White kitchens to make you green with envy!

The painting of my house is going a little slower than I would have liked with all the wet weather we've been having so here's some kitchens to ogle over!
 

Travertine tile splashback mixed with a white ikea kitchen, I love this subtle driftwood look tile with the clean white simplicity of the kitchen cabinets! image style at home

A Modern version of As Good as it Gets style Kitchen from Bunnings



Here's the traditional style Hamptons look Kitchen with subway tile splashback, and modern stainless appliances and rangehood image Cote de Texas

I love this all white kitchen with dark timber floors and black granite benchtop just stunning! A good mix of contemporary and victorian style. (love the old style pendant lamps) image Tholdhouseonline.com

This is the kitchen that inspired my post while flipping through another favourite magazine of mine Inside Out. This design is contemporary in white but warmth has been added by the Smoked and Lime Oak doors and floor. Design by Templeton image by Sharyn Cairns. Checkout the Bonus Kitchen and Bathroom Book from the March April edition of I.O.

So how to decide on the kitchen you want? 
A quick tip - Break the kitchen into elements

• Appliances (reuse or new?)
• Benchtop
• Splashback
• Cupboards & Drawers
• Display/Shelves
• Layout
• Budget
• Your Style Contemporary, Country, Modern, Vintage, Retro the list is endless!

Then look at the finishes you like, the must haves, the nice to haves and forget about what you wouldn't use! Collect images of all of the styles and finishes to the elements that you envisage in your final design.

You're then armed ready to take in as many kitchen showrooms as you desire with your homework already done. 

A kitchen designer can help with innovations and layout, so your new kitchen looks great and is highly functional for your needs.

LCD can help with updates or renovations to your existing kitchen or help you plan the kitchen of your dreams or a budget conscience kitchen.

The Brisbane Homeshow is on this weekend and might be a good place to start if you're planning a new kitchen.

Have a great rest of the week!

One woman painting a house!

Yes you read it right!  I have taken on the crazy challenge of one woman (ie me) painting the house.  My outdoor makeover just wouldn't have the same wow factor without a change of colour so I've decided to start with those walls and go from there.  It will also allow us to live with the new colour which I love btw before finishing off the rest of the house! 

So here's some before pics (I didn't choose the original house colour fyi)......

All sanded and washed down ready for painting!

And here's the nearly finished product.

Here's the new colour 1st coat!  I have chosen Dulux Natural Stone for the main weatherboard wall colour, Antique White USA for the Windows and Ironstone for the trims. 

 A little sunny but two coats done and just the window and trim to finish off and the new colour has made a dramatic difference.

 Now whilst I'm optimistic about doing as much of it as I can, I don't think I'll be climbing the roof to paint the faux dormers so I may have to call a painter in for that, but I'm going to give the rest of it my best shot!

So once the window and trim is done then it's back to prep (sanding and washing down of the next wall!)

I'll be posting my progress throughout the months fitting in around my busy family and worklife and hopefully the pictures will speak for themselves!

Out and About in Brisbane!

Just a quick post from me today of a few great spaces I've been to in the last couple of weeks.  I'm always enjoying my surroundings and keeping an eye out for great interiors and exteriors!

Cove Bar & Dining unique bar made from document style drawers, I love the quirkiness and the food was great!



Popolo had a great eclectic style just a couple of doors down at Southbank and superb italian!

So my first mini makeover for the year has turned into a big challenge more pics tomorrow hopefully but here's a sneak peak!



The accessories are coming together for my outdoor area, but now a bigger project is afoot and nearly ready for a big reveal more tomorrow hopefully or later in the week, I've taken on a crazy challenge!

 For Brisbanites also a quick tip, if you're looking for furniture and maybe a bargain then head to the Domayne Clearance Centre Closedown!  I didn't get there this weekend but it might be worth the trip to Pinkenba!

 

Best of 2011 & Favourites for 2012

Happy New Year!  I have just had a wonderful afternoon at Goma and feeling very inspired!

Yayoi Kusama: Look Now, See Forever currently on display at Goma

I thought for my first post of the year I'd take a look at a few of my favourite things from LCD posts in 2011 and my fave looks for 2012.

Firstly, Lights. I really loved back in May the Cayman light fitting from Beacon as well as the glass chandelier light fittings I've seen around the place.

LCD Blog - Lighting to set the mood

I also can't forget the gorgeous collection of vintage lights from a renovation during the block 2010.

LCD blog Lights, Lights, Lights

This next image just has the perfect balance of grey and white and the mismatched chairs are devine!  It looks perfect for a relaxing morning brunch fit for a royal country getaway!
 

LCD Blog Royal Long Weekend

I adore the driftwood weathered finish of this coffee table and I'm contemplating a mammoth makeover job for a similar teak table I have.

LCD Blog Subtle Colour

so for this year.....

Vanities - there are so many types and finishes to choose from but I spied this one in the January edition of Home Beautiful.

