Wednesday, February 13, 2013

GUESS WHO'S GOING TO PARIS!???....AU REVOIR..BUT ONLY FOR A WEEK....

AU REVOIR!

Interior Decorator Brisbane Fortitude Valley


This will be the last blog until Friday March 1st because I am off to Paris!
Pete the Greek is taking me away for our 2nd wedding anniversary...the symbol for 2 years of marriage is cotton.  I am getting Paris.
We will be visiting everything and seeing as much as we possibly can, completely and utterly soaking up the city.  It will be my first time there and a realisation of a life long dream.  I can hardly wait!

So, stay tuned for all the pics and the posts, detailed descriptions of our gastronomic adventures and more.

Jen  
xxx

In the meantime, we have new fabrics coming in weekly...daily even, and some beautiful new hand crafted pieces.  Pop into the showroom and see Colette and Cathie!
59 Doggett Street
NEWSTEAD.  Qld.  4006
07 38526002

Friday, February 8, 2013

5 TOP VALENTINES SURVIVAL TIPS FOR SINGLES...GREAT GIFT IDEAS TO SHOW YOUR LOVE YOUR LOVE!...EASIEST VALENTINES DAY DESSERT RECIPE EVER...POMEGRANATE MARGARITAS AND OUT AND ABOUT AT NEWSTEAD LOCALE!....

VALENTINES DAY....AKA 'SINGLES AWARENESS DAY'
The 5 Top Valentines Survival Tips for Singles

Valentines Day survival tips singles awareness day cottage brisbane


When I was single, I used to hate Valentines Day so much, that I would call it 'Singles Awareness Day'....why?...because if you're single and its Valentines Day, you are REALLY aware of being single!  It can be a bit of a downer seeing all those red roses flying about the place....couples off for dinner together.
And so, if you're single Valentines Day doesn't have to be a day filled with envy and loneliness...instead it can be fun.  
Here's my top 5 tips for making Valentines Day special for singles.

Charcoal Interiors Decorator Fortitude Valley Valentines Day Tips Ideas


1. Remind a friend that they are loved.  There's no better way to get yourself out of the Valentines Day blues than to make a friend feel special.  Make a phone call....say hi...there's always someone who has the blues, especially on the day of 'love'...bake them a cake or if youre like me..buy one!...share it together over a coffee, or glass of bubbles!

2. Send yourself some flowers....only you know the flowers that you love the best.  Put them next to your bed at home...or in the bathroom!  Brighten up your day...you deserve it.

3. Love the past.  When you get home on Thursday night, pop your feet up, pour a glass of bubbles and raise your glass to the past...reflect on all the positive experiences that have shaped your past.  Smile, be positive and look forward to more great things!

4.  Love yourself! Pamper....ah, the home pamper...lunch time on Thursday, grab your favourite hair treatment, select a new nail colour, face mask, essential oil blend...all the things that make you feel pampered so when you get home youre ready to indulge.  Relax, pamper and give yourself the time and attention that you deserve.

5. Share the love...invite your single friends over.  Ask everyone to bring their favourite food....put it all out to share....be sure to have some bubbles handy too.  Laugh, keep it light and enjoy the love and fun that only friendship can bring!

HAPPY SINGLES AWARENESS DAY!

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'BLOOM-FREE' GIFT GIVING

Looking for something completely different and unique for your Valentine this year?  
Most usually wouldn't equate romantic gift giving with horses, Deborah Harry or ornate French Candlesticks...but hey...we never have actually thought inside the square, and understanding the frustration of trying to dazzle your loved one with a box of chocolates or the usual red roses....well, it can all be a bit blahhhhhh....  So, here's some Valentines Day gift giving ideas for those of you who really want to ramp things up in the love department.

Emma Sheldrake Blondie Art Amy Winehouse Turkish Pot


Lovers of Blondie or Deborah Harry will love this personally signed print by the artist Emma Sheldrake....only one in stock.

Gothic Candlesticks French ornate Antique Gold



These French inspired ornate antique gold Candlesticks in 2 sizes are the epitomy of romance and style....I know what I would be asking for if I had the choice between these and roses....?

Glass Hurricane Vase Candleholder

Silver Candleholder Interior Decorator Brisbane Fortitude Valley



Create romantic mood on the night and forever with these large glass lanterns which look stunning on a table, bathroom...or wherever you want to keep the light soft and romantic.  And if it's candles you want to give, we also have a large range of silver candle holders, perfect for the smaller spaces.

