Feeling like something fresh ahead of the Christmas feasting to come? Try today’s recipe from chef Gianni Carrieri, culinary expert at Winning Appliances.
Zesty lemon and rocket pesto with fusilli pasta, bocconcini and tomatoes
This simple and easy pasta salad is sure to satisfy.
Pesto
½ cup 125ml light olive oil
200 g rocket
60 g blanched almonds
1 cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp lemon rind
130 g Grated Parmesan
1 tsp flakes salt
¼ tsp pepper
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
400 g cherry tomatoes (halved)
4 basil leaves
100 g green beans (trimmed)
1 packet (500g fusilli pasta)
200 g Bocconcini mozzarella cut in quarters
Toasted flaked almond
Pour the olive oil and rocket into a food processor, blend for about 30 seconds until the ingredients are combined but not totally smooth. Scrape down the side and continue blending, add almond, half the garlic, lemon juice, parmesan cheese and rind, half of the salt and pepper. Gradually add the remaining olive oil and blend until all the ingredients are just combined.
Into a bowl let tomatoes infuse with extra virgin olive oil, the other half of the garlic, the remaining salt, fresh basil leaves and lemon rind for 20 minutes.
Bring some water to a boil and blanch the green beans for 4 minutes, drain and soak them in iced water for 5 minutes, then cut in 2 cm pieces.
Cook the pasta according to packaging instructions, reserving one third of the cooking water, toss cooked pasta with pesto and reserved cooking water, add the tomatoes, green beans, bocconcini, toasted almond flakes, and the remaining grated parmesan, serve immediately.
Pesto can be kept in the fridge for up to 5-6 days. Pesto can also be frozen and used when necessary.
Dinner, Lunch
Italian
fusilli, pasta, pesto
Foodie Friday: Pesto lamb caprese pizza
Today’s recipe is brought to us by Australian Lamb and MasterChef winner Elena Duggan who created it as a quick week night meal to help us avoid the UberEats trap! “I…
Satisfy your cravings for authentic Italian food with this recipe from Smeg. Easy to make and filled with flavour, this easy weeknight gnocchi is the perfect family meal.
Easy weeknight gnocchi
Try your hand at making this Italian classic with this easy but delicious recipe.
Smeg (or other brand) stand mixer
700 ml tomato passata
500 g pre prepared gnocchi ((recipe below))
60 g baby spinach leaves
150 g button mushrooms (finely sliced)
250 g ricotta
Parmesan cheese and basil leaves to serve
To make gnocchi
1 kg potatoes suitable for gnocchi
2 – 2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 egg
pinch of salt
To make gnocchi
Wash the potatoes, leaving the skins on. Put them in a large pot filled with cold water, then bring them to cook over medium-high heat until the potatoes can easily be pierced with a fork. When ready, drain the potatoes.
Peel them then pass them through a potato masher, letting them fall in the bowl of the stand mixer. Let them cool for 5 minutes.
When the potatoes are slightly cool, add half of the flour, egg and pinch of salt. Using the Smeg stand mixer hook, mix on setting 1 until the ingredients are combined.
Flour a work surface with half of the remaining flour, reserving the other half in a corner to use if needed. Put the potato dough on the work surface and roll into a large loaf, then cut into slices like you would a loaf of bread. Roll out each slice into a small looking bread stick, making sure to use a small amount of flour so it doesn’t stick to the work surface. Cut into small pieces.
Bring a large pot of water to boil. Salt the water with 1-2 tablespoons of rock salt and add the gnocchi. Cook until the gnocchi float to the top; 1-2 minutes. Drain.
For the dish
Set the oven to fan forced and preheat to 180⁰C.
Pour passata into a large baking dish and gently stir through gnocchi, spinach and mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and top with tablespoons of ricotta.
Cook for 25 minutes. Serve hot topped with parmesan.
