Inside the home of… Sydney stylist Amber Keller

3 May 2013

Brighten up a white hallway with a pop of colour

A mix of old and new and a monochrome palette with pops of yellow 
define the Sydney home of stylist Amber Keller. Photography: Andy Lewis

Use natural light to your advantage

Amber says you don’t need to buy expensive flowers to decorate your home. Pick bunches of flowers or branches of green leaves from your garden. Photography: Andy Lewis

Amber Keller and family

Sydney stylist Amber Keller with her husband Matthew and daughters Amelie, 4, and Alessandra, 1. Photography: Andy Lewis

A stylist’s gorgeous home

Amber Keller is one of Australia’s leading food and interior stylist, so it’s no surprise that her beautiful home on Sydney’s lower North Shore shows off her strong sense of impeccable style. We just love her monochrome palette with bold splashes of yellows and blues! Amber invited us into her home and let us in on what inspires her.

Amber, can you tell us a little about your family and where you live?
I live in Greenwich, Sydney, with my husband Matthew and daughters Amelie, 4, and Alessandra, 1. The house we live in was built in the early 1940s. We liked it because it was unrenovated with a fabulous bay window in a quiet, leafy street. We were also drawn to the large block with its established garden and the garage had great appeal to me, providing me with somewhere to store all my props!

What changes have you made?
Since moving in four years ago, we have made only cosmetic changes to the 1970s renovation. Firstly we gave the house a coat of white paint and sanded and stained the floorboards. We then renovated the bathroom and kitchen. Our main goal was to retain hints of the forties style. We would also like to extend the kitchen and build
a second storey. It’s an ongoing project!

What is your decorating style?
My home is a mix of modern and vintage furniture. Family antiques and worldly boho-chic accessories are mingled with inexpensive things I have found at local markets, artwork collected on my travels and even my four-year-old’s drawings. I absolutely love using strong patterned prints on wallpaper throughout the house to create a bold statement. I also love to mix and match differentstyles and periods of furniture. I use white walls as a blank canvas adding colour and pattern through accessories, artwork and fabrics. I am currently mad about the colour yellow and have added splashes of it throughout the house. From lampshades to cushions, and even my front door. All of this can be easily changed with a coat of paint or replacing the covers or shades. An inexpensive and fun way to decorate your home without it being forever!

 

Inside Amber's home

These chairs were found on the street and re-covered with Florence Broadhurst fabric in ‘Aubrey’. Photography: Andy Lewis

 

Amber's bookshelf

Amber likes to arrange her books by colour for an interesting visual effect. Photography: Andy Lewis

 

Furniture pieces inside Amber's home

A 1930s French desk, a yellow chair and a vintage ceramic board add warm touches to her home. Photography: Andy Lewis

Amber's kitchen

Black bentwood chairs in the kitchen add a touch of French bistro. Photography: Andy Lewis

Bedroom

Florence Broadhurst wallpaper features in the master bedroom. Photography: Andy Lewis

Amber's bathroom

Amber’s daughter Amelie enjoys the Murobond ‘chalkboard’ paint in the kitchen.

 

Amber’s styling tips

  • I love using wallpaper but it is very expensive to decorate a whole room with it. Instead, choose one wall as a feature and just wallpaper that.
  • Try displaying a collection of ceramics using just a single colour palette.
  • You don’t need to buy expensive flowers to decorate your home. Pick bunches of flowers or branches of green leaves from your garden.
  • Create a wall of memories by hanging a collection of photos together. Use different sized frames randomly spaced.
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Mexican in Melbourne: Acland St Cantina

3 May 2013

Acland St Cantina Room

Acclaimed Melbourne chef Paul Wilson’s latest venture is Mexican restaurant Acland St Cantina in St Kilda. Photography Mark Roper

Acland St Cantina wall mural

This skull wall mural, lit below by a small alter of candles, pays homage to the Mexican holiday of the Day of the Dead. Photography Mark Roper

Chia-crusted fish with heirloom tomato salad and tomatillo verde

Paul Wilson shows the lighter side to Mexican food, offering regional dishes such as chia-crusted fish with heirloom tomato salad and tomatillo verde. Photography Mark Roper

St Kilda spices things up with new Mexican restaurant Acland St Cantina


Melbourne’s love affair with all things Mexican shows no signs of slowing down, with the latest addition, the fresh and casual Acland St Cantina, taking the city by storm. “Mexican food has a great synergy with Melbourne’s bar culture,” says Acland St chef Paul Wilson. “We like eating and drinking in one event and share-style food. This style of cuisine is perfect for that.”

