Dining Styles

Dining tables I would love to have if I had endless space and no budget! 

Please let me know by leaving a comment on this post if you like the idea below of displaying Interior design photos as a slide show rather than posting them individually on the page?  Your comments are very much appreciated.

All images from Houzz.com

I hope you had a lovely weekend.  We had what felt like an early Summers day yesterday in Auckland and everyone was out in force. My local beach was absolutely packed with people and the queue at the icecream shop was a mile long!

Lee x

International Artist Magazine Finalist - Inspiration!

Well, I finally made it to press,  my painting "Inspiration" was chosen as a finalist in International Artist Magazines worldwide Floral and Still life competition, 2011.  This magazine was voted the top artist magazine in the world so I am absolutely thrilled and they have dedicated one page on my work in their Oct/Nov issue, which is available on line or in bookshops now.

Inspiration is an oil on canvas 1.20 metres square and was bought by a New Zealand collector who lives on Takapuna beachfront in Auckland.  My painting truly could not have a better home and it complimented her interior colours perfectly. I have yet to tell her about the paintings achievement, I am sure she will be as proud as I am.

 The accent colours in the cushions were perfect for Inspiration!

This is a large painting but the towering wall makes it appear smaller in this photo than it really is.

Inspiration Happily at home!  

More of my work can be seen on my "paintings page" or on my website "here".  

For my latest work, please check my website or contact me via email:    leecarolineart@gmail.com

I hope your having a lovely weekend, it's a glorious day in Auckland, NZ. please feel free to leave comments on all my posts. 

I love to read your comments they mean a lot to me and I endeavor to reply.

Lee x

Butterscotch Pecan Cheesecake courtesy of my friend Maureen and Hummingbird Bakery

Maureen is a good friend of mine I met while living in Brunei, an amazingly beautiful woman inside and out, she never ceases to amaze me with her creative abilities from Interior Design to being an an incredible cook. Maureen returned to Australia a couple of years ago to pursue her love of food taking over a cafe called Pistache Cafe which she has just sold.

I caught up with Maureen recently on Facebook and she was telling me that she is a devotee of the Hummingbird Bakery in South Kensington, London and on a recent trip... (yes she is lucky enough to still jet around the world), Maureen walked and tubed half way across London to visit the bakery and pick up their latest recipe book.  Maureen had just made the most delicious cheesecake from their book and I asked if I could share it my readers.  So thank you Maureen for making the cheesecake for us and your wonderfully mouth watering photos and thank you Hummingbird Bakery for your delicious Butterscotch Pecan Cheesecake recipe.

If you wish to purchase Hummingbird's recipe books you will find both their popular books on my right hand side bar, if you click it will take you to the Amazon link where you can purchase direct from Amazon.

If your mouth isn't watering by now there is something wrong!  

BUTTERSCOTCH PECAN CHEESECAKE

Shopping List:                                                   Equipment:

1 Packet McVities Digestive Biscuits                Mixing bowl

Unsalted Butter                                                Rolling Pin/Zip Lock Bag

Full Fat Cream Cheese                                    20cm (8in) spring form tin

Caster Sugar                                                    Small saucepan

Vanilla Oil                                                        Electric hand mixer

Large Eggs                                                       Roasting Tin

Pecans                                                             Tin Foil

Soft Light Brown Sugar

Milk

Icing Sugar

 Cooking Temperature: 160C (320F)   Cooking Time:   35-45 mins   Chilling Time:  Overnight

Biscuit Base

220g (8oz) digestive biscuits

100g (3 ½ oz) melted unsalted butter

Finely crush biscuits, I like to do this in a zip lock bag with a rolling pin; add to melted butter, pour into 20cm (8in) spring form cake tin (line base if you prefer), pressing them into base (line base if you prefer), refrigerate for 20-30 minutes.

Cheesecake

700g (24 oz) full-fat cream cheese (softened)

120g (4oz) caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla oil

3 large eggs

80g (3oz) pecans, finely chopped + 10-12 pecan halves to decorate

Method:

Pre-heat oven to 160C.  Using an electric hand mixer cream cheese, sugar and vanilla oil until smooth, add eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly.  Stir in the chopped nuts, pour mixture on chilled base.  Place cake in tin foil, then place in roasting tin, pour ¼ inch water into roasting tin to create a steam bath effect.  Cook in oven for 35-45 minutes until set and only slightly wobbly in the centre.  Remove from oven, cool to room temp in tin, place in refrigerator to set for 2 hours.

