Friday, May 14, 2010

Getting Cold? Tips for Warming Up a Room for Winter...Designer Home Pics..and..Cocktails of course!


LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE A ROOM COSY

Photo by Charcoal Interiors

Our Head Designer Colette Venardos featured in the Home Section of last weekends Courier Mail.  She was asked to give her quick tips on how to cosy up a room for the Winter months.  With over 35 years experience in the trade, she had a stack to say..........

"Snuggling up on the couch under a woolly throw, candles lit, erhaps the fireplace ablaze, the feel of soft carpet underfoot....
Its not only the air temperature that can determine how warm you feel.
Charcoal Interiors' Colette Venardos says adding small t significant touches to a room can change how people perceive that space.  Mixing texture with dark, rich colours and creating an intimate atmosphere with lighting can transform a space to a cozy haven.
Add textures via cushions, winter-weight rugs...add a few candles and richer darker colours to really set the mood."
 
Adding a rug and a textured ottoman really can change a room into a winter haven....with a few selected candles a'lit....you have a very cosy space to relax and unwind.

Photo by Charcoal Interiors...An exclusive Charcoal Project

Below...another example of how the addition of rugs and texture can really enhance the warmth in a room.  This is another exclusive Charoal Interiors Project that we are proud to share with you.

Photo by Charcoal Interiors...another quality Charcoal Project

And...what better way to cosy up, than with the ultimate winter warmer....Vodka...yes!...its cocktail Friday folks and we have something very special for you....

Versatile Vodka makes 'mean' winter cocktails


Bloody Mary...bloody good!
An all time classic, which I’m sure you’ve all experienced in the past, but here’s how to make the perfect Bloody Mary! You’ll need the following ingredients: -
  • One large shot (50ml) of vodka (we recommend a pepper vodka, such as Absolut Pepper)
  • 200ml of tomato juice
  • 2 – 10 dashes of tabasco (depending how spicy you would like it!)
  • 2-3 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
  • One teaspoon of horseradish sauce
  • One dash of port or red wine
  • The juice of 1/4 of a lemon
  • A grind of salt and pepper
  • Small stick of celery
  • Slice of lime
Not the most challenging to mix this one! Bang everything into a shaker 1/2 filled with ice, shake and strain the contents into an ice-filled highball. Garnish the cocktail with a small stick of celery and a slice of lime and hey presto, the perfect Bloody Mary!

And so...we wish you all once again a fabulous Friday!  I am off on a houseboat trip. Colette is having a weekend away up the coast...and poor Cath is holding the fort, so feel free to drop her a message, or pop into the showroom to say hi!  All offers of cake and coffee accepted :-)

......until next week its Cheers from the Charcoal Girls...Jen, Colette and Cathie..xxx