As chef director of the Melbourne Pub Group, Paul has turned establishments such as the Albert Park Hotel and Newmarket Hotel into foodie destinations. Since acquiring St Kilda’s Prince of Wales last year, Paul and his team have been busy creating a new food identity for the iconic hotel, from a more approachable take on the flagship restaurant, Circa, to the transformation of the old Mink nightclub into Acland St Cantina, a restaurant/takeaway/cafe/specialist food shop all in one.

After the success of the Mex-influenced Newmarket Hotel, Paul wanted to offer a more authentic experience. He travelled to Mexico last July and discovered a diverse and regional cuisine. “It’s so much more than tacos and burritos,” says Paul. “When I landed in Wahaca, the taxi driver said, ‘Welcome to the state of seven moles [a traditional Mexican sauce].’ They use about 50 ingredients in a good mole – it blows your mind!” The result of this trip is a menu that takes you from the street food of Mexico City to the Mediterranean-style seafood dishes of the Baha Coast, without leaving the Melbourne seaside. facebook.com/AclandStCantina.

Acland St Cantina room

Exposed brick, bentwood chairs and decorative rugs gives the dining room a Mex-meets-den feel. Photography Mark Roper

Salted caramel ice cream tacos

For a wicked finish, tacos can even be a dessert. One of Acland St Cantina’s most popular dishes is the salted caramel ice cream taco. Photography Mark Roper

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Get the look: bedroom special

27 Mar 2013

What’s your bedroom style?

The kids might take over the living room, there may be chaos in the kitchen, but your bedroom should always be your own personal sanctuary. Here are our tips to creating the perfect bedroom harmony to suit any taste.

The country bedroom

Get the look: country bedroom

‘Harper’ quilt cover set, from $160.97

Our tip: Use natural materials in muted colours and soft tones to create a country style. French provincial furniture and accessories add a classic touch, while a well-placed bunch of wildflowers will complete the look.

Get the country look:

Get the look: country bedroom

1. ‘Log’ rattan basket, $132 for set of two. 2. ‘Casablanca’ table lamp, $419.95. 3. ‘Royal bee’ hand towel in black, $13.95. 4. Felted wool slippers in brown grey, $115. 5. ‘Pompei domino’ cushion, $120. 6. ‘Elwood’ mohair throw rug, $189. 7. ‘Hamblin’ bedside table, $299.95. 8. ‘Stubborn goat’ bookend, $69. 9. ‘Maison ruffle’ pillowcase, $49.95.

 

The rustic bedroom

The rustic bedroom

Organic cotton king sheet set, $188

Our tip: Look to your favourite weathered environs for inspiration: the country barn, a jetty walk or Nanna’s balcony. Introduce materials reminiscent of these places throughout the room and juxtapose them with smooth, crisp bedding.

Get the rustic look:

Get the look: rustic

1. ‘Bloom’ small pendant lamp, $340. 2. ‘X’ v-neck men’s pyjama top, $45. 3. ‘Hay’ cardboard stool, $59. 4. ‘Chevron charcoal’ throw, $179. 5. Large ‘deer’ floor cushion, $199. 6. ‘Patsy’ cosmetic makeup bag in tartan, $20. 7. Tan Moroccan ottoman, $189.99. 8. ‘Serpiente’ cowhide, $1595. 9. LEFF Amsterdam ‘brick flip’ stainless steel and white clock, $499.95. 10. ‘Indigo deer’ cushion, $79.

