If you've just cottoned on to the idea of a greener life and would like to do more to help the environment and your pocket, investing in an Aga could be the thing. The clever design boffs at Aga have made the cooker so sturdy, so reliable and so durable that they claim you'll only ever need one in your lifetime, so you'll never find an Aga on a landfill site polluting the environment. And as for its green credentials, An aga is almost completely recyclable, made from 70% of previously used materials. It may be an expensive purchase but surely it's worth it when you consider the average householder buys at least three to four cookers in their lifetime. Visit The Aga Shop, 20 Lower George's Street, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, 01-663 6166.

DESIGN OF THE TIMES

Attention all interior designers and architects: Kevin Dempsey Distributors has just opened an 18,000sq ft showroom and production facility in Walkinstown, Dublin, showcasing the latest soft furnishings from Prestigious Textiles, contemporary furniture from Ciacci-Kreaty, blinds from Styleline Wood Blinds and bespoke designer rugs from Top Floor Rugs.

While the showroom is trade only, members of the public looking to buy from the KDD range can contact the store's marketing department for details of their nearest stockist. For information contact 01-456 8280.

A STORE IS BORN

Good news for first-time buyers and design junkies who love nothing more than spending weekends checking out furniture stores: Furniture Connexions has just opened its new flagship store in Dublin. The store, a state-of-theart 20,000sq ft showroom, in North Park Road, Dublin 11, showcases a wide selection of quality furniture from the company's own production facility in Monaghan and from leading international brands including Calia Italia, Harrison, Myers and Jay-be. Visit Furniture Connexions, Exit 5 M50, Unit 10 North Park, North Road, Dublin 11, 01-880 0000.