Monday, April 30, 2012

Sunny days chilly nights



So chilly right now!
Can't complain as i did wake up to a beautiful day, changed the studio around, got lots and lots of work done, and now i am happy to put on my wooly socks. 

I even managed to spend some time in the garden too. 




All photos taken by myself, apart from the wooly socks which are from peter Alexander

Rug up, put the fire on and stay warm.
Andrea June 
xx

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Stamp it with personality


We all focus on our living rooms, dining rooms and every other room and how fabulous and crash hot they are looking. 
Although there is nothing wrong with making each and every room in your home crash hot, but what about the entrance to our home?.

The entrance is the most important, stamp your personality through the entrance way of your home. 
Add drama in your entrance way, If you have a lot of natural light make the entrance more grand, exaggerate its openness, a hanging chandelier will create ambience. If you are on the other end of the scale and have Minimum natural light, bring rich tones into the area, by using hanging shades,standard lamps or even strategically placed ceiling spotlights.

You may only need something simple to make your entrance grand- 
Use the wall space in your entrance wisely.
The use of a mirror to make the space grow, is always a good trick.
You can use the walls like gallery walls, bearing a large piece of artwork or even small intimate framed photos. 

Andrea June



Arctic Autumn

Arctic Autumn

During this dry leaved season, keep it fresh.








artwork by Romantiques


Beautiful coloured teapots from T2

Andrea June






Friday, April 27, 2012

Simply Friday

I love friday, although my mind is still going a trillion miles an hour thinking of all the things i have to do, desire to do and can't wait to do, that i cant wait til monday again. 
Lots of things to do today! - which is what i love being busy, nothing beats it.

In my opinion there is something so elegant about decorative vases,glass jars and cake stands.
It's as if whatever is on the onside is another world, a little wonderland.








Andrea June
x

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Less is More

♥ 


Enough said
Andrea June

It's about bringing nature into your home



THE COLD WEATHER IS SURELY HERE
BUT THAT DOES'NT MEAN WE CAN'T WARM OUR HEARTS AND HOMES BY PUTTING A BUNCH OF
AFRICAN LILIES, BUTTERFLY ORCHIDS, DAISIES,TULIPS OR EVEN SOME ZANTEDESCHIAS INSIDE OUR HOMES!
THERE IS NOTHING MORE ELEGANT THAN A FINE ARRANGEMENT 
THERE IS NOTHING SWEETER THAN THE SCENT OF FRESH FLOWERS
THERE IS NOTHING MORE OPULENT .
IT'S ABOUT BRINGING NATURE INTO YOUR HOME
BURN'T ORANGES,LEMON YELLOWS, DEEP PURPLES,LILACS,SOFT BLUES,FUCHSIA PINKS










images from Grandiflora

Andrea

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Tone, Texture and Light

 A lot of our clients ask us what our advice is when re designing or decorating their house.

The best most simple piece of advice we can give is that you have to sort out and uncover what you want your home to represent, keeping in mind your desires and making the space functional for that purpose.

When looking at your space you need to dissect what you visually want  and balance it out against what will work for you; what's going to be easy to maintain.

When you take on, as i like to call it mission statement, disregard counting your dollars our for every little aspect of the project- the cost will be the cost.
But if you make the correct decisions you will save money.

3 key elements when de designing any space is tone, texture and light. What do these elements bring to a room?
Whether the room is larger or smaller, open or a more closed space each of these elements are going to help you achieve a mood, which in turn is going to help you create depth and warmth

In every room you want to create balance using each of this elements in a unique way.
Texture- linen upholstered chair with leather piping.
Tone- natural dining table paired with pewter coloured dining chairs that are upholstered in fuchsia.
Light-dim candlelight flickering through red coloured glass, beneath a large hanging chandelier. 

Have fun with your space that is the most important part.

Andrea June

images- 1. chandelier -space lighting 
2. chair- Romantiques
3. Marlowe Armchair- H. Studio
4. Cushions-Old to new upholstery



French Chocolate Macaroons


What to do on a public holiday when it's a little bit chilly.
I am so excited to make Macaroons, they are divine.

Ingredients

    • Macaroons
    • ½ cup ground almonds, sifted
    • 1 cup pure icing sugar, sifted
    • 4 tbsp Dutch-style cocoa, sifted
    • 2 eggwhites
    • ¼ tsp cream of tartar
    • Ganache
    • 75g dark couverture chocolate
    • 1 tsp butter
    • 4 tbsp cream

    • Method

    For macaroons 
    Preheat oven to 200C.
    Prepare 2 baking sheets lined with baking paper.
    Mix the sifted ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
    Beat the eggwhites with the cream of tartar to snowy peaks. Fold a spoonful of the eggwhites into the sifted mixture to blend and then fold in the rest of the eggwhites quickly but with a light hand.
    Spoon teaspoonfuls of the mixture onto the paper-lined trays, leaving 3cm between blobs. Do this as quickly as possible and place trays immediately into the preheated oven. Cook for 8 minutes or until the macaroons feel firm on the outside.
    Wet a teatowel with cold water, wring out and place on the bench. Remove trays from oven and place on the damp cloth for a few minutes. With a spatula slide the macaroons onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before filling. If not needed immediately, store unfilled macaroons in an airtight container.
    Makes 16 pairs.
    Chocolate ganache filling
    Break chocolate into small pieces and pulverise in the food processor to a powder.
    Bring cream and butter to the boil in a pan.
    With motor running pour the boiling cream mixture onto the chocolate in a steady stream. Process until smooth. Refrigerate until just cold and then beat in an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Use straight away.
    Excess ganache will become too stiff to spread. Allow it to return to room temperature and then rebeat for a few minutes to regain spreadable consistency. 

    Happy baking, 
    Andrea June 

    This recipes is featured in the book, Autumn which is available now in all good bookstores RRP $34.95. To order direct call 1300 656 059 or visit www.smh.com.au/store
    Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/cuisine/baking/recipe/chocolate-macaroons-20111019-1m0ah.html#ixzz1t1dKICwW
    recipe from above link

    Tuesday, April 24, 2012

    A home that won't catch a chill in Autumn or Winter

    I am going on some wonderful overseas adventures in the coming months - where?, soon shall be revealed. 

    Until then we must keep focused on what we all want to do, and that is complete mission statement; no matter what that is. 
    What's your mission statement?

    Turning a space into something sophisticated and suave?, Turning tizzy on it's head in your Loft apartment or are you like me and want to turn a casual space into something timeless and atmospheric?.

    Personally at this moment in time i love retaining the feeling of a cozy space that i won't get sick of in a month or two,(although to tell you the  truth nothing stays the same in my house for more than two months).

    The space is not very large but i wanted to add depth, have the space carry boldness also be timeless and charming at the same time.

    Isn't it warm and divine, a home that isn't going to be cold in autumn or winter.

    Andrea June.