Builder Profile: Urbanstyle Homes

With a simple yet solid mission statement, “to build affordable, sustainable greensmart homes, catering for all budgets”, Urbanstyle Homes (USH) is emerging as a true leader in the Sydney building market. And with inspiring interiors, quality finishes and a committed team, it’s no surprise.

By combining the concepts of sustainability and luxury, Brad Hoad of USH says they have helped many happy customers to “Live the Lifestyle”. Features and finishes cover the aspects of thermal performance for reducing consumption of energy for heating & cooling and reducing potable water demand with WELS rated tap ware.

USH offer the same environmentally friendly features for first home buyers with their large range of standard home designs, through to 2nd & 3rd home buyers that may want custom designs.

Visit their display homes at 14 Folkes Street, Elderslie—open 10am to 5pm daily or
contact them for more information.

Chocolate therapy - food of the gods

Winter and all year round, here’s proof that chocolate is good for your heart as well as your taste buds. According to research by Choice Magazine, eating a small amount of dark chocolate may do some good!

Choose a bar high in cocoa and low in added sugar, the darker the better to enjoy the health benefits of cocoa. Cocoa contains higher levels of flavenoids than other well known sources such as red wine, apples, berries & tea.
Cocoa flavenoid benefits: improve blood vessel health, combat insulin tolerance and improve cholesterol. The cocoa increases elasticity of the artery walls, therefore dilation is easier – this affects the blood flow volume and pressure. So for people with high blood pressure, chocolate can reduce your blood pressure!

Our choice:
Valrhona 70% dark bitter (France) $14.67/100g
Moser Roth 70% premium dark (Germany) $2.00/100g
Just Organic 70% dark (Germany6) $1.49/100g

Bamboo Furniture Board

With Fofi, By Design

BAMBOO FURNITURE BOARD is made from Moso bamboo poles which are 100% rapidly renewable.

The boards are cross laminated (using non toxic glues) to reveal vertical and horizontal laminated grain patterns.

Vertical grain appears as ¼ inch strip and horizontal grain appears as ¾ inch strip on the surface of the board, sanded to a 180 grit.

Bamboo furniture board can be cut and sanded using regular wood working equipment. It is a low resin, open grained material which can be stained or waxed.

Colours: coffee or natural
Structure: horizontal or vertical
Sizes: boards 1200Wx2440L from 6.5mm thick
to 35mm thick, from $185.00 to $520.00 each.
Bamboo veneer sheeting comes in two sizes:

2500x430x0.6mm
2500x1250x0.6mm

Many colours and grains to choose from with
cellulose paper backing such as vertical natural, vertical coffee and vertical zebra (two tone).

Also available in horizontal natural and horizontal coffee veneers.

Available from Style Plantation stores nationally.

Style Plantation - On show.

NEWCASTLE HOME SHOW 2009

See the latest from Style Plantation at the Newcastle Home Show!

Where? Newcastle Entertainment Centre
When? Friday 24th July to Sunday 26th July, 2009
Open daily 9am - 5pm

Milan Design Fair 2009

The annual Milan Design Fair.
David Clark, editor of Vogue Living, presented last week at Space - Sydney.
His observations and design 'picks' were so interesting, we really enjoyed!
The July-August issue has a full report.

New Display @ Home Ideas Centre - Brisbane

Visit our exciting new Style Plantation display at the Home Ideas Centre in Brisbane located at:

66 Merivale Street
South Bank


Opening Hours:9.00 to 5.00 Monday to Friday
10.00 to 5.00 Saturday
11.00 to 5.00 Sunday
and most public holidays

If you are building or renovating make the Brisbane Home Ideas Centre your first place to visit. They have the largest permanent building exhibition centre in Queensland with over 204 companies exhibiting thousands of products all under one roof.


Tel: 07 3712 0200

Christmas Pudding Recipe

Christmas in July
Christmas Pudding Recipe
Serves 12
Preparation 30mins
Cooking 5 hours
This recipe can be made a month ahead .
Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This
recipe can be boiled in a cloth or steamed in a basin.
5 cups (1kg) mixed dried fruit
3 eggs
1 cup (200g) firmly packed brown sugar
300ml sour cream
21/4cups (335g) plain flour
1 teaspoon grnd nutmeg
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
Method
Grease a pudding steamer or basin (1.75litre/7cup capacity), line base with a round of baking paper
Place mixed fruit into a large bowl, stir to separate fruit. Beat eggs and sifted brown sugar in a small bowl with an electric mixer until thick and creamy. Add egg mixture to mixed fruit then stir in the sour cream and sifted dry ingredients.
Spoon mixture into the prepared steamer. Place a 30cmX40cm sheet of foil on the bench, grease foil; top with a sheet of baking paper. Fold a 5cm pleat crossways through the centre of both sheets.
Place sheets, baking paper side -down, over steamer, secure with lid or string. Make handle with excess string. Crush surplus foil and baking paper firmly around rim to help form a good seal.
Place the pudding in a large boiler with enough boiling water to come halfway up the side of steamer. Cover the boiler with a tight-fitting lid; steam for 5 hours.
Replenish with boiling water as necessary to maintain boil and water level during cooking. Stand the pudding for 15 minutes before turning out. Cool.
Wrap the pudding thoroughly in plastic wrap then place in an airtight container or freezer bag. Refrigerate pudding for up to 3 months or freeze for 1 year.

Christmas in July.

WHEN winter arrives and the snow begins to fall, there’s a special magic in the air for us Antipodeans. The chilly air gives is a great excuse for a mid-year
escape, relaxation and Christmas style indulgence.
Celebrated now for 29years. Winter in the Blue Mountains NSW spells Yulefest where hotels, motels and restaurants have traditional Christmas theme decorations and food.
Imagine sitting around roaring log fires with a mulled wine and fine food.
The idea was born when Gary Crakett (proprietor of Mountain Heritage) was talking to Irish guests of the irony of the winter weather in July. Gary asked the kitchen to prepare Christmas style food that evening and so the Yulefest tradition was born.
DECORATE your home in a dazzling white Christmas let’s face it July is when snow capped decorations are most appropriate. A white theme is also sophisticated, warmed up with red or gold.

Tips to help you achieve this look:
Use greenery sprayed in snow as a table centre piece or made into a candle wreath with red ribbon bows for the mantle.
Hurricane lamps with large, white candles and dressed up with more glittery red ribbons tied around the base.
Consider organic candles such as beeswax or soy oil, the smell better and are far better for the
environment.
Use white lights and sprinkle fake snow on the tree
‘Alcornea ilicfolia’ is the Latin name for Australian native holly.
FEAST mulled wine is Christmas in a glass, a
celebration of traditional festive spices such as cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg.