“Please contact me if you would like a consultation or further information about any of the products you see here at Decorum.”My Favourite Things
Happy New Year
Can I say that on the 11th January? I hope you had a great Christmas and New Year and 2010 is a wonderful year for us all.
Awaken The Spirit via www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/nye/2009
I’ve had a lovely break from work and my blog since Christmas Eve. I did manage to read the backlog of magazines that had been collecting dust on my coffee table. The only problem is that I had no sooner finished when the next months’ issues started to arrive. Oh well, reading magazines is one of the perks of the job!
December and January Magazines awaiting reading
I also finally got around to properly filing all the brochures, booklets and samples I had collected at various Trade Fairs I had visited throughout the year. Do you realise how much “stuff” we decorators need to store? Paint swatches and fandecks from all the paint companies, tile samples, carpet samples, samples of Caesarstone and Corian, furniture catalogues, fabric samples and oodles of brochures on all manner of house related products. It takes a lot of room. I needed to purchase another cabinet and a filing cabinet so my storage room now has some order. Being a Virgo this is something that delights me.
All Sorted
Brochures, carpet samples and other bits and pieces
Fabric Samples
I’ve also been having fun in the kitchen. I love to cook or rather, I used to. In a previous life I even gave cooking classes! However, since being a mother, running a house as well as my Interior Decorating and Colour Consulting business there has been little time for cooking. I’ve tended to stick to the same tried and tested, 9 year old friendly recipes, week in, week out. But this past few weeks has allowed me to try out some new ones and the 9 year old has decided we should have a couple of them more often. Amazing!
Not this one but something like it - Satay Chicken Flan
So sometimes its good to holiday at home. As Dorothy said, “There’s no place like home.”
from Flickr via Mommylolly's Photostream
Let the year begin. I’m ready.
Coffee Culture
I spend a fair bit of time in the inner city suburb of Crows Nest. It has two main drags – the Pacific Highway which is peppered with furniture and homewares stores, and Willoughby Road which has a line of gift shops, restaurants and cafes.
Over the past year, there has been a newcomer to the coffee shop scene and I love going there for the good coffee and superb decor.
Coffee Culture is now situated in what used to be a secondhand furniture shop. The shop is rectangular in shape but with clever use of different coloured timber floorboards and one side of the “path” higher than the other, you do not feel as if you are in a boring square box.
One wall of the shop has been left in it’s original state of exposed rough brick and large mirrors have been placed over the top with back lighting.
The other side is wallpapered. Each side has interesting light fittings and the banquette seating is finished in a faux shiny leather.
The colours are all quite neutral – lattes, mochas and espresso but the crockery is bright orange which adds a zing without being overbearing.
Check it out, next time you are in Crows Nest. I believe there is also a cafe at Bankstown and originally the group hailed from New Zealand. (But we won’t hold that against them!)
Dining Out
Sorry I haven’t been around much lately. It’s just a crazy time of year, isn’t it? I’ve been flat out trying to make sure all my client’s have their items before Christmas. I’ve had upholstery delivered to two clients, curtains installed at another two and am collecting soft furnishings for three others on Monday. I also have two lamps to deliver for another and waiting on some furniture for yet another. It’s full on.
Aside from work, I seem to have been on a Food Fest for the past week. I’ve had family visiting from Brisbane so last Saturday evening we all went to Leichhardt in Sydney (which is renowned for it’s Italian restaurants) for a family meal at La Botte D’oro. My brother is heading to Cambodia for Christmas and my Dad was heading on a cruise to New Zealand the following day. So this was our Christmas dinner.
Aqua Dining Restaurant
Sunday evening we went to Aqua Dining above the North Sydney Pool to celebrate my Mum’s, my brother’s and my husband’s birthdays which all fall in December. The restaurant was fantastic with fabulous food and attentive service. Oh, and pretty amazing views.
View from Aqua Dining
Wednesday I was out and about at fabric houses and collecting lamps from Botany and called in to Waterloo. This suburb has developed into a great food and design precinct over the past couple of years. We stopped at “The French House” for a bite of lunch. This is a great little place that doesn’t have a website. They don’t take bookings but it’s fairly easy to get a table. There is an outside verandah with plenty of tables of all sizes or you can sit inside at the communal dining table or small lounge area. French food abounds with baguettes, croissants and plenty of mouth watering cakes and pastries. It’s not expensive and the ambience is pleasant.
The French House
The French House Verandah
Yesterday was Mum’s birthday so we were out eating again! This time we went to Nick’s Seafood at Cockle Bay and shared a delicious seafood platter.
Nick's Seafood Platter
And then today I was out with 5 girlfriend’s to celebrate another December birthday. This time we went to the recently opened “Burnt Orange” in the renovated Mosman Club House which dates back to the 1930′s. The food and service were again fantastic and the view…… breathtaking.
View from Burnt Orange
I would like to say I’m not eating until Christmas but I’m out again on Sunday celebrating my husband’s birthday and again on Tuesday for another girlfriend’s birthday.
Note to self – Do not eat in January!
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I also wanted to make sure you knew about a great sale which is on tomorrow. Online store, Have You Met Miss Jones is holding their annual warehouse clearance sale at Alexandria. They have fabulous bone china ornaments, metal birdcages and capiz shell plates and picture frames. I’m sure you’ll be able to find some great Christmas gifts to keep or give.
Have a great weekend, shopping, cooking or eating.
Ming
It’s been a rough couple of days. We had to euthanise our beloved dog on Friday night.
Ming would have been 11 next month and since May this year has been on a cocktail of drugs for a heart condition. Friday he was very slow and didn’t want to do anything. A trip to the vet followed by a mercy dash to the animal hospital confirmed our worst fears – it was time. His spleen was riddled with cancer and there was nothing that could be done.