 

The feminine bedroom

The feminine bedroom

‘Penderlea’ quilt cover set, from $199.95

Our tip: Embrace a light neutral colour scheme and keep your choices simple. Appreciate pieces for what they are and avoid over dressing. Look for fine, shapely lines in furniture; an angled floor lamp will shine next to a cushy white bed.

Get the feminine look:

Get the look: feminine

1. ‘El tapar’ side table with solid lid, $690. 2. ‘Marie Claire delfina’ cushion, $59.95. 3. Anne Black ‘seam’ ceramic pendant light, $110.95. 4. ‘Barely there’ pillowcase, $40. 5. ‘Mist at dawn’ pillowcase, $40. 6. Ceramic cockatoo lamp, $480. 7. LEFF ‘Amsterdam tone’ clock in white, $179.95. 8. Marimekko ‘lumimarja’ fabric wall art, $350. 9. ‘Warm heart’ screen-printed linen cushion, $75.

 

The floral bedroom

Peony Grape Quilt Cover

‘Peony grape’ quilt cover, from $299.95

Our tip: Don’t be afraid to mix different floral prints. Balance heavy patterns with solid colour pillows in a matching shade.

Get the floral look:

Get the look: floral

1. ‘Ask me again’ cotton pillowcase with ties, $40. 2. ‘Velvet sky’ European pillowcase in fig, $50. 3. ‘Tank you’ porcelain vase in flower, $64.50. 4. ‘Rose garden’ red throw, $139.30. 5. ‘Botanical’ silk and cotton kimono robe, $199. 6. ‘Aztec purple’ mini heat pillow, $29.95. 7. ‘Tuffet’ hand-printed cotton bean bag, $154. 8. ‘Peony grape’ quilt cover, from $299.95.

 

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‘The new floral’ with style director Vanessa Colyer Tay

13 Feb 2013

Are you hoping to receive flowers for Valentine’s Day tomorrow? If you’re lucky enough to get a bunch from your loved one (or even just a friend) we have some great ideas on how to show them off. In the new htf. magazine, style director Vanessa Colyer Tay (right) offers seven gorgeous ways to style seasonal blooms. Read on for her expert tips…

Flowers are a fantastic way to add freshness and vibrancy to your home or party. Floral arrangement need not be stuffy and boring – try these styling ideas for an extra special touch.

1. Tie decorations onto a cut tree branch using string. Consider using cut flowers from the garden or florist, paper flowers and a tassel or two. We made our tassels using a tutorial from the red thread blog. Click HERE to read. For a longer lasting display, attach vials of water to the tips of your cut flowers.

Photography: Sam McAdam Styling: Vanessa Colyer Tay

2. Transform a plain glass vase into something special by covering it with a decorative window film. Smooth the adhesive film out with a ruler as you stick it on the vase.

Photography: Sam McAdam Styling: Vanessa Colyer Tay

3. Wrap miniature bottles (we’ve used Italian juice bottles from the supermarket) with sheets of vintage book pages (we sourced ours from the Salvation Army store). Place flowers in each bottle and line them up on the table. Look for pages with varied typography, mixing chapter openers with heavy text pages. Here’s a video of me styling this look:

Photography: Sam McAdam Styling: Vanessa Colyer Tay

4. Take a close-up photo of your favourite blooms in high resolution, then take the image to a printing services outlet such as Officeworks. Print it out to A3 size and have it laminated. Use your large laminated photographs as easy-to-clean placemats. For close-up photos try turning on your camera’s macro setting.

Photography: Sam McAdam Styling: Vanessa Colyer Tay

5. Consider arranging your flowers in a 50/50 display. Use two main flower types with each type bunched together. Unify the two bunches as one display with a little foliage mixed throughout. A large arrangement like this works well if placed somewhere it will command attention.

