AND NOW THE ANSWER TO...."WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT?"
And just when you think that you have seen it all, some very clever person comes up with a new Tie Back design for curtains and drapery.
These gorgeous Tie Backs are not only beautiful to look at, but also take the fuss out of installation, with magnetic catches that just lock together. No more messy tie back hooks on walls!
Here, we have the marvelous Colette Venardos, Head Designer here at Charcoal Interiors doing a demo for your viewing pleasure....
Love it?...Want it?....just contact us for more details.
And for more Trimming inspiration...sleek, contemporary and sophisticated...
or...
Ornate, inspired by archival designs, these very lavish trimmings feature exquisite detailing.
Be sure to contact us for more information on this extensive range.
charcoalinteriors.com.au
And for more Trimming inspiration...sleek, contemporary and sophisticated...
or...
Ornate, inspired by archival designs, these very lavish trimmings feature exquisite detailing.
Be sure to contact us for more information on this extensive range.
charcoalinteriors.com.au
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...CUSTOMISING FOR CLIENTS...
The feature chair will be taking pride of place in the lounge/living area.
Chair is in stunning European Velvet with Silk Embroidered Cushions.
We have most definitely delivered the 'Wow' factor to our client and she is thrilled!
Catering to your design want is what we do best....see it...love it and you can have it!
Contact us today for all the details.
www.charcoalinteriors.com.au
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...CUSTOMISING FOR CLIENTS...
This fabulously stylish chair reminiscent of the Art Deco style was customized for our client, including the standard lamp and shade in a textured velvet in a Chinchilla.
Beautiful embroidered silk cushion.
Brian taking full credit for all the girls hard work....ahhhh get outta the shot boy :-)
The feature chair will be taking pride of place in the lounge/living area.
Chair is in stunning European Velvet with Silk Embroidered Cushions.
We have most definitely delivered the 'Wow' factor to our client and she is thrilled!
Catering to your design want is what we do best....see it...love it and you can have it!
Contact us today for all the details.
www.charcoalinteriors.com.au
______________________________________________________________
MOBROS OF '85
Last Saturday, 4 of the 6 Mobros team members got together for a catch up, spot of fund raising strategising and oh, what the heck a beer or two!
Your author has a very personal reason for promoting Prostate Cancer because as fate would have it, all my Uncles, Father and Brother have been diagnosed...so its probably safe to say we have a genetic disposition to this cancer in our family. It can strike later in life, or as with my brother early on. So, its very important for you fellas to get tested. One in 9 men will be diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.
MoBros of 85 Movember Fundraising Link
Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible and its very simple to navigate the website, just follow the prompts with secure payment via paypal or credit card.
_________________________________________________________________________________
....OUT AND ABOUT....
At Popolo Southbank
I had dined with a group of girlfriends at Popolo before and was taken by the little 'couples' seating areas. I made a mental note to be sure to bring Pete the Greek there for a romantic dinner as a matter of urgency!
And so, last Friday night myself, my new frock and Pete the Greek took ourselves off to Popolo for the much awaited couples night.
Our view...
Let me paint a clear picture here so as not to bore you too much with paragraphs and paragraphs of description...but the view is divine for starters. The open air style Italian restaurant is situated at the Ship Inn end of the river at Southbank so you look straight down the 'guts' of the river. The lights, the boats, people watching....its beautiful.
And so we sat there happily at our little couples table.
The lovely German pocket rocket waitress with the short blonde hair (if you've been there you will know her...) was attentive, pleasant and prompt with our drinks and food orders.
The drinks list is extensively Italian inspired with a few local ring-ins of them also...all well priced.
Most of the dishes at Popolo are share plates, so you get to try a few things over the course of the evening. We had the Arancini and the Italian Meatballs which were delicious.
Then we shared a Marguerita pizza that was fresh and with a lovely crispy base and finished off with the Chocolate Donuts rolled in orange sugar on a bed of crushed pistachios...
All our meals went down a treat and were served up at appropriate intervals. I hate feeling rushed when I dine, and with such a salubrious and distracting view to contend with, it was nice to just feel like we were going with the flow of the evening.
Pete the Greek finished off with 2 espresso Martinis (you can guess who was driving!)...after having one and loving it so much he ordered another....then coffees and a stroll back to the car along the river.