As a child, one of my favourite books was Li Chung – a Tale of China. It told the story of two small chinese children who found a dog which they called Ming.
Li Chung - A Tale of China
When my husband and I moved to Hong Kong in 1999, we set out to buy a puppy to share our lives. On a trip back to Australia, I purchased a little white ball of fluff and immediately named him Ming.
After his immunisations, I packed him up and we flew to Hong Kong where he quickly settled into apartment life.
Ming and bags ready to fly
There were many dogs in the apartment building and he would love to sit at the window and watch them taking their walk, seven storeys below.
Ming looking out of our window - 3rd up.
Twleve months later his life changed dramatically when we brought home our daughter.
Ming meeting Sophie
They quickly became good friends and he showed her how to sit at the window and watch what was happening on the street and in the playground.
"This window Soph, can you see that dog down there?"
We then moved back to Australia and settled in Sydney. Ming was used to his apartment life and sitting on the sofa so we bought another puppy to put a spring back in his step.
Ming and Coco
Coco and Ming were well known around the neighbourhood as they looked so cute both out for a walk on their dual leash. They even dressed up for the Vet’s Christmas party and went Trick or Treating with my daughter.
Ming's Santa Suit
He was a well travelled dog but these days spent time travelling by car rather than plane.
On the road to Brisbane
But all good things must come to an end and Ming met his on Friday night. We loved him so much. They really are a member of the family and life isn’t the same without him.
Ming and Coco
I wish
Growing up in Brisbane, you were either a Gold Coast person or a Sunshine Coast person. For me, it was the Gold Coast. I know it has many faults but I love it, warts and all. I love the never ending beaches where you can walk for miles and miles. I love how the highrise buildings twinkle in the night and I love the city life on the beach.
I lived there for three years back in the early ’90′s and my husband and I bought a unit there in the early noughties. We had dreams of retiring to this particular unit and it was bought with that in mind. However, settling in Sydney on our return from overseas we realised that it would be a long time before we get to move into our unit and we could use the funds for our home in Sydney.
But around this time of year I get a hankering to own a little piece of paradise. Somewhere to move to for the summer break. Main Beach is my favourite spot as it has a good beach, great shops and cafes and is not as hectic as it’s neighbour, Surfers Paradise. We would HAVE to have a three bedroom unit so family can come and stay and it HAS to have ocean views. The beauty of a unit for a holiday retreat is that you can lock it up and walk away leaving the Manager to take care of the maintenance, security and shared facilities.
So I’ve been doing a little real estate trawling and come up with this little gem.
We could sit in or out and pass the time
If it gets hot, we can cool off in our own lap pool
What a great place to write my blog
And the perfect place to retire for the evening
Dream on!
Tea and Sympathy
I have long been a fan of Clarice Cliff pottery. Alas, I don’t have a piece in my collection. I do, however, have a lovely book called Tea and Sympathy – Fabulous cakes on art deco plates that was published in 1985. This book combines wonderful afternoon tea recipes from Australia’s best known foodies with accompanying photographs of the food on Clarice Cliff crockery.
Clarice Cliff
Clarice Cliff was born in 1899 in Tunstall, Staffordshire, UK and became one of the most outrageous and celebrated designers of mainstream twentieth century art. At an early age, Clarice took to the walls of her bedroom painting them orange and yellow, the ceiling a metallic gold and the furnishings orange with black relieve. She described the effect as bizarre, a word that would later attach itself to her early work. She studied at various art schools before becoming a lithographer. This field was too limited for her talent and design ambition and she experimented with hand-painted designs on warehouse stock pottery. Her work was launched on an unsuspecting Britain on the eve of the Great Depression. Her first test-run of 60 dozen pieces sold out in days.
Hundreds of Clarice Cliff Tea Cups ready for auction in 2008
Her crazy designs called for unusually shaped pottery and I think the shape, colours and geometric patterns are what draws me to her work. She was a firm believer that the pieces were to be used not just put in the china cabinet to be admired. I’m glad many people didn’t use their pieces too much so we have many still being bought, sold and displayed today. A selection of Clarice Cliff ceramics is on display on Level 3 of the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney until December 2009.
Bizarre Jug by Clarice Cliff
You may be lucky to find a piece of her work at your local Antique shop or your could try Deco Downunder.
Bling
I have a confession to make, I heart Bling.
The term originated in the late 90′s by Rap artists B.G and Cash Money Millionaires and over the last decade we have seen bling in every possible application.
It gives a Luxe or Glamorous bent on all manner of items. With the onslaught of the GFC, I was sure the shiny, glossy look would disappear.
So you can imagine my excitement when I spotted these new shoes for summer beach fun today.
There’s just something about a bit of bling that lifts your spirits and makes you happy. So I can continue to put chandeliers in homes and use metallic paint on walls.
Not everywhere, mind you, just here and there as needed.
Dining rooms and Master (or teenage girl’s) Bedrooms look great with a bit of bling.
Pictures from Open Salon, Bandhini, Cafe Lighting, Holster, Cafe Lighting, Bandhini.
Dog Day Afternoon
Ming and Coco - they're mine
I can’t help it, I’m a sucker for a dog. I love going to visit my clients and especially those with a dog. I take bones for them and always give them lots of pats and I remember all their names.
Spanky relaxing
When I revisit to take my “after” shots I love having the dog in the photo. I think it adds character to the photographs. It makes the home look like someone really does live there.
So I was very sad to hear that one of my friends passed away last week. Zoe, the very friendly labrador in these shots.
Zoe
Thanks for being my friend Zoe. I’ll miss ya.
Welcoming Committee - Zoe
