InPlace 9

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inplace

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Winter 2012 • Issue 9

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magazine

WIN!

A FAMILY HOLIDAY

In amazing

Fiji

see page 7!

MasterChef Winner Kate inspires us in the kitchen!

Get the bedroom you deserve!

Future Living

The inventions that will revolutionise your home!

Plus: Father’s Day ideas, the art of preserving and London 2012! simply organised

2 inplace magazine

www.hsw.com.au

WIN! A family

holiday in amazing Fiji See page 7 for details

30

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contents 10

Issue 9 Winter 2012

18

22

Cover photography: ACPSyndication.com

4 4 Indulge

20 Father’s Day

The latest news, products and promotions from Howards Storage World.

It’s a garage attack like no other with everything sorted, stored and ready for Dad.

8 In an Organised Fashion

22 Get the Look

Sue Blake shares her tips on overcoming the age-old habit of procrastination.

The perfect bedroom takes a little bit of planning – and just a few tips from the experts.

10 Forward Thinking

26 Wardrobe Makeover

The latest trends and future predictions from renowned architects and designers.

Transforming your wardrobe is all about making the most of your space.

14 Better by Design

28 Inspiration

When space is at a premium, why not make your walls out of storage blocks?

Well-designed products are a must for those with a disability. Howards can help.

16 Preservation Generation

30 London Calling

The latest food trend sweeping Australia is the wholesome and yummy art of preserving.

With the Olympics in full swing, we look at the fabulous art, architecture and food of London.

18 MasterChef: Kate Bracks

32 A Short History of Ironing

Meet Kate and check out her delicious recipe for Blood Orange Baked Custard.

From smoothing stones to high-tech solutions, the humble art of ironing has come a long way.

Not all products or advertised prices are available in all stores.

Prices valid to 1/11/12. Every effort is put into ensuring that products shown are available. However, from time to time some products may become out of stock, discontinued or be replaced by new models. Please check with your local store to avoid disappointment. See page 34 for more information about store locations.

From the Editor Welcome to another fabulous edition of inplace. As usual, we have all the latest news and ideas from Howards as well as a mix of lifestyle articles. We’re excited to welcome MasterChef 2011 winner Kate Bracks, who loves Howards and has been telling us all about life since MasterChef.

With the Olympics capturing the world’s attention, London makes a big appearance in this issue with travel and interior design tips from London’s finest. Meanwhile, winter is at our doorstep, and what better way to escape than with a Fijian getaway?

See page 7 to discover how you can win a family holiday to Castaway Island, Fiji.

Finally, with Father’s Day just around the corner, we’ve aimed our organisational skills firmly at Dad’s terrain with an all-out garage overhaul. Enjoy our winter issue!

Gil ian

Gillian Serisier Editor

QR codes

Throughout the magazine you’ll see QR codes, like the one above. To use them, download a QR reader app on your smartphone and follow the instructions.

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news

indulge

Prize winners

The latest Howards news

■ Leifheit Linomatic Deluxe 500 Rotary Clothesline ($299)

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uality is a key ingredient for any product at Howards and the latest in ingenuity from Leifheit does not disappoint. Robust, practical, sensible and efficient, the Leifheit Linomatic Deluxe 500 Rotary Clothesline ($299) is perfect for families, with an astounding five-basket capacity (50 metres of clothesline). It is also

tensioning so the long outer lines are perfect for sheets and heavy towels.

The line at the arm is simple and effortless with the Easy Close Comfort mechanism. The beauty is that bending is no longer required to collapse the system ready for storage. And the pull cord retraction mechanism is automatic, meaning less fuss and easier operation.

“Keeps your clothes safe from gusts and ensures even drying for faster ironing” the perfect way to beat rising electricity bills and keep the home green, with simple oldfashioned line drying in your own backyard.

The Linomatic 500 is the next generation in clotheslines with ease of use built in from the start. The system is designed so no effort is needed to shift from the closed to open position thanks to the newly improved and patented Easy Lift System. Essentially, this means no tugging, lugging, or winding is required to have your clothesline ready for even your biggest wash day. It also ensures consistent line 4 inplace magazine

Designed with a discreet base set in concrete, this removable clothesline is here for the duration and is quality driven for a life of clean and effective drying (it even comes with a three-year warranty).

Leifheit has been thinking of clotheslines for a long time and it shows in its practical and simple design solutions.

Two of the best features are the built-in windproof system and optional snap-on clothes hanger; not only do these keep clothes safe from gusts, but they also ensure even drying for faster ironing.

It’s the pinnacle of clothesline innovation – and because it’s Leifheit, the quality is astounding!

Congratulations to Diana (Wantirna South, VIC) and Sally (Chatswood, NSW), whose children’s pictures have won our Drawing Competition from Issue 8 of inplace. The portrait by Diana’s little angel helped Mum win a wonderful Mastrad Crème Brûlée Gift Set worth $59.95 and a $20 gift card, while Sally receives a Mastrad Crêpes and Pancakes Gift Set worth $79.95.

Win a Leifheit Linomatic 500!

For your chance to win a Leifheit Linomatic Deluxe 500 Rotary Clothesline ($299) plus Linomatic Cover ($29.95), visit the promotions page at hsw.com.au and complete this sentence in 25 words or less: “I would love the Linomatic Deluxe 500 because...”

BONUS!

Entries close 4pm, August Linomatic cover 15, 2012. This is a game of worth $29.95 included skill, chance plays no part in determining the winner.

The judge’s decision is final.

For full terms and conditions, visit the promotions section of the Howards website, hsw.com.au. Total prize value $328.95.

hsw.com.au

news Grate stuff

Well-organised cooking is all about preparation and having the right tools.

The Décor Cheese Grater and Storer ($11.95) is a self-contained solution that keeps your grater where you need it and your grated cheese fresh and ready for your culinary masterpieces – from pizza to soufflé! With a secure seal and soft, anti-slip base, it’s also dishwasher safe, making cleaning a breeze.

Not just for cakes, either!

This one takes the cake

Holds 500g of cheese

Cake stands look divine but require a lot of room to store and tend to lack balance when serving. This wonderful product has done away with these dilemmas with a very nifty suction device that sticks to any plate or bowl, allowing one-step separation for easy serving and clutter-free storage.

Serve it Up – Cake Stand (small $29.95, large $39.95)

Winner of the

■ Foodloop Vacuumsaver Containers $24.95

Red Dot

Design Aw ard

A very Cheeki insulator

Air-tight storage

Winner of the prestigious RedDot, IF and G Design awards, these incredible Foodloop Vacuumsaver Containers (from $24.95) are designed to remove all air with the help of the Foodloop Vacuumsaver Pump ($5.95). Removing air inhibits bacteria growth, while moisture is also kept at bay with the vacuum forming a perfect seal. The overall result is that your food is kept fresh for longer. It’s also extremely good news for those who like to cook marinated dishes, as the vacuum process opens the pores in food for increased marinade absorption. Brilliant!

These stylish, retro insulated food jars by stainless steel bottle experts Cheeki will have your food tasting fresher than ever before, no matter the scenario.

Manufactured from food-grade stainless steel with no inner lining or coating and BPA-free plastic, the vacuum insulation keeps contents hot and cold for up to five hours, making them perfect for hot winter lunches, stews and soups or, alternatively, keeping chilled foods cold and tasting fresh during day trips.

Cheeki Insulated Food Jars ($24.95).