Dinner, Lunch
Italian
gnocchi, italian, pasta, tomato
Foodie Friday: Pasta with pancetta & caramelised onions
Sweet caramelised onions and salty pancetta are combined in this rustic, easy-to-make dish from Williams Sonoma. Spaghetti is a very acceptable substitute if bucatini is hard to come by. Uncork…
Utterly simple yet supremely satisfying, this pasta dish is a standby at restaurants in Rome. Because the recipe is so simple it depends on using the highest quality ingredients possible, so use the best parmesan and pecorino you can find.
Ingredients
500 g dried spaghetti
90 g unsalted butter
2 tsp. freshly ground pepper
180 g grated Parmesan cheese
75 g grated pecorino cheese
Salt
Method
Bring a large pot two-thirds full of salted water to boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup (250 ml) of the pasta cooking water.
Return the pot to the stovetop and reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter. When the butter has melted, add the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Add the pepper, Parmesan, pecorino and salt to taste and toss to combine, adding the reserved pasta water a little bit at a time as needed to achieve a creamy consistency. Divide the pasta among individual warmed bowls and serve immediately. Serves 4 to 6.
Using store-bought gnocchi, which typically take only a few minutes to cook, makes this dinner a quick and easy winter’s treat.
Ingredients
6 tbsps (90 g) unsalted butter
315 g assorted mushrooms, such as button, Swiss browns and shiitakes, sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 eschalot, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup (60 ml) dry white wine
2 tsps minced fresh thyme
500 g purchased potato gnocchi
Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Method
In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, melt 3 tablespoons of the butter. Add the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Sauté until the mushrooms are browned and beginning to caramelise, about 10 minutes. Add the eschalot and garlic to the pan and cook until the eschalot is translucent, about 3 minutes. Lower the heat to medium and add the wine and thyme. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes more.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gnocchi and cook according to the packet instructions. Drain and transfer the gnocchi to the pan with the mushrooms. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons butter and cook, stirring, until the butter is melted and coats the gnocchi. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately, passing the Parmesan alongside.
Designer style, high-end technology and a jelly-bean mix of authentic retro colour: meet Smeg’s latest retro appliances.
Smeg’s retro style blender ($299) has been awarded the international Red Dot Design Award for 2016 and – together with their stand mixer (also a heavyweight in its own right) – creates the perfect duo for mixing up cocktails and desserts this sunny season.
Think frozen daiquiris, coconut/mango popsicles, and chocolate vegan cheesecake – just flick through to the fitting function and let the Italian stallion do the rest (the blender will sense the consistency of the contents and adjust its speed accordingly).
The stand mixer ($799) features an 800W high torque motor, 10-speed variable power with soft start to stop splattering, as well as a planetary planetary mixing action to ensure all areas of the bowl are reached. There is also a low speed front attachment hub for optional attachments such as pasta roller and cutters, making your culinary adventures a piece of cake!
Smeg also has a kettle and toaster to finish off the collection – colours across the range include pastel green, pastel blue, pastel pink, red, cream, black and silver.
Buy them from David Jones, Myer and Harvey Norman. Get the recipes here.
Made from market bought heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and creamy burrata cheese drizzled in homemade basil dressing, my take on the Italian favourite “Insalata Caprese” is divine by itself or the perfect accompaniment to any weekend BBQ.
Tomatoes contain the carotenoid antioxidant called lycopene. When absorbed into the body, this is wondrous chemical helps prevent and also repair damaged cells by inactivating free radicals in the body. It has thus been credited for reducing wrinkles. Basil is a great alkalinising herb, rich with vitamin C to aid with immunity but also a great anti-inflammatory on the body.
Burrata is made from cow’s milk and is a traditional cheese eaten in the south of Italy. I much prefer it to standard Mozarella. It contains a good source of calcium and protein.
Serves 2-3
Ingredients
For the salad:
1/2 cup basil leaves, washed, torn
2 large heirloom tomatoes, finely sliced
1 burrata ball, torn
For the dressing:
1 cup basil leaves
1/2 clove, garlic
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Method
On a large plate, lay out sliced tomatoes, scatter 1/2 cup of the basil and dollop the whole burrata in the middle (tear it just before you serve, or let guests do that).
