However, for those with a craving to be at the cutting edge, furniture fairs will put you right at the heart of the action.

As design houses, collectives and individuals unveil their new products, there's the chance to meet the creators and see the latest innovations and trends. Those who like to keep their finger on the pulse of what's happening in the interiors arena make a point of getting to London's 100 % Design, one of the world's premium design shows. This year's event will run from 20-23 September at Earl's Court, with Sunday 23 open to the public.

Showing that Irish designers can fly the flag in style with be Nest Furniture from east Cork and Shane Holland Design Workshops from Co Meath. Northern Irelandbased design collective Us Together is also taking part, while Charles Furniture from Dublin will be at 100% Futures, a showcase under the same umbrella for the best emerging design talent.

It will be Nest Furniture's third year in a row to exhibit at 100 % Design. "We do very well there, attracting a huge amount of interest. That alone keeps up our spirits, " says Annabelle McCarthy, director and designer/maker at Nest.

"We've always got a lot of orders from the show, and not just from the UK market. Irish people who haven't come across us previously, also buy."

Last year, Nest showcased its 'Miss Clavel' dining table, its 'Black Monday' sideboard and its red writing desk.

This year it will launch a new white sideboard 'Gabriel'. The distinctive front face will be cast in glass fibre and finished in white lacquer.

As the first in a series of pieces, all to be named after angels and all with very fluid designs, 'Gabriel' marks a departure for the company.

"In the past we have focused on timber with products such as the French walnut-topped sideboard 'Black Monday', the red lacquered writing desk and the plywood/maple 'Miss Clavel' dining table among our signature pieces, " says McCarthy.

The 'Black Monday' sideboard, made in solid birch, has four deep drawers, is finished in a high-gloss black lacquer. The top folds down along the front face while a cylinder of light dissects the drawers.

Inspired by cinematics and the editing process, the Nest team set out to create a sideboard that would look almost seamless, as if milled from a block, with the precision of engineering.

"100% Design is a very important exhibition for us. While we are based in Ireland, the UK is our largest market. In the last year, more than 50% of our orders came about as a result of our presence at 100% Design 2006."

Award-winning lighting designer Shane Holland is also putting the final touches to his switched on products for 100% Design. He will show new chandeliers, eco lights, mirrors and furniture.

Picking up on the 100% '07 theme of sustainability in design, he has produced a set of lighting products that are low-power 'A' energy rated with components that can be easily recycled. Last year, Holland exhibited his 'De Stijl' 'A' energy-rated fluorescent fitting for over countertops and use in offices.

Holland's 'No 15' lamp, white like a swan, is an assemblage of 15 white acrylic strips. 'Acute', incorporating the angle that gave it its name, is a desk lamp that utilises high-output LEDs (light emitting diodes. ) Surely the most intriguing of the lot is 'Rockchandie', a new chandelier, sculptural in form with echoes of the hula hoop.

It comes a cool stainless structure with several woven copper lamp modules.

Originally made to commission for a house in Blackrock, Co Louth, Holland is making it in a smaller version Also on view will be a new mirror, the frame of which is made from recycled wooden plinths.

Other furniture from Holland mixes materials such as bronze, glass and stainless steel.

When it comes to incorporating unusual items in furniture, Charles Furniture which specialises in creative solutions in one-off furniture, product and lighting design has got it covered.

Charles O'Toole plays with tennis in his 'Ball Boy' stool; sparkles with a Carlo Rossi wine bottle transformed into a table; and kicks back with a 'Dance' dining table, all sure to catch the imagination.

Also doing something very different is design collective Us Together. The mix of product engineers and designers from 3D, interior, product, and graphic backgrounds who have a knowledge of manufacturing and architecture, have built up quite a following.

Anyone who has drooled over the Armagh-based collective's spectacular 'Ebb' bathroom collection prototype which sent ripples through the 2005 100% Design show, will be glad to know that it is going into production and will be available from September.

With such a striking precedent, there's no doubt that the new 'Loop and Line' range of bathroom products . . . also made from LG Hi-Macs, a non-porous natural acrylic stone that can be crafted into almost any shape . . . will make a splash at this year's show.

>> www. shanehollanddesign. com
>> www. charlesfurniture. ie
>> www. ustogether. eu
>> www. nest-design. com