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Parkes Phoenix

Make This Mother’s Day Present A Hit

April 27, 2017 By Maggi Barnard


Mother’s Day is a really special day for me. Mothers are truly wonderful nurturing creatures, especially my mum, and they are definitely worth an enormous amount of spoiling.

Here are some ideas to make this Mother’s Day present a hit. It is all about the gesture not the price tag. At Parkes Furniture One we have gifts that will suit anyone’s budget or taste.

Most mothers like to create a home that is inviting, comfortable and welcoming. May- be mum would love some faux flowers in a vase to brighten up a corner of the room or maybe some new cushions to update the sofa.

Decorator pieces such as statues, candleholders or a pot or urn will also prove a hit. If you really want to pull out all stops, why not buy mum her own chair or recliner so she can relax in a quiet corner and catch up on her reading.

There is also the option of a Parkes Fur- niture One gift voucher, or an inhome consultation with me. I would love to help her bring her decorating dreams to life!

Come and see our enormous range of homewares and decorator pieces. We would love to help you pick the perfect gift for your mum.

Happy Mother’s Day to all! Love Karen xx

Cushions Have Magical Powers…

March 23, 2017 By Maggi Barnard


The decorating powers that cushions hold should never be underestimated.

If I only had one item to use to turn a house into a home, I would use the humble cushion to instantly add warmth and personality to a room.

Cushions are an abundant species in my home even though the male in resi- dence can’t understand the deep connection I have made with these innate objects. But all I know is that at the end of the day when all the cushions are picked up off the floor from where John has casually thrown them and they are replaced perfectly on the lounge once again, everything is good with the world and I can sleep in peace. My lounge room looks warm and inviting once again.

You may wonder what it is about these simple objects that can render such deep emotions from me.

To begin with cushions are an easy way to link your home’s colour palette together. They are a relatively inexpensive way to inject colour, texture and style to a neutral room. It is very easy to update your look with just a few new cushions in a different decorator style to immediately change the feel of a room. If we add a new rug, espe- cially a shag rug – my favourite, the room can undergo a facelift without too much work.

I absolutely love it when we get a shipment of cushions in store. It is like opening Christmas presents. To see and touch all the new fabrics, textures and colours and

New stock arriving daily work out how I can combine them for display is akin to the rush I get from shopping. Just look at the difference cushions make in these photos. The before and after photos speak for themselves and the results are powerful when a touch of fluffing comes into play.

By Karen Creith

Western Red Cedar For Timber Windows And Doors

March 23, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

Western red cedar is a popular and durable timber that is sought after due to its beauty and durability. It is a timber that remains stable under most weather conditions and is not prone to shrinking or swelling. This means it holds its shape and ensures longevity.

As a low-density timber that offers very good thermal insulation, it helps with heating and cooling efficiency, reducing electricity costs and making a home more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Its versatility enables it to be used for both internal and external applications, as it is visually beautiful with rich and inviting colours. It has a fine texture and straight grain with growth rings often vis- ible. The durable yet soft properties let the material take very well to being stained and polished. The wood’s natural preservatives provide resistance to fungus and insects.
Western Red Cedar is a stylish and practical option with natural appeal, superior structural performance and elemental protection. For more information contact Glassplace on 6862 2346 or visit the showroom at 4 Clarke Street in Parkes.

The Low Down On Low E Glass

February 23, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

In The Central West we have a great climate for at least six months of the year.

So in autumn and spring we don’t need to be too concerned with temperature extremes.

On the other hand, our summers can get very warm and our winters rather cold.

Experience has shown the experts at the Glassplace that Low E grey tinted glass performs well in both summer and winter.

How does Low E tinted glass work? (Other names are smart glass, pyrolytic glass, or comfort glass.)

Low E grey glass cuts down the U value of a window or door. This is the amount of heat moving through the glass due to the difference in temperature: from the inside to the outside of your home, or office. Low E glass can therefore reduce your heating bill and your cooling costs.

Low E grey glass also reduces the total solar radiation coming through the glass. This is the Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient or SHGC. It also reduces glare to make your home more comfortable in summer.

The lower the numbers, the more benefit you will get from Low E glass.

If you still feel a bit confused about this glass, but want to know more, why not drop into the new Glassplace showroom in Clarke Street, Parkes. They will show you examples of Low E Glass in full sized windows so you can see what it looks like.

You can also have a go at their radiant

heat display to actually feel the difference Low E glass can make in your home.

Give them a call today!

Home Staging Adds Value

February 23, 2017 By Maggi Barnard


I have been very busy over the last few months staging a variety of homes for sale. Staging a home is very important and can add value to your property and thus give you more money in your pocket after sale day.

Staging works perfectly when a home is empty and unfurnished. It gives me a blank canvas to enter and create magic within that will have any prospective buyer simply falling in love with your home and thus wanting it to be their home.

