15 Ways To Fix Up Your Life and The Experts To Have On Speed Dial - The Gloss Magazine

15 Ways To Fix Up Your Life and The Experts To Have On Speed Dial

From wonky teeth fixers to hair disaster correctors, we round up useful contacts for any repair job …

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FOR REWORKING DRESSES AND VINTAGE PIECES

Paul Henry Tailoring: This family business in South William Street, Dublin 2 is renowned for its bespoke suits and general tailoring. One of the team, Kathleen Murphy, is an expert in garment alterations and restorations. Whether it’s a wedding dress, a vintage piece, workwear or a ball gown, she can restore, refi t or reimagine it to meet your needs. With over 50 years’ experience as a bespoke dressmaker, Kathleen will undertake complex projects, including full garment reconstructions. Repairing rips costs €15; replacing lining on coats, €140; tapering sleeves on blouses, €20; and shortening dress lengths, €30. www.paulhenrytailoring.ie

FOR BATTERED HANDBAGS 

Andrew Farrell, Handbag Therapy: Do you have a slightly tired bag at the back of the wardrobe which needs a facelift? Andrew Farrell specialises in the cleaning, repair and restoration of designer handbags, especially classic Chanel bags. He’s not just interested in aesthetics but also functionality. Andrew will give you a breakdown of the cost of each service, from cleaning to colour restoration, stitching, 24k gold plating of hardware and reedging. He says, “For Chanel bags the process, costs and timescales can vary quite significantly but most would fall between €295 and €475. The Classic Chanel Flap is my most popular bag for restoration and usually costs between €350 to €475.” www.handbagtherapy41.com; @handbag_therapy

FOR FIXING HEIRLOOMS: ART FIXERS

Tara Murphy, owner of Solomon Fine Art, Dublin 2, has a roster of art-related fixers, and recommends consulting ICRI for a list of Irish guild conservators available for consultation, who comply with its principles and practices. Two to note: For restoring painting and paper, Dublin-based Ciara Brennan: for gilding and framing, Kildare-based Susan Mulhall; www.icriconservation.ie.

FOR TOPSY-TURVY HOMES 

Ann Teehan, Neatly.ie: Are you feeling overwhelmed with clutter and don’t know where to start? Ann Teehan is a certified professional organiser, trained by Dilly Carter of BBC’s Sort Your Life Out. Whether it’s an overflowing wardrobe, a chaotic kitchen or a declutter pre-housemove, she will help make your home work better for you. Packages start from €450. www.neatly.ie; @neatly.ie.

FOR WONKY TEETH

Neil Strong, Cranmore Excellence in Dentistry, Belfast: If you want to fix your smile or wonky teeth, I can recommend Neil Strong who has also cured me of a lifelong fear of dentists. He is one of the specialist orthodontic team at Cranmore Dental in Belfast who can fix overcrowded teeth, over-, under- and cross-bites and widely spaced teeth. I invested in an Invisalign course and only wish I had done this earlier. There is a complimentary consultation. www.cosmeticdentistrybelfast.co.uk

FOR SORTING OUT YOUR HEAD AND YOUR LIFE

Georgie Durcan, Life Coach & Healer: With workshops at Amo & Pax in Kilmacanogue, Co Wicklow, Georgie brings a fresh perspective to personal growth and wellbeing, if you want to break free from emotional barriers and gain clarity this year. A session with Georgie blends life coaching, energy healing and holistic wellness practices. “The pressure to reinvent yourself every January creates unnecessary stress and often leads to disappointment,” she says. “I encourage people to use this time for self-reflection – to look back on the past year, assess their growth, and set meaningful, intuitive intentions when they are ready. Personal transformation is not a one month event; it’s a lifelong journey that requires patience, mindfulness, and trust in yourself.” Before investing in a session, from €62 online or €124 in person, listen to Georgie’s new podcast The Another Way which complements her work. www.georgiedurcan.com; @georgiedurcan

