Tag: homemade

Categories
Recipes

Foodie Friday: Valentine’s Day sugar cookies

Instead of spending a small fortune on flowers or store-bought chocolates this Valentine’s Day – or skipping the occasion completely – why not bestow the gift of homemade treats on your loved ones? Williams-Sonoma has the most wonderful collection of Valentine’s themed baking tools and accessories, which you’ll use year after year, and not only in February.

These sweetly styled cookies needn’t be reserved for romantic love, either. Share them with the kids, your friends, neighbours and colleagues. Everyone will love the sentiment, and nothing tastes better than home-baked biscuits!

How’s that for the Valentine’s gift that keeps giving? 

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup (155 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (125 g) caster sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 3/4 cup (280 g) plain flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • Royal icing for decorating (recipe below), optional

Method 

Preheat the oven to 200C. Have ready 2 ungreased baking trays. 

In a food processor or electric mixer, combine the butter and sugar and pulse until creamy. Add the egg and pulse until fluffy and blended. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add one-third of the flour mixture to the food processor and process until blended, about 45 seconds. Add the remaining flour in two batches, processing after each addition until the dough is smooth.

Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, shape into a ball, and then roll out to about 5mm thick. (A good tip here is to cover your work bench with baking paper or parchment before flouring to help lift the rolled cookies onto trays. It will also make clean-up easier.)

Using your chosen cookie cutters, cut the dough into desired shapes. Then, using a spatula, transfer the cookies to the baking trays. Gather up the dough scraps, form into a ball, roll out and cut more shapes, and add to the baking trays.

Bake until lightly browned on the bottom and pale golden on top, 6-8 minutes. Transfer to wire racks and let cool on the baking trays for 5 minutes, and then transfer to the racks to cool completely.

Decorate the cooled cookies with royal icing. Makes about 36 cookies.

Royal Icing

Ingredients

  • 2 large egg whites
  • 500 g icing sugar, or more if needed
  • 1 tsp water or lemon juice, if needed
  • Food colouring (optional)

Method 

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together the eggwhites and 500g icing sugar until stiff enough to spread, about 10 minutes. If the icing is too stiff, beat in 1 teaspoon water or lemon juice. If it is too thin, continue beating for 2-3 minutes longer, or beat in another 1/4 cup (30 g) icing sugar. Use immediately before the icing starts to thicken. Royal icing will dry hard on cookies. Makes 1 cup.

To make different coloured icings, divide the icing among several bowls and add food colouring as desired. (Start with just a drop of food colouring, mix it in, check the colour and add more, drop by drop, until you reach your desired shade. A single drop can go a long way.) Using a knife or spatula, spread the icing on cookies. Alternatively, use a piping bag to highlight the details of stamped cookies. You could also decorate with sprinkles and sanding sugar before the icing dries.

–Love to bake? See Williams-Sonoma’s exclusive collection of bakeware and tools at williams-sonoma.com.au 

Categories
RENO ADDICT Styling

Reno Addict’s Lauren Ellis shares her Christmas table setting

With ice-cold winters, it’s little surprise that Scandinavians know how to create swoon-worthy interiors for Christmas – and the wonderful news is the crisp, minimalistic look is easy to replicate!

I already had most of the decorations at home, and managed to pull this Scandi-inspired table setting together for under $100. So, with Christmas now just an exciting few weeks away, here’s a peek at how my family will be dining this Christmas, and a few tips to help you achieve the look at home.

Keep it elegant and understated, by opting for a monochrome palette. Group decorations in uneven numbers and add touches of gold or silver for a festive touch.

Ditch the tinsel and add a little sparkle with gold ribbon, copper twinkle lights and candleholders.

Make your guests feel extra special, with personalised name tags and plates wrapped up like presents.

Skip the iron and crumple your linen to add texture to your table setting.

A handmade pine wreath makes a beautiful statement, as does the greenery on the table.

–Lauren Ellis is the feature writer on our sister site Reno Addict.

Categories
Designers The Block

The new kid on The Block Darren Palmer

Here at Interiors Addict I was delighted when Darren Palmer was made the third full-time judge on The Block. Possibly not as much as he was though. “SO EXCITED! It’s a brilliant competition that has featured some really great talent over the years. I love the Block and am so happy to be a part of it,” he told me.

