eDesign Mood Board - Dining Room and Kitchen Bench

I have a pretty clear vision of how I want the kitchen to look when it's all finished and have created an eDesign mood board to bring my ideas to life.

 

Taking a cue from the clocks and art I have ready to go up on the dining room wall once the painting is done and with the frames, art and clocks in pops of yellow, black, silver and gold these are the primary colours I'm using for the decor and furniture for the kitchen and dining room.

 

So here is my mood board for the Dining Room and Kitchen Bench ...

 

 

 

 

Dining Room and Kitchen Bench by jarrahjungle on Polyvore

 

1. Kenwoods Kmix toaster and kettle - The new colour range of appliances in bright colours make a really bright bold statement. I think every kitchen deserves a new kettle and toaster after a renovation and my old leaking kettle just isn't going to cut it in the new kitchen!

 

2. Replica Xavier Tolix Stools - If I'm brave enough I'll get 2 of these yellow Stools for the kitchen island bench. The rubber feet and legs on these stools are what I like the most because they are practical when it comes to jarrah floorboards they won't scratch the floor when they get dragged out, unlike some of the heavier solid base bar stools.

3. Black granite bench top - A sample of the black granite kitchen and island bench tops to see how the furniture and decor will contrast. The colours are really going to make a statement against the shiny sparkly granite.

4. Pineapple ornament - The new ornament craze is all about pineapples! I'm really liking this one from Freedom and my other favourite shop Pigeonhole have a pineapple jar which would serve a dual purpose both practical and fun.

5. Gold apple - From my go to store Typo I found this apple pen holder which I'm using as a salt dispenser on the bench near the stove. Even Mr P has given it the thumbs up and I quote "that's probably my favourite thing you've bought for the house" and that's saying something because I have bought home a lot of housey things over the years!

6. Replica Tolix Table - This table matches the kitchen stools which should tie the different seating in together. I really like the contrast between the wooden top and metal legs and it's quite streamline so won't overpower the small dining area. It will just be a matter of whether the table will fit in the space and if the ottoman can slide underneath the table legs and sit under the table out of the way.

7. Fabric Rectangle Ottoman - Instead of bench seats I'm looking at a fabric ottoman for seating at the dining table against the wall and then chairs along the other side of the dining table. This ottoman comes in a range of fabrics and I'll go for a bold graphic print. I just hope the ottoman is at the right height to sit at the table and that it can be pushed underneath the table out of the way to save space.

8. Replica Eames Dining Chairs - The remaining dining chairs I would like 4 chairs similar to these Replica Eames Side chair in a grey fabric with timber legs. The timber legs will go with the dining table top and the grey fabric will go with the wall colour paint.

 

You can see the mood board on Polyvore here with links of where you can buy the items.

 

So what do you think of my dining room and kitchen bench design?

Thoughts? Suggestions? I'd love to hear them!

 

Sharing with Link Parties:

It's Overflowing - Share your creativity

The Dedicated House - Make It Pretty

 

[Image via Polyvore designed by Jarrah Jungle]

 

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Fitting Skirting, Edging And Repairing Gaps Around The French Doors

This weekend we had some DIY jobs to do to finish off the French Doors we installed a few weeks ago.

Where we cut the window into a door way the floorboards were left open and uneven so the first job was to patch where the floorboards meet the new door way.

The second job was to install skirting and quarter round on both corners of the door way to finish it off.

So this is how it looked in it's former life as a window in the dining area.



Then we cut out a doorway and installed French Doors that will lead out to a deck (still to be built!)



So for the first job we needed to patch the floorboards where it meets the step.

Being thrifty much like we used a pantry shelf to repair a hole in the floorboards, this time we used a jarrah beam from an old wardrobe we ripped out of the guest bedroom - it was the perfect width to fit the gap in front of the door way.

Mr P used a circular saw to cut across the floorboards to make them all even and to make space for the jarrah beam to be slotted in. The jarrah beam was lined up and used as an edge for the saw to line up with.

Notice Lexi the site manager looking on ... she gets really excited whenever we use power tools and jumps around and goes a little berserk!

Yes that's my ugg boots standing on the jarrah beam to make sure it didn't move while Mr P was cutting.

The flooboards were cut straight and ready for the jarrah beam to be slotted in ... nice cutting babe even Lexi approves :)

We chipped away some of the brick and fitted some supports made from blocks of jarrah to support the jarrah beam that will go on top.

Then we slotted the jarrah board in and put a few nails in through the beam and into the supports underneath.

The jarrah board isn't sitting perfectly flat probably because the floor boards aren't perfectly flat either but that can be fixed with a bit of sanding.