SEE MORE: How To De-Clutter Your Space And Your Mind

FOR A WHOLE NEW LOOK

Maria Macklin, House of Colour: If this is the year you want to get strategic about shopping, book a session with image consultant Maria Macklin who believes in a cohesive wardrobe, not a capsule one: “Try telling a maximalist to only have two pairs of trousers and five pairs of shoes!” A full consultation, lasting up to three hours, costs €715 and includes a scientific colour and style analysis plus body architecture and personality assessment, or €295 for colour and €425 for a style consultation. Maria also advises on wardrobe edits and shopping trips with clients. www.houseofcolour.co.uk

FOR INSTANT FACELIFTS

Agnes Gajewska Your face is puffy! Have a facelift without the surgery … arm yourself with a gua sha and a facial oil or serum and give yourself an immediate facelift with the guidance of expert face sculpting videos on Instagram by @agnesgajewska; www.faceyogabyagnes.com

FOR HAIR FIXING DISASTERS

Stephanie Maher, Colour Expert: You’ve had your hair done and the colour is a disaster: head to colour expert Stephanie Maher at The Sober Colourist, Crumlin, Dublin 12. “If you feel like you need your hair fixed, leave it alone until you can see a professional, or risk making it a million times worse.” Stephanie assesses your hair before making a correction plan, which includes home care. www.thesobercolourist.ie; @thesobercolourist

FOR PARTY FIXES 

“For big parties at home I hire glassware, cutlery, crockery and chairs from Caterhire.ie,” says Tara O’Connor of The Designed Table. “They do great party packages. I also recommend caterer, Food by Sally Ann Luykx who comes up trumps with menus for every occasion as well as platters of canapés for drinks parties.” www.sallyann.ie. Another hostess recommends Mitchell & Son to run the bar for a larger party (www.mitchellandson.com). While your glasses might be full and also sparkling, make sure your windows are too. Use About Time cleaning service who do windows too. www.aboutime.ie

FOR WOW EVENTS

Rachel Birthistle, Rachel Birthistle Studio: For wow events and weddings in amazing locations, look no further than Irish international event planner Rachel Birthistle who has just launched Rachel Birthistle Studio, a division of her Lake Como Weddings business. “We’ve worked on some fun things recently, such as a wild bachelorette party in Utah, and a wedding for the same bride in Paris, that went totally viral! We have organised events in Mexico, the South of France and throughout Italy.” Rachel’s approach to each project is totally original, which avoids anything feeling “cookie-cutter”. For anything she can’t do in-house, she has a little black book of the best of the best, whether invitation designer or make-up artist! @rachelbirthistle; www.rachelbirthistle.com

FOR STATEMENT LAMPS

Sarah O’Dea, Decorative Artist: Am I the only person who has a variety of lamp bases and no shades? Decorative artist Sarah O’Dea has created a range of handpainted lampshades inspired by her love of botanical illustrations and vivid colours. An individual work of art painted with watercolours and gouache, each lampshade is handmade and lined with card. The lampshades come in two sizes, from €90. www.sarahodea.ie; @sarahodea

FOR BROKEN CHINA

Susie Conway, Restorations: From chipped china to broken heirlooms, china, ceramic and statue restorer Susie Conway will fix them all. Susie studied fine art in London, and trained with renowned Desirée Shortt in Dublin and Limperts Academy of Design. Priding herself on meticulous colour-matching of original paint and expert resurfacing with gold leaf, she offers free estimates, via email or in person. www.chinaandchurchstatuerestoration.com

FOR UPDATING GRANNY’S JEWELS

Sam Lafford, Studio Lafford: If Granny’s brooch needs an update, Sam can melt down old gold or platinum and add new stones and metal. A highly skilled designer and maker, one of Sam’s passions lie in the restoration of Georgian, Edwardian and Art Deco jewellery and remodelling both antique and vintage pieces into new and modern designs. He explains: “I believe in the magic of jewellery and its ability to tell stories, evoke memories, and make moments unforgettable. I explore all the possibilities with the wearer.” @studiolafford; studiolafford@gmail.com.

FOR TRANSFORMING BLANK WALLS

Michael Dillon, Mural Painter; Muralist Michael Dillon’s work is found all over the world, from New Zealand to Zimbabwe and in Ireland at Ballymaloe, Mount Juliet and Loughcrew, among other spots. “After a site visit and a painted design for the client to approve, I paint murals on a very large canvas off site. If the client moves house, the mural can also be relocated.” www.dillonmurals.com

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