let's go Down Under

hello my lovely friends! how are you? i'm quite busy this week since i just started at a new job yesterday, and there is so much to learn. but i'm loving it ofcourse! fortunately i have my sweetest friends around the globe who kindly help me with postings... this week we have a new guest here, lovely and talented elizabeth from chichi & luxe! elizabeth is a very stylish young woman who runs her own interior design company in brisbane. here she wants to welcome you all to her hoods! oooh, let's go travelling shall we?

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My backyard... Greetings from Brisbane, Australia!

Firstly I wish to thank Tiina for asking me to write a guest post for her beautiful blog! What a privilege! Back at my blog, Chichi & Luxe, I always post about what inspires me as an interior designer, but in this post I thought I would share my favourite places in Brisbane with you...I do hope you enjoy learning about my hometown!

We are situated along the banks of the Brisbane River and every year we celebrate our river-based lifestyle with a special event called River Fire (pictured). It’s a pyrotechnic extravaganza as fireworks light up the river and the Story Bridge - it’s a beautiful sight...kind of like a mini New Year’s Eve!

I live in the heart of the city and one of my favourite buildings is City Hall because of its classical architecture. Although, not far up the block there is my new favourite landmark, the refurbished (and very red) Jacob’s Ladder steps. The city council also commissioned some beautiful bronze sculptures and other artworks to complement King Edward Park, which I think are fantastic.

But let’s get down to business. A typical weekend for me involves SHOPPING. And as an interior designer this means a trip to the New Farm and Paddington Antique Centres. I love browsing at the antique furniture and bric-a-brac, hoping to steal a bargain! Both these suburbs also have wonderful little shops and boutiques hidden amongst houses and cafes (or like Boudoir Chic they ARE houses!). Then there are the more conspicuous boutiques like Sass and Bide in the hub of James St. Stunning jewellery store Chelsea De Luca is less than a block up and has some gorgeous vintage inspired jewellery and an interior to adore! In the CBD I never miss an opportunity to pop in to Queens Plaza or the Brisbane Arcade, and this includes a stop at the Alannah Hill boutique, if only to admire the interior! (centre pic)

But after so much shopping a girl needs a coffee and a snack. So if you ever find yourself in Brisbane and in the throes of a shopping frenzy, look out for these must-see cafés and eateries: The Cupcake Parlour in West End has the most wickedly delicious cupcakes that look like works of art in their own right, and they make the perfect birthday cake alternative! Nearby, there’s also The Gunshop Café which has a chilled out vibe and fresh food (warning: they are FLAT OUT on weekends); as well as The Cross Town Eating House which I like to describe as ‘rustic Australian’, especially in its decor...very cool. Oh and I can’t talk about food and drink without mentioning the James St Markets – with such beautiful fresh produce including a fish market and fresh sushi, this is a regular stop of mine on weekends!

And then, when it’s time to touch up the hair and slip into a LBD for the evening, I often slink over to the uber-trendy Emporium Hotel bar which is a sophisticated little watering hole in the Fortitude Valley, complete with laser-cut screens and zebra-print chairs. I also love The Shelter Bar underneath the Story Bridge and The Lab in the Conrad Treasury Hotel because they are both modern settings shaped within their old world backdrops – it’s a lovely contrast.

And then it’s time to go back to work at Raptis Creative and wait for the weekend so I can do it all over again! I hope you’ve enjoyed this little tour of my backyard. If you’re ever Down Under there are plenty of other fabulous places to visit, so feel free to drop me a line if you require any advice!

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i have a serious need for going to australia! why, oh WHY does it have to be so far away...

thank you sweet elizabeth!

♥ Love&Decorate, Tiina