We did try to use the planer to shave off some wood to make it sit flat but it cut in too deep and was leaving grooves in the wood so we used the electric hand sander which worked a lot better.

Didn't take long to make it smooth between the floorboards and the beam so it's one flat level. We'll also use some filler to fill the gaps before we seal the floorboards with Tung Oil - sealing the floorboards is the very last job as it can scratch easily in the first few days it's something we'll do when we can get away for a night.

Now for the second job the corner skirting needed to be made for both sides of the door way and installed. The skirting we made from left over skirting board that was under the window before. It was cut and then nailed together.

 

I even had a go and got to use the drill for the very first time ... I was a little bit scared and a little bit excited! It was the smallest drill bit in the world so I managed ok - 3 holes and then nailed in 3 little nails attaching the 2 pieces of skirting together and it was done.

Once the new skirting was made it was fitted into place and then nailed into place.

The quarter round is then fitted to the base of the skirting with a few nails. Once it gets a coat of paint you won't even know it was a patch job, it'll look like brand new.

The other side of the door way was done the same and the quarter round was nailed in to secure it.

So there you go - the skirting and quarter round is fitted and the floorboards are patched where they meet the door way.

We just need to use filler on the gaps and nail holes in the floorboards and jarrah beam and no nails around the edge of the beam where it meets the metal step. Once the floorboards are sanded back and sealed with a coat of Tung Oil they should all flow and look like the doorway was always there.

Another successful DIY weekend in the Jarrah Jungle household and another week closer to finishing the kitchen renovation!

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[All images my own]

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Book Review and Preview: Longbourn by Jo Barker

I'm taking part in the blog tour for the up and coming book Longbourn by Jo Barker which retells the classic Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice from the servants' point of view.

 

I was so excited when I received a copy of the limited first edition proof of Longbourn to review, which is due to hit book stores this month and as 2013 marks the bicentennial anniversary of Pride and Prejudice this book has come out at the perfect time. 

 

 

I haven't been caught up in Jane Austen series much before so feel I could read this novel with a fresh perspective and not compare to Jane Austen's books and movies too much. I don't recall watching the Pride and Prejudice movie but know the storyline is about Jane Austen and her 4 sisters who as it was in those days want to find a man to fall in love with and marry and start a life together.

 

Longbourn is based in England in the 1700s and is the story told by the servants - Mr and Mrs Hill, teenage Sarah, young Polly and a new man servant James who work for the Bennet family in Pride and Prejudice. Oh yes how the tables turn in this book, reading about the main characters from the servants view is a totally different perspective of life in those times and just how much work goes on behind the scenes for the Bennet family to live the life they do and be fed and clothed with such grace and attention.

 

Right from the first few pages I really enjoyed reading this book. The writing style described everything in so much detail you could virtually feel the chilblains on young Sarah's fingers as she was doing the laundry. I felt the fear Mrs Hill had about losing her job with the Bennets, the coldness poor old Mr Hill felt on the horse and carriage riding the Bennets around in the rain, the tiredness of young Polly working from such a young age and the excitement felt by Sarah as she discovers men for the first time.

 

This book is split into 2 chapters - Chapter 1 was mainly about Sarah and her hopes and dreams for her life. Chapter 2 was more about Mr and Mrs Hill and James and really started to tell you more about the Bennet family and the story started to get really interesting and intriguing. Even back then there were scandalous things going on, they just did a much better job at covering it up!

 

This character map gives a pretty good idea of the characters in the book and how they fit into the story line, from the Bennets to the servants. Trust me you'll need this map to refer to to see how everyone is connected when the story takes a turn in Chapter 2!

 

 

I recommend this book to anyone that enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen fans and romantics.

 

I give this book 4 stars

 

Jarrah Jungle's Star Rating:

1 Bad - I'd rather eat brussel sprouts topped with anchovies than read this again
2 Not Good - I'd rather watch re-runs of Neighbours than read this again
3 Ok - I'm sitting on the fence - its not great but not terrible either
4 Good - I'd pass up a pack of tim tams for this read
5 Great - I'd pass up a date with Johnny Depp for this read
 

 

Longbourn can be purchased from Random House Australia here
 

Sharing my book review on Random House here and Good Reads here

 

Disclosure: Random House and NetGalley partner with bloggers such as me to help promote their product. As part of this promotion I was given this book published by Doubleday to review. I have not received any payment or compensation for this review. I have not been told what to say about this product, I am free to form my own opinion and share them in my own words. All opinions are my own.

 

 

[Images via Random House]

 

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Cinematic Light Box

I've become a little obsessed with cinematic light boxes. I've been admiring them on blogs around the web for a while but I've also started to see them in shop windows for displays with cool and quirky sayings on them.

