Weekend Getaway; Brisbane

As much as I love Sydney, I also love getting away for the weekend. So recently I ditched the very boring Friday afternoons at work and jumped on a flight to Brisbane.

We stayed in Fortitude Valley in a serviced apartment, Miro Apartments, the best thing apart from the location was the internal courtyard the apartments all opened up to.

An obligatory trip to South Bank was in order, it is also home to one of my favourite spots in Brisbane, the Nepalese Temple, a little oasis of calm in the crazy.

A new addition to South Bank since amy last visit is epicurious, fantastic produce gardens in the middle of the city, a real inspiration.

The poor day trip weather was being well utilised by Kite Surfers when we made it up to Sandgate.

And no weekend away to Brisbane is complete without a trip to the Antique Centre in Teneriffe.

However I think the best thing about weekends away is dining out.
(I don't really like taking photographs during romantic dinners so the restaurant photos are from the social media sites of the restaurants)

Hubs's favorite watering hole on the river is alchemy, we both took the staff recommendations, Duck for Sir and Quail for Madam, both very good.

The new Brisbane favourite is gordita, amazing food, knowledgeable and friendly staff, we will most definitely be back when next in Brisbane.

And back to Brisbane we will go, I mean how can you go past this view?

AA xx

Good Fences, Good Neighbours……..??

They do say that good fences make for good neighbours. But for something so seemingly simple the fences are sure causing issues.

How can it be so hard to run a straight line between two fixed points?

I must say that it is not actually the neighbours that have cause the issues, just the contractors that have been hired to put up the fences. We have three fences around our property, two of which have been installed on a slight diagonal which run over the property line and encroach onto our site, 10 cms on one side and 40cm at the rear boundary. WTF.

The fence on the side has now been relocated after a two hour consult with all neighbours involved and the contractor responsible, involving multiple sets of plans and tape measures. All resulting in the realisation that the contractor instead of installing the fence over the survey peg which marked the boundary he went around it, on our side of course (he couldn't go wrong the other way as the neighbours pool was already installed, the fence now runs almost over the concrete slab for the pool, talk about close!).

Luckily is is on the side we will hardly see as although it now runs along the boundary I think it is a little wonky along the top.


The rear fence has yet to be moved that one may take a little longer to move as that one belongs to the developer who already has tenants living there and it will involve moving the clothes line and digging up the landscaping.

Deep breaths and wine, lots of wine!

But the garage door is looking great, ties the house into the rest of the neighbourhood who have gone with mostly mocha-ish bricks.

AA xx

The Big Blue and Yellow Store

The builder is making great progress on the build, the tiler is done, the painter has started, the flooring guys are booked so more decisions to be made, this time about window coverings and light shades, just so I know what I want when the time comes and I don't delay things with faffing about.

To try and keep cost from spiralling out of control as the build comes to an end I have limited myself to selecting these items from the big blue and yellow box otherwise know as Ikea.

I paid them a visit after my site visit this week so in line with my clean light bright choices so far, this is what I am thinking of;

For the 3 big windows in the living / dining area, simple curtains,

In the two smaller bedrooms, white roman blinds,

And in the master bedroom which is also at the front of the house a layered treatment to provide a little more privacy, with either roller blind or the honeycomb type with curtains, in a similar style to the living area.

I haven't decided yet if I want something for the window in the kitchen, if I do it will be either of the two above on its own.


























As for lighting, we have already specified the pendant lights over the island bench and the feature light over the dining area with down lights for the rest of the living area, I just need to find shades for the bedrooms, but not hanging pendant lights which most of the nicer shades seem to be designed for.

This style came in a couple of different sizes which might work and so it is the winner so far, the weaving around the edges should work with the hanging "nest" style over the dining area,

However one of these might tie in with the frosted glass over the kitchen benches,

So I think the final decision will have to wait until the rest of the lights are installed, I will then have to make a snap final judgment.

How about you any preferences with my options?

AAxx

Progress Update IV

After all of the delays with Council the builders have been fantastic making up for lost time.

The external brick work and roof went on before Christmas, like my site boots?

And the internal walls were lined, the kitchen and bathroom has gone in, all in the couple of weeks they have been back onsite.

Over the next couple of weeks the tiling, painting and final internal fit out will be completed!!!

AA xoxo

Window Shopping; The Country Trader

Sometimes I think I am the last to find out about places.

In this case the most amazing homewares place in Sydney, The Country Trader. We went in the other day and I fell in love, the most beautiful mix of new and vintage furniture and home goods.

Stunning.

AA xx

Summer Food

One of the things I love about summer is the opportunity to experiment more in the kitchen, there is just something about long hot days days makes me want to be a little more creative with the menu, light, fresh, healthy.

(Disclaimer; none of the photos below are mine, food normally doesn't last long enough to be photographed in my house)

Prosciutto, Fig & Ricotta Salad with honey

Watermelon, Pinenut & Feta Salad

Traditional with a twist, Salmon Nicoise Salad.

Jamie Olivers Carrot, Beetroot and feta salad.

How about you cooking up a storm? trying any new ideas? what are your go to's in the warmer months?

AAxx

New Year, New Style focus

Well, the Christmas tree is down and all of the decorations packed away, why do the decorations never fit back into the boxes they come out of?
So now is a good time to have a good look at our space and give it a little shake up, and I do mean little as the new house should be ready in the next couple of months. (Fingers crossed)

Here goes 5 trends old and new that I am going to try on for size in the coming months.

#1. Hang Art on a book case, 2014 was all about perfectly styled bookcases, with creative arrangements of books along with a unique mix of non book items which can really personalise a space but what if your like me and you need all the space on your book cases for actual books and said book cases take up a lot of wall space, (we really do have a lot of books) utilising the space and hanging large pieces of art over the shelves is a good option.

One Kings Lane 

#2. Abundant greenery indoors, I love the Urban Jungle concept, I started building my collection in 2014, so for 2015 I want to double down on what works for me and expand with a few bigger plants, maybe even indoor trees, although I do know that there will be a bit more trial and error after we move figuring out what works best in the new house. It's a simple concept really plants in the house make me happy and they help filter out crap from the air around me, it's all good all round.

Style by Emily Henderson 

#3. Colourful rugs with a Moroccan, Turkish,  type vibe. As much as I love my white and black Beni Ourain rug and my white flotiki which I will continue to use in the bedroom, I am feeling the need to incorporate a little more colour into the living spaces. The washed out colours of flat weave kilim, the more vibrant colours of moroccan boucherouite  or beautifully  faded vintage turkish rugs might just fit the bill.

sf girl by bay

#4. Switching things up a little with vertical string lights. The concept of utilising string lights in a variety of formats to highlight a bookcase, frame a doorway or just generally balance the light in a room has been around for ages. But normally they have been strung horizontally, I'm going to try seeing things in a new light (sorry I couldn't help myself) and hang them vertically.

Hannas Room 

#5. Warm metallics, here we are looking at brass, gold and especially copper accents. I would love to add a brass or copper tray to the coffee table and during our work secret santa someone received a beautiful tea light holder, black on the outside and gold on the inside, it look all of my self control not to swap it for the book I ended up with while she wasn't looking. So I may have to settle for something like the accessories below.

Apartment Therapy

Apartment Therapy

Refinery29

So what about you, any changes in the new year? Home or work?

AA xx