Comes with a funky retro design

■ Foodloop Vacuumsaver Pump ($5.95)

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news

Working Mum’s Masterclass

■ Soehnle Contour Body Analysis Scale $89.95

■ Soehnle Pino Bathroom Scale $49.95

A weight off your shoulders

■ Masterclass events are always a great experience for working mums.

When she stepped out of the corporate world and into motherhood, Penny Webb didn’t realise it would turn out to be the perfect career move. Her blog, entitled “Sshh... Mummy’s on the Phone” (www. sshhmummysonthephone.blogspot.com.au) now receives a huge hit rate, while her event management company, Working Mum’s Masterclass (www.workingmumsmasterclass. com.au), has been equally successful.

Penny attributes the success to her authenticity and openness. “I am a working mum. I write about me and my struggle,” says Penny. “I’m not an expert – I discover as I go along. Sometimes it’s a great day, and sometimes it’s very challenging. But it has allowed me to connect that little bit more with mums in the community.”

Howards’ star organiser, Cathy Player, recently spoke at an event Penny hosted for working mums.

The lunch was a resounding success, with everyone’s eyes glued as Cathy quickly and clearly outlined her top

tips for getting life in ■ Penny Webb order. “It was great – she gave practical tips that all of the mums could walk out with and implement straight away,” Penny says.

The hit of the evening was the Boot Shaper ($19.95), which Cathy gave out to each of the mums. “The Boot Shaper caused the most oohing and ahhing – it makes such a difference,” says Penny. “What the mums liked most was the fact that such a small and affordable item could make such a difference. Little solutions have impact and spending $20 won’t break the bank. I’ve got fab red leather boots – they scrunch around the ankle and flop in the wardrobe. I put the boot shapers in and now they are sitting up nice and proud!”

■ Boot Shaper $19.95

Getting the hang of it

Keeping the finest of silk blouses and strappiest of satin dresses looking beautiful is all about excellent hanging.

Using a Flocked Wide Shoulder Hanger provides the right kind of traction to keep very fine fabrics in place without damaging the fabric or creating shoulder creases, while the extra width is excellent for keeping strappy dresses in place. New Flocked Wide Shoulder Hanger ($11.95) 6 inplace magazine

Make creases a thing of the past!

With winter nipping at our toes, it’s far too easy to forgo exercise. Before you know it the kilos have piled up and winter flab is taking over. For a much healthier winter, we must keep track of weight and ensure fitness remains a priority.

To help, Howards has some fantastic high-tech scales from the best scalemakers in the world: Soehnle. Known for technological perfection and a meticulous approach to design and manufacture, German-based Soehnle have been making scales since 1868.

Developing the first diet computer in 1987, Soehnle has continued as a market and innovation leader, finessing and expanding its scales to afford an ever increasing degree of analysis. At the most sophisticated end are scales designed to take precise measurement of an assortment of body values, which are then interpreted through BMI analysis for specific information on fat and water content.

Of course, if all that science is too much first thing in the morning, Soehnle’s simple, classic scales are just as precise, with the same LED screens, choice of metric or imperial display and the five-year guarantee offered with all Soehnle scales. Please see page 35 for more warranty information.

■ Soehnle Solar Sense Bathroom Scale $79.95

hsw.com.au

inplace magazine 7

column

In an

Organised Fashion with Sue Blake

Professional organiser Sue Blake wastes no time tackling the familiar problem of procrastination

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he front door slammed; the school bag hit the floor with a resounding thud. My teenage daughter stomped towards her bedroom and I winced as another door slammed. She had procrastinated when it came to dealing with a difficult situation. Clearly it had exacerbated her predicament.

We all do it. We delay and defer the difficult, the dull and the distasteful.

Paperwork is left until it is a small volcano of issues on the verge of imminent eruption. We leave buying a present to the last minute. We avoid cleaning out the cupboard, the spare room, the garage.

As for the ironing, industrial-strength self

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Scan here to get your free “Procrastination= Pain” poster!

control is required to actually flick the switch and grasp the handle. We will get to it one day. One day in a future that never arrives.

Procrastination is a trait that is so pervasive that learning how to overcome it is almost an industry in itself. In the last year alone, more than 120 books were published on the topic, all promising a painless and instant cure.

We postpone dealing with the unpleasant in the hope that time will dissolve it as gently and easily as ice in a glass of water on a warm summer’s day. In my experience, it

the unpleasant and the boring, sooner rather than later, is a workout in problem prevention. Conquering procrastination is critical in the quest for better organisation.

It is some time later that, with trepidation, I crack open the door

“Dealing with the unpleasant and the boring, sooner rather than later, is a workout in problem prevention” rarely does. The trouble with procrastination is – as my daughter discovered – that it usually aggravates the issue.

I recall postponing a trip to the school uniform shop a number of times. By the time I eventually got there, all the suitable second-hand uniforms were gone. Forced to purchase a new uniform at full price, I paid dearly for my lack of organisation.

Intellectually, we understand the consequences. We know that when we postpone purchasing a present, we risk paying a premium. With time on our side, we can choose a gift that delights the recipient but is still within budget. The longer we leave the tax, the harder it becomes. We know if we leave it too long, the tax office will sting us.

Overcoming your emotions and dealing with

to my daughter’s cave. She has her head in her school books, but I note there is a new addition to her room: a large, colourful poster with the simple equation “PROCRASTINATION = PAIN” emblazoned in huge, bold lettering now adorns the wall. As she now knows, acknowledging the impact of procrastination is the first step to overcoming it.

Learning one of life’s lessons surely deserves a reward. I retreat to the kitchen to bake her favourite muffins. Besides, it never pays to postpone restoring harmony to the household.

Sue

Sue Blake is an accredited Professional Organiser who lives and works in the Sydney surrounds. For more information on her services and to sign up for her free newsletter, go to www.organisedfashion.com.au

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future homes

Forward Thinking

Still spending time writing shopping lists or washing your own dishes?

Sounds like the home of tomorrow can’t arrive soon enough!

Modern, fluid shapes wil replace the homes we're currently used to

■ A vision of tomorrow by architect Tony Owen.

I

t’s late. You just want to eat and get yourself onto the sofa in the shortest time possible. Luckily, the pantry is packed with ingredients, so you pull out some healthy options and wave them in the direction of the kitchen’s webcam. A screen built into the countertop illuminates and suggests a series of potential 10-minute-or-less recipes. Perfect.

You’re probably thinking that this is a description of the future, but – in reality – you could be living along those lines today.

LG already makes a fridge that is connected to the Internet and has the technology to manage inventory, adding items to an online account when running low. It will even suggest recipes based on what food it contains, turn on the oven and give cooking instructions from a built-in door screen.

So if the future that most of us expected is already happening, what’s still to come?

Well, there’s likely to be big changes in the look of our homes. Architects are keen to move away from brick-and-mortar boxes into fresh, flowing shapes that use more 10 inplace magazine

sustainable materials. This is echoed by a new public love for aesthetics – whether it’s the beauty of an Apple iPhone or a MasterChef-led desire to “plate up” food.

Chris Bosse of the Laboratory of Visionary Architecture (LAVA) predicts greater innovation in recycling, with existing systems refined for domestic use. In his home of the future, water is cycled through gardens that provide food to the occupants. “People’s desire to be close to nature and live in

It’s not just the obvious things like making video calls through the TV, either. Inventors and scientists are devising far-reaching ways to make technology work harder for us.

For example, an organisation called ‘Living Tomorrow’ is working on carpet that is filled with sensors designed to detect abnormal situations – such as fire, or the sustained pressure of a collapsed person. If the carpet feels something is amiss, it can transmit a warning to emergency services.

