EXPLORE all the trends – from styling to sell, the importance of art, the latest design trends, the iconic feature wall and many other ideas including what’s the latest out there…. This section will help you dress your home, throw new ideas at you and inspire you to experiment with “tried and tested” guidelines that I’m sure will arm you with the best advice to sell your property and enjoy life.
My Favourite Australian Artists |
21.03.22 |
Thinking about how to decorate the walls in your home but not sure where to start? Or maybe you just need some freshening up on one or two walls and want something up and coming!
There’s no shortage of incredible talent when it comes to artists in Australia. Here’s a few of my favourites!
ZOE YOUNG
Fascinated by the simple beauty of the everyday, Zoe Young works between still life, portraiture and abstraction to capture her delight in life’s fleeting moments, turning them into something intimate, revelatory and long-lasting. The distillation of experiences and sensations is at the heart of Young’s practice. Originally trained in sculpture, her boldly feminine works are underpinned by a solid foundation of modernist theory and considered technical approaches to colour, composition and mark making.
To view more of her work click here
JANE GUTHLEBEN
Painter Jane Guthleben grew up on a Victorian sheep farm and now lives in Sydney close to the bush. Through her intimate paintings of domestic interiors, flora and kitsch, Guthleben brings the landscape in, emphasising its untamabilty, coarseness and defiant character that are at odds with the order and comfort of home. Prickly foliage, bulbous nuts and Australiana contrast with drapery and domesticity in unlikely combinations that are as familiar as they are strange
She recently launched a fantastic exhibition with MContemporary which we loved. To view more of her work click here
PETER HICKEY
Peter Hickey is a contemporary Australian artist who’s work reflects a love of nature in all its forms. Integral to Peter Hickey’s art is drawing – whether it be in a landscape etching, a still life monotype or a painting of an animal. The underlying drawing gives his work its sincerity and reflects Peter’s love of nature in all its forms. His work is included in the following collections: Gold Coast Regional Gallery, National Gallery of Australia, State Gallery of Tasmania, Art Gallery of NSW, Qantas Collection
Microsoft (Australia), Armidale Regional Gallery, Australia, ANZ Bank, Australia, Britiish, Printmakers Council, London, U.K, Kala Institute, Berkeley, California U.S.A, & Museums and Collections Worldwide.
Click here to view his works
DAN KYLE
The lyrical splendour of the Australian bush is captured in Dan Kyle’s painterly mark. Hovering somewhere between figuration and abstraction, his landscapes play with surface and texture to recreate the majesty and intrigue of the dense scrub that surrounds his Blue Mountains studio.
To view more of his work click here
I am also always on the lookout for up-and-coming young Australian artists. From abstract landscapes to detailed portraits, here is a great article on a few artists to start collecting right now!
And if you are looking to get out and about and check out some of the best public art in Sydney, take a look at this list.
Recipe of the Month: Coriander spiced lamb cutlets with freekeh and herb salad |
29.01.22 |
Its the perfect time of the year for this recipe..though really anytime is a good time for lamb cutlets!! Enjoy!
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
sea salt and cracked black pepper
8 lamb cutlets
2 tablespoons olive oil, extra to drizzle
1 cup freekeh (or cous cous as an alternative)
1 cup frozen peas, blanched
½ cup parsley leaves, roughly chopped
¼ cup dill leaves
1 tablespoon lemon juice
zucchini tzatziki
1 zucchini, trimmed and grated
1 cup Greek yoghurt
2 tablespoons chopped mint leaves
1 tablespoon chopped dill leaves
1 small garlic clove, crushed
Combine the coriander seeds, salt and pepper in a bowl. Add the cutlets and 1 tablespoon of olive oil and toss to coat. Set aside at room temperature.
Place 2 ½ cups of water and the freekeh in a small saucepan over high heat and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low-medium and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender and the water has been absorbed. Set aside to cool.
To make the zucchini tzatziki, combine all ingredients in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat, cook the lamb cutlets for 2-3 minutes each side until medium or cooked to your liking. Remove from the pan and cover. Combine the freekeh, peas, parsley, dill, lemon juice and remaining oil. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the freekeh salad topped with the lamb cutlets and the zucchini tzatziki and drizzle with extra oil.