Darren Palmer

Darren rose to fame as a runner up on reality TV show homeMADE and now here he is, a renowned interior designer and a judge on another show. He’s done good, eh? “The thing is I know renovations because I renovate, I know design because I’m a designer and I know the competition and understand its constraints and pressures because I’ve been in exactly that situation myself. Well not quite exactly as we did a complete house every 5 days. These guys get 6 weeks. The Block is pretty much a holiday…”

Careful, Darren!

Continue reading “The new kid on The Block Darren Palmer”

Categories
Designers

Darren Palmer & Stacey Kouros front competition to win a $10,000 room makeover

Darren Palmer

Launching today, Carpet Court’s Love the Look is a competition giving Aussies with a keen eye for interior style the chance to win a $10,000 room makeover in their home.

Carpet Court and its ambassadors Darren Palmer and Stacey Kouros, who both shot to fame on reality TV show homeMADE, are calling on interior design enthusiasts throughout Australia to share their style inspirations through a series of six weekly Facebook tasks.

The tasks will be simple. Darren and Stacey will be asking entrants to share images that have inspired the looks in their homes. It may be a holiday snap that has inspired an outdoor space, or a photograph of a statement piece that has been passed down through generations. They’ll be showcasing their different styles, and asking entrants to pick ‘Team Darren’ or ‘Team Stacey’ with each entry.

Darren Palmer

There are 12 weekly prizes to be won including Vera Wang Wedgewood china, digital cameras from Canon, and outdoor furnishings and designer rugs from Carpet Court.  The grand prize includes a $10,000 styling budget from Carpet Court and styling advice from either Darren or Stacey (depending on which team the chosen winner has picked).

Continue reading “Darren Palmer & Stacey Kouros front competition to win a ,000 room makeover”
Categories
Designers Interviews

Stacey Kouros: From Greg Natale’s protégé to respected interior designer in her own right

Stacey Kouros says it’s a huge compliment to be described as Greg Natale’s protégé. But despite this great start and exposure on reality TV show homeMADE, this young designer has really gone on to carve out her own style and prove her talent, running her own design practice.

“I worked for Greg for more than five years and it was such an incredible experience,” she says. “I started working with him when his business was fairly fresh, so I really got to grow with him. Seeing him go from an emerging designer to one of Australia’s best and being a part of that was invaluable. When I started with Greg I was in my last few months of uni (she studied Interior Architecture at UNSW) so I was pretty green. Having him as a mentor and friend really shaped who I am as a designer and just as importantly, taught me key lessons in running a small business.”

Continue reading “Stacey Kouros: From Greg Natale’s protégé to respected interior designer in her own right”

Categories
Interviews

Orson & Blake’s David Heimann says don’t take your home too seriously

 

Orson & Blake’s David Heimann knows a thing or two about beautiful pieces and creating gorgeous interiors but he says you should never take it all too seriously.

“People should be encouraged to feel confident about their homes. The best interiors are always fascinating due to the very personalised objects and collections,” he says. “Individuality is key to a welcoming comfortable space. Sometimes people need a little help in pulling it all together, grouping things, editing or often introducing one large strong element to ground a room or home.”

He’s not a fan of decorating a whole home to a specific theme either. “Somehow people can be a little too serious about it all. It feels right to mix it up a little, keep it slightly playful sometimes and bring soul to a space. Cookie cutter rooms feel like shopping centre spaces. Self expression pays off in spades, whether it’s using a favorite colour boldly or introducing fascinating art. Why not hang a precious painting in the loo? Place a giant tree in the bedroom or hang a chandelier in the garden!”

David’s own home is near Centennial Park in Bondi. “It feels a lot like a bowerbird’s nest, full of art, books and stuff that intrigues me. I have a mix of vintage, contemporary and ethic furniture.” He likes black interiors and beds loaded with textiles collected on travels. “I feel comfortable surrounded by interesting shapes in monochromatic tones. That’s for now anyhow. Things can change. Next month I may need intense colour somewhere.”

While Orson & Blake has long been a Sydney institution, David became a popular TV personality more recently as host of Nine’s homeMADE (alongside judges Sibella Court and Neale Whitaker). “Television was a great opportunity to work with a large team on a project that was far removed from my usual working life,” he says. “Experience in television doesn’t really change things though. I must say that I like the reality of my own day-to-day work!”

