by Home News Now contributor Brian Carroll checked out the retail furniture scene Galway, Ireland during a month-long multimedia journalism trip with college students this summer. He reports the picture there is much brighter for furniture than it is for Covid and other patients awaiting treatment in emergency rooms. Unlike the case for many in retailers in the United States, consumer demand for home furnishings has remained robust. Carroll’s full report can be found here. More photos from the report below:
The exterior of Galway’s Next location, a progressive, youth-oriented department store chain also with a robust online retail operation.
In case goods, clean, natural looks dominate, as this $350 retail sideboard epitomizes. Notice the “Usually delivered in 10 days” statement, which is more a description than a guarantee.
The $650 retail Sherlock arm chair updates traditional charm in a muted tartan cover.
The Australian conglomerate Harvey Norman is one of the dominant retail players in home furnishings, kitchen, and appliances in Ireland.
Harvey Norman’s Galveston bedroom suite is anchored by the super king size bed shown here at about $1,000 retail.
Two-tone looks are extremely popular in Ireland, as this natural wood-and-coastal white at Harvey Norman demonstrates, as are marriages of clean looks with touches of traditionalism. The ornate antique white mirror places the vignette at the crossroads of the past and the present.
Smaller living quarters relative to the United States, in a very general sense, put a premium on storage, and headboards are one of the more common places to offer it. Harvey Norman’s Coolmore set is shown here.
Also hugely popular in Ireland, judging by what’s being displayed and advertised, is industrial chic, a marriage of midcentury modern’s natural woods and clean lines and bold use of steel and metal. Harvey Norman’s Calum dining table retails for about $700.
Greeting visitors to Galway’s Harvey Norman location is a designer kitchen range set licensed by Dolce & Gabbana.
The Italian-made Giada leather sofa protected in Guardsman retails for about $1,950, the matching arm chair at about $1,350. This leather living room is at Harvey Norman’s high end.
Harvey Norman’s Indy contemporary living room set in a tufted, crushed blue velvet, a show stopper on the furniture floor.
Another industrial chic look at Harvey Norman, the Harlie dining room is keyed by a $850 retail table in brushed metal.
Also at $850 retail is the two-tone Hemsby dining set, with a parquet table and cottage chairs.
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