Photography: Sam McAdam Styling: Vanessa Colyer Tay

6. Look for vessels that will offer an easy approach to creative display. This circular piece can be dressed with mixed flowers and left as is, or you can place a round vase of flowers or candles in the centre for a layered, formal look. Tactile or fluffy flowers will sit best in a piece like this.

Photography: Sam McAdam Styling: Vanessa Colyer Tay

7. Collect a mix of vintage bottles, enough for one for each guest. Tie hand-written name tags around their necks and place a few flowers in each. Consider offering the bottle and its contents as a take-home gift for your guests.

Photography: Sam McAdam Styling: Vanessa Colyer Tay

And as an extra treat, check out the behind-the-scenes video of this photo shoot here:

 

 

 

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Kate Gibbs’ delicious peach recipes

7 Feb 2013

Margaret Fulton’s granddaughter, Kate Gibbs, shares two easy recipes for this juicy summer stone fruit.

Kate Gibbs' delicious stone fruit recipes

Photography: Steve Brown Styling: Kristen Wilson Hair & Make-up: Fern Madden

Peach & saffron chutney

Peach & saffron chutney. Photography: Steve Brown Styling: Kristen Wilson

Peach & saffron chutney

Makes: 2 jars Preparation: 10 mins Cooking: 30 mins

5 firm but ripe peaches 
A pinch of saffron threads 60ml white wine
2 tbs caster sugar
60ml white wine vinegar
1 small red chilli
1 star anise
2 cinnamon quills
1 tbs currants

Method

  1. Place peaches in a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Stand for 3 minutes, then drain and plunge into a bowl of iced water. Peel cooled peaches and cut into 1cm pieces.
  2. Combine saffron, wine, sugar, vinegar, chilli and spices in a small pan Bring to the boil over medium-low heat., then cook for 5 minutes. Add currants and peach, and cook, stirring, for 20 minutes or until soft.
  3. Spoon mixture into 2 sterilised 1 cup (250ml) jars. Tap jars on the benchtop so bubbles rise to the surface. Clean rims with a damp cloth and seal lids. Once chutneys are cool, store in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
Grilled peaches with champagne sabayon & amaretti crumble

Grilled peaches with champagne sabayon & amaretti crumble. Photography: Steve Brown Styling: Kristen Wilson

Grilled peaches with champagne sabayon & amaretti crumble

Serves: 6 Preparation: 15 mins (plus 30 mins chilling time) Cooking: 20 mins

6 small peaches, halved
40g unsalted butter, melted
1-2 tbsp brown sugar Icing sugar, to serve
6-8 amaretti biscuits, crumbled 2 tbs flaked almonds, toasted champagne

Sabayon
5 egg yolks
75g caster sugar 
80ml Champagne or sparkling wine 
1 cup (250ml) thickened cream, chilled

Method

  1. Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice. For the sabayon, whisk egg yolks, caster sugar and wine in a large heatproof bowl. Set bowl over a large pan of gently simmering water (don’t let the bowl touch the water), and whisk for 10 minutes or until doubled in volume. Transfer bowl to ice bath and leave to cool completely.
  2. Using an electric mixer, whip cream until stiff peaks form. Fold into the cooled egg mixture until well combined. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  3. Heat a chargrill pan over medium heat. Brush peach halves with melted butter and sprinkle with brown sugar. Grill, cut-side down, for 5 minutes or until peaches are golden and sugar is caramelised. Turn and grill for 3-4 minutes, until tender.
  4. To serve, divide sabayon among plates and top with grilled peaches. Dust with icing sugar, then sprinkle with amaretti and almonds. kate’s tip You can make the sabayon up to 1 day ahead.
Watch Kate make this recipe:
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First look at designer Abigail Ahern’s new book!

6 Feb 2013

Photography Graham Atkins-Hughes

 

 

 

Photography Graham Atkins-Hughes

We love beautiful interiors as much as you do, so were so excited to hear that style-spotter extraordinaire Abigail Ahern has made her way to our shores. She’s been named ‘one of the world’s most exciting decorators’ by W magazine and her London store, Atelier Abigail Ahern, was voted one of the hottest places to shop in the UK by Elle Decoration. Her eclectic, exuberant style, sense of whimsy and unique interiors have made her famous across the globe. 