“The kitchen will be the heart of the impending technology revolution” harmony with nature will become stronger than ever,” he says.

Inside the home, technology will drive everything we do. “Technologies will be more and more present in our lives, but they will become seamlessly integrated into everyday life (as opposed to external clip-on devices),” predicts Chris.

At Microsoft, Chief Research and Strategy Officer Craig Mundie is exploring a future where we’ll be able to chat to the machines around our home. “We are teaching computers to act more like people by making them have senses such as sight and hearing, as well as the ability to speak. With these features, we’re exploring the physical www.hsw.com.au hsw.com.au

future homes ■ Holographic kitchen helpers are on the way!

Even kitchen-shy guys wil be able to cook!

Our top predictions

The kitchen of the future will run on wireless electricity.

Electricity will be incorporated by using transmitters under the counter. Therefore, there will be no plugs and unsightly cords on the counter for your appliances.

world meeting the virtual world. When these things come together, we end up getting a computer that is genuinely more like a helper and less like a tool.”

In the living room, books will have been replaced by e-readers along the lines of the iPad and Kindle, but everything in your home will communicate. Fire up the e-reader and your home will react to the emotions created by the novel and supply the appropriate music while smart lamps pick out a suitable colour to cast.

This vision is supported by technology writer Adam Turner, who says: “I also think our homes will be able to detect who we are, where we are and what we’re doing.

It will start with simple stuff like turning lights on and off as we walk from room to room, and then move to more advanced environmental controls such as custom aircon, lighting and music to suit our tastes and mood.”

The bathroom is the one room that technology seems to have ignored to date, but that’s all set to change. Within 20 years, we’ll have interactive mirrors that can identify who’s looking at them and offer key messages – from a reminder to take

■ Another look at the future by architect Tony Owen.

your medication to the news headlines while you clean your teeth. And don’t even ask about the waste analysis your toilet will be able to offer – suffice to say that, when it comes to your health, ‘getting to the bottom of the problem’ will be an especially apt saying.

More than anywhere else in the home, the kitchen will be the heart of the impending technology revolution.

Editor of (inside) Interior Design Review and highly regarded futurist Leanne Amodeo anticipates that kitchen cabinets will be the

first thing to change: “Kitchen cabinetry is going to become highly technical with full display touchscreens in the not-too-distant future,” she says.

Smooth glass cabinets will probably replace their wooden counterparts, as they are a perfect backdrop for LED wallpaper that can change pattern at your command. The cabinets could be red for a Christmas party, orange for Halloween or even a wood pattern for traditionalists. The LED touchscreen capabilities will allow you to watch TV or surf the Internet as you cook. inplace magazine 11

future homes

■ The team at LAVA are currently building this geodome in Beijing.

A domed roof keeps pollution at bay

Holograms will also make an appearance, with British electrical retailer, Comet, saying that a 3D helper is not as far away as you might imagine. As Leanne enthuses: “Imagine having a cooking lesson with Nigella Lawson in your kitchen instead of her book!” Cooking itself will also be transformed, and Leanne anticipates induction cooking making a leap in the very near future that will see the whole bench function as a cooking surface.

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), researchers are working on the next 100 years of the kitchen.

Despite all the recent additions, kitchens “remain dangerous and messy places, and in a world that is increasingly vying for our attention, we are abandoning the hearth for a meal on the run,” reads the mission statement for MIT’s Counter Intelligence

project. “Our goal is to reverse this trend to make the kitchen the centre of family life by providing technologies that improve functionality and engage us cognitively and socially.”

In practice, that equates to attaching Internet connections to appliances, making utensils that can help you cook and installing sensors that will keep you safe from fire or poisons. For example, what about a spoon that uses tiny sensors to measure the temperature, acidity, salinity and viscosity of a food you’re making? As you make your cake mixture or bolognese, the intelligent spoon would tell you at each stage if you’re following the recipe properly, when you should stir, and how much and when to add each new ingredient.

Or perhaps you could do with some cooking assistance. The chameleon mug

Tomorrow, today!

One product you’re bound to see plenty more of in the future is the Vacuumsaver Container (from $5.95).

Air and liquid tight with a vacuum pump that removes all the air from the container and stops oxidisation and moisture, these containers also feature cutting-edge silicone valves that allow steam to escape whenever you reheat foods. Luckily, you don’t need to wait until 2020... this product is available right now at Howards!

“When you've used the crockery, it gets ground up and melted down ” Our top predictions

Your toothbrush will measure heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature as you hold it, sending a daily update to your doctor's computer.

12 inplace magazine

uses heat-sensitive inks and metal strips to change colour as the contents get hotter or cooler. The mug also contains sensors to tell you if your liquid is too salty or sweet for the recipe you’re going for. Perhaps you need to add more vinegar? Maybe the milk has gone bad? The mug could help you make the perfect drink or sauce.

The future is especially bright for people with an aversion to washing up.

The team at MIT are working on concepts for a device that can produce cups, saucers

and plates at the push of a button, almost like a 3D printer. When you’ve used the crockery, you just put it back into the machine, where it gets ground up and melted down, ready for using again at the next meal.

Mind you, we’re all still waiting for our jetpacks, so who really knows? ■ inplace hsw.com.au www.hsw.com.au

different by design

■ Wasted space is a thing of the past in Cell Brick House.

■ The exterior reveals a unique pattern of blocks and windows.

“Each open end of the module provides a space that can be utilised as an instant storage unit ”

Block Party Here’s a fun and functional Japanese storage solution that’s a little bit off the wall...

W

■ Light streams in through strategically placed openings.

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hen space is at an absolute premium, as it is in Tokyo, architects like Yasuhiro Yamashita of Atelier Tekuto usually need to think outside the box.

In this case, however, Yamashita has been thinking with boxes – creating a home with storage built into its very walls.

Cell Brick House is made entirely of fivesided building blocks. When placed on top of one another (and secured with bolts), each open end of the module provides a space in the wall that can be utilised as an instant storage unit. Brilliant!

The space between each block acts as a window that allows an abundance of light to stream into the home without overheating

during summer. In fact, heat factors were a critical consideration in the design.

“Considering the heating environment, we decided on a 300mm depth for the boxes that serves as brise-soleil [a sun-shading technique],” says Yamashita. “The depth blocks out the summer sunlight and pulls the winter sun into the house.” To resolve heating issues further, a heat-resistant, ceramic-infused coating has been applied.

The overall effect is a neat balance of light and solid, which works well both inside and out. It is the interior, however, that is truly remarkable, with every surface devoted to storage. The kitchen, for example, makes use of both the solid and windowed voids. This allows light to flood through a shelf of glasses, while a stack of plates sits more subdued in its own space. Secondary inner shelves and drawers have been added to many of the blocks to double storage potential and add visual variance.

The lack of additional closets and cabinets has allowed Yamashita to keep the internal space as open as possible, with a spiral staircase that allows both levels to be seen at once. “It makes one feel as if he or she were in the trees when they are in the house,” says Yamashita, who encourages the storage to be used. “And when they put their personal belongings in the steel boxes, a ‘life layer’ is added, and the building gets a certain sense of depth."

For more on this exciting storage solution, visit www.tekuto.com. ■ inplace hsw.com.au

small people

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food

The Preservation Generation A new breed of food lovers have discovered the joy of creating their own pickles, jams and other preserves.

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aking the food world by surprise, preservation has become an extremely popular trend amongst a younger set of foodies. With health and taste in mind, these cooks are discovering that the secret to delectable jams, pickles and chutneys lies in homemade concoctions of the very finest ingredients.