Butterscotch

60g (2oz) unsalted butter

45g (1½ oz) soft light brown sugar

2 tablespoons milk

120g (4oz) icing sugar

1tsp vanilla oil

Method:

Place butter, sugar and milk into pan and bring to boil, remove from heat, stir in icing sugar and vanilla oil, whisk until glaze is smooth.  Pour glaze on top of the chilled cheesecake, decorate with remaining pecan halves, return to refrigerator and leave to set for a few hours or overnight.  Remove cake from spring form tin, serve!

If there is any left over, the cake will keep nicely in the refrigerator, covered for up to 3 days.

Bon Appetite!

Lee x

Its all coming up Roses!

I adore Roses, especially old fashioned roses such as Albertine and all the David Austin roses. Next month is the Parnell Rose Festival and I will be heading off with my camera to share their roses with you. I am also excited about showcasing two private Auckland cottage gardens that have previously featured in NZ Magazines. These gardens are crammed in every corner with beautiful old fashioned roses and English flowers such as Hollyhocks, delphiniums, foxgloves and many other English delights. 


My new house unfortunately has the tiniest garden imaginable, hardly bigger than a postage stamp and so the only claim to roses are two standard icebergs that flank my rear patio.  I've been watching my roses closely for their first buds but not close enough it seems.  I noticed that one rose was glossy and healthy with lots of new shoots whereas the other seemed to be sparse and straggly. On closer inspection I discovered all the new shoots had and were being munched on by tiny little "green fly". Its taken a lot of persistence but finally I have managed to get on top of the little critters and  slowly my rose is recovering from its Green fly beating, I am sure though that they will not be a patch on the ones I will see at the Rose Festival next week.


Today It's all about Roses so I have sourced some lovely products fitting for my "Rose" theme to share with readers today.

I couldn't resist this image and can imagine this pretty romantic table setting for a bridal shower - image source via pinterest.

These sweet Rose gift tags US$3.25 for 3, are available from Creative Visions an etsy shop specialising in French and vintage inspired paper goods.




Watercolour Rose Print Prom Dress made by Dig for Victory - 99.00 (UK Pounds) size can be made to order from Folksy

These gorgeous Arabella  antique Rose cushions in duck egg, 38.00 (British Pounds) are available from Peacock Blue,. Also available in cream.

Rosenholm rose pink throw pillow embroidered linen - Designers Guild US165.00.

This gorgeous throw pillow combines embroidered roses and soft vibrant coloured linen edged with beautiful cross stitched detailing. 100% plain linen reverse.

shabby Chic Rose cushion - US$17.90 from Little Joobie Boo

Fabric by Prestigious textiles of Yorkshire - US$34.00 for a pair (16" x 16") from Sally Lucas

 

1. Boxed Roses set of 2 mugs -  NZ$39.99 from Ezi buy on line.

2. Rose Bathroom Set (tumbler, soap pump and soap dish) -  NZ$99.99 also from Ezibuy.

The Rose products above will soon be available at Wallace Cotton. You can visit their website and add as a favourite, and they will email you when they arrive.  They also have a sweet little peg bag in the same delightful rose fabric.

Smell the sweet Roses!

Lee x

Get the Look - French inspired room

One of my readers left a comment the other day about this room being her favourite, so I have decided to use the room for another post on "Get the Look".  My readers are scattered throughout the world so I have sourced  products from UK/USA/NZ/AUS  for you to recreate this look in your own home.


Chandeliers can of course be very expensive, however, you can discover great finds on Ebay if your in USA or UK or Trademe if your in NZ.

This is "The Look", French Inspired & romantic.

 Candelabra Chandelier from Pottery Barn on special NZ$216.80 plus shipping.

This lovely armoire is from an Etsy shop called The Rustic Village - US$795 plus US$200 shipping throughout USA.

Antique style birdcage US$45.00 from Southbury Treasures an etsy shop. Southbury Treasures have many designs, colours and sizes of ornamental bird cages.

1. Large antique chandelier from Yvonne Saunders Antiques,  Auckland, NZ - Contact Yvonne via website.            

2. Argenta Candle Stick from Freedom Furniture -  NZ$34.95

3. 2 Door Romance Wardrobe from French Touch NZ - NZ$2,226

4. Ornamental Bird Cages from Bali Mystique, Australia - Large AU$89.95 medium AU$59.95

1.  I fell in love with this dresser, (shame I'm not living in the UK as its gorgeous). Available from Lucy Willow. It is on sale at 1,100.00 (British Pounds). Free Delivery within the UK.

