“Please contact me if you would like a consultation or further information about any of the products you see here at Decorum.”Posts Tagged ‘Outdoor entertaining’
One man’s trash…..
is another man’s treasure!
Nothing could be truer with this latest before and after I’m sharing with you.
My client found a cane setting on a footpath ready to be collected by the Council as part of their kerbside cleanup.
There were four chairs and a small frame that would be an occasional table. The cane was worse for wear, there were no cushions and no glass in the side table.
We decided that two of the chairs and the occasional table would be perfect on the front verandah. So we chose the best two chairs, ordered some fabric, had cushions made and the chairs and table repaired as required and sprayed white.
It’s the perfect place to sit and watch the afternoon sun go down.
If you would like assistance with colour or decor for your home, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
It’s here again!
via Pinterest
Happy Weekend!
Adirondack Chairs
The days are warming up here in Sydney (at last!) and the weather is beckoning us to live outdoors. Not right outdoors in tents but to take a cup of tea out into the garden and enjoy the sunshine.
There are so many varieties of outdoor furniture but one I kept seeing on the East Coast of America was the Adirondack Chair. You know that chair with the funny name.
Spotted at Bar Harbor, Maine
Originally made from wood, many of the US varieties were made from plastic which is ideal for leaving them out in the garden all day. They came in a great range of colours too.
In the garden at Cape Cod, Massachusetts
They were originally made in 1903 by Thomas Lee who was on vacation in Westport, NY in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains. The original Adirondack chair was made with eleven pieces of wood, cut from a single board. It had a straight back and seat, which were set at a slant to sit better on the steep mountain inclines of the area. It also featured wide armrests, which became a hallmark of the Adirondack chair and are perfect for resting a cup or glass.
On the beach in Malibu, California
Jamie Durie has an Adirondack Chair in his outdoor range available from Big W. The Porch Furniture have a range of Adirondack Chairs including one from recycled milk bottles so they don’t need any maintenance. I like that idea!
Ready for a party, Bar Harbor again.
Would you like a pair in your garden? I think they look very inviting and I could imagine sitting with a cup of tea each Sunday afternoon resting up before I tackle the ironing basket after dinner.
If you would like assistance choosing furniture for your outdoor area, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Around the world in 2 hours
You’re not going believe this, but on Wednesday evening I went to Melbourne, India and France. And I only went across town!
I attended the launch of Dinner Explorer an inspirational and practical new website from Electrolux.
We all love entertaining but are often stuck for ideas, themes, recipes, decor and all the other fine details that go into a successful dinner party at home. Dinner Explorer comes to the rescue with over 50 different themes, based on international and local Australian celebrations and festivities. Not only will you find a theme, but you will also find suggested menus, drinks, ideas to decorate your home and extra ideas like dresscode.
There are some really “out there” suggestions like The Wife Carrying World Championships and Polish Dumpling Day, but each and every one has something you could use for another occasion.
I love the calendar of events, as if you are already holding an event you could easily give it a theme based on what’s on at the time.
Electrolux hosted the launch at their wonderful showroom in Mascot. There were three stations and we were broken up into three groups rotating through each station.
I started with the Melbourne Cup, the Aussie horserace that stops a nation. Lobster rolls were very yummy, as was the Champagne Cocktail that had been specifically designed to accompany the rolls.
Next was India and the art of making chapati’s.
Colour, colour, colour is the key when entertaining Indian style. Oh and some Bollywood movies.
And finally the Peach de resistance – Christmas and Peter Gilmore‘s White Peach Bellini, which went down way to easily.
The Caremelised Brioche with Warm Cherry Compote was pretty good too. Peter’s recipes can be found here.
So now there’s no excuses to put on a great dinner party or casual BBQ. Head to Dinner Explorer for all you need including a full shopping list. Life couldn’t be easier!
If you would like assistance preparing your home for entertaining, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Spring already?
Last week I posted this photo on my Facebook page with the comment – “I see signs of Spring.”