The team at Orson & Blake are currently working on their new collections for 2012. They’ll be showing them to clients and designers at decoration + design in Sydney in February. “It’s looking really interesting with a strong move towards many new colours, embracing a kind of Bloomsbury feeling. It’s familiar bohemian with a contemporary take on comfort. I particularly love the Tobacco canvas sectional sofa, piped with contrast leather and a huge circular freestanding bookcase. We’ve included brilliant colored ceramics, some exciting new tabletop and giant ikat canvas textiles in deep saturated tones.”

O&B’s Surry Hills store now includes a fashion section and more home accessories than ever before. And they recently opened a popup store in Mosman. There’s a lot more competition out there than there was when David set up O&B in Woollahra with his mother and business partner Mandy almost two decades ago.

“I think it’s great that Australians have embraced decorating, collecting and appreciating design,” says David. “There are many fabulous stores that cover a huge spectrum of tastes and themes. We consider our look a very personal one and one that we have adhered to in our 20 years. We like a mix of textures, finishes, origins and eras. We like to introduce freshness as much as possible. It keeps us intrigued and alive. Juxtaposition is key.

As far as looking about and shopping, I like nothing more than digging around in vintage stores, looking through ethnic textiles or gazing about a gallery.”

O&B’s ever evolving collection aims to embrace the mood of the time, providing interesting and functional items and objects to improve our way of living. David says: “We endeavor to make our stores a hub of all things beautiful and exciting, offering a unique blend of themes and ideas.”

 

 

Categories
Interiors Addict

Darren Palmer adds to the replica debate

In this guest post, interior designer Darren Palmer, who rose to fame on homeMADE and The Block, adds an interesting view, and a possible solution, to the replica furniture debate.

“We had an industry debate at Corporate Culture a few years ago to try and decide whether replicas had value. I was on the affirmative, only for the sake of discussing a point that seemed worth debating: that there is clearly a great deal of value in the market given there is so much revenue made from it.

I put forward the idea that given there is such a high demand for luxury, fake or otherwise, surely there are ways to take advantage of that market with integrity whilst hopefully denying the fake furniture market a slice of the pie.

The thinking I had was this: there is high demand for luxury at consumer level and there is a great deal of revenue to be made from it. Replica furniture meets this market. Surely there is a way for legitimate design and established designers to meet the market too?

An example I gave in this discussion was what Stella McCartney achieved with her alliances with Target and H&M. What she was able to do was offer a product at a price point that was accessible without affecting the rest of her brand, or dragging down her high-end perception. I wonder whether there isn’t some way for established, high end furniture manufacturers (the same ones who are affected by the replica furniture market like Eames, Mies Van der Rohe, Hans Wegner, Florence Knoll et al) to offer versions or new offerings using techniques and materials that allow product to be produced at a price point that captures that demand.

My personal view is that there are so many products that already exist in the market at an achievable price point, that are made and sold with integrity, that you can buy and enjoy for years to come, that there is no need to desire a replica of anything. Great design does not only mean design classics but for those that manufacture the real thing perhaps there is a way to cut into some of that great stream of revenue worldwide. 

I’m no expert on the business models of the likes of Eames and other design classic manufacturers, and I do not claim to be, though I do think the question is an interesting one, at least as part of this greater issue.

As a footnote I would like to mention two personal experiences of the replica furniture market. The first was when I was trying to use a Tom Dixon beat light in a high end residential project. The beat lamp is a beautiful and original design at a really great price point and was loved by myself and my client. But the lead time on it was 12 weeks. My client wasn’t willing to wait so he purchased a replica instead for not that much less than the original. It was the delay alone that lost a sale for the original and I couldn’t understand why, with such a popular product at such a low price point, there wasn’t stock in Australia. A shame but also understandable from my client’s point of view.

The other experience was with a friend of mine who purchased the expensive version of a replica Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman that’s sold for $1895. When it arrived, the arm was detached from the chair, which had pierced the leather in a few places. When my friend notified the company selling it they sent him a replacement one, however when he asked when they would pick the other one up they told him to just put it on the street. It was worth so little to them that it wasn’t even feasible to send a courier to pick it up and repair it. That should give some indication of the value that the retailers of replicas put on the product they’re selling.

That chair was fixed by me and now sits in my office and I’m ok with having it purely because I have saved another piece of disposable furniture from hitting the rubbish tip.”


Read an earlier interview with Darren here.