Since Napoleon first asked a Frenchman to develop a means of food preservation

for his long campaigns, the act of preserving has gone through cycles of favour in the food world. Perfected

by Victorian-era cooks – who pickled everything from beets to pigs’ trotters – the trend continued into the 20th century. It then spread to America, where the feast and famine of harvest was moderated through a steady, yearlong supply of pickled crops.

Did You Know?

During the Napoleonic Wars, the French offered 12,000 francs to anyone who could find a method of preserving food for a long period of time.

To a large extent, commercial canning superseded the need for food preservation during the 20th century. However, commercial canning and bottling delivers commercial produce, while home bottling means absolute control of quality and contents. This is the key to the recent pickling trend that has swept Australia, with fresh, in-season produce gaining increasing importance in our diets.

Scan here for an easy-to-follow marmalade recipe on YouTube!

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Indeed, as a nation we have become more aware of where our food comes from, how it is grown and even how far it travels before reaching our table. There is also an increased awareness of the chemicals used in food growth and preservation, many of which are considered unnecessary.

Enter the simple home method of food preservation and you have a match made in heaven, from simple strawberry jam to complex layers of vegetables pickled in exotic and beautifully aromatic spices. For advanced preservers, the sky’s the limit, with fillets of tuna immersed in fragrant oil or confit of duck biding time smugly on well-stocked pantry shelves.

There are, however, hard and fast rules for keeping bacteria at bay, so before you launch into home canning (or ‘putting up’ as it is sometimes called), take the time to seek out some expert advice. Two of the best cookbooks are Eugenia Bone’s fabulous Well Preserved and Edon Waycott’s Preserving the Taste. For those who prefer the online experience, www.canningacrossamerica. com is a brilliant place to learn from experts and share insight, successes, and photos. ■ inplace

Getting started is easy!

In order to preserve your food successfully, you simply need to have the right equipment. Ensure nothing is left to chance with a Canning Kit ($17.95), Tala Preserving Jars (from $4.95) or Mason Preserving Jars (from $17.95).

■ Tala Preserving Jars from $4.95

■ Mason Preserving Jars 250ml set of 6 $17.95 500 ml set of 6 $19.95 1L set of 4 $22.95 ■ Canning Kit $17.95

inplace magazine 17

interview

The Sweet Life

■ ‘Tidy house, tidy mind’ – Kate Bracks knows the value of being organised.

We caught up with winner of MasterChef 2011, Kate Bracks, to discover her secrets to an organised kitchen.

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hortly after her memorable victory in MasterChef 2011, mother-of-three Kate Bracks went on the record saying that her dreams had always been simple: she wanted nothing more than to run a sleepy B&B in her home town of Orange, NSW – and frankly, she found the idea of writing a cookbook terrifying.

However, her newfound fame saw her plans change quickly, and just a few months later, the former school teacher released her debut desserts cookbook, The Sweet Life (Random House) to much acclaim.

Far from the humble dreams of life before fame, Kate now finds herself juggling opportunity after opportunity, so now more than ever she recognises the importance of organisation in the kitchen. She was kind enough to share her secrets with inplace.

Tell us about life after Masterchef?

A big chunk of my time has been taken up with writing recipes for the cookbook, but on top of that, there have been lots of public speaking engagements and cooking demonstrations. It has been pretty flat out busy, to be honest.

Your beautiful new cookbook is very well organised. Was this intentional?

I’m just a classic case of ‘tidy house, tidy mind’. When things are nice and organised around me, I feel much more comfortable.

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But at the same time, I don’t want people to feel like they have to stick rigidly to the recipes if they have a creative side.

■ Oxo Pop Containers from $18.95

So creativity needn't equate to chaos?

No, absolutely not. For me, I find I’m more creative when life is well ordered. When everything is in its place, I feel freer to then be creative.

■ brabantia Wall Rail System, holds accessories from $24.95

www.hsw.com.au hsw.com.au

interview How important is being organised in the kitchen?

My level of organisation in the kitchen very much equates to how I’m going to enjoy the cooking experience. When I have time and everything is in its place and organised, I enjoy the process so much more.

Could you share your top tips for an organised kitchen?

I need to know where everything is and ensure it is easily accessible at all times. I need to have those things I use a lot in the most convenient places. I’m not very good when working with cluttered space. I think it’s also about having good equipment that is reliable and works. Cooking can be frustrating; particularly if your oven doesn’t work or your knife’s not sharp enough.

“I'm more creative when life is well ordered . When everything is in its place , I feel freer to be creative” Which kitchen tools make cooking go more smoothly?

Obviously a good sharp knife, but you also need a good, solid chopping board. For me, it has a lot to do with containers, too – they should be easily accessible, labelled and stacked. As a mum, I often find I have to cook in little spurts; I might have 15 minutes here, so I prep the veggies then put them away.

Having those little containers helps keep everything ordered.

What are your favourite Howards products?

For me, it’s having those things you use the most right there in front of you: the brabantia Wall Rail System magnetic strip ($26.95) to put your knives on; the brabantia Recipe Holder ($59.95) so that your recipes aren’t falling all over your bench (you can also add extra accessories to it to keep benches clear) and containers that stack, like the Oxo Pop Containers (from $18.95).

Essentially, everything needs to have a place, whether it be in your fridge, in your pantry or on your bench. ■ inplace

Recipe: Blood Orange Baked Custard Prep time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 45 minutes + 2 hours chilling Makes: 6 serves I love the tart quality of blood orange, and when combined with rich, sweet cream, the balance of this dessert seems just right. I’ve kept the sizes small, as it is quite decadent.

Ingredients

2 eggs 5 egg yolks 110 g (½ cup) caster sugar Finely grated zest of 1 blood orange 500 ml (2 cups) pouring cream 180 ml (¾ cup) blood orange juice 3 blood oranges, peeled and segmented to serve 1 tbsp blanched slivered pistachios, to serve (see note)

Method

Preheat oven to 130˚C. Grease six 150ml capacity ovenproof ramekins and place them into a large baking dish. Combine the eggs, egg yolks, sugar and zest in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium speed for 3-4 minutes, until pale and creamy.

Reduce the speed to low and add the cream and blood orange juice. Mix until well combined and then pour through a sieve into a jug. Allow the mixture to stand for 5 minutes, then skim the froth from the top and discard (it seems like a waste, but most of it is just air and leaving it on will make your custards look sunken).

Can be kept in the fridge for up to three days!

Divide the custard mixture evenly among the ramekins. Pour enough boiling water into the baking dish to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins.

Cover the baking dish with aluminium foil.

Bake for about 45 minutes, until the surface is set and there is a slight wobble underneath. Carefully remove the baking dish, cool to room temperature then refrigerate for about 2 hours, until set.

Serve with blood orange segments on top and sprinkle with the pistachios.

NOTE: These can be made ahead of time and kept in the fridge for up to 3 days. Blanched, slivered pistachios are available from specialty or Middle Eastern food shops. To create different flavoured custards, omit the zest and swap the blood orange juice for espresso coffee, passionfruit juice or coconut milk.

Indulge your sweet tooth Kate’s mouth-watering array of dessert recipes include favourites such as apple pie, chocolate cake and strawberry mousse, as well as fresh new ideas like hazelnut torte, spiced crème brûlée and her irresistible peanut butter and chocolate ice cream sandwiches. The Sweet Life is in stores now.

inplace magazine 19

father’s day

Dad’s Garage Workout

This Father’s Day, give Dad a treat he’ll love by doing up the garage.

