Dublin's new tasty pin-up

Dublin's much-loved Cake Café not only serves up baked goods but also has an array of sweet city-inspired designs. The latest item on the menu is this delicious apron cleverly titled Baile Átha Bia. Designed by Pony, it features some of the capital's gastronomic street names, such as Marrowbone Lane, Pudding Row, Cow Parlour and Lime Street, and famous landmarks. Just €12.95, the screen-printed pinny is available in two colour-ways.

BAKE-OFF: It's difficult to choose between the two colour-ways.
Photo: The Cake Café

Other design delights on The Cake Café specials board include this Map of Dublin Tea Towel which seems too pretty to use. I would like to frame this to add to my collection of Dublin-related art and design. At just €6.75 and made from organic cotton, it's the perfect Kris Kindle present / stocking filler.

DUBLIN DISHED UP: This tea cloth features landmarks ranging from the Pigeon House to the Old Guinness Windmill.
Photo: The Cake Café

See a very inventive use of this tea towel on The Cake Café's blog, here.

There's also some rockin' crockery in the beautiful form of this Bone China Plate (€16), a contemporary Dublin take on the Willow Pattern that has featured on plates, mugs and egg cups across Ireland and abroad for manys the year. It's based on a story of star-crossed lovers Bin-Bin and Yo-Yo by Mark O'Halloran (he wrote Adam and Paul, among others), the text of which accompanies the plate.

SERVING UP A STORY: The Bone China Plate shows Dublin landmarks featured in Mark O'Halloran's love story Photo: The Cake Café

These treats are available by telephoning The Cake Café on (01) 478 9394 or, even better, calling in to the eco-sensitive Daintree Building and enjoying a cup of their excellent coffee and choosing some nom nom nom.

http://www.thecakecafe.ie/homepage.html
http://www.thecakecafe.ie/blog.aspx

OK price at 50% off

I am an enthusiastic fan of all things Orla Kiely, though sometimes I fear that she has put her name to too many items. My house is coming down with all things Kiely.

There's 50 per cent off her aprons on the official website. Thankfully they're laminated, so you don't need to worry about getting messy in the kitchen.

This Giant Tumblers print in blue is my favourite, reduced from £39 to £19.50 (approx €45 to €22.80). Nice idea for a Christmas present.

CLEAN DESIGN: The Giant Tumblers print apron in blue from www.orlakiely.com

Optimum options

Some day, hopefully in the not too distant future, we will knock down the horrible 1970s/80s ground floor extension (which houses our kitchen and bathroom) and build a two-storey extension (we're in so much negative equity already so will be staying here a lot longer than planned) with a larger kitchen and WC downstairs and a bedroom and bathroom above.

I will be getting in touch with Optimise Design, a consultancy that specialises in architecture, interior design and project management. Their 'no job too small' and focus on budget, along with an attractive portfolio, has helped them find success after setting up in 2007.

They also have a Before and After section on their website blog, which is great for when I'm looking for a fix. I particularly the Portobello house (below), which I think I remember being for sale in its original state a year or two ago.

DELICIOUS DESIGN: Optimise Design worked on this house in Portobello - love the black contrast with the white cupboards. Image from www.optimise-design.com

http://www.optimise-design.com/
http://optimisedesign.wordpress.com/