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

visit the beautiful Hague with me

you know i love travelling and visiting new places right? and i also love promoting my home city, capito? well, i also love having guests over... so, today, meet lovely natascha from mocca&me, who is joining us here on LC and writing about her beloved city. fasten your seatbelts, we are going to the hague!

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I was asked by the lovely Tiina to write an item for her CITYBREAK segment on her LiviaConcept blog. And of course I said yes! Not only because it’s an honor to be asked by her but also because I live in a wonderful city that I love with all my heart and that I can now share with all of you.

The Hague is a wonderful city that has a rich culture and a diverse population that consist of many nationalities. In The Hague you will find a lot of modern architecture which is a strong contrast with the many beautiful historical buildings. The Hague is situated by the sea and has a big and popular beach: Scheveningen. This great city is also fantastic for shopping, it has many great restaurants and plenty of cultural activities. Here are a few of my favorite places in The Hague.

I live in the fabulous neighborhood called Duinoord. Near my house, right in the heart of this wonderful neighborhood there is a very special boutique hotel called Residenz. The rooms are charming and elegant. Want to know more? Visit the website at residenz.nl

Close to my house is also wonderful shop called Heinde & Van Verre. Here they sell the most beautiful fabrics and linens from all over the world. They also sell accessories like slippers, cushions and bathrobes to name a few things.

My favorite place to have coffee is café and restaurant De Luca located in the famous Passage shopping area, in the heart of the city.

Another great area is the street called Denneweg where you’ll find fantastic restaurants and many great shops. I love to eat at restaurants Dekxels.

I also love to snoop around interior deco shops Stoop and Loft.

I don’t go out dancing much, but when I do go out this is where I go. To the hot and hip Square located at one of the most popular squares in The Hague, Plein 19.

The Hague of course has many many more wonderful places and hotspots that I would like to share with you. But then you’ll be reading for hours :) So this was a little peek at The Hague and my favorite places. This was fun! Thank you Tiina for giving me this opportunity and who knows, we might see each other in The Hague!

thank you natascha!!!
♥ Love&Decorate, Tiina