Great storage in this vanity unit featured in January's edition of my favourite mag Home Beautiful!  I'm trying to source the origin but it is most likely a custom made vanity.  I love the natural colour of the timber!

Hanging lights - I'm searching for the perfect collection of lanterns/lighting for my own outdoor area but while I've been looking I spied a great collection in the drawing room at the Matisse exhibition at Goma!

Birdcage Hanging Pendants above the Goma Drawing Room bar/cafe.

Photo by LCD "Drawing Room" at the Matisse Exhibition

For a similar wire fitting take a look at....

5 light wire pendant from Domayne

& that's only a scratch on the surface!  I've been busy sourcing products for many of the mini projects I've got planned so keep checking the blog for more updates.

Merry Christmas - A Turkey Recipe with a twist

Merry Christmas!  Only 7 more sleeps!  I have done some Christmas baking, got the gifts and have them all wrapped.  The tree was decorated a few weeks ago with the kids help and now it’s time to enjoy catching up with friends and family!

I love all the decorations the kids make each year they add a real personal touch to the tree!

There's nothing like yummy home made treats at Christmas, Cranberry and White Chocolate shortbread and Rocky Road! There's never enough chocolate at Christmas!

I am still contemplating the fare for my Christmas dinner but now for the long awaited Turkey loaf recipe.  My apologies, I made it back in July and have lost track to post the recipe.

http://littlecovedesign.blogspot.com/2011/07/wish-list-27-christmas-in-july-dinner.html

So you will need the following Ingredients

Proscuitto slices thinly (enough to cover the size of the loaf you are making)

Loaf

Turkey Mince 500g-1kg

GarlicVegetta 2 teaspoons

StuffingSausage mince 500g1 cup fresh breadcrumbs½ cup slivered almondsLemon rind of one lemon1-2 tablespoons lemon juiceRosemary fresh or dried2 cloves of garlic chopped/gratedOne grated onion

Method
Preheat your oven to 170 degrees
Mix the stuffing ingredients together in a bowl and set aside
Line your loaf tin or casserole dish with greaseproof paper and then line the dish with the prosciutto

Mix the turkey mince garlic and vegetta and any other seasoning you wish.  To add some moisture if required add an egg or a splash of milk to the mixture mix together and spread the mixture over the prosciutto layer save a little for the lid. 

Put the stuffing in the middle and then use the last bit of turkey meat mixture to cover the stuffing and then cover with any prosciutto slices you have hanging over or left.  Cover with aluminium foil or casserole lid and cook for approximately 1.5 hours.  Remove foil and out of cooking dish and turn out onto an oven tray and brown for approx. 10-15 mins.  Serve with your favourite gravy and vegetables.

So enjoy all the Christmas festivities (I've been enjoying lots of window shopping!) and I look forward to a fabulous 2012 filled with lots more projects to share with you!

Saying Thankyou with Flowers

For those who tune into my blog regularly you know I love sharing flowers even if it is in cyberspace.  There is nothing like saying thankyou with flowers.  I ventured off to the flower markets early the other morning in search of my favourite flower the Peony and I wasn't disappointed!

I stepped out of my car and saw the most extraoardinary bunches of Peonies.

Peonies, Peonies, Peonies!

Here's my Thankyou! arrangement of flowers mixed in with white roses and some greenery.

I couldn't resist and treated myself to a similar bunch which I can't help gazing at and the Peonies perfume is just delicious!

Back from my Hiatus! with Chinese Lanterns

Apologies for my absence from my blog!  I've been laying low while trying to recover from my my bad back - a result of too much gardening and chronic tonsilitis!  I'm finally feeling ready to take on the world just in time for my 7 year old's disco party!



An apple on the go as well as strawberries with leaves to come and watermelon minus the seeds!

So I've been fundraising for a charity function and taken on a quiet task while I've been recuperating!  Creating fruit with crochet!  This is a Christmas gift in the making for my 2 year old so I am getting the hang of crochet after not doing any since highschool. Here's the "Fruits" of my labour so far.....

So once I've created the disco cake for the weekend I'll get back into my mini- makeovers - Stay tuned! But here's some party inspiration for you to enjoy-have a fabulous weekend!

These floating lanterns are popular at weddings and festivals image from Wish Lantern

I love these White Paper Chinese lanterns that I photographed at the Paul Kelly Concert back in July such simple, fabulous and effective set decoration! (Meet Me In the Middle of the Air Brisbane Riverstage)

Same Decorative Chinese Lanterns using the same feature but giving a totally differrent look for an airy garden party feel!  Both of these images are from Factory Direct Craft

This brilliant pop of colour reminds me of an Alice in Wonderland Moment - this image and many gorgeous others can be found at hanginglanterns.co.uk

Chinese Lanterns are fairly inexpensive and lanterns of many colours and sizes can be found at your local discount store for as little as $4!  I only hope mine can help transform my garage for the party!