Categories
Interviews

Interview: Neale Whitaker, editor of belle and judge on The Block and homeMADE

Neale Whitaker is much lovelier and less intimidating than I imagined and I think I may have offended him when I accused him of being “a bit Simon Cowell” during his time as a judge on The Block and homeMADE!

“I am a pretty honest person but I hope that if I’m critical then it’s constructive. I don’t believe in criticism for its own sake. As a judge you need to have an opinion and that opinion is always going to upset someone. I’m sure there was a backlash on social media sites – but I didn’t see it. Best not to look!”

He’s already working with Nine on The Block 2012 and is enjoying his new TV career. “I would happily do more if it came along and was the right project, but it’s a fine balancing act with my very full-time day job editing Belle.”

Neale agrees that the plethora of new renovating shows and their associated celebrities can only be good for the interior design industry. “I believe it’s actually renovation that people get excited about (design shows – even reality ones – attract very small audiences), but I guess the renovation process brings with it elements of interior design and decoration, even if people don’t realise that’s what they’re watching!”

Neale’s impressive publishing career in the UK and Australia (for the past 12 years) spans food and interiors magazines and both subjects are great passions of his. “I basically enjoy all the elements that constitute lifestyle – food, homes, design, fashion, travel. To me, everything is linked. I’ve had great fun editing food magazines in the past, in the UK and Australia, but at this stage in my career I’m very happy in the world of interior design.”

He’s even been a stylist himself in the past, but these days he prefers to leave that to the many talented stylists Australia has to offer (like Belle’s Steve Cordony). “My own home is genuinely eclectic. It’s honest, eccentric and full of things we love which are significant to us. It’s simply home. We live with two large and boisterous Weimaraners so there is nothing precious about our house.”

He won’t be drawn on his favourite stylists (suffice to say, there are many) but of course (as any good editor should) he believes his is the best interiors magazine on the Australian market. “I think Belle has a sense of humour, which is incredibly important. I also believe it’s hard to define our aesthetic – which is deliberate. We like to showcase many different styles across many genres, from total kitsch to absolute minimalism. If it’s a great example of its type, it goes in!”

What are the things people do in their homes which make him cringe? “Everyone’s home is their castle. Who am I to judge? Unless it’s a TV show! I don’t particularly like overhead lighting, carpets in bathrooms, curtains anywhere or handles on kitchen cupboards. But that’s my personal stuff and I don’t expect everyone else to comply! And I love orange, which is a colour that makes most people wince.”

Neale, who has written a couple of foodie books, also let slip that he’s considering adding an interiors book to his authoring credits. “Watch this space!”

NEALE’S FAVOURITES

Piece of furniture at home? “Cane-backed planters chairs by Australian designers Norman & Quaine.”

Aussie design blog? “Other than Interiors Addict?” (flattery will get you everywhere!)

Aussie furniture brand? “Jardan is doing some exciting stuff at the moment.”

Current interiors trend? “I’m not sure it’s a trend but I like the spirit of experimentation that exists now. It’s a very different landscape to when I arrived in Australia 12 years ago.”

Categories
Interiors Addict

Following yesterday’s interview with Darren Palmer, here’s a quick Q&A on what he hates in décor

Following yesterday’s interview with Darren Palmer, here’s a quick Q&A on what he hates in décor trends, his tips on getting it right yourself and who inspires him.

 

Q: What do people most commonly get wrong in their own homes?

A: I think one of the big mistakes people can make is to choose things that they like. What I mean by that is I often have people say I love this item, like a sofa or something, and I love this rug, and I really love this chair, but nothing seems to go together. The reason for that is you need to always start with the end in mind, have a focus, have a goal and have a concept or an idea to put into your interior before you even look at buying a single item. When you have an overview of what the finished outcome will be you can choose pieces that fit within the scheme, knowing that they will work before you get them home. And if you can’t, I can do that for you. The idea though is to start with the end in mind always, always, always. (Interiors Addict advises you to make yourself a mood board before you start, whether it’s a physical cut and stick or pin version, or using something online like Pinterest).

 

Q: Do you have any pet hates in other people’s home décor?

A: Feature walls. I speak about this from time to time and there are always exceptions to the rule but generally speaking you should avoid feature walls like the plague. Any design solution without a well thought out reason is probably not going to have the outcome that was intended. It’s great to make a statement, but like when you say something verbally, you need to think about what you saying before making any statement. Design needs rules.

 

Q: Who do you admire in Australian interior design and styling?

