White is the new black: Mediterranean design trends

THIS SEASON is reminiscent of the beautiful Greek Islands. Vivid blues and gentle whites.
Get it right with stone, terracotta or limestone floors that feel cool underfoot.
Dulux white on white walls, ceilings and sheer white curtains. White furniture, sofas and chairs will help add to the cool and relaxed summer atmosphere.
Blue is the other colour du jour which truly compliments our Greek theme. Use it as an accent, with cushions, glassware, candle urns or bowls.
Alternatively use blue as a feature, for instance a bold piece of furniture or a feature wall.
Take your inspiration from the hues of the Mediterranean sea, cobalt or royal blue.
For extra decadence be guided by Versace medusa heads and gilded swirls.

Got Milk?

MILK … is there really any difference?

CHOICE magazine asked the question many of us have been asking—are the different types of milk worth the extra money?

What did they discover:

· Generic brands are much the same as the other, fancy milk

· If you love a creamy, fresh from the cow taste, buy organic milk

· Watch out for the ‘low saturated fat’ tag line—this can often mean it contains a range of oils, like canola or fish oil.

· Regardless of choice, all milk is ‘choc a block‘ full of calcium.

Chic Home Offices, and how to create them.

WHETHER YOU HAVE a desk nook, a small corner of your kitchen or a grand, open space, creating a chic home office is simple. All you need is a deliberate style and some solid pieces to reflect it.

Desk or workstation?

Confined for space or placed in the centre of an existing room ensure your desk/workstation have doors that close when it’s not in use. This allows it to become an integrated part of the room.

Enlist the expertise of a bespoke cabinet maker or joiner to ensure it’s streamlined and doesn’t stand out.

For those fortunate enough to have plenty of space the question of what desk will depend on decor of the rest of your space.

Glass desks
Easy to adjust to any height or angle, glass desks add to the lightness of a room and it’s streamlined design creates a sense of the modern in any environment. Pros: room will appear more spacious, it’s very modern, you can make a feature of your floor as the desk allows you to see straight through.

Cons: is high maintenance to keep clean as any marks are instantly noticeable. It can also scratch easily and not the safest choice if you have young children.

A-Frames
Decidedly in-fashion, A frame desks work really well in a space where you want to maximise space. It also gives a contemporary influence to the room. Versatile, you can add a glass, wood, veneer or melamine top. Pros: cost effective, easy to DIY, not limited to materials for top, possibility of adding a top drawer to provide some storage.

Cons: storage is limited, less sturdy and not the most ergonomic design so not the best for people needing to work for long periods at a time.

Solid timber of traditional desks
Think Chinese rose wood, this kind of desk is a definite statement, bringing history and elegance into a space.

Pros: provides lot’s of storage, leather inlay at the top provides added comfort—great for people who do a lot of writing. Classical design can be swayed to antique or classic modern style, depending on what else you have in the space. Brass handles are an added feature can be complemented with a padded chair with studding and contoured at the back for extra lower back support.

Cons: doesn’t provide shelf space, can appear heavy and bulky, adding weight to a space. Restricted to period style decor/theme.

Mouth Watering

Our BBQ taste teaser of the week:

Can you resist:

Starters
Prawn & scallop skewers
With lemon chili marinade

Main
Carpet bag steak :
fresh, raw or natural oysters sandwiched between two halves of a rump steak.; seasoned with black pepper and barbequed to preference.

Whole snapper wrapped in foil and seasoned with ginger, shallots, garlic and white wine; cook on the hotplate.

Mixed mesclun leaf salad with cherry tomatoes and balsamic vingarette.

Dessert
Mango halves brushed sprinkled with brown sugar; served with vanilla ice cream.

Sustainable Gardening.

The warmer months are hear, and now is the time to be thinking green - in your own backyard. We love picking vegetables and herbs to use in the kitchen - fresh lettuce, tomatoes, spinach -
mint, corriander, basil - the list goes on.
--- Fofi By Design

PLANTING a new garden or enjoying another year’s harvest, now is the time to be outdoors.
Discover the satisfaction of growing your own flowers, plants, vegetables and fruit.

Survival gardening is a new trend, according to CHOICE magazine as consumers continued with supermarkets increasing fresh produce costs.

Great gardens need a combination of Good guidance, Time and Common sense. Lot’s of space isn’t necessary. For people in apartments pots and planter boxes work just as well.

For best results work out which vegetables, fruits and flowers grow in each season.

Inspiring gardening websites:

Yates Garden Guidewww.yates.com.au

The Vegetable Patchwww.thevegetablepatch.com.au

Gardening Australiawww.abc.net.au/gardening