Antique Wooden Horse Interior Design Brisbane


Well thought out gifts are always appreciated and equine lovers will adore our range of carved horses.  We have one antique horse left and other styles available.


Pop into the showroom at 59 Doggett St. Newstead before Thursday.  We will be happy to show you all the gift ideas we have ready for immediate purchase.



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WHAT'S NEW?

Comfortable Day Bed Upholstered Bolster Cushions Fortitude Valley

We couldn't find Jen for a meeting this week....guess where we found her?  Possibly the most comfortable day bed ever and gives a wonderfully elegant spin on the standard boring old 'bali style' day bed.

Moroccan Door Detail Antique Feature Door Interior Decorator Brisbane

Our antique, intrically hand carved Indian doors are huge!  Come and check them out....they're magestically placed behind Caths desk...trust me..you wont miss them!

Wooden Boot Moulds Unique Gift Homewares Furniture Stores Brisbane

Carved wooden boot moulds.

Antique Wooden Carved Pillar Furniture Stores Brisbane

Our old wooden Antique pillars have beautiful hand carved detailing.

Carved Wooden Head Tribal Unique Furniture Brisbane

Now available in a range of sizes and timber colours, our wooden busts are perfect for that space that needs something a little different.
www.charcoalinteriors.com.au

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OUT AND ABOUT

Locale cafe newstead furniture stores brisbane

The Gasworks end of Doggett St, is changing at a rate of knots...one minute the bridesmaid to James Street and quickly becoming the Belle of the Ball...we are now a very vibrant and happening 'place to be'.
We are excited about new kid on the block, Locale/Kitchen Angel which has just opened up on the corner of Doggett and Commercial Road...its a hop, skip and a jump from Charcoal Interiors.


We have a new kitchen going into the showroom (see below) and havent been able to make a coffee or lunch....soooo its been a good opportunity to try out the fare from Locale.
Laura and Mario Cali not only have a buzzing cafe (Locale) sating the locals with Di Bella coffee, assorted Paninis, cakes, biscuits and loads more, they also have a thriving business within a business, being Kitchen Angel.  Like me and really, really bad at baking?...cant be bothered with all the preparations but still wanting to dazzle your friends?...then Kitchen Angel is your new best friend. 



 Designed to save you time whilst using the best ingredients and following traditional Italian recipes Kitchen Angel allows you to produce quality desserts with limited effort...everything you need to create divine delicacies at home...and all are preservative, gluten and dairy free!




Well worth the sticky beak and offering you quality, traditional fare and service, we give these guys the big thumbs up and feel lucky to have them so close to the showroom...not only for our own selfish reasons but for our clients too.
Pop by Locale and Kitchen Angel during your next visit to Charcoal Interiors.
3/50 Commercial Road. 


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...NEW KITCHEN...

Not super exciting now...but wait til next week when its all in!
Stay tuned and watch this space for all the details....you can have one just like it!



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GRAB YOUR PARTNERS...ROUND AND ROUND...IT'S COCKTAIL FRIDAY!

LET'S INDULGE IN A POMEGRANATE MARGARITA...OR 2!?

It's not surprising that many bartenders have claimed they created the Margarita, one of the worlds most famous cocktails.  Carlos Herrera's case is certainly of of the the most colourful.  In the late 1930's American showgirl Marjorie King was a regular customer at Herrera's Bar in Mexico.  Marjorie was allergic to all spirits apart from tequila, and because she refused to drink it straight, Danny struggled to serve her.  One night he came up with the idea of blending tequila and Cointreau with fresh lime juice and crushed ice, a concoction he dubbed "Margarita", the Mexican version of Marjorie!

WHAT YOU NEED....
120ml pomegranate juice
Splash of Grenadine for added colour (optional)
28ml freshly squeezed lime juice, plus extra for dipping
Fine or coarse sea salt
14ml Triple Sec
28ml Tequila
Pomegranate seeds

WHAT TO DO...
Pour the pomegranate juice (and Grenadine if using) into a shallow container and freeze until ice crystals form.  Dip the rim of a cocktail glass in lime juice and then into salt until it is evenly coated.  Break up the frozen pomegranate juice until it is slushy.  Place in a cocktail shaker with 28ml lime juice, the Triple Sec and tequila.  Shake vigorously and strain into the glass.  Float a few pomegranate seeds in a drink and serve.

Voila!....enjoy and sip slowly whilst watching Django when it comes out on dvd!