A: My mentor (who would probably prefer to remain nameless) is definitely number one. You’ve featured a few other people who I’m constantly inspired by in terms of what they manage to achieve, like Greg Natale and the amazing Sibella Court. That woman is a powerhouse. Every time we see each other I ask her how the world domination plans are going! My dear friend Stacey Kouros is a major talent (she was also on HomeMADE with me and WOW is she doing some great work). Steve Cordony from Belle Magazine is one super creative human too. I’m always amazed by how he brings things together and keeps pumping out new ideas.Gregory Mellor is very talented. He’s between South Africa and Australia now but I still think he’s one of the major design talents in the country. 

Categories
Interviews

Reality TV was a huge learning curve for Darren Palmer but one he will never regret

Now running the successful Darren Palmer Interiors, with his work published in respected magazines, a regular interiors column in GQ and teaching at Coco Republic Design School, he’s come a long way since growing up in country Queensland and just quietly, we think he could be the next big thing.

At 27, after working in graphic design and advertising, Darren decided it was time for a career change. Around the same time, he bought and renovated his first apartment. “A dear friend who is an interior designer really loved what I’d done with the place. His business partner was overseas for three months and I asked if I could work with him and learn the ropes. He was really happy to include me in some projects. Belle Magazine published my apartment in their renovation issue and it all grew from there.”

Darren caught the public’s attention on Channel 9’s HomeMADE and also appeared on The Block this year. Wisely, he has focused on making the most of the exposure from HomeMADE, which even he admits, didn’t do brilliantly. “I came out of the reality TV world with a really positive experience. TV exposure helps you to build rapport with people that you haven’t met and it’s a great pre-qualifier as they’ve seen your work and feel comfortable with you because there’s credibility that comes along with exposure.”

Since the show, his business has grown, along with his personal style. “I’ve been featured in Belle’s kitchen and bathroom issue and named as one of their Mood Makers for 2011. I’ve had work featured in Luxury Homes Magazine and taught at the Coco Republic Design School. I was also fortunate to be a part of this year’s hugely successful The Block, which all probably would’ve been a lot harder had I not been given a start on HomeMADE.” Humble Darren is no celeb though. “Generally people forget who’s been on TV and for what within six months. You stop being recognised after a while!”

He simply describes his interiors style as natural, drawing from the colours and textures of nature.“Things like a sunset when the sky is those beautiful muted, desaturated colours after the sun is gone, to the textures of wood, stone, leather and sisal. I love anything that’s textural and real, not synthetic. I really like to create spaces that are inviting, relaxed and texturally diverse and layered yet refined, slick and sophisticated.”

Darren thinks this year’s reality renovation TV verged on overkill. “I think people only have enough space to care about a few shows at a time and fortunately the one I was involved with was that show, though I really feel for The Renovators’ contestants as this was a big deal, that would’ve taken a lot of energy and effort, with not as big of a reward after it finished as they might have enjoyed.

“In terms of the industry it’s a double-edged sword with the up side being that the viewing public are more literate in design, exposed to new ideas and are in some ways able to see how much work goes into design. On the flip side it does make design accessible which can make people think “Oh I can do that” which can tend to make it a little harder to sell your level of skill.

“I think as long as there’s integrity behind the way the genre is managed, and the products that are used, it’s more good than bad, and it’s certainly a great way to get noticed and get experience from a participant point of view. It was certainly my steepest learning curve to date.”

What’s next? “I have loved the direction that my career has taken in terms of speaking and writing so that’s definitely somewhere I will be putting energy and I would really love to be back on the box again. There’s a few focuses there but I’m confident I can manage it.”

Outside of work, he’s a self-confessed “massive dork”, married with a two year-old son, two dogs and a cat. “I like to train at the gym and generally be one of the least interesting people you’ve met. My big goals personally amount to trying to get a sleep in and being a good dad. Pretty boring but kind of wonderful.”

He recently bought an apartment in North Bondi which has new paint and floors but will one day have a major overhaul, plans for which are constantly ticking away at the back of his head. “For now it’s a really nice cosy home for my family with high ceilings and nice big 1930s proportions. I intend to make it the ultimate kid and pet-friendly designer house – an interesting brief but I have a good insight into how to fuse functional and beautiful.”

Tomorrow: Mistakes people make with decorating, how to get it right, why he hates feature walls and who he admires.