The chartreuse yellow of the Dart’s grab bars and poles is trending. The commuter colour may have just become background visual noise on your daily inbound and outbound journeys, but in the world of interiors, the shade of liqueur made by Carthusian monks is a serious topic of conversation.
You may be soaking up the sunshine in foreign parts or at the local beach but on the daily commute, most of us can become immune to the world around us.
Those travelling northbound by Dart from Greystones to Connolly, for example, get treated daily to the seascapes of Dublin Bay, the canalscapes at Grand Canal Dock and the tide levels of the river as you cross the Liffey.
The upright grab bars and poles inside Dublin Area Rapid Transit (Dart) trains may never have come t to your attention.
Painted a chartreuse yellow to provide high visual contrast to passengers with visual impairments, it helps them safely locate handholds and move through the carriages.
In the world of interiors, the colour is trending.
Magnetic north
Nordic Elements is the magnetic independent design shop in Blackrock village.
A destination in its own right and a reason to disembark the train at the village, it is run by Helle Moyna and features a high/low mix of objects from Parisian flatware to perforated sideboards and furniture by names to drop.
Some of the pieces on show in the window are set on a raised dais that is painted in Indian Yellow by The Little Greene Paint Company, an eye-catching colour that will work well on floorboards and cabinetry.
Helle has lots of accent pieces in the green-hued yellow.
These include the Gaia S vase by Kseniya Kravtsova for Serax, €149, and the La Due Gialla table lamp by Milan–Brussels architecture studio Piovenefabi, €330.
Support act
A side table fills empty space in a room and can become a resting place for a plant or for some books.
Add an injection of intense colour in a semi-gloss powder-coated finish to the steel frame, and you have a durable piece of furniture that commands some but not all of the attention.
This Arvin design, reduced from €219 to €109.50, at Kave Home, places geometry at the heart of its design.
New era double duty
This very simple Kaptensfisk lunch box from Ikea will fit a sandwich and some fruit segments.
It has separate compartments, space for cutlery and a practical handle. And yes – adults can use it too, if they ask nicely!
Made of polypropylene, the natty handle makes it appealing as a small receptacle to hold your phone, lipstick and keys in when on the go at the weekend.
Measuring 23 cm by 13 cm, it costs €2. Use as a vide poche in the house.
Put your feet on these seats
Italian brand Nardi’s Doga chair comes in three sizes: a bistro, €85, armchair, €95, and relax, €129, which is more of a lounger than an upright chair.
Vibrant and bright in Pera colourway, it is made of fibreglass resin and, while designed for outdoor use, can also work well in a kitchen setting.
Light, stackable, easy to move and clean, it’s a slatted design by Raffaello Galiotto that will lend a dining table a contemporary twist.
There’s also a table, €75, all from Pieces.ie on Dublin 7’s Prussia Street.
Mind the gaps
A large floor filler of a rug, ideally one that is big enough to seat your furniture on it, makes a room look very put-together.
This chartreuse yellow print hand tufted rug looks good and is also highly functional.
Made from 100 per cent recycled polyethylene terephthalate, the Kite chartreuse rug from Asiatic's Romy collection is an eco-friendly choice.
Durable and easy to clean, this rug is a great choice for busy areas of the home and those with pets. It costs from €559 for a 200 cm by 290 cm size at Rugs.ie.