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VALENTINES DAY

credit Kevin H via flickr


THE FOOD OF LERRRRV.......AND MOST POSSIBLY THE EASIEST 'RECIPE' WE HAVE EVER POSTED!

OK, I'm speaking to the ladies here...is it not enough that we look fabulous on Valentines Day, let alone have to come up with something amazing for dessert?...Hello...we should be dessert enough!  But, I suppose as a pleasant prequel to all things promising, it is nice to have a dessert to finish things off...or start things up perhaps?  Oh that's enough!...

And, so here's possibly the easiest dessert ever....other than plopping a scoop of icecream in a bowl...but thats not very romantic is it?

WHAT YOU NEED...
A punnet of fresh strawberries.
Dark Chocolate for melting
Wooden Skewers

WHAT TO DO...
Wash the strawberries. Skewer them in groups of 4 to 5.
Melt your chocolate...I do mine in the microwave...just be sure to keep an eye on it.
Drizzle the melted chocolate over the strawberries, holding them up vertically so the chocolate cascades down.
Variations: Roll in crushed nuts like pistachio after you've drizzled with chocolate.


Credit via -mrsraggle- flickr

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We look forward to seeing in the showroom soon!

Until next week...Love, Light and Laughter!

The Charcoal Team
www.charcoalinteriors.com.au

Damien Bredberg Photography Grand Dining Room Family

Friday, February 1, 2013

MAKING PLANS FOR CHANGE...THE BRAIN SPACE...KETTLE AND TIN FOR BREAKFAST....MELON AND PROSCUITTO SUPER EASY RECIPE...MIDORI MARTINI..YES! AND MORE...HAPPY FRIDAY!


FEBRUARY...TIME TO MAKE PLANS FOR CHANGE

Drapery Curtains Interior Decorator Brisbane Fortitude Valley

February...welcome to the Month of love.  It's when things start to ramp up, Christmas is over, and the party has finished.  Time to get those plans of yours and start putting them into action.
Our design team has acquired a massive range of new fabrics from European Velvets to soft weaves and more, more, more.....make an appointment today for your curtains, soft furnishings or upholstery requirements.
It's one of the things that we do best!
Our Team is happy to assist.

CHARCOAL INTERIORS
59 DOGGETT ST
NEWSTEAD.  QLD.  4006

www.charcoalinteriors.com.au

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....THE BRAINS SPACE....


Ultimate Man Shed Designer Brisbane Fortitude Valley
Credit - Olson Kundig Architects

Remember how Dad used to duck off to his man 'shed' when you were a kid?
Mine did...and it was usually to tinker with one of his vintage cars, or sip on a beer without Mum nagging him about it.  


Architect built man cave shed interior design Fortitude Valley
Credit - Olson Kundig Architects

Well, we stumbled upon this amazing adaptation of the old fashioned shed this week.  Called 'The Brain' and created by architect Olson Kundig, it is a 14,280 cubic food cinematic laboratory, where their client, a filmkaker, can work out ideas.


Dog space peep hole interior decorator fortitude valley brisbane
 Credit - Olson Kundig Architects

Dont' you love the little hidey hole just for the dog!


You'll have lots of time to rest when youre six feet under
Credit Olson Kundig Architects

"You'll Have Lots Of Time To Rest When You're Six Feet Under"....hmmm....we like it! (above)

A cast in place concrete box that is as raw as it is sleek and industrial.
We love it.
http://www.olsonkundigarchitects.com/


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...QUEENSLAND TIMBER FLOORING...




This is a reminder that the Queensland Timber Flooring representative Andy Singleton, will be in the showroom tomorrow (Saturday 2nd February) to answer all your questions in regards to beautiful timber flooring for your home.  There is nothing that Andy doesn't know about timber flooring and what he doesn't know..well, it hasn't been thought of yet!


Pop in and say hi to Andy.  Come and see our huge selection of quality timber flooring, laid in sections and a beautiful example of what can be done for you!

QUEENSLAND TIMBER FLOORING

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FLOODING

Well, when we wrote out top tips out for Australia Day partying last week, we had no idea what was to develop over the course of the weekend here in Queensland.
Torrential rain, blustery, at times gale forced winds and flooding in parts of Brisbane with other sections of Queensland completely devastated ie Bundaberg, Laidley etc...
So, our hearts go out to those affected.



The Government websites are encouraging those who wish to contribute to check out the Givit website as there is a list of essentials required by those in need.  Its a bit like a bridal registry...you give the items that are specifically asked for and needed the most.


