Tag Archives: Koala Living

Spring into flavour with mocktail recipes

As the last wisps of winter’s chill leave, our palates are yearning for some refreshing and exciting flavours. Luckily, spring is the perfect time to revitalise your drink menu and indulge in the sweet sips and savours of the season. And what better way to do so than with three delightful spring mocktail recipes? Below, we’ll raise a glass (and a few stylish ones at that!) to the new season with drink recipes that are expertly paired alongside the perfect glassware and bar cart accessories from Nunawading Homemaker HQ. 

 

Spring fling mocktail 

Meet your new spring obsession: the spring fling mocktail! This refreshing sipper combines the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavours, with a hint of sweetness that’ll quench your thirst. Whether you’re soaking up the sun on a warm day or need a pick-me-up, this fruity drink will be you new go-to. 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup water 
  • 1 cup granulated sugar 
  • 2 cups mixed berry juice (such as raspberry, cranberry, and blueberry)
  • 1 cup sparkling water
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • Handful of ice cubes
  • Fresh berries and lime wedges for garnish

Method

  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the water and granulated sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Let cool before using. 
  2. In a large pitcher combine the berry juice, lime juice, and water and sugar mixture. 
  3. Stir in the sparking water. 
  4. Fill 4 glasses with ice and pour the spring fling mocktail over the ice
  5. Garnish with fresh berries and a lime wedge. 

 

Adairs Pansy Multi Vase $39.99, Bed Bath N’ Table Morgan & Finch Floral Spray $7.95, House Cellar Premium Martini Picks $29.99, House Tempa Aurora Set of 2 Glass Tumbler $34.95, House Tempa Bradley Bar Cart $399, Provincial Home Living Bretagne Pitcher $24.95, Provincial Home Living Phoenix Tea Towel $12.95. 

 

Cucumber lime refresher 

The cucumber lime refresher is a light and lovely mocktail combining the subtle sweetness of cucumber with a burst of citrusy zing. The result? A refreshing, hydrating, and delicious mocktail perfect for a post-workout refreshment or picnic. 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cucumber-infused water (slice a cucumber and let it steep in water for at least 30 minutes)
  • ¼ cup water 
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar 
  • 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup sparkling water
  • Slice of cucumber and lime wheel for garnish

Method

  1. Slice a cucumber and add it to a large pitcher or jug. Pour in 2 cups of water and let it steep in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. 
  2. In a small saucepan, combine the water and granulated sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Let cool before using. 
  3. Strain the cucumber-infused water into a large pitcher or jug. Add the lime juice and the water and sugar mixture. 
  4. Stir in the sparkling water. 
  5. Fill 4 glasses with ice and pour the cucumber lime refresher over the ice. 
  6. Top with a slice of cucumber and a lime wheel. 

 

Adairs Cordoba Round Vase $49.99, Bed Bath N’ Table Morgan & Finch Cora Napkin Set of 4 $24.95, Bed Bath N’ Table Morgan & Finch Vista Rim Coupe $12.95, House Tempa Bradley Bar Cart $349, Koala Living Bacchus Polished Wine Cooler $299, Provincial Home Living Lemon Stem $24.95, Provincial Home Living Lime Decoration $3.95 Each. 

 

Garden party spritzer 

The garden party spritzer is a vibrant and fun mocktail, boasting tropical flavours with lemon-lime soda, pineapple juice, and a splash of lemon juice. It’s fruity, bubbly, and basically begging to be served at your next alfresco gathering. 

Ingredients

  • 2 cups lemon-lime soda
  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup grenadine syrup
  • Splash of lemon juice (1-2 tbsp)
  • Edible flowers and sprigs of rosemary for garnish

Method

  1. In a large pitcher, combine the lemon-lime soda, pineapple juice, and grenadine syrup. 
  2. Stir in a splash of fresh lemon juice. 
  3. Fill 4 glasses with ice and pour the garden party spritzer over the ice. 
  4. Garnish with flowers like lavender, violas, or pansies and a spring of rosemary. 

 

Adairs Bardot Cocktail Glass Pack of 2 $29.99, Adairs Olive Stem in Vase $129.99, Bed Bath N’ Table Morgan & Finch Artisan Pitcher $39.95, Bed Bath N’ Table Morgan & Finch Carnaby Oval Platter $29.95, Koala Living Como Side Table Tray $174, Provincial Home Living Ostern Paper Serviette 40 Pack $9.95, Urban Rhythm Giotto Vase $143. 

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hamptons style home office desk and cushioned chair

Our Best Alternatives to The Famous IKEA Desk at Nunawading

When redesigning your office or searching for the perfect desk to refresh your space, we know it can be hard to go past IKEA, but here at Nunawading we have some amazing alternatives that we are sure will impress you. Whether you are looking for a space saving solution, a sit stand desk or a natural wood style that withstands the test of time, we have got you covered. Nunawading Homemaker HQ offers a wide range of furniture stores to suit any design style from modern minimalist to traditional Hamptons and everything in between. The desk is the hero piece in any home office and study, so it is essential to do your research and find the best solution to fit your space and requirements. Today we are sharing with you our top recommendations for desks and suitable alternatives to the famous IKEA desk we see all over Instagram and Pinterest!

Natural Wood Desks

When designing a home office or redecorating your study, you can’t go past a traditional timber desk to create a classic and timeless look. Our favourite retailer to head to when searching for a classic design style is Provincial home Living. We love their range of timeless pieces in high-quality finishes that will last a lifetime. Natural timber pairs perfectly with design styles such as Hamptons style, Provincial Style and a Traditional design style. We love the Fletcher desk from Provincial Home Living in natural Elm wood for its substantial size and ample storage.