Grab a pestle and mortar and smash up the cup of basil leaves into a condensed mush. Add the olive oil and apple cider vinegar, stir well. Add garlic, sea salt, pepper and honey and mix well. Season to taste. Drizzle over salad just before you serve.
Canberra’s newest bar is the perfect blend of traditional Italian elements and modern chic design. Meet Joe’s Bar: the ideal place to sip on a pinot noir or cool cosmo while kicking back on a chocolate-tinted, fur-covered lounge chair.
Located on the ground floor of East Hotel, Joe’s Bar is Canberra’s newest addition to the small bars that are transforming the nation’s capital into the heart of hip. It was conceived by siblings Dan and Dion Bisa, whose vision was to create a space that offered contemporary comfort, while still maintaining their Italian roots. This space would be one that would also blend smoothly into East Hotel, being owned and operated by family business Bisa Hotels. In fact, the bar is even named for their father, Joe Bisa, a first-generation Italian-Australian.
“We wanted to take all the inspiration we have gathered from the glamour and sophistication of the truly stunning bars we have enjoyed in Italy and create something that melds these qualities with the vibrant energy of the bar and restaurant scene in Australia,” said Dan. “From the beginning, it was about the detail, from the artisans, to each and every wine that we have included on the menu.”
Kelly Ross, creative director at The Gentry, was engaged to work on the chic Italian project. The rich colour palette for the bar was brought to life by seeing it in terms of wine terminology, drawing on qualities of clarity, brilliance, tone and depth. Murano glass and a concrete curtain hint at the north Italian heritage. A quirky rope installation, a tasteful pinot-hued pink wall and low hanging lights are constantly playing up the contradictions between soft and hard, old and new.
The bar itself is a colossal leather-finished granite, flowing effortlessly into the natural, oiled timbers and contrasted against polished stone. This statement piece perfectly compliments the wine list; a selection of the finest Italian wines, alongside some of the best wines from the Canberra region. Without overlooking its contemporary style, the bar also features an enviable cocktail list, as well as imported and local beer.
“It was important for us to have representation on our wine list from not only some of the classic Italian wine producing districts, but from the Canberra region as well,” said Dan. “My vision was to have the best wines possible available to enjoy in an inspirational and stunning space – a multisensory experience.”
The attention to detail in Joe’s bar extends beyond tasteful aesthetic cues. Designed by Italian-born chef, Francesco Balestrieri, the authentic Italian dishes are made in-house using seasonal and local produce, and are a perfect compliment to the wine selection. This is more than just your typical concept bar – it is an intimate space to be shared with friends, a true fusion of contemporary details and north Italian heritage.
We still have a crush on copper! This industrial luxe finish, combining the commercial vibe of metal with a tactile warmth, knows no bounds. We’re loving it in everything from light fittings and side tables to taps and tableware – and now it’s found its way into the culinary heart of the home – the kitchen.
Marcato are the Italian geniuses behind the copper pasta and biscuit making machines. Their Atlas 150 pasta machine ($229.95) is made from food-grade aluminium alloy (ensuring no heavy metals come into contact with the fresh pasta) in a manufacturing plant powered by 100 per cent renewable energy – and it carries a 10 year warranty.
Features include 10 thickness levels for rolling the pasta, three pasta shapes (lasagne, fettucine and tagliolini), smooth action and an extremely stable benchtop clamp, as well as accessories such as a copper ravioli tray and rolling pin ($149.95).
For all the biscuit lovers out there, there’s the Biscuit press ($119.95): an ergonomically shaped cylinder that can create 20 different shapes in two sizes – small and large. Simply place the biscuit dough in the canister, slide in one of the biscuit die plates and press down on the lever, directly onto the baking tray (no baking paper required). One full cylinder of dough will produce 20-25 large biscuits and 34-40 small. Excuse me while I clean up my drool.
These copper beauties are available exclusively at David Jones.
Is anywhere more known for its coffee than Italy? Probably not! Having visited Milan, Venice, Tuscany and Rome last year, I can tell you it’s all true what they say! From city to city, Italians enjoy their coffee in different ways and with different traditions, but like the English do tea, they all take their hot beverages just as seriously!
