Another New Arrival from the Workshop!

A TABLE WORTHY OF WINTERFELL!

This mornings special Table delivery is worthy of a spot on the set of Game Of Thrones.

From a family of Barrathian proportions through to the shrinking numbers of (spoiler alert) The Lannisters...we cater for all wants and requirements.

Crafted in oak timbers with pedestal base, our clients will be taking delivery of this beauty tomorrow.

Fact:  All our tables are made locally by our skilled craftsman in our own workshop.

We believe in crafting spectacular furniture of the highest quality.  

Pedestal Base Dining Tables are just another thing that we do best here at Charcoal Interiors.

To view more of our tables and other projects, check out our Charcoal Interiors website.

www.charcoalinteriors.com.au

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

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....

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.  

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.

 Credit - Olson Kundig Architects

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

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.

GIVIT.ORG.AU

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OUT AND ABOUT

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.

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.

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.  

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 And Tin

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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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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

www.charcoalinteriors.com.au

OUR LATEST DESIGN....EXPERTS TOP 5 HEALTH TIPS FOR 2013...LOW FAT LAMB KORMA CURRY....AUSTRALIA DAY BEER AND LIME SHANDY COCKTAIL...BY CRIKEY!...AUSTRALIA DAY PARTY IDEAS...AND MORE! HAPPY LONG WEEKEND EVERYONE!

OUR LATEST DESIGN

The girls have hit the ground running for 2013 and its been a fun couple of weeks.  They were thrilled when this latest coffee table design arrived from the workshop.  Our workshop manager is one very talented man.
This industrial look coffee table comes in two sections.  You can purchase just the one, or as we would prefer not to have to split them up if possible....both!  
Easily maneuverable on caster wheels, we think this coffee table looks amazing.

It's another Charcoal Interiors original and another thing that we do best!

www.charcoalinteriors.com.au

FABULOUS FABRICS!

We have the world at our fingertips when it comes to fabrics here at Charcoal Interiors.

Below is some snaps of the design teams faves at the moment due to their uniqueness of composition and design. 

The girls tell me they enjoy working with fabric lines that offer incomparable quality.

"We follow those who just keep on re-inventing the wheel", says head designer Colette Venardos.  "It's important for us to stay on top of all the latest releases as this reflects how we do business and our Interior Design doctrine".

The Charcoal Interiors Design Team can be booked for private consultation in your home.

Contact us below for all the details.

Interior Design....it's what we do best!

Visit our website for more examples of what we can do for you!

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EXPERT TOP 5 TIPS FOR ULTIMATE HEALTH IN 2013

Well, the New Year rolls around and a lot of us make our resolutions for the next 365 days ahead.  In amongst the list of travel destinations, saving more money and cleaning the wardrobe (and this time properly...) is health....lose weight...get fit....take time for me etc.....

And so we asked a health care professional (Suzannah Smart - above) who not only is an Accredited Practicing Dietician, but more importantly talks the talk and walks the walk by embodying the essence of health and well being.

Here's Suzannah's Top 5 Tips for ultimate health in 2013 and beyond...because we all want to be around to experience the riches of life....right?

"For overall health and long term results, its not about the latest 'superfood' or 'miracle diet' says Suzannah, "It's about eating sensibly, and being consistent with making good choices".  "Making sure you consistently do these five things will definitely help you along the way to a happier, healthier you in 2013"!

Great!  Lets get started with her 5 Top Tips for Ultimate Health in 2013....

1. MOVE MORE

Who doesn't love those happy hormones the endorphins?

Exercising makes you feel good, decreases stress, gives you energy and helps to burn off the food you eat, making it easier to gain or maintain a healthy weight.  And every little bit adds up throughout the day, so try to increase your activity in everything you do.

2. EAT MORE SALAD

Almost everyone can benefit from eating mroe salad.  It makes you feel fuller, keeps you regular, makes your skin better and can help to protect you from some diseases including diabetes, stroke, heart disease, some cancers and high blood pressure.  Use as many colours as possible to make sure you're getting all the micronutrients your body needs.

3. WATCH YOUR PORTIONS

Ask yourself, "How hungry am I?", before every meal or snack and fill your place accordingly.  And dont go back for seconds.  Using smaller plates or bowls helps too.

4. PLAN

This can make the difference between what actually happens.  How many times have you told yourself you're going to eat only fabulously healthy food then get home from work, there's nothing in the fridge and its just all too hard?  Plan your meals for the week in advance and it will all be that much easier.  Plus, keep frozen leftover meals for those times when you really can't be bothered.

5. EVERYTHING IN MODERATION

I live by this one.  Eating healthy doesn't mean you need to remove everything 'unhealthy' completely from your life.  Just make sure they really are 'sometimes' foods.  Often enough it's simply eating a little too much of these foods a little too often that really adds up to make a negative difference on your weight or overall health.

For one of Suzannahs recommended recipes, see our food section below.  She has a delicious, 'healthy and low-on calories' Lamb Korma Curry recipe to share with us!

