2016 Royal Bathurst Show

Head to the Royal Bathurst Show this weekend for showbags, rides, entertainment and food! Don't miss out on the fireworks displays on Friday & Saturday night!

SHOWTIMES:

Fri 8th - 9AM - 10PM

Sat 9th - 9AM - 10PM

Sun 10th - 9AM - 4PM

Iconic pub inspires Brisbane home

A Brisbane home has taken its inspiration from one of the city’s most iconic pubs.

This Red Hill home has been inspired by the heritage-listed Normanby Hotel and duplicates its gable fretwork and balcony balustrades.

The facade also owes its bricks to the woodfired kilns at Warwick Brick Works.

Within the home, there are polished concrete and spotted gum timber floors, 3m high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.

To one side of the home are vertical gardens and bi-fold doors open to a patio, lawn and saltwater plunge pool.

Builder-owner Aaron Dick bought the block in October 2014 and subdivided it after demolishing an older home on the site.

He and interior designer Libby Sellick took just 12 months to finish the Normanby Home at 137 Arthur Tce and a similar neighbouring home.

“I’ve done work for high end clients before and I’ve been doing jobs (like this) since 2009 but this is an inner city home on a small block,” Dick said.

“We’ve also had to be compliant with the character code in the area.”

He said the “spectacular” Normanby Hotel had given him plenty of inspiration for the two-level home.

“I’ve been driving past it a long time and you only need to stand back and look at it to see it’s a good looking building.”

The popular hotel also inspired Dick to only use hand made wood fired bricks at the home as they resembled those in old buildings.

The stylish bathroom beats a pub’s any day.

The home has multiple living areas with an open-plan area on the lower level including a built-in sitting nook, built-in wine shelves and space for a bar fridge.

The kitchen has a study nook, two-pack cabinetry, a walk-in pantry, a stainless steel and timber island bench and breakfast bar, soft-close drawers, and a Falcon oven and cooktop.

Development: Plans for $75 million shopping village in Cannon Hill

The pantry, along with a study, has a sliding barn-style door.

On the upper level is a third living room and three bedrooms with built-in wardrobes.

Light and airy hallway.

A bathroom has a freestanding bathtub and a separate shower.

The main bedroom at the front of the floorplan opens to the balcony and has a walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite.

The home also has a double garage with internal access and storage space, ducted airconditioning, Back to Base security system, and intercom.

by Charlotte Durut

23 MAR 2016

 

Article Source: www.realestate.com.au

Inside Chris Hemsworth’s Malibu home

Actor Chris Hemsworth is selling his five-bedroom six-bathroom property in Malibu, described as “a home fit for a god” for $US6.5 million. So what kind of lifestyle does Thor’s house offer?

The Victorian style mansion, built in 1992, is situated in the gated community of Point Dume home to the likes of Julia Roberts and Cindy Crawford.

The 631sqm property underwent a renovation in 2012 and it includes a large kitchen with state of the art appliances, vaulted ceilings, and stunning views from the balconies and verandas.

Hemsworth is selling up after buying a property in Byron Bay.  

The property also comes with a library and guesthouse

There is a three-car garage just a short distance from the house and then there’s the home gym.

The star who made his name as the god Thor in the Marvel superheroes movie franchise, has lived with his wife Elsa Pataky and three children at the property since buying it from Crocodile Dundee star Paul Hogan for $US4.8 million.

Article Source: www. realestate.com.au (by Danielle Cahill)

Chocolate Christmas Cookies

• 
• Bake these yummy Christmas cookies that double as decorations for your tree!
• 
  
• 
• Ingredients:  
• 200g butter, softened
• 1/3 cup (75g) brown sugar
•  2 tablespoons golden syrup
•  2 cups (300g) plain flour
•  1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
•  2 tablespoons Nestle Baking Cocoa
•  1 ready-made small piping bag
•  1 1/3 cups (200g) Nestle White Melts, melted
•  Ribbon, to decorate

Method: 