In 2013, Nespresso celebrated this diversity through the cities of Naples and Trieste, with two unique and contrasting coffees. This month, they continue to pay homage to the rich heritage of Italy’s coffee culture with two new Limited Edition ristrettos, inspired by the emblematic cities of Milan and Palermo.
Last year, I visited Milan for the famous Salone del Mobile furniture fair and with so many huge halls to traipse around, a regular caffeine fix was high on my agenda! Remember though, no messing around with your coffee when you’re in Italy, Il Culto del Caffè is a serious business and you don’t want to get laughed out of the cafe! No cappuccinos or other milky coffees after breakfast, in many places expect to drink standing up, and as any purist knows, no flavoured syrups or any of that nonsense. Oh no, not in Italia!
Here in Australia, we’re lucky to benefit from the knowledge of our many Italian immigrants, whether it’s around coffee, fashion, style or food. I thought it would be fun to look at how you might take inspiration from Milan and Palermo in your interiors.
MILANO
Milan is Italy’s city of finance, business and fashion. Some would say it’s the global capital of fashion! My Milan-inspired interior would super sleek and high end but relaxed enough to be fashionable. Think elegant lines and great bones like timber floors, panelled walls and tall windows. It’s grand like the huge Milan Cathedral and the stunning Galleria shopping arcade and impressive like a da Vinci painting! But a little undone like a young, off duty supermodel!
Image via Fanuli Furniture. Click through for details
Tribute to Milano (Intensity 9) is Nespresso’s interpretation of the hustle and bustle of the vibrant city of Milan, where coffee is enjoyed at a fast pace, whilst standing at the bar. Inspired by the perfect balance of elegance and intensity at the architecturally impressive Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Tribute to Milano is also a perfect equilibrium of elegance and intensity. A highly aromatic ristretto, Tribute to Milano transports you to a traditional gelateria in the heart of Milan with its fine fruity aromas and sweet cereal notes.
PALERMO
For all Milan’s sophistication and gloss, Sicily’s Palermo is altogether more relaxed and sunny, but just as bustling. My Palermo interior would be casual and colourful to reflect the city’s richness of culture, music and food. This interior is perfectly imperfect and a little rough around the edges. Raw materials and natural light feature heavily in this look. Furniture is mismatched in a charming way.
Image via Air Bnb. Click through for details.
Nespresso’s Tribute to Palermo (Intensity 11) is inspired by the relaxed and social coffee culture in Palermo and pays homage to the Sicilians’ love of a strong coffee. It is a powerful, intense and full-bodied ristretto with a silky texture reminiscent of a leisurely afternoon in the sun. Nespresso’s coffee experts were also inspired by the vibrancy of the Sicilian outdoor markets, alive with colourful spices, fresh produce and flowers so the cacao aromas and spicy peppery notes evoke an experience in amongst the locals at the market.
Image via booking.com. Click through for details
COMPETITION
To celebrate the launches, we’re running a competition over on Instagram. To enter, you’ll need to style and take a photo of your own tribute to Milan or Palermo and hashtag it either #tributetomilano or #tributetopalermo and tag us and @nespresso.
One winner will receive the new Nespresso Pixie Clips machine and a 10-sleeve Limited Edition Italian Inspired Assortment Pack, with additional accessories. Enter by midnight on 30 September 2015.
In this job, you get pretty good at spotting what’s going to be popular and I’m convinced these new Smeg small appliances are going to FLY off the shelves. I was lucky enough to attend the launch of these in Milan last year and have been waiting (im)patiently for them to land in Australia. Last week, Olivia attended a glamorous launch in Sydney and ever since we shared pictures on Instagram, our readers have been going mad for them!
Smeg say Italian design, award-winning style and enduring performance are the trademark features of the new collection of small appliances – the latest extension to the brand’s iconic FAB retro refrigerators. While we would all love a FAB fridge (I’ve been obsessing over the thought since I was a teenager and still don’t know which colour I’d choose but it WILL happen one day!), they aren’t the cheapest out there. Now, there’s an entry level Smeg option with a two-slice toaster ($179 to $199) through to the space age looking signature kitchen mixer at $799.