Serves 4.
Image and Styling: Kirsten Jenkins
My Favourite Shops for Christmas |
02.12.21 |
I love this time of the year when I get to stroll through some of my favourite shops and look at all the fun Christmas decorations! Filling the house with wonderful little Christmas ornaments and putting up the tree with loved ones finally brings that feeling of warmth and happiness all around!
Of course there is always our good old trusted David Jones store who always set up the magical window display in the city, but for those of us who may not have the time or prefer to shop online this year, I have a few favourite shops that never disappoint from decorations to gift ideas and wrapping paper!
The Parterre Garden has a great range of Christmas decorations and lots of gorgeous candles and ornaments – and is a great place to pick up a few Christmas presents along the way!
There is always something new to find at the Bay Tree and they have a great selection of Christmas pressies and other useful kitchenware for Christmas such as pudding bowls and Ham Bags. The William Yeoward Crystal Christmas ornaments are always a lovely present for someone special, or if you have little ones, pop by and pick up some cute Christmas cookie cutters and start baking!
Just looking at their website will give you plenty of inspiration for Christmas! They have got everything you need to make the season special, from beautiful decorations, faux greenery and festive fragrance to gifts for him, her and little ones.
Click here to head to their website.
There’s nothing quite like an Australian Christmas. Forget the snow men and winter wonderlands. We are dreaming of warm nights, morning swims, backyard cricket and Paul Kelly’s How to Make Gravy blaring through the speakers. Support communities around Australia and check out the website here for a few little things to add to your beautiful Australian Christmas…
Looking for some Christmas Stockings? While Pottery Barn is a lot more commercialized, they have a great range of Christmas stockings (that you can personalize) and some cute tree and table decorations – definitely worth a look!
Have a few of your own favourite shops? I always love to hear of new local stores to support so please send me any suggestions!
Styling your house for Christmas |
20.11.21 |
ONE of the free pleasures at Christmas time is driving around your suburb (or even farther away) to find the most merrily decorated house. Light, life-sized nativity scenes, gaudy snowmen, Santas hanging on precariously to chimneys and, of course, the lights are just some of the things you’ll come across in the suburbs.
It is easy to get carried away especially when it brings the community together and spreads such happiness, but sometimes it can go very, very wrong! There are a couple of tips to safeguard you from going under or overboard with your Christmas house decorations, and as always the key is to remain true to your style!
If you live in a street where traditionally every house is decorated then JUST DO IT! Even if you aren’t religious or a bit of a scrooge, don’t ‘bah humbug’ and ruin everyone’s joy. You don’t need to spend a lot of money either. Discount stores and Christmas warehouses have a plethora of decorations that suits every budget. And, if you’re worried about electricity bills, you can switch on your lights for only peak periods.
A lazily hung string of lights with a few blown bulbs strewn over a bush in your front yard is just horrible. Nothing screams laziness louder! So, if you decide on decorating, then do it with style and creativity. Stick to a plan or a theme and be mindful of how long it will take to set up and take down once Christmas is over for another year.
We’ve all seen that movie where Clark Griswold spends many hours stringing thousands of lights only to fall off the room and spark a fire. You DON’T want to do that! Ensure you use outdoor lights and that your safety switch is functional.
It’s only for a few short weeks so have fun with decorating. Think outside the square and allow your house to stand out (for all the right reasons!). Children of all ages – yes even the older ones – enjoy seeing the different displays. Use what you already have to enhance your decorations; trees, fountains, fences, balconies and chimneys etc. Window displays are always a crowd-pleaser and nicely protected from the elements.
Enjoy this happy, festive time of year. Dress your house for the party season and share the magical Christmas spirit!
SELLING homes is not just a career; it is an art form – one that is carefully honed over years of life experience and knowledge. And, I can proudly say, that I still absolutely love what I do – day in, day out.
For over 30 years, I have immersed myself in real estate and have built an untarnished reputation in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, among my peers and with my clients – many of who are my friends. People say I exude positivity, and I accept this as the highest compliment.