title Ireland's Gin of the Year. Andrea Kissane established Muckross Wild Irish Spirits in her native Killarney along with Derry man Martin Wray, who has made the Kingdom his home. 'We were thrilled to hear that Muckross Irish Gin was a double winner,' says Andrea. 'We are a new spirit from an ancient Kingdom, and it is this fusion of modern ideas with the timelessness of our home that makes our mellow, elegant gin so special.' See Muckrossirishgin. Hoxton sofa. Pink power Who doesn't adore a pop of pink? The French Connection Hoxton sofa in Rose sits nicely in any spring/summer set-up; exclusive to DFS €1,659; Dfs.
