Design Week 08

Loving the gin cocktails at the launch of Design Week with Bombay Sapphire were: 1. Barry Shellin and Deirdre Doherty; 2. Cathy Lannigan and Jessica O’Hanlon; 3. Becky Russell and Roisin Lafferty.

The elite of Dublin’s socialites and design community turned out in force to toast the launch of the country’s most prestigious design event, the launch of Bombay Sapphire Design Week, at the National Gallery of Ireland. Internationally-acclaimed design guru, and iconic interiors, furniture and lighting designer, Tom Dixon jetted into Dublin exclusively for one night only to speak to compelled guests on his illustrious design career.

The launch of Design Week 2008, in association with Bombay Sapphire, proved bigger and better than ever before, with guests hanging on every word of the charismatic Dixon, who provided a humorous insight into his diverse and fascinating career.

Those who attended included Darren Kennedy, Barbara Connell, Mairead Nic Ghiolla Phadraig and Laura Fletcher. Faces from the world of interiors including Alexander Fitzgerald, Amanda Cochrane, Eleanor Flegg, Richard Harris and Eimear Nic an Bhaird.

For more information on Design Week go to www.designweek.ie

Halloween @ Lillies

Top spot Lillies Bordello hosted a Halloween ball last weekend with a prize of a Magnum of Bollinger champagne every weekend for a year for the best dressed. Lucky girl Sandra Tuohy won the booty which is worth over €15,000. Drinks on her! Pictured enjoying the night: 1. Claire and Ruth Finnegan; 2. Sandra Tuohy and David Morrissey; 3. Claire Malone.

Porsche P'7340

Enjoying the launch party for the Porsche P’7340 at Design House were: 1. Coleen McStravick and Ciara Baxter; 2. Rose McGowan; 3. Lecia DiPasquale and Martin Gill.

Porsche P’7340

At the launch party for the Porsche P’7340 at Design House were: 1. Richard Harris and Siobhan Buchanan Johnston; 2. Tiffany Quinn; 3. Triona McCarthy and Benoit Bringer.

Design House Group Dublin last week unveiled the most expensive production kitchen in the world, the first kitchen co-designed by Porsche Design Group and Poggenpohl, the Porsche P’7340. Recession be damned – this piece of kit has a price tag of €100,000 upwards!

Appealing to the male appreciation for geometric shapes and spaces, the P’7430 incorporates numerous elements to highlight pure architecturally driven 3D box shapes with clean, uninterrupted lines and a range of finishes. The absence of handles and the use of sensor keys for appliances and lighting lends to the sleek, clean finish of the kitchen.

With integrated appliances specially designed for the kitchen by Miele, a high-tech audio-video system with built-in LCD module and a range of finishes inspired by the automotive industry including high gloss glass, aluminium and textured wood, the P’7340 is the first kitchen to be developed with the modern man in mind and is exclusively available in Ireland from the Design House Group. It’s on my Christmas wish list, should any of you be wondering what to get me this year.

Although launched recently in Harrods and around the world, Ireland was in fact, the first country in the world to receive one of these kitchens with the first P’7340 installed at The Elysian Tower in Cork, which featured on The Apprentice on TV3. MC’d by Barry Murphy, the event saw over 150 guests celebrate the launch at the Design House Showroom on Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, which was transformed for the evening into a Porsche styled setting.