Early Spring Blossoms
Never a truer word was spoken with Sydney enjoying a run of 20+C days. So it was no trouble at all to sit and take in the view and the food yesterday at Quay Restaurant on Sydney Harbour.
My friends at Electrolux have just released their new range of premium barbecues and world renowned chef Peter Gilmore was putting them through their paces. I’d never been to Quay before so was delighted to be a guest at this esteemed restaurant and sit in the front row of an intimate masterclass with Peter Gilmore.
View from Quay Restaurant
Peter cooked four different cuts of Angus Sirloin Beef – grass fed and air aged for six weeks, grain fed, F1 and Wagyu. Peter likes to preheat the barbecue for ten minutes with the hood down on a very high heat. He then seasons the meat with salt and pepper before turning the burners to medium and sealing the meat. He then turns the barbecue off and lets the meat rest with lid closed for about 40 mins.
Dished Up
The Electrolux barbecues have inbuilt sealed grills with drip trays so the fat drips down and there is no spitting and flames. You don’t get any burnt bits of meat that way which is good when you’re cooking Wagyu which is in excess of $110 per kilo!
My meal - 4 types of Sirloin steak with Wasabi Butter and Barbecued Vegetable Salad
The En:tice Barbecue comes in two different sizes, 600mm and 900mm. They not only look smart and would be welcome in any outdoor entertaining area, but are made of easy cleaning materials like cast iron and stainless steel.
Finishing touches
Peter also cooked a vegetable salad on the barbecue with purple carrots!
Barbecued Vegies
I found his tale of the history of carrots very interesting. Apparently carrots originated in Asia and were purple and orange. The Dutch bred the purple out of the carrots as their national colour is orange. So now when we see a carrot other than an orange one, it looks kinda weird. But oh, what a beautiful colour scheme!
Carrots every colour of the rainbow!
Thank you Electrolux and Quay Restaurant for a lovely afternoon.
If you would like assistance with furnishing or design for your outdoor entertaining area, contact us for an online or in-person consultation.
Dive In
As I sit here writing this post, the wind is howling outside and the temperature is in single digits. Just over the mountains there is snow. So it’s pretty hard to think about outdoor entertaining.
But now is the ideal time to consider pool renovations or building. This was the topic of my newsletter this month.
Did you receive your copy? If not you can sign up here.
These images have been provided by Argo an architectural firm specialising in pool refurbishments and pool cabanas.
Roll on summer!
If you would like assistance in choosing colours or furniture for your outdoor entertaining area, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
Federation Style on Australia Day
One of the most popular style of houses around my area, is the Federation House. It was an early style of Australian architecture and consists of a sprawling, assymetrical structure. It often will have a verandah that encircles the house and roofs with gables, turrets and dormer windows.
via Domain
There are often unlikely angles, bay windows and towers at corners. It was developed to meet the demands of the prosperous middle classes who wanted to show off their new-found wealth that coincided with Federation itself in 1901. The Federation House borrowed styles from many countries and eras which is fitting for this melting pot of a nation, we call home.
via Domain
Inside the house, colours were muted but decoration was ornate. Australian motifs abound with flora and fauna both displayed in the plaster ceilings or used in fabrics, wallpaper or tiles.
from "The Federation House" by Hugh Fraser and Ray Joyce
Coloured glass or lead-light was used throughout Federation homes and the top panels of the front door often featured panels of colour in soft pastels with Art Nouveau or Australian motifs. Round bulls-eye windows as well as bay windows were popular. The bay window would often house a window seat which is such a versatile design.
Colour choice by Inside Out Colour and Design
Fortunately today, these houses are being remodelled (rather than bulldozed) to include many of the period details but with an emphasis on more contemporary living. The dark, muted tones of the turn of the century are gone and the window coverings are more streamlined and suited to today’s busy lifestyles.
Modern take on a Federation Living room by Inside Out Colour and Design
The verandahs are sought after and have often been extended to create an outdoor living space adjacent to the modern kitchen.
Wide verandah
The bathrooms have been updated but still include that old world charm.