Today she launched her new book, Decorating with Style, at Decoration + Design in Sydney. Lucky you if you were there to receive a signed copy!

We’re so excited to offer a first look at her book in the new issue of htf. magazine. You can read the full extract HERE, but for now, here’s a little taste of the stunning interiors that have made Abigail famous. Enjoy!

Photography Graham Atkins-Hughes

 

Photography Graham Atkins-Hughes

 

Photography Graham Atkins-Hughes

 

Photography Graham Atkins-Hughes

Abigail will be signing copies of her book this Friday 8th February from 11.30-12.30pm at the Sydney Exhibition Centre in Hall 3. For full details head to Decoration + Design.

Check out the new issue of htf. magazine HERE

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‘What makes a house a home?’ with Belle Editor-in-chief Neale Whitaker

10 Jan 2013

Happy 2013! Welcome back lovely blog readers. We hope you all had a great festive period. We’re very happy to be starting the year with guest blogger Neale Whitaker, Editor-in-chief of Belle magazine and judge on Channel Nine’s The Block. Over to you Neale…

 

In the current issue of Belle we focus on the idea of home. What is it that makes a house a home? In my editor’s letter I confess that for me, ‘home’ means layers of memory and experience. My partner and I don’t share a house crammed full of the latest designer furniture. To be honest, I don’t think we own one piece that’s ever been shown in Milan! Instead, we have a home rich with things that are significant to us. Our home is  a resume of the lives we’ve led and are living now. Here are a few favourite things …

 

Robert Doble artwork

Robert’s a British-born artist who lives in Melbourne. I’ve been familiar with his work for years but I finally acquired one of his simple, graphic line drawings a couple of years ago. Of course I couldn’t stop at one.

 

 Yastik by Rifat Ozbek cushions

Back in the 80s I worked in the fashion biz in the UK and Turkish-born Rifat Ozbek was a favourite designer. He now designs beautiful cushions in traditional fabrics and we stumbled upon them recently when we were on holiday in Istanbul.  We carried them all the way back from Istanbul but they’re available in Australia at Hermon & Hermon! www.hermonhermon.com.au

 

 Moroccan carpet

Our great friend Jason Mowen brings these beautiful vintage Moroccan carpets into Australia. They’re all different and are made by the Beni Ourain tribe. They’ve become very popular over the past couple of years and I see them in lots of interiors. This one dates from the 1970s. www.jasonmowen.com

 

Raga chairs by Norman + Quaine

These are designed and made in Australia. I love them because they’re a modern take on the traditional rattan-backed planter’s chair, one of my favourite designs.

 

 Books

Couldn’t live without books. They are literally everywhere in our house and so many of them are still waiting to be read! Someone once said that ‘a room without books is like a face without eyes’ and I totally agree. David and I have had some of these books for decades and they tell the story of our lives.

 

Mao figurines

I visited Hong Kong for the first time last year to celebrate a ‘significant birthday’ (yes, I know I look mature for 21!) and brought these back from Cat Street market. They cost me next-to-nothing but bargaining was all part of the fun. A little bit of kitsch never did any harm.

 

Paintings from Vietnam

My partner David and I made our first trip overseas together to Vietnam in 2003. We found these watercolours of Sapa tribeswomen in a gallery in Hoi An and fell for them. They still make us smile and have so many memories attached to them.

 

Gallery wall

At the last count we had 48 artworks on the wall in our kitchen! It’s an ever-changing gallery of paintings, photos, carvings and ceramics, each of them significant to us. The vintage photo you can see beneath the Fornasetti plate is of my late mum. She was such a beauty in her youth and I’m very proud of this photo!