2.  I also love this dining chair from Lucy Willow the Sedgemoor dining chair 145.00 (British Pounds).

3.  Antique white birdcage 35.00 (British Pounds) from Oriental Birdcages, UK supplier.

4.  This simple chandelier is  from Chandeliers a UK company who have a great range in all sizes and prices. This example is Angel and costs 330.00 (British Pounds).

 All above items were available at the time of posting, it is possible that items have sold since.

Hope your weekend was wonderful 

and your week began with Sunshine and Inspiration!

Lee x

Bedroom Makeover - French Cottage Look

Well, the sun finally showed its face Friday, I wanted to get the photos completed of my bedroom makeover so I dived in while the going was good. The light wasn't  perfect but without professional equipment or waiting till mid Summer,  I had to make the most of the natural light.  I easily took well over 150 shots (am I a pedantic perfectionist?), thank goodness for digital cameras! Although I have to repeat I am disappointed with the light.

Colours above are not quite true, the fabric for the Roman blind is more beige than grey.

The pair of weathered French shutters are from Yvonne Saunders Antiques.  Because they were only 500m wide I chose to have a space between to create better balance to the Queen size bed. Originally I was going to use an old door behind the bed but the bedroom is not large and I fell in love with the colour of the shutters. The great thing is if decide to change the look of the room, I can simply get the shutters stripped back to the natural wood.

All bed linen is Wallace Cotton the floral quilt and Euro pillows are Paridiso at Wallace Cotton.

The Paradiso quilt creates a cottage look to the room and compliments the shutters perfectly. If I'd wanted to give the illusion of more space, then I'd choose all white bedlinen with a little blue brought in with Euro pillows and scatter pillows. However, I have gone for a cosy, cottage look and Paradiso was perfect. 

I took advantage of the space between the shutters and hung a wall sconce for added interest.  However, I could have left it bare or added a pair of small vertically hung prints. Now looking at this photo it is a little out of kilter so I will have to move it a fraction.

The white seersucker duvet cover and pillowslips in cotton percale are  also Wallace Cotton.

The Roman blinds are beige and white linen.

White seersucker adds texture.

The Lamps are white washed with a natural beige linen shade that tone with the Roman blinds. 

I love the crackled candlestick holder, it reminds me of pretty birds eggs. The pretty cup and saucer are Royal Albert and part of a miss-matched collection of cups and saucers my mother gave me.  I saw a set recently very similar to this and it was $170 for a cup, saucer and plate!! Maybe I should be displaying it behind glass rather than drinking out of it.

These Gardenia heart shaped soaps came in their own little draw string bag. The antique silver sweet dish is a family heirloom and belonged to my grandmother.

These stainless steel tripod tables were originally purchased for my living room, however, they work well as bedside tables. Keeping it simple can sometimes prove best alongside a focal point such as the shutters.

The cross is a recent find in a lovely little shop called Distinctive Linens in St Heliers, Auckland. 

I love the black/grey weathered appearance of the cross, it compliments the shutters beautifully. I feel solid black would have been a little too harsh.

I bought this lovely little box to put beside my bed to drop my earrings in at night. I loved the french writing.  It was only NZ$12 from Romantique a NZ shop full of beautiful accessories and furniture from France.

The Before shot is prior to buying the house, a black and white theme with grey roller blinds. However the white walls and woodwork had a pink undertone which I wanted to do away with so I had the walls repainted 1/4 parchment and  the woodwork Alabaster both Resene colours.  I repositioned my own bed to face the smaller window.  The bedroom is actually wider than it appears in the first photo.




Addendum: March 2012
Since I originally posted my makeover, I have been thrilled to receive a "Rooms award" from Better Homes & Gardens.

It is now 2016 and this room has had a total re-vamp to Hamptons/Caribbean style, see the images and read all about it here

Bedroom Makeover - Wonderful Headboard Idea

Well, the sun finally showed its face yesterday, so armed with my camera I took loads of shots of my bedroom makeover and currently selecting the best to post on Monday. Meanwhile I'm sharing another makeover also based around a unique headboard idea. Becky has a lovely blog called "Buckets of Burlap"and has kindly allowed me to share these makeover photos with you.


Becky's new headboard is made from lovely weathered tongue and groove barn wood which her husband cut randomly and screwed onto two battens. The gorgeous lamps and chandelier along with the white bedlinen soften the appearance of the boards, creating a romantic atmosphere.  Becky has lots of lovely photos I'm sharing with you today.  I also put together a "before & after" shot for you.

Thank you Becky of Buckets Of Burlap for sharing these lovely photos with us.

Hope your having a wonderful sunny day wherever 

you are in the World.

Lee x