You can contact Suzannah via her blogspot

Smart Start Dietetics Blogspot

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LOW FAT LAMB KORMA CURRY

 Low Fat Curry: Lamb Korma

(serves 4-5)

1 tsp vegetable oil

1 onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, crushed and sliced

1/3 of a 283g jar of Pataks Rogan Josh Curry Paste

400g lean lamb, diced

¼ butternut pumpkin, roughly chopped into cubes

¼ head of cauliflower

400g tin diced tomatoes

400g tin chickpeas

bunch coriander, chopped

1 cup low/no fat Greek or Natural yoghurt

I threw it all in a slow cooker (my new favourite toy!) for 4 hours on high, but otherwise you could make it on the stove:

Fry the onion in the oil until golden, add the garlic and curry paste and fry for a few more minutes. Add the lamb, and when it’s lightly browned add the rest and leave simmering on a low heat for about 1 ½ hours.

To serve:

Boil 1 cup basmati rice in 1 ½ cups water about 10 minutes.

Top rice with curry, garnish with another dollop of natural yoghurt and fresh coriander. Delicious!

*For a vegetarian version, simply replace the meat with another tin of chickpeas ;)

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AUSTRALIA DAY BEER AND LIME SHANDY COCKTAIL

When I was a little girl, my Dad used to drink beer from a long tall frosty glass...just one a night...and when I was about 10 years old I asked him if I could have a beer too.  Being the responsible parent that he was, instead of letting me have a sip of his beer, he made me a special Shandy with about 99 parts lemonade and 1 part beer.  I felt really special sitting with him...both with our tall glasses, Dad with his beer and me with my bubbly Shandy.   To this day, its still the only way I can drink beer...diluted with some kind of lemonade or lime cordial works for me too.  

With the influx of boutique beers flooding the market we are truly spoilt for choice.  However, with this particular recipe it doesnt matter too much what beer you use...as long as its 'hoppy' and 'malty'.

And so, raise your glasses and reflect on what an absolutely incredible country we live in here in Australia!

Credit with thanks neoroma via flickr

BEER AND LIME SHANDY COCKTAIL

WHAT YOU NEED

40ml Agave Nectar Liqueur

160ml Australian Lager Beer

2 Limes Squeezed

Lime slices for garnish

WHAT TO DO

In true laid-back Aussie style, there's not much to do for this one.

Just pour liqueur in a tall beer glass filled with ice.

Add lime juice

Top with beer and stir a little

Garnish by just popping a couple of slices into the glass.

Enjoy your Australia Day!

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AUSTRALIA DAY TRADITION

What's your Australia Day tradition activity?  Our family has a sausage sizzle by the pool and listens to the Triple J Hottest 100 from beginning to end.  We love it!  The best part of the day is waiting for the Number One song to be announced and then listening to all the other parties in the area crank it up and sing along.  This year we may have to adapt to the likely possibility of persistent rain over the day in Brisbane.  Either way, its going to be fun and relaxing.

What are you planning for the day?  Want some fun ideas?  Get some friends over and have a bit of fun with the Australian theme.....

HERE'S OUR TOP AUSSIE DAY PARTY TIPS....

REPUBLICANS VS MONARCHISTS CRICKET MATCH

BEACH PICNIC (OR ANYWHERE....EVEN IN YOUR BACK YARD...OR FRONT YARD AND WAVE THE FLAG TO PASSERS-BY)

AUSSIE SLANG COMPETITION (WHOEVER CAN WRITE THE LONGEST LIST OF AUSSIE SLANG WINS)

BREAKFAST BBQ WITH BEER IN CHAMPAGNE FLUTES

A 'COOOOOO-EEEE' COMPETITION (WHO CAN DO THE LOUDEST COOEE)

EGG AND SPOON  RACE

IF YOU HAVE A SWIMMING POOL...HOLD AUSTRALIAN CRAWL RACES

AUSSIE CHARADES - (MAKE A LIST OF FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN MOVIES, SONGS, BANDS, T.V SHOWS, CELEBRITIES, POLITICIANS ETC...)

ROLLING PIN TOSS

SANDCASTLE BUILDING COMPETITION

LISTEN TO THE TRIPLE J HOTTEST 100

SAO EATING COMPETITION

SAUSAGE SIZZLE....WITH LOTS AND LOTS OF TOMATO SAUCE!

Whatever you decide to do, have a great day.  Being an Australian is brilliant!

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OUR LONG WEEKEND HOURS

Due to the Australia Day public holiday, Charcoal Interiors the following changes will apply to our opening hours.

SATURDAY - 9.30AM TO 1PM

SUNDAY - CLOSED

MONDAY - CLOSED DUE TO PUBLIC HOLIDAY

We look forward to seeing you when we open the doors on Tuesday morning at 9.30am

www.charcoalinteriors.com.au

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Have a wonderful Australia Day Long Weekend everyone!
Until next week....Love, Light and Laughter...
The Charcoal Team!