Bathroom Design by Inside Out Colour and Design
I love working with these houses. Not just because they are iconic Australian houses but they lend so well to being enhanced and modified to suit today’s families. If you require assistance with colour or decor for your Federation Home, contact us for an on-line or in-person consultation.
Happy Australia Day
Throw another shrimp on the barbie
The weather is superb here in Sydney at the moment. And that’s the ideal time to fire up the barbeque and head outdoors for dinner.
I came across these fabulous table cloths recently and thought how colourful they were and how suitable to outdoor dining.
Some come in quite a large size which is great for those big outdoor tables.
Almost good enough to use as an artwork.
Some patterns are also available in runners and most have matching napkins.
We can source these items for you. Contact us to enquire about our on-line or in person design services.
Hot in the City
With the barbecue season hotting up, Electrolux have launched the new E:Volution Barbecue.
Electrolux E:Volution BBQ
Barbecues are synonymous with summer in Australia, where most families cook a meal on the barbecue 2 – 3 times a week. This new barbecue has been designed here in Australia so will complement today’s contemporary outdoor spaces and deliver precise cooking results.
I was fortunate to be at the launch of the E:Volution Barbecue yesterday at the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Sydney’s Circular Quay. It was a beautiful day and the view across the quay to the Opera House was sensational.
Ben O'Donoghue
Chef Ben O’Donoghue put the barbecue through it’s paces and served up a delicious Thai Style BBQ Fish and BBQ Vietnamese Lamb. Ben did say that most people think of barbecues as steak and sausages but there is a whole world of flavours that can just as easily be cooked on the barbecue as they can in the kitchen. And this new barbecue makes it very easy with it’s roasting hood and separate grilling plate.
I wondered if Ben had been playing Spotto with his kids.
Most of us love getting outdoors in the warmer weather and what better way to entertain friends and family than with a shared meal outdoors.
Outdoor room via Australian House and Garden Photography by Maree Homer
Fire up the barbie, gather round the friends and while away the afternoon in your outdoor room.
Thank you Electrolux for a lovely day and the goodie bag wasn’t half bad either!
Herbies BBQ Spices, Maggie Beer Vinegars and Oils and Ben's Barbecue Book
If you would like assistance creating an outdoor entertaining area to share with your friends and family, contact us to enquire about our design services.
Luxscaping
As I mentioned earlier, I went to Designex last week and was fortunate to hear Jamie Durie speak on trends for outdoor living.
The Outdoor Room
Jamie’s concept of The Outdoor Room is alive and well here in Australia. With our mostly sunny days, the garden has become an extension of the home. Similarly we are looking to the interiors for inspiration. As Jamie said, we are “luxscaping”.
An Outdoor Room by Jamie Durie
Numerous other cultures have been living outdoors for many, many years. Places like Thailand, Indonesia and Japan provide wonderful education for our relatively young country. The wind and sun can make it uncomfortable to spend too much time outside but now we have products that meet our needs and provide solutions.
We have wallpaper made from steel which can enhance a wall or create a division. Vertical gardens are the fastest growing trend thanks to the foresight of Patrick Blanc.
via Eco Concepts
Jamie also suggests that our gardens should not only look good but should taste good too. More families are concerned about the quality of the food they put on the table so if it’s grown in your own backyard it can provide shelter, protection and beauty into the bargain. Pear trees make a wonderful screen. Clever plant placement and selection will see a useful as well as decorative garden.
via Eco Concepts
One thing Jamie is adamant about is garden lighting. It’s true, our hardwork should be admired day and night, so a few lights along the path or highlighting a fantastic tree will enable the garden to be enjoyed even from the comfort of the cosy living room.
via Gardens At Night
One of the products on display around The Outdoor Room at Designex was sandstone cladding. This sandstone is 30mm thick on a bendable backing so can be wrapped around columns and walls and gives the appearance of something much more solid.
via ME Lighting
So with the onset of winter, now is the time to plan and plant your outdoor room so it’s ready to enjoy once the warmer weather returns.
Jamie has written a number of books which are available from my Book Shop.