We both enjoyed our evening from the service, view and the food. I would recommend Popolo to our friends and know for certain we will be back there again one day soon....I just want to soak in that view...and next time it will be me having the extra Martini or two!
http://www.popolodining.com/
Bookings recommended
Best parking without the stress is in the Southbank carpark...costs money to park there but its easy and close.
_______________________________________________________________________________
...BACKING A WINNER...
Our 'tip' for the day....
After displaying our Melbourne Cup 'tip' on the Buddha Chalkboard this week (and possibly leading some other poor uneducated tipsters along the wrong path also...).....being absolutely 100% assured that this horse was a dead set, dinky di winner...we were faced with the disappointment, just like all the other years prior of picking a slow nag!
Fortunately we just placed the bet in our heads and chose to put our money where the mo's are and donate to Movember instead.
But, needless to say we never turn down the opportunity for a lovely lunch and glass of Champagne!
Good food, company and the hindsight luxury of knowing we hadn't lost a motza on a slow horse!
Until next year......and congratulations to Green Moon.
______________________________________________________________________________
We had the yummiest Goats Cheese Quiches amongst other tasty treats for Melbourne Cup lunch on Tuesday, which got me back into a hankering for quiche...the food of real men, perfect for picnics, lunches, eaten hot or cold, with salad or vegies...its close to perfect convenient healthy food dependent on what you put into it....and its very hard to get wrong! So...lets get cooking!
Note: Quiche is very simple and quick to make when you used prepared shortcrust pastry.
What you need....
1 kg frozen chopped spinach
1 sheet ready rolled shortcrust pastry
1 tsp vegetable oil for greasing
150g goats cheese
2 eggs
200ml light thickened cream
4 - 6 rashers think sliced bacon
75 g grated Gruyere Cheese (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste
What to do....
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius
Grease a quiche dish, then line with shortcrust pastry. Prich the pastry all over with a fork
Arrange the bacon in the pastry case in the shape of a star. Set aside.
Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. add the spinach and heat for about 15 minutes or until the spinach has thawed and the water has evaporated. Drain and cool slightly.
Meanwhile, beat together the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the cream, salt, pepper and spinach.
Pour egg mixture over the bacon and top with slices of goats cheese (form a circle and then place one in the centre). Sprinkle Gruyere cheese on top, if using.
Bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until cooked and golden.
_______________________________________________________________________
highrocketphoto via flickr with thanks
THE MONKEY GLAND COCKTAIL
Weird name....top drop!
It is suggested that you use the subtle method of coating a chilled cocktail glass with absinthe and then tossing the excess, rather than the usual 'splash' of absinthe...this creates a nice, fruity cocktail with a slight taste of anise.
photo credit caroline on crack via flickr
What you need...
2 oz gin
1 oz orange juice
1/4 oz grenadine
1 dash absinthe
Orange slice for garnish
What to do...
Swirl a dash of absinthe in a chilled cocktail glass to coat it, and then discard any excess.
Pour the other ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes
Shake, Shake, Shake....
Strain into the cocktail glass
Garnish with orange slice
Sip...enjoy and try not to think about the name or the origin.....!!
______________________________________________________________________
And so...until next week!
Enjoy your weekend and do something nice just for you....
Jen is off to SA for her cousin Kristens wedding and I am sure she will have lots of pics and stories from her visit next week!
The Charcoal Team....Colette, Cathie and Jen xxx
www.charcoalinteriors.com.au
Donations of $2 and over are tax deductible and its very simple to navigate the website, just follow the prompts with secure payment via paypal or credit card.
_________________________________________________________________________________
....OUT AND ABOUT....
At Popolo Southbank
I had dined with a group of girlfriends at Popolo before and was taken by the little 'couples' seating areas. I made a mental note to be sure to bring Pete the Greek there for a romantic dinner as a matter of urgency!
And so, last Friday night myself, my new frock and Pete the Greek took ourselves off to Popolo for the much awaited couples night.
Let me paint a clear picture here so as not to bore you too much with paragraphs and paragraphs of description...but the view is divine for starters. The open air style Italian restaurant is situated at the Ship Inn end of the river at Southbank so you look straight down the 'guts' of the river. The lights, the boats, people watching....its beautiful.
And so we sat there happily at our little couples table.
The lovely German pocket rocket waitress with the short blonde hair (if you've been there you will know her...) was attentive, pleasant and prompt with our drinks and food orders.