Minimalist Desks

Minimalist desks have grown in popularity over the past few years as we are embracing a more clutter-free and simple lifestyle. We have seen the popularity of the Micke, Alex and Malm desks at IKEA Nunawading and believe that we have some great alternatives that provide you with a similar minimalist look. Head into stores such as Adairs, Provincial Home Living and Koala Living to check out their great range of desks in a variety of styles to suit your home office. When designing in a minimalist way we suggest sticking to neutral colours for your furniture such as a simple white, a light timber or classic black. Opt for a style that has clean lines and sleek edges with minimal storage to avoid clutter building up over time. We love the Lucia desk from Provincial Home Living as it has a classic shape with clean lines and comes in the perfect shade of white to suit any minimal home office style.

Sit-stand Desks

We are spending a lot more time working from home these days and the hours sitting in front of a screen can quickly add up. Therefore, choosing an ergonomic solution and taking into consideration how much time you spend sitting down is essential when designing a home office space. Sit-stand desks are an amazing solution that have grown in popularity for good reason. They allow you to adjust your desk with a simple click of a button to transform it from a traditional sitting desk to a place where you can stand up freely and work. There are many health benefits to a sit stand desk including the relief from back pain, improved productivity, assistance in burning more calories and increased concentration.

Space-saving desks

If you are incorporating a desk setup into an existing space, have a small room to work with or are simply short on space in the home, then a compact desk is the perfect solution for you. Desks don’t need to be as oversized as we no longer need to allow for large computers, big monitors and filing cabinets to store an abundance of files. These days we can simply work with a laptop, a standard sized screen and a few desktop essentials to create an efficient and productive workspace. The Karl desk from Provincial Home Living is the perfect space saving solution as it is compact in size, yet still provides storage making use of vertical space. We also love the Anjuna desk from Adairs as it is a smaller size, yet still incorporates two large drawers for ample storage.

Shop The Perfect IKEA Alternative Desk at Nunawading Homemaker HQ

We hope that we’ve given you some inspiration and options to consider when finding your alternative to the famous IKEA desk at Nunawading Homemaker HQ. Be sure to head into our amazing retailers this weekend and find the perfect desk to suit your style, requirements and spatial needs. Reach out to our expert virtual stylist with an online appointment to help you bring the space together.

Mother's Day gift guide Nunawading

Living in Luxury: Your Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Not sure what to get the woman who has it all this Mother’s Day? Here at Nunawading Homemaker HQ, we’ve made gift-giving easy by curating a collection of luxurious Mother’s Day gifts for our Mother’s Day Gift Guide so you can treat the one you love. Below, find lavish gifts for every mum from delightful décor to soothing self-care items and entertaining essentials. All you have to do is select the items you know your mum will adore and head in centre to purchase.  

 

Gifts for the interior design mum

If your mum has an eye for design and wants her home to be a sanctuary full of eye-catching wall art and decorative pieces, then when it comes to Mother’s Day gift ideas, you can’t go past home décor from Nunawading Homemaker HQ. First up, you’ll need a fresh and exciting piece of art to add a lovely pop of colour to any space. Then head to Bed Bath N’ Table and Urban Rhythm to shop their selection of incredible throws and cushions. Last up, a table light from Koala Living will help your mum wind down after a long day by creating the perfect mood lighting.

 

Gifts for the homebody mum

Self-care doesn’t just mean maintaining a beauty routine. Sometimes, self-care simply means wrapping yourself up in a cosy robe, lighting a candle or two, and relaxing on the couch (or in bed) with a good book or binge-worthy show. If this sounds like heaven to your mum, then why not upgrade her self-care routine with a plush robe and slippers from Adairs? While you’re there, be sure to check out Adairs selection of home fragrances and candles that’ll make your mum’s home smell amazing.  

 

Mother's Day gift guide, chopping board, coffee mug, pink fluffy robe, slippers, jewellery storage, goblet, cushion, table lamp, wall art, rug, candles

Adairs Goldie Soft Sage Taper Candles $14.99, Adairs Sherpa Mule Slipper $24.99, Adairs Ultra Soft Bathrobe $99.99, Bed Bath N’ Table Morgan & Finch Brolin Framed Canvas $79.95, DecoRug Karus Designer Rug from $1,599, House Alex Liddy Acacia Square Serving Board $119.99, House MyHouse Flora Mug Set $34.99, Howards Storage World Stackers Cable Organiser Bag $49.95, Howards Storage World Yamazaki Tower 4 Tier Jewellery Box $29.95, JB Hi-Fi De’Longhi Nespresso Gran Lattissima Automatic Capsule Coffee Machine $649, Koala Living Marga Marble Table Lamp $358, Provincial Home Living Avery Goblet $12.95, Provincial Home Living Lonie Butter Pat Large $22.95, Urban Rhythm Weave Donnatella Cushion $135. 

Gifts for the entertaining mum

If your mum’s a bit of a social butterfly and you’re searching for Mother’s Day gifts she can share with her friends, then we recommend gifting her some sturdy glassware, platters, plates, or dinnerware she can use while entertaining guests. Provincial Home Living and House’s vast collection of servingware will ensure every spread looks like a restaurant-ready masterpiece.

 

Gifts for the organised mum

Everyone loves an organised and functional space, especially if what you’re using to store your belongings is just as aesthetically pleasing as your furniture and décor. Howards Storage World has so many wonderful storage solutions that can help organise jewellery, cables, clothing and more. Their cable organiser bag can help hide pesky cords, and their four-tier jewellery box will be able to store all of Mum’s jewellery effectively. Mum’s space will look so good that she’ll never want to leave the house!

It can be difficult to find the perfect Mother’s Day gifts each year but with our curated list of luxurious home décor, self-care items, entertaining pieces, and organisational saviours, you’re guaranteed to bring a smile to her face. Happy Mother’s Day!

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