D

ads are notoriously messy creatures, so why not celebrate Father’s Day on September 2 by helping him get his beloved garage in shape? It’s easy enough – all you need to do is follow these simple steps for success.

Start by formulating a plan. Take a look at what needs to be organised and then separate everything into groups of similar items; for example, power tools, hand tools, sporting equipment, car accessories, cleaning equipment and so on. You’ll now have a better idea of what you need to store.

Think about what Dad uses the most, and how he tends to use these items. There is not much point storing everything out of sight. In fact, the more visible, the better.

20 inplace magazine

You are now ready to start organising. If you’ve decided that Dad spends most of his time working with his power tools, for example, then these will need to be immediately at hand, easy to spot, easy to access and, most importantly, easy to put away. Otherwise, the garage will become messy again quicker than you can say “Aw, Dad!” Two things must be considered before you begin: where to store and how to store. Before you pack everything away, think about where Dad needs these items to be. There’s no point putting them behind the door if he needs them near the bench.

Now that you know where everything is going to be stored, take a look at the space and decide what sort of storage solution is going to work best. Be sure to consider all sizes of item; anything small, like nails and screws, can be organised with boxes and drawers, while big items like golf clubs will require a different approach.

Think upwards – and when we say this, we

mean towards the roof. The garage is a place where all kinds of items are stored, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to take up an entire bench or a large amount of floor space. Sometimes, the best place for that set of skis might be on a wall rack, or even the ceiling.

Think big, too. Dads like big things – big bins for tossing their surf gear, big labels for getting the right tool in the right box the first time, and big hooks to hold up those heavier items.

Finally, don’t try anything beyond your own capabilities or that you’re not comfortable with. Garages contain all sorts of dangerous items, so make sure you get some adult help to keep things safe!

Remember – for any big project, Howards is here to help. Measure the dimensions of Dad’s space, take photographs of what needs to be organised and head into a Howards store for help. It’s a free service that will give your Dad a garage to be proud of! ■ inplace hsw.com.au

father’s day

Everything you need!

To get you started, we’ve put together a few excellent garage storage ideas to give you some Father’s Day inspiration.

The Racor Double Golf Rack ($39.95) is perfect for getting bulky golf bags off the floor, or you can clear that corner of piled up spades and rakes with a Racor Garden Tool Rack ($63.95).

Fisherman’s bliss can be achieved with a Racor Fishing Rod Rack ($29.95), or perhaps help Dad keep his tennis rackets from being squashed by falling surf skis with a Racor Tennis Racket Rack ($24.95). It even has a place for storing tennis balls!

The Racor Double Floor Bike Rack ($99.00) is perfect for fathers who cycle. However, the ultimate

■ Racor Double Golf Rack $39.95

Father’s Day garage makeover would have to be the elfa Garage, which has a simple custom solution for every problem!

le Floor ■ Racor Doub 00 9. $9 ck Ra Bike

■ Racor Fishing Rod Rack ($29.95)

For more, scan the QR code!

■ Racor Garden Tool Rack ($63.95)

inplace magazine 21

get the look

Create Your Perfect Bedroom When seeking the right look for your bedroom, it’s easy to go overboard – but simplicity is the key.

These cushions are available from tabletonic.com.au

Did you know?

You will spend one third of your life in the bedroom, so you’d better make sure you are comfortable!

C

reating the perfect bedroom takes a particular sense of style that allows a calm environment to emerge while conveying your own personality.

International interior design consultant, Stephan De Roeck, has been consulting on the right way to create the perfect home for the past 20 years, and he was happy to share his advice on creating the perfect bedroom with inplace. “A bedroom needs to be a haven of serenity,” says Stephan. “It doesn’t need to be anything else. It doesn’t need to be decorative. It needs to be quiet and peaceful.”

22 inplace magazine

“A bedroom needs to be a haven of serenity; it doesn’t need to be anything else. It needs to be quiet and peaceful” To reach this blissful state, Stephan suggests a limited colour palette: “I think the colours need to be very muted, rather than lively and busy. I try to make everything work with only one or two colours – very pale or very dark – in order to induce a certain invitation to be meditative, reflective and put the mind to rest before you go to sleep.”

Stephan feels a lack of clutter is essential to a calm bedroom and suggests keeping bedside tables free of anything but the practical. Start with “very, very good lighting that is very practical and very focused,” and then perhaps “a clock, some space for books and a glass of water. I think all the rest should be kept away from the bed.” hsw.com.au

get the look

Higher shelves are the perfect place to archive less-used items

What's in style?

■ Simplicity trumps elaborate in the modern bedroom.

In the UK, wallpaper is a huge trend at the moment, with designers ranging from Vivienne Westwood to Marcel Wanders creating glamorous papers for covering walls. Put wallpaper on a feature wall in order to frame and envelope the bed.

Having a single statement piece of furniture in the bedroom has also become increasingly popular in recent times. This is especially true in Los Angeles where, according to renowned interior designer Vicky Deger, loft living often means huge bedrooms that require an anchor.

Moving to the bed itself, the trend of using twin doonas rather than a large, single doona is rapidly shifting to Australia, America and the UK. It’s a trend that comes from Scandinavian countries such as Sweden and Norway, where it has always been in practice.

These great pouffes are also available from tabletonic.com.au Stephan suggests a drawer for other items and only recommends ornaments if there is adequate room. “Decorative items should only be placed if there is enough space to fit all the useful things with plenty of room left over.”

The bed itself should be a haven that is as soft on the skin as it is on the eye. As such, he suggests steering clear of a mountain of pillows in different colours, in favour of simplicity: “Go with minimum colours, but ensure they are colours that make you feel well – colours that are earthy, perhaps.”

Beds are changing!

■ Colours should be muted rather than lively and busy.

Quality is also extremely important, according to Stephan. “I like the very high thread count – very basic linen, but high thread count,” he says. “So basic from a design point of view, but fairly soft from a quality point of view, giving a nice feeling on the skin. Then, perhaps one piece in wool that you might have at the end of the bed.” Again, his suggestion is for subdued shades: “Grey and very quiet blue or Bordeaux red. Colours that are very muted.” Simple tips that should make your bedroom a haven in no time.

The current style of bed frame is a free floating platform style. This type of bed was very popular with modernists who pursued simple form over elaboration. The low, broad lines also make these frames a very elegant centrepiece in a tranquil room.

Bedroom floors are currently boasting coverings ranging from traditional Afghan rugs to deerskins and beautiful designer rugs from Akira Isogawa, Florence Broadhurst and Greg Natale. And while the styles are all quite individual, the common trend is for soft, snugly warmth – perfect for early morning toes!

inplace magazine 23

get the look

Get the look: Bedroom brilliance

To help you get the look, Howards has a range of solutions to turn your bedroom into the clutter-free haven you’ve always dreamed of. Starting with the bedside tables, reduce everything down to what is needed and leave the rest of this space clear and clutter free.

The bed itself, as Stephan points out, becomes instantly tranquil when colours are reduced to a simple palette. All white is always beautiful, but so too is soft grey or fawn. The addition of a single colour in the same range brings life without overwhelming the whole.

The wardrobe needs to be as calm as your bed, with everything contained and neat.

A rigorous spring clean will give you this result for about one day. However, a carefully planned solution that uses simple-to-follow systems will give you years of ordered calm.

