Fruity Brights

Check out the fruity shades at TOP SHOP!
http://www.topshop.com
Posted by Imogen

International Lunch

Every year we celebrate the different nationalities in our company by holding an International Shared Lunch. The amount of food, the variety, and the tastiness of the dishes are amazing! This lunch is one of the highlights of the year.

This year the Asian style Beef Salad by Mush, our Visual Merchandiser, was a winner amongst us in the design team. She kindly shared the recipe, which I have posted below for you to enjoy as well...

Mush's Asian Style Beef Salad

Beef /

1.5kgs Beef cut into strips

1/2 bottle of Tamari sauce

1/4 C Sesame oil

4 - 6 cloves Garlic, finely chopped

1 - 2 Chillies, finely chopped

1 Kiwifuit, mashed, for tenderising

Salad /

1 large Red Onion, finely sliced

1 - 2 bags of mixed Lettuce Leaves

Snow Peas (optional)

Handful of Coriander, chopped

2 Telegraph Cucumbers, roughly chopped

1 Avocado, roughly chopped

4 Spring Onions, chopped

Garnish / 

Pinenuts, Sunflower seeds, Pumpkin seeds lightly toasted in some Tamari sauce (extra to above)

Crispy noodles

Preparation / 

Beef > Marinate beef in Tamari sauce, Sesame oil, Garlic, Chillies and Kiwifruit for 2 hours. For best results marinate overnight.

Salad > Toss together ingredients. Add avocado at the end.

Quickly fry or BBQ the beef for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and leave to rest for 2 minutes before placing on top of salad. Add the toasted nuts/seeds and crispy noodles.

Dress salad with a mixture of Tamari sauce and Sesame oil.

Serve immediately. Best when shared with good friends and a glass of bubbles!

Feeds 6 - 10 people.

Yum!

Hot Pink Punch

Forget beige, Im picking hot pink as the next big colour for interiors. You don't have to go all barbie doll on it, just an odd splash here and there is all you need. And if you're really daring  - paint a wall. It would look amazing! Go on, I know you want too...

Posted by Carina.

DIY Paper Pom-Poms

I LOVE PAPER POM-POMS! So fun, festive and a great way to decorate a party, wedding, child's bedroom or just for fun! And the colour combinations are the best part. I love how the settings above use a few different tones of the same colour.


My partner and I recently had a mid-winter Christmas dinner and we made these pom-poms from tissue and crepe paper. After a few test pom-poms we were away, so easy to make! We went with a bright blue, magenta and white colour combination with white and lime green flowers on the tables. We loved them so much they now reside in the bedroom and make a gorgeous statement above the bed.


Did I mention that I LOVE paper pom-poms?!


Click this link for step by step instructions on how to create your very own pom-poms:
http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/article/pom-poms-and-luminarias

Sneak Peek...!

Here is a little preview of some of our new summer products from our VIVA CUBA! 2011/2012 collection...
If you love colour, then this is a range for you!  But don't you neutral people worry - we have a lovely array of summery blues, soft pastels and natural textures and colours.


The VIVA CUBA! collection is available in store and for viewing on our website from mid September.

1. Olo The Boa toy cushion / draught stopper, 2. Brass Estampado round tray, 3. Floridita cushion cover, 4. Sparrow necklace, 5. Red Imprenta salad bowl, 6. Hemingway cushion cover, 7. Domino cushion, 8. Manuel the Monkey toy,9. Cristobel cushion cover, 10. Manyana breakfast plate, 11. Arco woven cushion cover, 12.  Manyana Shell breakfast plate, 13. Yellow Imprenta salad bowl, 14. Owl necklace, 15. Lopez cushion cover, 16. Yellow Lena striped cushion cover.

www.cittadesign.com

posted by Imogen / citta design team

Who says winter has to be bleak?

If you're finding winter is getting to be a bit of a downer, why not get creative and bring a little more colour into your day...


Posted by Amy / Citta Design Team

Dear Photograph

Don't you love it when you stumble across something that makes you want to get out there and be creative? I came across this website which makes me want to go out and re-create some childhood photo's al la 1980's..

dearphotograph.com.