The drinks list is extensively Italian inspired with a few local ring-ins of them also...all well priced.
Most of the dishes at Popolo are share plates, so you get to try a few things over the course of the evening. We had the Arancini and the Italian Meatballs which were delicious.
Then we shared a Marguerita pizza that was fresh and with a lovely crispy base and finished off with the Chocolate Donuts rolled in orange sugar on a bed of crushed pistachios...
All our meals went down a treat and were served up at appropriate intervals. I hate feeling rushed when I dine, and with such a salubrious and distracting view to contend with, it was nice to just feel like we were going with the flow of the evening.
Pete the Greek finished off with 2 espresso Martinis (you can guess who was driving!)...after having one and loving it so much he ordered another....then coffees and a stroll back to the car along the river.
We both enjoyed our evening from the service, view and the food. I would recommend Popolo to our friends and know for certain we will be back there again one day soon....I just want to soak in that view...and next time it will be me having the extra Martini or two!
http://www.popolodining.com/
Bookings recommended
Best parking without the stress is in the Southbank carpark...costs money to park there but its easy and close.
_______________________________________________________________________________
...BACKING A WINNER...
After displaying our Melbourne Cup 'tip' on the Buddha Chalkboard this week (and possibly leading some other poor uneducated tipsters along the wrong path also...).....being absolutely 100% assured that this horse was a dead set, dinky di winner...we were faced with the disappointment, just like all the other years prior of picking a slow nag!
Fortunately we just placed the bet in our heads and chose to put our money where the mo's are and donate to Movember instead.
Our Melbourne Cup 'spread'
But, needless to say we never turn down the opportunity for a lovely lunch and glass of Champagne!
Good food, company and the hindsight luxury of knowing we hadn't lost a motza on a slow horse!
Until next year......and congratulations to Green Moon.
______________________________________________________________________________
GOATS CHEESE AND SPINACH QUICHE
credit to caroline on crack via flickr with thanks
We had the yummiest Goats Cheese Quiches amongst other tasty treats for Melbourne Cup lunch on Tuesday, which got me back into a hankering for quiche...the food of real men, perfect for picnics, lunches, eaten hot or cold, with salad or vegies...its close to perfect convenient healthy food dependent on what you put into it....and its very hard to get wrong! So...lets get cooking!
Note: Quiche is very simple and quick to make when you used prepared shortcrust pastry.
What you need....
1 kg frozen chopped spinach
1 sheet ready rolled shortcrust pastry
1 tsp vegetable oil for greasing
150g goats cheese
2 eggs
200ml light thickened cream
4 - 6 rashers think sliced bacon
75 g grated Gruyere Cheese (optional)
Salt and Pepper to taste
What to do....
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius
Grease a quiche dish, then line with shortcrust pastry. Prich the pastry all over with a fork
Arrange the bacon in the pastry case in the shape of a star. Set aside.
Heat a large frying pan over medium heat. add the spinach and heat for about 15 minutes or until the spinach has thawed and the water has evaporated. Drain and cool slightly.
Meanwhile, beat together the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in the cream, salt, pepper and spinach.
Pour egg mixture over the bacon and top with slices of goats cheese (form a circle and then place one in the centre). Sprinkle Gruyere cheese on top, if using.
Bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes or until cooked and golden.
_______________________________________________________________________
THE MONKEY GLAND COCKTAIL
Weird name....top drop!
It is suggested that you use the subtle method of coating a chilled cocktail glass with absinthe and then tossing the excess, rather than the usual 'splash' of absinthe...this creates a nice, fruity cocktail with a slight taste of anise.
What you need...
2 oz gin
1 oz orange juice
1/4 oz grenadine
1 dash absinthe
Orange slice for garnish
What to do...
Swirl a dash of absinthe in a chilled cocktail glass to coat it, and then discard any excess.
Pour the other ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes
Shake, Shake, Shake....
Strain into the cocktail glass
Garnish with orange slice
Sip...enjoy and try not to think about the name or the origin.....!!
______________________________________________________________________
And so...until next week!
Enjoy your weekend and do something nice just for you....
Jen is off to SA for her cousin Kristens wedding and I am sure she will have lots of pics and stories from her visit next week!
The Charcoal Team....Colette, Cathie and Jen xxx
www.charcoalinteriors.com.au