Designed in collaboration with Matteo Bazzicalupo and Raffaella Mangiarotti of Deep Design Studio, there’s also a kettle ($199) and a four-slice toaster ($199 to $219). Each retro style appliance pays homage to the Golden Age of the fifties while showcasing Smeg’s signature elegance and sophistication. Indeed, the aesthetics of the stand mixer and toaster have already received the GOOD DESIGN Award from the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design plus the prestigious international iF Design Award for 2015.
There are up to seven colours — silver, black, red, panna and pastel blue across the range — plus pastel green and pink for the kettles and two-slice toaster.
And while style is always a standout feature of any Smeg appliance, it goes hand in hand with the brand’s commitment to the very latest technology and highest performance. The kitchen mixer, for example, sets new benchmarks in terms of power and versatility. Attributes include 800W high torque motor, 10-speed variable power and the all important soft start (no more splatters when starting at a high speed) and a planetary mixing action to ensure all areas of the bowl are reached. There is also a low-speed front attachment hub for optional attachments such as pasta roller and cutters. A blender, with a capacity of 1.7 litres, an 800W motor and four speeds will be added to the range later this year.
The Smeg kettle is feature rich with quiet-boil technology, soft-opening lid, cord-free swivel base and auto shut-off when the body is lifted from the base. It also has automatic switch-off at boiling point. A variable temperature model will be added to the range later this year.
Toasters include both a two and four-slice model with extra wide slots, reheat, defrost, cancel and bagel settings plus self-centring racks, six browning levels and removable stainless steel crumb tray.
Each of the small appliances features an enamel-coated stainless steel body and has been manufactured to the highest standards. Smeg provides a 12-month replacement warranty on all kettles and toasters, a three-month replacement warranty and five-year full manufacturer’s warranty on all kitchen mixers.
The complete range of Smeg small appliances is available from electrical and appliance retailers nationally from May. The range is already available at Myer.
There’s no doubt Sydney’s Alexandria is taking off and now there’s another reason to visit: the new L’Americano Espresso Bar at the Coco Republic showroom in O’Riordan Street.
Of course, being from the people behind the exclusive furniture brand, it’s a stylish looking place to grab a coffee, breakfast, brunch or lunch.
Open from 7.30am to 3pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 3pm Sundays, L’Americano combines Coco Republic’s signature American design aesthetic and Vittoria Coffee’s rich Italian heritage.
Celebrating the artisan food heritage of the Italian Riviera, expect locally sourced produce and a relaxed Italian style.
L’Americano Espresso Bar hopes to transport guests to the Italian Riviera, with its Vittoria Coffee and an inspired menu by acclaimed executive chef Alex Kearns. Drawing inspiration from the 1955 novel The Talented Mr Ripley and the character of Dickie Greenleaf, a life of opulent bachelorism on the Italian coast sets the scene!
L’Americano exudes the old world charm of a 1950s Italian espresso bar on the Riviera that an American playboy, with a lust for the finer things in life, would frequent. Of course, ladies are very welcome too!
Interior designer Greg Natale’s new range of tiles for Teranova are jaw-droppingly beautiful, are they not?
Known for his use of tiles to add detail, warmth and drama, bringing rooms to life, it’s fitting that Greg now has his very own range. It is his first collaboration with Sydney-based Teranova, who produce a range of beautiful tiles and stones for indoor and outdoor spaces, in materials such as cement, ceramic, glass, stone, marble and timber.
The designs reflect Greg’s trademark bold use of pattern and colour, particularly his flair for repeated patterns, and this range of cement tiles epitomises that. “It’s a natural progression for me,” explains Greg, who was inspired by the Italian tiles of his heritage. “This range celebrates the resurgence of patterned tiles in interior design. Contemporary or classic, clean-lined or richly detailed, there’s something here for everyone.”