 

 ‘The Four of Us’

I was so excited when Sydney artists Gillie and Marc Schattner contacted me early last year to ask if they could paint us with our two Weimaraners, Otis and Ollie. They love the breed and often incorporate Weimaraners in their work, so it was a perfect fit for them. ‘The Four of Us’ is the result and it’s now hanging in the kitchen! www.gillieandmarc.com

 

 Tolomeo lamps

Admittedly they’re an investment, but we’ve never looked back since buying these Artemide Tolomeo lamps for our bedroom. I love the clean, classic shape and the angle-poise function. To me they work within almost any interior design scheme. They make great desk lamps too.

 

Vintage lamp

You may have realised I’m a lighting nut. People often refer to our place as the ‘house of lamps’ and they’re not wrong. But I believe lighting dictates the mood of a home more than anything else. This lamp is a favourite and is from Drawing Room Theory in Alexandria, Sydney. www.drawingroomtheory.com

 

 Plantation shutters

It’s that colonial vibe again. I love plantation shutters from a practical point of view (they diffuse light beautifully) but also for their aesthetic appeal. They’re my favourite window treatment and we have them throughout our house.

 

George Nelson Bubble lamp

Another investment piece, but it will never date! American George Nelson designed his famous Bubble lamps in the late 1940s, and they’re considered a mid-century classic.  This ‘saucer’ shape is my favourite and it hangs in our bedroom.

 

Balinese boy

I’ve been to Bali several times but I actually found this bust in an antique market in Sydney’s Blue Mountains! I love its serene features and I swear it’s one of the first things I’d grab if the house was burning – after David, Otis and Ollie of course.

From Eri & Trudi: Thanks for sharing such personal items from your lovely home with us Neale. We can certainly see your ‘lamp love’ coming out! We’d also love to hear what makes your house a home, readers, so please leave a comment using the box below. The February/March issue of Belle is on sale now.

 

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‘Bright Star’ with interior designer Marianne Thuesen

5 Dec 2012

The cover of htf. magazine’s launch issue featured the colourful home of Danish interior designer Marianne Thuesen. Hot pink, lime green and acid yellow pieces give her house serious colour credentials. We love her eclectic style and the expansive use of colour in her Scandinavian family home.

Photography: Charlotte Schmidt Olsen/House of Pictures/Picture Media

The home office includes an antique desk, IKEA bookshelves and Marianne’s own painting.

Photography: Charlotte Schmidt Olsen/House of Pictures/Picture Media

The ceiling has been opened up and fitted with skylights to provide plenty of natural light.

Photography: Charlotte Schmidt Olsen/House of Pictures/Picture Media

Many of the bright artworks in the house, including this one below, are by Marianne’s daughter, Emma.

The lounge room walls are dark grey for a simple backdrop and cosy feel. Neon paper stars add a colourful Christmas touch.

Photography: Charlotte Schmidt Olsen/House of Pictures/Picture Media

Marianne and her family also make their own paper Christmas decorations and use coloured and patterned tapes to wrap their presents.

Photography: Charlotte Schmidt Olsen/House of Pictures/Picture Media

Get Marianne’s colourful look with funky artworks, bright furnishings and neon accessories from  hardtofind.com.au – see our Pinterest board HERE . You can read the full story in the htf. magazine launch issue HERE.

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Little Fish Bar at Flying Fish

28 Nov 2012

Bridge view

Little Fish Bar at Flying Fish Restaurant makes the most of its stunning location at Jones Bay Wharf on Sydney Harbour. Photography: Katie Quinn Davies

Bar at Little Fish

Hinky Dinks cocktails, great food and an amazing view, make this bar a must-visit when in Sydney. Photography: Katie Quinn Davies

Prawns and cocktails

Barbecue king prawns with lime & mustard butter. Photography: Katie Quinn Davies

Passionfruit & raspberry bramble

Passionfruit & raspberry bramble

Little Fish Bar shakes things up with Hinky Dinks cocktails

Perennial Sydney favourite Flying Fish has teamed up with oh-so-hot Darlinghurst small bar Hinky Dinks to create a killer cocktail/bar food combination for Flying Fish’s baby brother, Little Fish Bar. Executive chef Stephen Seckold shares some of the bar snacks – ideal for easy entertaining – plus reveals the secrets to those great summer cocktails.