I've been trying hard to justify whether I could spend almost $400 on something that is a bit of a toy or if I should look at it as an evolving art piece that you can change the sayings and words on for some daily inspiration. I'm a real sucker for quotes and do think that I would get a lot of use out of it.

   

 

Simone from Honey and Fizz always styles her light box beautifully and I have total light box envy ... Well actually I have whole house envy Simone's home is truly amazing!

The only other issue I have is I'm not sure where to put it. I'd love to sit it on a side buffet or shelf near the kitchen so I can change up my quotes for the day. Unfortunately I don't really have anywhere in the kitchen to plug it in to light it up and I'm not sure if it will still look good without being plugged in - I'm thinking with a name like light box it needs to be lit up to be effective!

I guess it's never too early to start my Christmas list ... Santa baby I've been a good girl this year :)

What do you think of the light box?
Is it worth the splurge? 

[Images via 1 and 2, 3 Honey and Fizz, 4 Honey and Fizz, Down That Little Lane]


 

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Moving On In To The Renovated Kitchen

If you're a Jarrah Jungle Facebook fan you would've seen me unpack and move all my kitchen stuff into the new kitchen the other weekend. Although the kitchen was installed weeks ago I was waiting for it all to be finished before I moved anything in so it didn't get dusty and dirty but heck after 12 weeks I just couldn't wait anymore!

We still have painting and a splash back to install in here but it's made a world of difference being able to grab plates out of the kitchen without having to run into the laundry or get food out the pantry without having to go into the garage so I'm glad I'm in, even if I'm still dodging drop sheets!

Being an organiser, to start with I made a list of all my kitchenware and where I thought it could go - putting coffee cups near the coffee machine, pots near the oven, that kind of thing. Writing it out on paper was a lot easier than putting things into drawers and then having to move them. Once I had a pretty good idea of where everything would fit I then started to unpack everything.

Getting organised - figuring out what to put where

I gave all the cupboards a really good clean and wipe out. I used orange spray which is fantastic for removing sticky labels left on the cupboards and has a lovely fresh smell too. The kitchen stuff that was packed away in boxes was put on a quick cycle on the dishwasher or washed by hand. I'm loving my new dishwasher by the way ... my wine glasses have never sparkled so much! 



The happiest I've ever looked cleaning!

Moving the food from the pantry in the garage into the shiny new pantry

All the food fits that's a good sign!

The open shelves I have rearranged about 3 times and will probably have rearranged another 3 times by the time you read this! I want to bring in some more pops of yellow to match my art and clock wall and have my eye on a very cool looking yellow pineapple jar from Pigeonhole and a yellow fruit bowl from Freedom. I love having a place for my cookbooks even if it's just a few it saves me having to go into the study to my bookcase when I want some dinner inspiration.



The constantly evolving display shelves

 

Now I was ready to start unpacking - in the medium sized bank of drawers on the sink side I put the coffee cups near where the coffee machine will go, glasses and cups in the next drawer, and plastic containers in the bottom drawer.

  

Set of 3 medium sized drawers

 

Under the sink I have squeezed in my baking trays which works well because this cupboard would otherwise not be used for anything so it'd be a waste of space. I'm going to have a look for a proper storage caddy to hold them neat and tidy. The detergent and sprays are in a pull out caddy which makes for really easy access - it was actually because of this caddy that the double sink wouldn't fit but I'm really happy with it so glad it stayed.

 

Under the sink cupboard

 

On the oven side in the small bank of drawers I put the spices and plastic wrap in the top drawer but I want to come up with something better for the spices - maybe a rack in the pantry or on the wall I haven't decided yet. I'll probably move the tea towels into this drawer when the spices are relocated so I'm not running down the hallway to the linen cupboard with dripping wet hands all the time!



Set of 3 small drawers - herbs and spices stored here for now

 

Next I have my measuring bowls and jugs etc. And in the drawer below that my bake ware, casserole and pie dishes etc. There's also a large drawer on the other side of the oven which fit almost all of our pots and saucepans etc.

 

Measuring cups and bowls

 

The island bench has the largest set of 3 drawers and holds the items for every day use - the top drawer is for cutlery (I'm going to get a cutlery tray for here), then plates and bowls, then my entertaining platters and dishes etc.

  

The island bench set of 3 large drawers - plates and bowls

Entertaining and occasional ware

The upper head cupboards have also been able to store quite a bit of stuff - bowls and platters above the fridge, large casserole dishes on top of the pantry and vases etc in the cupboard above the open shelves. 