Greg Natale
There are four designs in the range:
Optical – warm, bold and intricate, with detailed graphic lines;
Triangle – sharp, bright and energetic, a proportional play on pattern;
Circle – clean, serene and simple, blending organics with graphics;
Hexagon – delicate, playful and light, a softer choice.
Triangle and Circle suit contemporary designs, and the individual tiles can be shifted for various effects. Optical and Hexagon suit more classic spaces. The current colourways are based on strong, appealing monochromes to work with most spaces, but custom colouring is also available.
No longer are tiles strictly for bathrooms or kitchens – from laid-back living areas to casual dining spaces, from entire floors to borders, walls and highlights, whole houses can be transformed and living spaces enlivened.
Winner of Interior Designer of the Year at the 2014 and 2011 Belle Coco Republic Interior Design Awards, Greg wrote his first book, The Tailored Interior, last year.
The innovative, Italian designed and made AVA — a cot, junior bed and desk all in one — is one product that will defintiely evolve with your family.
While there are many cots on the market with converter kits that you can buy as your child grows, the Ava cot from Plyroom is the first product in Australia that converts from a beautifully designed cot into a bed without the need for additional components, as well as later converting into a desk!
With an intelligent design, and using the eponymous European birch plywood, Plyroom and Totem Italia have collaborated to create something special for parents wanting maximum practicality coupled with a stunning design. Totem Italia’s designs push the boundaries of what one product can do. “Working with Totem Italia has been an exciting journey. We worked closely with an independent testing agency here in Australia to ensure the product adheres to all mandatory cot safety requirements in Australia and New Zealand. Whilst safety was our first priority, we needed to ensure it also retained the design simplicity synonymous with Totem Italia products,” says Plyroom founder, Elise Heslop.
Like all Plyroom products, the Ava cot is proudly designed and made in Italy and finished by hand. Using Totem Italia’s signature precision cut joinery with a unique interlocking system, means that all parts are held in place by solid wooden pegs and dowels. Ava requires no metal joins which ensures maximum product strength and integrity. The cot is flat-packed and the assembly process is surprisingly simple; no infamous allen keys or drills are necessary for assembly — the only tool needed to assemble this product is an old-fashioned hammer.
Made of FSC certified European birch ply and non-toxic water based finishes, the Ava cot features an adjustable mattress height for newborns and older babies. The organically shaped peepholes in the sides of the cot reflect the natural curves of nature and balance baby being able to see out whilst feeling secure.
Always passionate about sustainable and smart design, Totem Italia has designed this product so that the cot turns into a toddler bed without the additional expense or pieces of a conversion kit. “The cot also fits a standard size found in Australia, so mums and dads won’t have to search for a special-sized mattress or sheets and can take advantage of all the beautiful children’s cot bedlinen now available in Australia,” Elise adds.
The Ava offers a comfortable height for parents putting little ones down whilst also being low to the ground. The height of the junior bed is perfect for children as they transition from cot to bed as being close to the floor helps them feel safe. “The junior bed with safe and easy access also doubles as a reading couch and a place for quiet play,” she adds.
Ava can be a cherished piece beyond toddler years with its ingenious conversion to a desk with a clean, elegant, modern design. “The mattress base has round holes for proper ventilation of the cot and bed mattress but what’s fabulous about this is that these openings double up as glass or cup holders and are a great way to thread laptop cords neatly when Ava converts into a desk.”
Designed by Luca Valota for Italian design studio E1+E4, The Disk36 storage unit not only keeps the clutter away but also doubles as a massive game of Connect Four.
Made possible by the presence of 36 hooked discs, each disc is secured from the back of the door and released by turning clockwise. As a result, it is possible to challenge friends and family, or simply place the discs according to the mood of the day.
The limited edition unit is made of lacquered polished wood, with varnished stainless steel legs. E1+E4 ships free to Australia. Shop Online.
Launched a few months ago, Plyroom is a new online store featuring a collection of beautifully crafted ply furniture, designed and made in Italy. Melbourne woman Elise Heslop brought it here after a year out in Italy with her family taught her about small space living and multi-purpose pieces.