Barbecue king prawns with lime & mustard butter

Serves 8–10 people

30 medium green king prawns, peeled with tails intact
¼ cup (60ml) olive oil
2 eschalots, finely chopped
100ml lime juice
250g unsalted butter, chopped
1⁄3 cup (95g) seeded mustard
¼ cup finely chopped parsley

Method 

  1. Cut each prawn down the back to the tail (do not cut all the way through). Remove vein and open the prawns flat on a tray. Brush with oil and season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until needed.
  2. To make the lime and mustard butter, place eschalots and lime juice in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer then reduce heat to low. Add butter, one piece at a time, whisking constantly after each addition until butter is melted. Continue whisking until all butter is combined and the sauce is thick. Remove from the heat and fold in the mustard and parsley. Season.
  3. Preheat barbecue to high. Barbecue the prawns for 1-2 minutes each side, or until just cooked through.
  4. To serve, arrange the barbecued prawns on a plate and spoon over the lime and mustard butter.

Spiced mixed nuts with curry leaves

Serves 8-10 people

200g unsalted macadamias, halved
200g unsalted cashews
200g unsalted peanuts
100ml vegetable oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp dried garlic flakes*
1 tsp caster sugar
1 tbs sea salt flakes
1 small bunch (¼ cup) curry leaves

Method 

  1. Preheat oven to 160C. Place nuts and 1 tbs oil in a bowl and toss to coat. Spread nuts in a single layer on an oven tray. Roast for 12 minutes, turning halfway, or until they are golden and fragrant.
  2. Meanwhile, place cumin, chilli powder, garlic, sugar and salt into a mortar and pestle and pound until a fine powder. Set aside.
  3. Heat 80ml (1⁄3 cup) oil in a large frying pan over high heat. Remove curry leaves from stems and add to the oil. Fry for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel.
  4. When the nuts are golden and still hot, toss through the spice mix and curry leaves. Serve warm.

* Garlic flakes are available from the spice aisle of supermarkets.

 

Passionfruit & raspberry bramble

Makes 1

45ml 42 Below passionfruit vodka
15ml Chambord
30ml fresh lemon juice (hand-squeezed)
20ml sugar syrup*
2-3 drops peach bitters
Raspberries, to garnish

Method

  1. Pour vodka, lemon juice and sugar syrup into a large lowball glass and stir.
  2. Fill glass with crushed ice and slowly drizzle Chambord and bitters over ice.
  3. Garnish with raspberries on a short skewer.

* To make sugar syrup, combine 1 cup (220g) caster sugar and 1 cup (250ml) boiling water in a bowl, then stir until sugar
is dissolved. Sugar syrup will keep, refrigerated, for up to one week.

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‘Living Glamorously’ with UK Glamour stylist Charlotte-Anne Fidler

28 Nov 2012

For the launch issue of htf. magazine, we took a peek at the London home of Glamour fashion stylist Charlotte Anne Fidler. Eri and Trudi love Charlotte’s feminine style which reflects the pinky pastels and creams of her traditional English garden.

The elegant sitting room features antique mirrors and chandeliers and is painted in a soft cream colour. White sheepskin rugs on white painted floorboards add softness and texture to the single colour palette.

Photography: Debi Treloar/Living Inside

Cream shaker-style units and a Belfast sink provide a modern country look in the kitchen.

Photography: Debi Treloar/Living Inside

While French doors open out to the lush garden and fresh flowers adorn the table.

Photography: Debi Treloar/Living Inside

The bedroom is furnished with cream painted antique furniture with Swedish bedding and delicate floral coverlets on the bed.

Photography: Debi Treloar/Living Inside

Get Charlotte’s luxurious white-on-white look with lush furnishings, opulent pieces and floral touches from  hardtofind.com.au – see our Pinterest board HERE . You can read the full story in the htf. magazine launch issue HERE.

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