Before you start hurling your clothes onto the bed, take a good look at the shape and configuration of your wardrobe. Are you optimising the space? Are things really in the right place? Can you see everything? The answer is generally ‘no’, so don’t be alarmed – just rethink the system.

“All girls love shoes, so why are they always in a pile at the bottom of the wardrobe?”

Scan here for Howards' video guide!

■ Space Bag Cube and Totes from $44.95

24 inplace magazine

■ Clear Store Stackable Shoe organisers from $22.95

hsw.com.au

get the look

ers ■ 2pk Hang tural Non-Slip Na $9.95

High shelves, for example, are not the place for everyday items, but they’re great places to store items that are bulky and seasonal, such as jumpers during summer and sun hats during winter. For a neat and uniform look, a set of storage baskets in a neutral tone works well.

Visual clutter occurs when you have too many things happening at once. This can be corrected instantly with matching coat hangers. It’s a simple but very effective solution, with the added benefit of much happier clothes if you choose something lush, like flock-covered hangers.

All girls love shoes, so why are they always in a pile at the bottom of the wardrobe? Remember, the perfect bedroom is all about creating a clutter-free environment. One of the best and easiest solutions is a shoe library. Simply place one pair of shoes in each of the clear plastic boxes and stack, so your shoes remain visible while also being protected.

Working out how you hang your clothes will depend very much on your dressing style, but a basic rule of thumb is to hang clothes in groups – for example, skirts, blouses, jackets, dresses, long dresses, trousers, and coats. Within these groups, summer precedes winter. Of course, you may prefer to colour block; it’s really up to you, as long as you minimise visual clutter by creating blocks of either length or colour.

Once you have worked out what system you are following, it’s a great time to sort through your wardrobe and make sure you aren’t hanging onto clothes you simply don’t wear. ■ inplace

Four simple ways to set the mood

#1 The velvet touch

Velvet adds depth and luxury.

Popular with interior designers in both London and New York, grey and taupe velvet are appearing in elegant rooms of the same shades.

#2

Hit the s h eets

Linen has been making a major revival in white, soft mulberry and coffee shades, with variation being achieved through differing weights, as opposed to colour. For example, fine linen sheets with a heavier doona cover in the same colour are becoming popular.

#3 Cottoning on

Cotton – particularly white cotton – has always worked to convey a crisp, cool elegance that is difficult to beat. Add a wool throw in a colour drawn from elsewhere in the room to create visual unity.

#4 Blanket boost

Cashmere or mohair blankets add a gorgeous soft touch to any room; keep the tone aligned to your palette to keep the tone calm.

■ Ensure the tone is aligned to a palette.

Colour

with Martyn Lawrence-Bullard ■ One of Martyn's immaculate designs (martynlawrencebullard.com)

While in Sydney recently, interior designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard spoke with inplace – before jetting back to London for engagements with Sir Elton John and Cher!

Martyn believes a bedroom should be luscious and sumptuous, with soft furnishings in gentle shades of honey, saffron and gold. However, he is also keen to explore the “delicious” aspect of any single colour and has wowed fans with everything from mauve to charcoal.

Cream is another of Martyn’s favoured bedroom colours, with variation delivered through damask patterns woven in a variety of different fabrics. Silk, cotton and linen, for example, can be brought together for a stunning effect.

Martyn has a reputation for flamboyance, and he always happily delivers. Sir Elton John’s bedroom, for example, is based on a particular shade of green Hermes Kelly bag that the singer is quite fond of. That said, the bedroom is not a riot of colour, but more of a simple palette of rich greens and browns with symmetrical highlights. inplace magazine 25

makeover

Closet Case

After

Triple your storage space with Space Bag storage bags

The chaos of a messy wardrobe can be solved in just an afternoon with a good plan and some elfa® storage solutions!

W

ardrobes can quickly turn into nightmares without time and consideration. In this elfa® makeover, for a couple with a considerable height difference, we started with a plan, establishing zones where everything needed for daily life would be in reach, while allocating higher shelves to less frequently used items.

Before building your system, consider what needs to be stored and weed out any items you never wear – those acid wash T-shirts, for example! It’s also time to say goodbye and good riddance to floor filing – that is, dumping things on the floor in the hope you’ll tidy them one day. In our experience, this rarely works.

In the makeover you see here, clothing has been separated into categories: long hanging, short hanging, folded and drawer stored.

We also grouped items such as shoes, boots, handbags and luggage separately.

Before 26 inplace magazine

Separate your items into categories Surprisingly, most of the hanging clothes comprised of either tops or bottoms. We could have used the elfa system to create a doublehang system, but instead decided to create a low hang on both sides to accommodate both partners. A small section was kept at double height for long hanging items.

Storage zones were designated based on frequency of use, with everyday folded items such as T-shirts kept at mid-height, while boots were a little higher on one side. The taller partner’s bulky jumpers were stored on the corresponding shelf on the other side.

The highest shelf was left available for archive storage such as suitcases. Bulky winter parkas were reduced to a third of their size with a Space Bag and also stored in the archive space.

As the most visible zone, the end wall was chosen for a shoe library, set of drawers and handbag storage. This means daily needs are

Want more?

For more tips on setting up the perfect wardrobe, scan the QR code to see the videos at hsw.com.au, including Howards’ expert Cathy Player demonstrating a wardrobe makeover on Channel Ten’s The Circle.

at hand and not being squashed or lost in the no-mans-land below hanging clothes.

With a system acknowledging both storage and individual needs, the room is now used efficiently from floor to ceiling. Floor filing is no longer a factor – there is a place for everything, so things will be put back where they belong!

The beauty of the elfa® system is its ability to be customised for any wardrobe needs. Pop into your favourite Howards for an obligationfree design, measure and quote. ■ inplace hsw.com.au

get the look

inplace magazine 27

inspiration

Ready and Able Life for people with a disability is being improved dramatically with the help of a few innovative products.

A

The unit is designed to suit a wheelchair

H

owards has long prided itself on selecting products that function optimally. So for many, it’s a delight to learn that Howards has also become a destination for people with disabilities who want all the right equipment without the purpose-built price tag.

One of the places where people have been learning about Howards products is Choice Accommodation at Breakfast Point, Sydney.

This beautiful, serene, riverside location is the perfect place to get away from the hospital for a while to discover the world afresh.

■ Everloc Suction

“The bench enabled her to cook her husband a roast for the first time since becoming disabled” Established by not-for-profit organisation Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA), the apartment utilises a range of different products and solutions to help people living with disabilities discover what works for them.

SCIA’s Sheree Hurley has been back and forth to Howards herself for many years, so it was a natural fit to have Howards provide some great solutions for the apartment.

One such item is the Customised easy build Trolley ($282), a bench that is wheelchair friendly, allowing its user to cook. The beauty of this product lies in the fact that it is a very simple solution that doesn’t necessitate the rebuilding of the entire kitchen, or the addition of permanent fixtures.

Recently, Howards was delighted to learn that this particular trolley had enabled a 28 inplace magazine

woman to cook her husband a roast for the first time since becoming disabled in 2003.

For Howards, it’s all about taking quality products and thinking of unique and bespoke ways to use them. The Joseph & Joseph Cut and Carve Plus (from $29.95), for example, has a similar non-skid grip to a purpose-designed board at a fraction of the cost. The side with spikes, designed for holding meat in place, works just as well with a tomato or anything else, and the slight angle of the board – in conjunction with a juice groove at the

The Suction Cup can be used with or without a hook bottom – makes it perfect for anyone to use.