Posted by Teresa

Global Fashion

Global inspiration is something Citta Design has in common with Annex, with a totally different result!  I recently discovered these super pretty dresses made from world maps by Anne Wilson in The Design Foundry in Auckland. 
Not-wearable art.

• The Design Foundry
• 14 Maidstone St
• Ponsonby / Grey Lynn
• Auckland

Posted by Katrina

Kiss me Kate

Emma and I were marveling over photos of Kate Moss' wedding and commenting on how 'normal' it appeared. Well, as normal as it can be when you are friends with the rich & famous, have numerous flower girls and the finest of everything :)

Click image to enlarge.

To see more photos, click here

Posted by Carina / Citta Design Team

Can I tempt you with some loveliness?

Thank goodness there are very few recipes on this blog.
The food and styling is divine.


Posted by Carina / Citta Design Team

Just your regular office space...

... umm well maybe not your usual office space, but don't you just love it! 

Situated in downtown Stockholm, this 19th century building has had an architect and a team of industrial/product designers restore and redesign this office space with the added challenge of working within rigorous historical protection regulations. They've achieved a beautifully open and light space with the use of some cleverly placed mirrors and the injection of super bright and bold colours makes the space POP!

Posted by Emma / Design Team

Kitty Heaven

Being a bit of a cat fan, my friend sent me this link to The Cats' House yesterday. The owners of this house are needless to say, cat mad, and have turned their house into a pussy cat fantasy land for their 9 beloved felines.


Ceiling high carpeted ramps weave their way through the house where dangling mice tempt them at every turn, 'mouse holes' link rooms so the cats can literally walk through walls,  and there are floor to celing scratching posts - surely every cats dream!


The best part is that they have made it look so great!  Hot pinks, reds, purples and canary yellow with the odd camel thrown in - what more could a kitty want?!


Website below - and make sure you check out the video A Typical Night...

http://www.thecatshouse.com

Posted by Imogen

End of Winter Round-up

The nice thing about winter is that you can get all cosied up with a lovely soft blankie and cushion, a nice hot cup of tea, and a great read - and you have the perfect excuse: it's raining outside! 

Here's my round-up for today, from our winter range, New York Stories:
1: Two Tone Umbrella  2: Jacquard Wool Scarf  3: Velvet Sheen Cushion Cover 
4: Cafe Mug  5: Velvet Sheen Quilt  6: Staten Wallet


Posted by Amy / Citta Design Team

Cuba

The colour combinations captured by photographer Andrew Moore in these Cuban images are amazing. I feel like pulling out a paint brush and attacking my house with a rainbow of colours.

Posted by Carina / Citta Design Team

Snow in Mt Eden!

Today it snowed at work! Amazing! We all stood out in the cold marvelling and squeeling! Too bad none of us brought our skis to work today...


Posted by Amy / Citta Design Team

The beauty(?) of the unfinished...

What are your thoughts on this current look of unfinished painted walls?

Its all very 'Cuban' and quite beautiful (especially the bottom image) but would it annoy you?

Posted by Carina / Citta Design Team

3:00 MUNCHIES ANYONE?

Today I came accross the funniest and cutest jewellery online! Check out these sweet (and tasty) pieces on the Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/minijewellery

Think outside the (lunch)box people!


Posted by Amy / Citta Design Team

It's art, really...

It's research time at the moment and I've always found vintage advertisements, travel posters and record covers some of the most inspirational stuff out there.  Often brave, avant garde designs in unusual colours - so much more inventive than what you often see these days!  It's art really...

posted by Imogen / Citta Design Team 

A collection of our cushions - current and soon to be released - have made it into the current issue of Urbis.

A ring with a twist

I thought I might take a break from a homeware related post today, and blog about something a little different... these beautiful Shift rings by Silva Bradshaw. Not only am I drawn to the simple geometric design of the ring (if geometric isn't your thing, the Leva ring may be more your cup of tea), I am also drawn to the striking colour combinations which can be created. A slightly different take on an engagement / wedding ring combo perhaps?




Posted by Carina / Citta Design Team.