1. Step 1
   Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan forced. Grease and line 2 baking trays with non-stick baking paper.
2. Step 2
   Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until pale and creamy. Add golden syrup; beat until well combined.
3. Step 3
   Stir in flour and cinnamon and Nestle Baking Cocoa and mix until just combined. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly until smooth. Cover and place in the fridge for 30 minutes to rest.
4. Step 4
   Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out dough until 4mm thick. Using 8 cm star or snowflake shaped biscuit cutter, cut shapes from the dough. Place on prepared trays. Then using a 4 cm star or snowflake shaped biscuit cutter, cut a smaller shape from the centre of each biscuit.
5. Step 5
   Use a thin drinking straw to cut a small hole in the top corner of each biscuit. Continue cutting biscuits from the dough, re-rolling as necessary. Bake for 12 minutes or until golden Set aside to cool slightly.
6. Step 6
   Spoon Nestle White Melts into a piping bag; drizzle on to biscuits.
7. Step 7
   Thread ribbon through the hole in each biscuit and secure with a knot.

Recipe courtesy of: www.taste.com.au 

The most common home decorating mistakes revealed

The most common home decorating mistakes revealed
For the inexperienced, decorating a home can feel like an overwhelming task. Before you begin, take note of what not do to when styling your new home.

1. Over-cluttering the bedroom

The bedroom should be a restful, uncluttered space – a sanctuary from daily life and a peaceful place to start and finish the day.

“The colours and textures used in a bedroom should also reflect those moods and not be too loud and overbearing,” says Natalie James, interior stylist at The Stylesmiths.

Photo: The Stylesmiths

2. Choosing monotonous flooring

Many people are told that there should be a single flooring solution in a room to make the space seem cohesive and bigger.

“This comes at great expense to the homeowner, and can actually work against the design intent by creating a vacuous space. It often also means that good quality flooring, such as original floorboards, are hidden under cheaper flooring options like laminate or carpet,” says Rohan Little, Principal of Oxide Design.

Photo: Oxide Design

3. Placing carpet on carpet

“High up on Julia Green’s list of decorating mistakes is placing thick rugs on thick carpet.

“It’s counterproductive, a tripping hazard and looks ridiculous,” says Julia Green of Greenhouse Interiors.

Photo: Pinterest

4. Selecting an overly dark palette

Dark, bold or strong colour schemes can often make spaces appear smaller.

“My advice is keep things bright and clean and integrate those eclectic items you like in small doses; that way they can be seen and shown off,” says Georgia Ezra​ of G.A.B.B.E Interior Design.

Photo: (Brand) Balwyn Home by G.A.B.B.E Interior Design (Photography) Stewart Leishman

5. Pushing furniture against the walls

Contrary to popular practice, bringing furniture in from the walls creates intimacy and balance. 

“Never push furniture right up against the walls, particularly in small spaces,” says Bec Astrinakis​ of Nathan + Jac.

Photo: Pinterest

6. Mixing natural and faux materials

Limit the palette of your materials for a refined outcome.

“If you are looking to use natural materials such as marble surfaces or timber veneer finishes, avoid faux finishes in close proximity,” says Clare Kwok​, Associate at ClarkeHopkinsClarke​.

Photo: Pinterest

7. Forgetting the light

A sun-filled area is imperative to creating an environment that’s both aesthetically pleasing and enjoyable.

“If you don’t have a lot of natural light, you need to invest in lots of mirrors. Mirrors will reflect and increase the light in the room, giving the illusion that the room is light-filled,” says Georgia Ezra​ of G.A.B.B.E Interior Design.

Photo: (Brand) Balwyn Home by G.A.B.B.E Interior Design (Photography) Stewart Leishman

8. Choosing a small rug

Go for the largest rug you can afford in your space.

“My pet hate is rugs that are too small; they float around the middle of the room and don’t do anything,” says Lauren Macer of Sisalla Interior Design.

“If you’re putting a rug underneath a dining table, don’t forget to allow at least 50 centimetres extra width on each side of the table so the chairs stay on the rug even when you’re seated at the table,” says Victoria Baker ofTemple & Webster.

Photo: Sisalla Interior Design

9. Placing gloss on gloss

When thinking about kitchen finishes, gloss finishes should not be used on every surface but rather as ‘highlights.’

“Gloss on gloss on gloss tends to look a bit tacky,” says Fei Chau, Associate at ClarkeHopkinsClarke​.

Photo: Pinterest

10.  Not going the extra mile

Adding a final layer of decoration gives your room personality.

“The key is mixing ‘like’ items together from various sources to avoid the showroom look. Mix decor according to material…or arrange by colour or theme,” says Lauren Macer of Sisalla Interior Design.