Or there’s the Everloc Suction Large Hooks 2pk ($19.95), which comes with an optional hook and provides an anchor for those with limited hand function to easily open sliding doors.

SCIA is a not-for-profit organisation doing vital work in the community. To make a donation, visit www.scia.org.au ■ inplace hsw.com.au

inspiration Sheree’s favourites

Scan here to go to the HSW Insider blog and see more disability-friendly items

We asked Sheree to share some of her thoughts on a few of the Howards products that make life with a disability easier:

C

A Customised easy build wheelchairfriendly Trolley $282.00 “A perfect, portable, custom-designed bench! The height is adjustable, and the wheels enable me to move it to wherever I’m working.”

B

B Joseph & Joseph Cut and

Carve (small) $29.95 (large) $39.95 “The spikes make it a lot easier to cut things – particularly round things that tend to roll!”

D

Did You Know?

C White Slim 3 Drawer Cabinet Trolley $99.00; and White Slim 5 Drawer Cabinet Trolley $139.00 “A great unit for storing things I frequently use. I can keep everything in the cabinet and move it around with me.”

‘Assistive Technology’ is the generic term for devices and modifications for a person, or in society, that help overcome or remove a disability.

D Everloc Kitchen/Bathroom Shelf $39.95 “Having a shelf at the height I need – without having to drill into the wall – makes a lot of sense in both the kitchen and bathroom.”

E

E Cankey Ring Pull $8.95 and

Jarkey Jar Opener $8.25 “The only way to open a tin and a jar... everyone should have one of these brilliant devices each!”

F Marie Large Storage Basket with Handle $6.95 “I can keep groups of small items together in the basket, and then I can remove them from the cupboard easily by grabbing the handle.”

G Undershelf Basket $19.95

“Provides additional shelf space at an easily accessible height” + Super Grip Mat from $7.95

F

G

(not pictured) “A must have! I use these for holding anything in place, from kitchen equipment to books and telephones.” inplace magazine 29

travel

London Calling

The world’s attention is on London for the Olympics, and the city is on a mission to impress us all...

W

ith the Olympics taking place, our eyes, ears and cheers are all directed towards London – and so too are our palettes, as the young guns of English cuisine take off. Once the domain of chips and pork pies, London’s reputation for gourmet cuisine has been given a facelift, as has its architecture (often controversial) and art exhibitions (also often controversial).

If you have been lucky enough to obtain tickets, the Olympics will be your first destination this English spring. However, the other big show on this year is Damien Hirst at the Tate Modern. The fact that he had so very publicly declared that he would never show there is just one of the controversies surrounding this superstar of the modern art world – think diamond encrusted skulls that are so expensive it takes an entire consortium just to buy one.

30 inplace magazine

While palaces and cobbled streets are still huge crowd pleasers, the face of London has been transformed in recent years by amazing architecture. Just two to look out for are the recently completed Shard London Bridge, a 310-metre skyscraper which is now the tallest building in Europe, and the residential behemoth Strata SE1, which will soon be home to more than 1000 Londoners.

Food is just as ambitious, with Tom Aikens’ self-named, recently re-opened restaurant (formerly Pied à Terre) gaining the accolades it deserves. The menu, in typical Aikens style, is deceptively simple, with presentation transforming snapper or a loin of rabbit into something delectably beautiful as well as fabulously delicious. Thankfully, he does a tasting menu as well as an incredibly reasonable three course set lunch for £29.

Chips and pie, it is not! ■ inplace

GETTING THERE Where to stay: For unabashed elegance and English charm, try St James’s Hotel and Club, St James, London. (www.stjameshotelandclub.com) If modern design is more your thing, St Martins lane, collaboratively designed

by Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck, is exceptional. (www.stmartinslane.com) How to get there: Most major airlines offer daily flights to London with a minimum of one stopover. Qantas, British Airways, Virgin and Emirates have the shortest stopovers and most frequent flights.

hsw.com.au

travel

“Once the domain of chips and pork pies, London’s reputation for gourmet cuisine has been given a facelift”

■ The 2012 Olympics have finally arrived.

■ Tom Aikens, hard at work.

■ London now has a deserved reputation as a great food city.

inplace magazine 31

ironing

The Iron Age From whale-bone smoothing boards to the incredible Leifheit Airboard, ironing has come a long way in 1000 years.

F

or over a thousand years, people have been ironing their clothes. Among the first were the Chinese, who used metal pans filled with hot water, and the Vikings, who preferred a whale-bone smoothing board in conjunction with a linen smoother.

No matter the method, however, they all had one thing in common: a desire for crinkle-free clothing and sharp pleats.

But even after William Vandenburg finally patented the first folding ironing board in 1858, development continued at a meandering pace. That is, of course, until Leifheit entered the scene and the next phase in the evolution of ironing began in earnest.

The German innovators pioneered the SuperGlide ironing surface, which causes a unique steam and heat reflection in 32 inplace magazine

combination with special Thermo-Reflect Technology to enable 33 per cent faster ironing with perfect results. It allows laundry to be ironed from above and below at the same time – we’d bet the Vikings would have given away a ship or two to learn the secret to that!

of ironing board created by Leifheit. Its range also includes the Classic M Ironing Board with extra stable under frame for more stability and a safer standing position.

All Leifheit ironing boards available at Howards can be adjusted to any height up to

“They all had one thing in common – a desire for crinkle-free clothing” This technology can be seen in Leifheit’s Airboard Comfort M Ironing Board. With a fixed iron rest, ergonomically shaped underframe and easily adjustable feet, it’s a long way from the whale-bone smoothing boards of the bygone era – to say the least.

Of course, the Airboard isn’t the only style

98 cm, with an ironing surface of 120 x 38 cm.

They collapse effortlessly for easy storage, and replacement covers are available.

Innovation is something everyone has come to expect of Leifheit – as is the quality of their products, which are exemplary in every way. ■ inplace hsw.com.au

ironing

A wrinkled history Ironing, as we know it, really kicked in around the 1600s with the introduction of metal irons.

These irons looked similar to today’s, but were heated in a fire before use.

You’d need at least two irons on the go at the same time for an effective system: one in use, and one reheating. By the 1800s, large households with servants had a special ironing stove for this purpose. Some were fitted with slots for several irons, and a water jug on top.

Alternatively, there were irons that contained a central cavity that had to be filled with hot coals to generate heat. They stayed warmer for longer, but a lot of care had to be taken to avoid getting ash on the clothing!

At home, ironing traditional fabrics without the benefit of electricity was a hot, arduous

A perfect ironed shirt in 4 steps job. Irons had to be kept immaculately clean, sandpapered and polished. They had to be kept away from burning fuel, and be regularly but lightly greased to avoid rusting. Beeswax prevented irons sticking to starched cloth.

Constant care was needed overseeing the temperature. Experience would dictate when the iron was hot enough to work without scorching the cloth. A well-known test was spitting on the hot metal, but Charles Dickens describes a more dangerous technique in his novel The Old Curiosity Shop. He writes, “she held the iron at an alarmingly short distance from her cheek, to test its temperature..”

Electric irons followed in 1913 (with electric temperature controls following soon after, mercifully) followed by steam irons in 1926. All up, it’s been an unsurprisingly smooth journey to the irons we know and love today. ■ inplace

The Leifheit difference NEW!

NEW!

Irons above and below at the same time

Ideal for small and medium sized households

1.

If you’re not using a Leifheit ironing board, with its SuperGlide surface, you may need to wet the shirt first.

2.

Iron both sides of collar, from points to middle. Iron shoulder panels on ironing board’s tapered end.

