Thursday 31 December 2009

Celebrate the New Year in style!

Urban Cape's favourite seasonal, great tasting and stylish looking cocktails to ring in the new decade:

Holly Berry

30ml of 42 Below Manuka Honey
1 dash of Raspberry Liqueur
150ml of Cranberry Juice
lime wedge to garnish
Glass: Highball

Prep: Fill a highball glass with ice, and add 42 below manuka honey and raspberry liqueur. Top with cranberry juice, stir well, and squeeze in a wedge of lime.

Dashing Through the Snow

30ml of 42 Below Manuka Honey
1 dash Vanilla Liquer
120ml Pineapple Juice
Vanilla Bean to Garnish

Prep: Fill a tumbler with ice. Add 42 below manuka honey, vanilla liqueur and top with pineapple juice. Stir and garnish with a vanilla bean to serve.

Plum Pudding

30ml Courvoiser Exclusif
15ml Brandy
15ml Goldschlager cinnamon schnapps
4 Blackberries
1 tinned plum (remove stone)
4 mint leaves & fresh nutmeg

Prep: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker and muddle. Fill with ice and shake.Strain contents into a martini glass. Garnish with mint and shaved nutmeg.


Wishing everyone a very happy, prosperous and stylish 2010!!!

Urban Cape's Inspirational Tips for a Stylish Festive Season


With the season of entertainment in full swing, wouldn't it be nice to have a house to be proud off?

You can beat the winter blues by brightening up your home this holiday season by simply changing your accessories and introducing colours to suit the Christmas theme. Cushions, throws, fresh flowers and decorative pieces of artwork in ruby red or chrimson highlight the seasonal spirit and add that magical Christmas feeling.

We love this gorgeous Odile Vase by LSA available from Oliver Bonas.
 
Cheerful Living Rooms
 
Keeping your decorations coordinated will ensure that your home looks stylish and sophisticated. From the wreath on the front door, to the Christmas tree and presents underneath, all should follow the same colour theme. Whether it's red, gold or white, select a colour and use it throughout and allow items to flow through to create a harmonious Christmas interior.
 
Using fresh cut flowers in your home is a simple and effective way to bring life into an interior. Alternatively try a faux modern arrangement, with red amaryllis stems bound tightly with rattan string. The best thing is, it will last forever! http://www.bloom.com/.

This Season's Hottest Christmas Colour Schemes

Burgundy Red with Copper, Gold  and Brown!

As an alternative from the predictable red and green colour scheme, burgundy red with copper and gold are instinctively associated with warmth and cheerfulness.

The richness of these colours is an indication of worth and strength when used in an interior design scheme. Use with earthier tones such as taupe to bring warmth to your interior.

Combine with a mandarin, clove and cinnamon candle for a magical Christmas aroma.


Pinecones add a touch of nature to Christmas decorating. This decorative gift of nature can be used by combining three festive and slightly frosted pine cone candles with an antiqued gold glass goblet. http://www.bloom.com/.


We love this hurricane lamp with scented candle from Marks and Spencer’s and the 'Coro' range of tableware by LSA available from Urban Cape.


More Alternative Colour Schemes to Red and Green

Purple with hints of red. The colour purple works just about anywhere, depending on your personal decorating ideas and preferences.

Purple has the ability to be warm and cool depending on what colours it is paired with. When teamed with red, the two colours create drama and evoke a feeling of warmth and vibrancy.

For a stress-free season add a few drops of Lavender essential oil to your candles. Lavender is a calming scent and an excellent tonic for the nerves, nervous tension and emotional stress. Its refreshing aroma removes nervous exhaustion and restlessness and increases mental activity.

We love the 'Zoffie' and 'Pierot' range of vases and tableware by LSA.  You can also visit http://www.purpleemporium.co.uk/ for all things purple!

Get the Look with Urban Cape's 'Timeless Distinction - Contemporary Elegance' Furniture Collection!


Feeling lost for inspiration and not sure how to create stylish space with minimal effort?

Inject colour and vibrancy into an otherwise boring and plain room by placing a couple of ottomans and complimentary cushions.



We love the simplicity of our 'Bettie' ottoman with its central button detail and its plush deep velvety fabric.

Our unique 'red woven' ottoman beautifully combines strips of hand woven leather with a solid mahogany base. This decorative accent will add colour and distinguished style to completely transform any room.


Urban Cape Interiors Launches Exclusive New Furniture Collection!

Urban Cape are excited to launch the latest editions to their timeless and contemporary furniture collection.



The new collection offers both a blend of contemporary with a twist of the traditional and draws upon the elements of purity, sculpture and geometry in an ensemble of simple, elegant shapes. Each piece is impeccably hand-crafted from extraordinary materials and finishes combining deep solid timbers, exotic hides, sumptuous soft plain and printed leathers as well as rich leather cladded options. Each piece is engineered to meet the highest standards of durability and quality.

Led by Charlotte Candillier the collection is designed by the London-based team, and the products are developed and manufactured by highly skilled craftspeople in both the UK and South Africa. Urban Cape also uniquely offers its clients the advantage of a collection that can be distinctively customised to suit any specification.

Please visit our website http://www.urbancape.com/ to view a sample of the furniture collection or contact us at info@urbancape.co.uk for further information.