Following a philosophy of affordable, beautifully designed furniture, Plyroom’s products represent an appreciation for honest materials and smart design, hallmarks of Italy’s reputation as a major player in the design world. The products are both flexible in their many uses and suitable for a diversity of environments, such as home spaces, office spaces and more.
Whilst living in Europe, Elise came to appreciate the way things in a typical Italian home were looked after with a generational permanence. “This eye on taking care of things for the sake of passing them down to children’s children was quite a difference to the fast-moving nature of interior design in Australia,” she says.
Moving from a four-bed house in Australia to a two-bed apartment in Italy also taught her a thing or two: “As we got to know more people and spend time in their homes, I began to see how intelligently small spaces were being used throughout the entire home, from the bedroom to the living room – maximising functionality without compromising quality or adding clutter.”
She’s confident customers will love the versatility of the range, with drawers that can easily be shared between children’s and adult’s rooms (even offering the added flexibility of a change-table addition) side tables on hidden wheels, and beautiful curved ply seats with hidden storage.
Rotating drawers on hidden castors make for a flexible, space-saving storage solution
“As a furniture selection, Plyroom is really catering for customers who want flexible pieces that are easy to live with, designed with simplicity and optimism, and made with the highest quality materials. The Italian companies we represent are passionate about uniting traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. As such, their furniture embodies a more sustainable ideology built around made-to-last craftsmanship and combined with a design-rich aesthetic.”
Embracing an online retail model, Plyroom caters for both corporate and consumer customers, allowing visitors to browse online and select their pieces, which are then made to order in Italy and delivered Australia-wide.
“Much of the furniture is made from sustainably forested European Birch and flat packaged to reduce transport emissions. One of our designers in particular, who is passionate about sustainable design, has spent years working to design products with a unique joinery system that avoids metal parts entirely and are intuitive and enjoyable to assemble.”
Elise, who has a marketing background, founded the business nine months ago. Plyroom’s collaboration with prominent designers in Northern Italy brings a unique selection of furniture to Australia, inspired by flexibility and sustainability for every room in the home.
This month we have a very unique and lovely prize for the winner: a framed Hermès scarf from Provincial Styles worth $560. Our guest judge, stylist Jacinta Preston, is back for a second turn as she can’t get enough of 7 Vignettes! And who can blame her?
This month’s guest judge Jacinta Preston is back for more
Fiona Longmire, from Provincial Styles, loves all things French, and started making beautiful homewares from vintage and new Hermès scarves as part of her French-inspired online homewares business. Her framed scarves are divine. This hot pink one up for grabs is called Printemps Ete 69, and was first issued in 2010 . It represents women’s fashion over the past few decades.
One of the unique features of these scarves are the hand rolled edges. The framer hand stitches the scarf onto a board and then puts a second matt around the scarf, still leaving the edges of the scarf visible.
Here are the themes…
This month, I decided to crowdsource them and more than half of these are from you, the readers and participants. The most interesting is probably haft-seen, which is a traditional table setting of the Iranian spring celebration where seven items beginning with S are displayed. For our purposes, you can use ANY seven items beginning with S. Mixing it up a little and learning a little about other cultures in the meantime! Women is for International Womens Day in March and fashion is for the Hermès scarf prize. And Italian because Tuscany is the first stop on my big European adventure, starting this month.
Good luck to everyone taking part. 7 Vignettes starts on Saturday 1 March. Excuse me if I’m quiet but I’ll be in New Zealand being MC at my friend Amanda’s wedding!
Next month, I’ll be in Milan for the furniture fair halfway through 7 Vignettes. Eek. That’s going to be one exciting week!
I’m obsessed with beautiful fabric at the moment and it doesn’t get much more beautiful than eighth generation Italian fabric house Busatti. It’s favoured by style icons such as Valentino, Miuccia Prada and Giorgio Armani and featured in the classic style compendium 101 Things to Buy Before You Die alongside Cartier, Bulgari, Hermes and Manolo Blahnik. Busatti has just opened a third Australian store in North Fremantle, Perth and there are already stores in Sydney’s Double Bay and Melbourne’s South Yarra. A new online store will follow in the near future.