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OUT AND ABOUT

Kettle and Tin review

My daughter was leaving for Europe just before Christmas Day, and I decided to take her out for breakfast.
There's a new kid on the block in Paddington.  Given Terrace is an abundance of restaurants and cafes.  What was once our fave 'Pandemonium' has been replaced with 'Kettle and Tin'.
Kettle and Tin is a restaurant and bar with a clever open plan design whilst still keeping the quaint ambience of the old original home.

Brooke Farrell Kettle and Tin
With the traveller outside in the courtyard before it started to rain.

My daughter had the usual Eggs Benny $18, and I went for the 'Hunters' eggs - eggs scrambled with roma tomato/sauteed onion and proscuitto topping.  This was washed down with a couple of extra hot skinny caps.

Brisbane Breakfast Review
My Hunters Eggs

We found the service very attentive and swift.  The food was really good.  It began to rain and so we moved indoors (we originally sat in the courtyard out the front) into one of the comfortable booths to the right by the window.  

Good coffee Brisbane Interior Decorator
REALLY good coffee......mmmmmm

Kettle and Tin was a pleasant experience, although I do agree with some of the other reviews on the Urbanspoon website in respect to blandness of food as we did find on our second visit that the hashcakes were a tad lacking in flavour.  As far as service went on both occasions, it was faultless....whoever does the hiring there needs a pat on the back.

All up, a pretty good experience and we will be back another day to give lunch or dinner a whirl.

Kettle & Tin on Urbanspoon

Kettle And Tin

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Cocktail Friday martini classic espresso midori

IT'S COCKTAIL FRIDAY!

I love a good dry Martini on a special occasion, but there's also a huge range of variations on this classic cocktail  ie...the Grapefruit Martini, Peach martini, Apple Martini, Cosmo Martini, Chocolate Martini, Espresso Martini (made by Pete the Greek and my all time fave...) and I could go on and on but today we are focusing on my latest discovery, the 'Midori Martini'.
Sharply refreshing, a well-chilled martini spiked with the tang of citrus is the perfect way to unwind after a long and exhausting day.  Feel like a millionaire as you raise the cool, frosted glass to your lips!

WHAT YOU NEED
90ml lemon vodka
14ml Cointreau
14ml Midori
Juice of 1/4 of a lemon
Ice cubes
Twist of lemon zest to serve

WHAT TO DO
Shake the vodka, Cointreau, Midori and lemon juice together with plenty of ice cubes.  Strain into a glass and serve decorated with a twist of lemon zest.

Pop your feet up....enjoy!

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Proscuitto wrapped rockmelon recipe
Credit Kevin H via flickr


PROSCUITTO WRAPPED ROCKMELON

Buying seasonal produce has loads of benefits.  The product is fresher, you will be supporting local growers and the flavours are more pronounced in fresh seasonal produce as opposed to those which have been stored in cold storage...sometimes for more than a year.

I bought a Rockmelon for the family BBQ the other night and it was incredibly sweet and delicious.  Rockmelon are in season during Summer only in Australia, so take advantage of this very versatile fruit while you can.

For our BBQ,  and to satisfy the Meditteranean tastes of Pete the Greek and co, I tried out this great recipe for Proscuitto Wrapped Rockmelon.  Its super easy, and try drizzling some Balsamic Vinegar over the top too...deeeelish!

Credit pilgrimgirl via flickr


HERE'S THE RECIPE!

The Sweet-Salty combo is divine!


Credit lynn.gardner via flickr


WHAT YOU NEED:
Proscuitto de parma - as for it to be sliced super thing at the deli
Rockmelon - seeded and cut from the rind in wedges - as above
A sprinkling of rock salt
A drizzle of Balsamic 

WHAT TO DO:
OK...this is pretty technical...NOT!
Just lovingly wrap the proscuitto around the melon as shown above
Sprinkle sparingly with rock salt
Display on a beautiful plate.
Have the Balsamic handy so everyone can drizzle Balsamic to their taste.

Try matching this with a New Zealand Sauvingnon Blanc...the melon flavours will really burst through and compliment well.  We like Geisen at the moment...its a good quality drop and also well priced.  Lovely freshness on the palate and beautiful honey tones that are delicate.

Enjoy!

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Until next week....Jen's off to McLaren Vale for more wine research and Cath's busy packing her bags for a quick trip to the Coast!

Love, Light and Laughter to all!

The Charcoal Team
xxx

Damien Bredberg Photography Family Portrait Gothic

www.charcoalinteriors.com.au