Photo: Sisalla Interior Design

11.  Not choosing a theme

Successful interior decorating and styling has a strong sense of purpose and continuity that brings a space together.

“The most common decorating mistake people can make starts with not having a sense of the story or theme the decorating will follow,” says Nicholas Travers, Director at Technē Architecture + Interior Design.

Photo: Pinterest

12.  Hanging art too high

Homeowners should arrange art at eye level to attract the most attention.

“The average eye level is 150 centimetres from the ground up and this is where you should be centring your artwork on your walls. You don’t want to strain your neck to see your beautiful artwork,” says interior stylist,Emma Blomfield.

“Always hang the middle of the art at eye level. Or, for a modern take, lean your artwork instead of hanging it,” says Bec Astrinakis of Nathan + Jac.

Photo: Nathan + Jac

13.  Going overboard on the trends

Your scheme will generally work better by choosing only a select few ‘on trend’ pieces.

“Think about walking off the runway in full Gucci; it looks amazing on the catwalk but not so great in real life,” says Fei Chau​, Associate atClarkeHopkinsClarke​.

Photo: IKEA

14.  Pancake flat cushions

Invest in feather inserts for your scatter cushions.

“Polyester-filled inserts will flatten down within moments of stuffing your new cushion covers, plus they aren’t comfy to snuggle into. Feather inserts make your cushions look better and mould to your body,” says interior stylist, Emma Blomfield.

Photo: Pinterest

15.  Not being clever with colour

Rooms with strict colour schemes run the risk of looking predictable and unimaginative.

“Stick to a colour story but add depth and visual interest by working with a mix of lighter and darker shades in your chosen colours,” says Jessica Bellef​ of Temple & Webster.

Photo: Pinterest

16.  Selecting disproportionate furnishings

Achieving the right proportions to a room is vital, but can be very tricky business.

“You can achieve the right proportion with layers – furniture and accessories of varying heights and sizes, the placement of artwork, layering soft furnishings, throws and animal skins,” says Bec Astrinakis​ of Nathan + Jac.

Article Source: domain.com.au

SLOW COOKED PORK TACO'S

SLOW COOKED PORK TACO'S




Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos
Total Time:
5 hr 36 min
Prep:
25 min
Cook:
5 hr 11 min
Yield:about 8 servings
Level:Easy
NUTRITION INFO 
HEALTHY
Ingredients
3 whole ancho chiles
3 whole pasilla chiles
4 cloves garlic, unpeeled
2 to 3 chipotles in adobo sauce
1/2 medium white onion, roughly chopped
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
Kosher salt
2 teaspoons dried oregano, preferably Mexican
3 3/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
4 pounds boneless pork shoulder (untrimmed), cut into chunks
Freshly ground pepper
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
Corn tortillas, warmed, for serving
Assorted taco toppings, for garnish
ADD CHECKED ITEMS TO GROCERY LIST
Directions
Put the ancho and pasilla chiles and the garlic in a bowl; add 2 to 3 tablespoons water. Microwave on high until soft and pliable, 2 to 3 minutes. Stem and seed the chiles; peel the garlic. Transfer the chiles and garlic to a blender.

Add the chipotles, onion, 2 tablespoons olive oil, honey, vinegar, 1 tablespoon salt and the oregano to the blender; puree until smooth. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over high heat; add the chile sauce and fry, stirring, until thick and fragrant, about 8 minutes. Pour in the broth and reduce until slightly thickened.

Season the pork all over with salt and pepper and transfer to a large slow cooker. Add the bay leaves and cinnamon stick, then pour in the sauce. Cover and cook on high until the meat is tender, about 5 hours. (Or cook the meat in a large Dutch oven, covered, for 1 hour 45 minutes at 350 degrees; uncover and cook 30 more

minutes.)

Discard the bay leaves and cinnamon stick. Shred the pork with 2 forks; season with salt and pepper. Serve the shredded pork in the tortillas, along with toppings.

Photograph by Tina Rupp

Recipe courtesy of Food Network Magazine



Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/slow-cooker-pork-tacos-recipe.html?oc=linkback

Open Homes

Be sure to visit our Open Homes this Saturday 7th November starting form 10:00AM.  

             

See you there!