3.

Lay sleeve flat and work your way down, starting from shoulder all the way to the cuff. Turn over and repeat.

4.

Classic M Ironing Board $89.95

Airboard Comfort M Ironing Board $249 ■ Ironing surface: 120 x 38 cm

■ Ironing surface: 120 x 38 cm

■ Height adjustment up to 98 cm

■ Height adjustment up to 98 cm

■ Ergonomically shaped underframe allows sitting down during the ironing process ■ Adjustable base for safer standing position ■ Fixed iron rest ■ Lightweight waffle board surface ■ Special shoulder fit for ironing shirts

■ Under frame made of extra stable

square cut pipe (20x30 mm) ■ Fixed metal iron rest ■ Extra thick square cut pipe of under frame for more stability.

Finish with each side of the upper front, starting with buttonhole side and then button side.

inplace magazine 33

Howards Storage World stores Visit hsw.com.au to find your local store with the ‘Store Locator’.

Springvale Springvale Homemaker Centre (03) 9545 5499 Northern Territory Darwin Shop 20, Jape Homemaker Village (08) 8948 2088 Western Australia Cannington Shop 1, 38 William Street (08) 9356 3511 Karrinyup Karrinyup Shopping Centre (08) 9244 4333 Mandurah Shop 2, 65 Reserve Drive (08) 9583 4900

Scan for our store locator!

New South Wales Artamon Home HQ North Shore (02) 9437 1955 Bathurst Bathurst City Centre (02) 6331 4044 Belrose Homemakers Supa Centa (02) 9986 2480 Bondi Junction Westfield Bondi Junction (02) 9387 5733 Brookvale Warringah Mall (02) 9907 2200 Burwood Westfield Burwood (02) 9744 8077 Campbelltown Macarthur Square (02) 4627 5222 Castle Hill Castle Hill Supa Centa South Building (02) 9634 4200

Erina Erina Fair (02) 4367 0433 Hornsby Westfield Hornsby (02) 9987 2700 Kotara Homemaker Centre 150 Park Ave (02) 4952 9333 Leichhardt Norton Plaza (02) 9518 1425 Miranda Westfield Miranda (02) 9542 8566 Moore Park Homemaker Supa Centa (02) 9697 2777 Northbridge Northbridge Plaza (02) 9958 4699

Rhodes Rhodes Shopping Centre (02) 9736 3111 Rouse Hill Rouse Hill Town Centre (02) 8883 2577 Rutherford Hunter Supa Centre (02) 4932 4655 Shellharbour Stockland, Shellharbour Square (02) 4297 0811 Queensland Aspley Homemaker City Cnr Gympie Road & Zillmere Road (07) 3862 7633 Cairns 327 Mulgrave Road (07) 4054 4966

Jindalee Homemaker City (07) 3279 2611 Mackay Canelands Shopping Centre (07) 4951 0607 Maroochydore 50 Plaza Parade (07) 5479 3833

ACT Fyshwick Homemaker Hub (02) 6280 5552 South Australia

Robina Robina Town Centre (07) 5575 7133

Gepps Cross Gepps Cross Centre Home HQ (08) 8162 9160

Rockhampton Redhill Homemaker Centre, Cnr Richardson Road & Yamba Road (07) 4928 6511

Mile End Homemaker Centre 122 Railway Terrace (08) 8152 0400

Springwood The Logan Mega Centre (07) 3209 2777

North Ryde Macquarie Centre (02) 9888 6655

Fortitude Valley Homemaker City North 650 Wickham Street (07) 3216 0222

Port Macquarie Port Home Zone (02) 6584 3500

Helensvale Townsville Homeworld Helensvale Domain Central (07) 5502 6677 (07) 4779 9411

Toowoomba Harvey Norman Centre (07) 4613 5315

Like to know a little more about Howards Storage World? Become a Howards Facebook fan or follow us on Twitter. Visit our website to join: hsw.com.au

34 inplace magazine

Upper Mt. Gravatt Westfield Garden City (07) 3422 2003

Norwood 220 The Parade (08) 8332 0415 Tasmania Hobart 140 Liverpool Street (03) 6234 8422 Victoria Chadstone Chadstone Shopping Centre (03) 9568 6200 Facebook

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Cheltenham Westfield Southland (03) 9583 9155 Essendon Homemaker Hub (03) 9374 2903 Maribyrnong Highpoint Shopping Centre (03) 9318 1855 Mornington Peninsula Lifestyle Centre (03) 5973 5399 Nunawading Home HQ, 372 Whitehorse Road (03) 9894 8411 Richmond Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre (03) 9428 4060 Shepparton Riverside Plaza Shopping Centre (03) 58235877 South Wharf Homemaker Hub (03) 9682 0911 Twitter

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Myaree Primewest Melville, Shop 8, 276 Leach Highway, Melville (08) 9317 8700 Rockingham 2 Commodore Drive (08) 9528 5044 Southern River Cnr Ranford Rd & Boardwalk Bvd (08) 9394 0900 Subiaco 427 Hay Street (08) 9381 4599 Group Office No. 4 Forest Central Business Park 49 Frenchs Forest Road Frenchs Forest NSW 2086 Tel (02) 9452 8888 Fax (02) 9452 8899 mail@hsw.com.au e-shop hsw.com.au eshop@hsw.com.au 1300-ESHOP-1 International Stores Now open in: New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Ireland, Philippines, and India. Visit: hswgroup.com YouTube Watch our videos

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Inspirations Rewards Program Join in-store or online today

Can’t decide?

Give a Gift Card Gift Cards are available for amounts over $20.

Redemption is only available through Australian stores.

It’s fine to change your mind We’ll gladly exchange or refund on presentation of a docket where goods are in original packaging (saleable condition).

An exchange is offered where a docket is not presented.

Shop online You can shop 24/7 from the comfort of your own home. Need some extra help getting organised? Our website has loads of tips: visit hsw.com.au

Free measure and quote Your local store is happy to assist with your elfa® easy-build wardrobe and wine rack planning with an obligation-free measure and quote. We can even arrange delivery and installation.

Bear Cottage Bear Cottage is a medically supported home away from home providing support and respite for children with terminal illnesses and their families. At Bear Cottage they believe life, however brief, should be enriched and celebrated.

With the support of franchisees, staff, customers and suppliers, Howard’s reached its 2011 donation goal of $100,000. Money was raised through the sale of Pocket Pads, bonbons, sample sales, City 2 Surf and generous donations.

Help Howards support Bear Cottage by purchasing a Bag for a Bear ($4.95). All profits go to Bear Cottage.

2012 catalogue in-store now!

Come in-store for more information or visit hsw.com.au Important information Prices: Some Howards Storage World stores are independently owned and operated. Prices are recommended retail prices only and the price at your local store may be different. Advertised prices are valid only until 1/11/12 and after this date may not be available. Listed prices include GST and do not include accessories where shown.

Availability: Not all products in this magazine may be available at your local store. Some products may become out of stock or in some instances be discontinued. We recommend contacting your local store by telephone to confirm product availability and price to avoid disappointment.

Product specifications: All care is taken to ensure that product information is accurate at the time of print (June 2012). However, some modifications to product specifications may occur during the life of this magazine. Dimensions are included as a guide only. Some products may require self assembly.

Warranty information: At Howards, we respect your rights and our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and for compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

Howards Storage World® is the registered trademark of Howards Storage World Pty Ltd ©

inplace is published by Citrus Media on behalf of Howards Storage World. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. © Howards Storage World 2012.

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