Above the fridge cupboard - Bowls and platters

 

For a small kitchen design I have managed to fit what was in the old kitchen plus 3 huge boxes I unpacked of things that I hadn't seen for almost 4 years when I first moved into the place.

 

The date my kitchen stuff was packed up ... September 2009

 

It was so funny unpacking everything because my lovely Mum used some new doonas, fabric tablecloths and table runners etc to wrap everything up in to keep it safe so it didn't break. So I have also rediscovered 4 queen size doonas and pillow cases and lots of beautiful fabrics which are all now washed and put away in the linen cupboard ready to be used.

 

 

I'm really starting to settle into the new kitchen now that everything is unpacked and I can figure out some things that I need - like a new kettle and toaster is on the list, a pretty tray or plate to keep the oil, salt and pepper on by the stove, a tray for the coffee machine so I can set up a coffee station.

We are going furniture shopping this weekend to check out dining tables, chairs and bench seats and maybe some bar stools too if I'm not pushing my luck :)

For updates on the kitchen as I go Like Jarrah Jungle on Facebook and you'll never miss a thing!

[All images my own]

 

 

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Trojan Tools Giveaway - And The Winner Is ...

I received over 50 entries for the Trojan Tool Box Giveaway from DIY enthusiasts all across Aussie land - it's good to know I'm not the only one that gets excited about tools!

 

I also want to say a big hello and welcome to my new readers, followers and Facebook fans I'll be needing your encouragement to get the kitchen renovation finished once and for all over the next few weeks and when that's done join me outside where this house is going to get some serious pimping with a new courtyard design ... there's always a project on the go around here!

 

Without dribbling on any further I better tell you who the winner of the DIY Survival Kit with Trojan's top 10 tools for the tool shed is ...

 

All entries in - there were so many I had to use my extra large cocktail glass!

 

  

And the winner is

 

 

Rachel of Redcliffe Style

 

 

Congratulations Rachel I hope you get lots of use out of your new tools and you can now prove you can do anything with them! I will be in touch to send out your prize.

 

Thanks again for your interest everyone!

 

 

[All images my own]

 

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Tori Spelling - The Hostess With the Mostess

It was one of those days today when I needed a pick me up and took myself to my happy place a local Book Store Dymocks and was browsing the cookbook isle as I do before I've had lunch just to make myself that bit more hungry! and I came across Tori Spelling's new book CelebraTORI which is about party planning and entertaining.

I didn't buy the book so I can't do a review on it but I had a good flip through and the writing was in her sweet down to earth tone and there were lots of pretty photos of party decor and entertaining ideas.

As most of us know Tori from Beverley Hills 90210 fame (I even had the 90210 tissue box with all their lovely faces on and the day my cousin tried to use one of those treasured tissues was a day I never forgot!).

As well as publishing a few books she also has a gorgeous website ediTORIal where she writes about entertaining, craft, family life, etc.

Tori has her own reality TV show with her hubby in which amongst other things they are event planners and throw beautiful wedding receptions and party celebrations for their clients.

I watch it on Foxtel quite a bit and she is full of great ideas and her parties always turn out pretty spectacular.

What I like most about Tori's show is seeing how the event comes together so that you can get ideas for things you can actually do yourself - the way she carefully picks out flowers in matching colours for tables, sets up a food stand and a bar area for drinks, sitting areas for people to chill and relax, it's all about the little things and how she creates atmosphere to make a party amazing.

Surprisingly, she does it on a pretty modest budget too not the expensive over the top Hollywood theme that you would expect from someone of that calibre.

I love to throw dinner parties and entertain friends, of course I'm no where near the standard of Tori but on reading the intro to her book she was never that polished either ... at her first dinner party the boys wouldn't stop watching sport on TV so the girls ate alone!

It's just like anything I guess you've got to practice and the more you do it the better you'll be!

Whenever I'm throwing a dinner party I end up like a nervous wreck the week leading up to it running around frantically cleaning the house and then we all end up milling around the kitchen or outside under the patio and nobody ever sees how well I scrubbed the shower and dusted the furniture!

Don't even get me started on the menu, I sit there with stacks of recipe books and magazines trying to create a menu with food and drinks that are show stoppers but not too difficult! All it ever does it make me so hungry that I just want to tear out the delicious looking recipe page and eat it!

The part that I love the  most about hosting parties is picking a theme and decorating the table, I'm in  my absolute element laying out the wine glasses and itty bitty cocktail forks that nobody knows what to do with, scented candles, fresh flowers, making it all pretty - that's my favourite part of being a hostess with the mostess!

When you host dinner parties - Are you as cool as a cucumber like Tori Spelling? Or a nervous wreck like me?

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[All images via Amazon and ediTORIal - 1, 2, 3, 4]

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