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.

Victoria Beckham Collection

artwork by Romantiques

Beautiful coloured teapots from T2

Andrea June

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

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

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

above photo from http://melinaphotos.com/index_lg.html

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

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.

info@romantiques.com.au

www.romantiques.com.au

Inspiration over a coffee

Andrea xx

Bespoke Wellington Chest

$1,900 

or make an offer 

This hand painted unique noir and gold leaf Mahogany Wellington Chest, with 6 drawers and 2 doors will fit perfectly into any space.

This second hand wellington chest was 1 out of 5 ever to be customised, beneath the first drawer where the pigeon coup is, once was a drawer, but has now been tailored to offer a more functional space.

A piece that is like a picture in life size, a unforgettable piece that is a memory on it's own, a piece that works for you, you don't have to work for it.

Scrawled across the chest that stands 113cm high, steps 50cm deep and spans 66cm is a beautiful hand piece of writing written by ones self that reads-

"Ever now and then i find myself living in wistful moments. 

The type of moments that have nothing to do with what is considered rational..... but something slightly better.

Moments that make me feel like i'm seeing through a different set of eyes...

....thee perfectly symmetrical crack in my ceramic mug

.....sunday evenings 

.....the smell of your hair

When this happens, when i see outside my usual pattern of thought, sometimes there's nothing i can do but wonder at the ridiculousness of it all, wonder what i can possibly do to preserve whatever semblance of priceless insight.

i've gained... so much that i feel as if i could just blow away like a dry leaf in the wind.

These moments,to me, are like the air. Or blood. The beating of my heart. they're essential. they keep me from holding my breath..... for no reason at all.

Though sometimes, things are better left ambiguous. It keeps things interesting.

Now that i've told you all this, none of it really makes any sense. But then again.... 

It doesn't really have to".

Need i say anymore this piece speaks for itself. 

Inspection is welcome by appointment

Pick up needs to be arranged within seven days of auction finishing, from Sydney's northern beaches.

If you have any questions please email me 

afinearrangement@hotmail.com

or call me 

Andrea

0420301512

Edwardian oak display cabinet

Edwardian oak display cabinet

For sale click the link above, to place a bid.

A second hand delectable treasure.

A bespoke piece of art.

A piece that Lends an old world charm with its own quirky personality.

A piece that takes you away to any place you'd rather be.

 A worn hand painted Oak display cabinet, standing 206cm high, reaching 120cm wide and stepping 41cm deep finished in an antique rub, bearing a hand painted piece of art, and a quote that reads -

 'each of us are angels with one wing, who can only fly by embracing one another'  - Luciano de Crescenz

Like a treasure chest, the inside is just as gorgeous as the outside, all lined with black felt, to give it depth, which will be a perfect compliment to any piece in any house of any colour, as this statement piece is made to be a frame for the rest.

it's a piece that works for you, you don't work for it.

Inspection is welcome by appointment

Pick up needs to be arranged within seven days of auction finishing, from Sydney's northern beaches.

If you have any questions please email me 

afinearrangement@hotmail.com

or call me 

Andrea

0420301512

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi at Home

The design-savvy stars transform a Beverly Hills estate into a home that is perfect—if perhaps not permanent

Text by Peter Haldeman/Photography by Roger Davies
Produced by Carlos Mota

Both these images just divine.

Simple living.

This is how it is done.

images from architectural digest

Andrea xx

A little chic thought while laying on the sand

Sleek white Porsche with divine leather interior. 

Tight black Armani Jeans, loose flowing blouse paired with sky high peep toe christian louboutins. 

Larger than life rustic barn doors sliding open  revealing the most gorgeous parisian style country cottage. 

Royal blue upholstered 3 seater Louis finished in silver leaf as if it were out of Queen Elizabeths palace.

What about having your interior looking as chic as all of the exterior.

When you drive through your big rustic gates to park your car, and step out of luxury you want to be taken on another journey, you want to be taken away.

You want to enter through your front door into the main foyer, the sweet scent of the big bunch of flowers on the refectory dining table lingering through the air. 

The silver leafed carver chairs at each end of the table to be reflecting the beauty of the dim lighting that the open bulbs hanging from rope are letting off.

You want a grand design on a small scale.

Big dressers painted in an off white and finished in a gentle antique rub on the outside and a medium density grey on the inside, to house your glassware.

Standing next to your rectory table that has a natural top and off white painted base.

A larger than life piece of artwork leaning against the wall at the end of the dining table.

Large quantities of french coffee and exotic wood scented candles on your coffee table surrounded by large urns with tortured willow spraying out.

3 seater louis upholstered in a divine natural colour to frame the room, sitting on rustic floorboards. 

Make your bedroom and ensuite your refuge.

Unify the colours of the interior of the bedroom and and the textures of the linen to create a comfortable, peaceful haven.

In your ensuite dim lighting for claw baths and high spots above the mirror.

To top it all off all you need is a glass of wine and a touch of jazz.

Andrea xx

image from architectural digest

A new taste of the old.

The Romantiques collections

The A.J Collection is for anyone who is looking for something bold and quirky, a collection that showcases flamboyance and flair to a tee. A collection that lets you be the creator, the artisan.

Melissa- A crisp collection. think of fresh linen and lavender a collection that is simple but opulent.

The Fourie Collection- A collection of timeless colours inspired to reflect a luxurious authentic european feel.

City Chic a charming monochromatic collection that showcases sexy sophistication with a hint of cheekiness as it gives you a subtle pop of colour.

The classique collection is a collection of antiques that have been revamped to transport you to another place and time.

A revamped classic piece of furniture is a perfect statement in any house to give warmth and depth.