An empty home is devoid of personality and the WOW factor and will not let that property to stand out from the crowd and create, no matter how good its bones are. It would not make a lasting impression on a prospective buyer.

With staging people hire my services and furniture for a specific period of time, usu- ally six weeks to entice a quick and profit- able sale from the marketplace.

It is simple and stress-free but the results absolutely speak for themselves.

Pictured right, are my favourite before and after images from a home staged last week in Dubbo. The clients and the real estate agent were so happy that I think a speedy sale could be just around the cor- ner. One home I staged last year in Orange didn’t even get to show its charm as it was snavelled up the first day it was listed for sale. It just looked that good!

By Karen Creith

What A Festival!

January 26, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

I had the opportunity during the Elvis Festival to style a major event for the Parkes Shire Council.

We held a reception for the major spon- sors of the festival and gave them an opportunity to get together and mingle.

Fluffing an event is very similar to how you would style and decorate a home. You want to create an atmosphere that sets the stage for the rest of the evening. And my philosophy for styling an event is the same as in homes. I like major wow pieces to command a space , look sensational but not crowd the surfaces to allow for people to move freely around the event.

You can see in the photo, with the enormous candelabras we created a really dramatic statement that was perfectly matched to the Vegas feel of the event.

The second key element was adding a roll of red carpet and bollards to the side entrance to the Royal Hotel. Instantly it set this area apart and deemed it of special significance just by its exclusive appearance. In a home the same rules apply. Creating a bold statement in your hallway with a large artwork will enhance and denote the home as an interesting place to visit. Always use over scale items that fill a wall rather than small artworks that can actually shrink the space. Remember that whatever the size of your frame of the artwork on a wall is your eye naturally thinks that could be the size of the wall as well. So big in artwork is always better!! I was also lucky enough to compere a fashion parade at Viva Splash Vegas. It was the first of its kind for the festival and proved very popular. It was also very special to me as my daughter Ali was the main co-ordinator. I donned my volunteer clothes on Sunday afternoon and had a ball describing the outfits each entrant wore.

Stay cool and I will be back to fluffing full-time in February.

Love Karen x

How to Remove Clutter From Your Home

January 26, 2017 By Maggi Barnard

A new year is a good time to remove clutter, and enjoy a tidy home. Here are some useful ways to get started.

Get three big boxes. Label each box: Keep, Sell and Charity.

Set a time limit for the session. Set a timer and when it rings, make yourself stop, clean up, and take a break so you don’t burn out.

Make three piles on the floor, to match each of the marked boxes. Later, you probably will change some of the items, or move them to another box.

Tackle one room at a time. In each room make three piles on the floor, matching the boxes.

Find a place for everything. Keep the things you need in a place where you will find it easily. Make sure everyone in the family is aware to return things after they use them.

Clean and vacuum the room. Look around and enjoy the neat and tidy area. Scrub off grime from surfaces, remove cob- webs and repaint if necessary.

Sort through the keep box, aiming to put more into the charity or sale boxes. The rule of thumb is if you have not used an item in a year or more, it goes!

Take the box for charity to your car. If it is too much, call a charity of your choice and ask them to pick it up. Sort through and price items for your garage sale. Try to arrange the garage sale as soon as possible, so you will not be tempted to re- turn the items to your house.

Look around! No clutter, no mess, just a nice clean and nice looking house. Keep it that way on a daily basis.

Keep your living area and bedrooms clutter free by minimizing décor. This will not only look larger but cleaner. Having less décor means less to clean and dust.

Stop shopping! This is a tough one, but learning to not replace items that you have gotten rid of is an important one to follow. Also it is really important to shop well. It is easier to remember the items you spent more money on, and to treasure them above the cheaper things.

Set limits on things. Having eight cereals to choose from is not being realistic. Enjoy twotothreeitems,thenoncefinished,buy others. This will teach children to respect what they have and it will encourage a less-cluttered mindset.

Get used to having less. Once you de- clutter your environment, enjoy the space and the look of having less. Take up a hobby and distract yourself from items you probably do not need.

(source: http://www.wikihow.com)

Christmas Is A Special Season

December 22, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

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Now that I have finally got my head around the fact that it has been a year since last Christmas and that it is actually going to happen again this Sunday I have been filled with Christmas cheer and am excited for the festivities. I love that families get the chance to come together at Christmas and enjoy some special time with truly amazing food. As I sit here and write this column I am already drooling at the thought of my glazed Christmas ham that will hit the table at lunchtime within our home. For me though Christmas is a great time to be grateful and sit back and reflect on the past year.

Christmas styling needs to inject a real wow factor into our homes and set this time of year apart as something really special. The setting creates the atmosphere and it can be easily done regardless of your budget. I love injecting nature into my styling and the bigger the branches the better. We have a great range in-store now of LED trees that feature beautiful snow covered branches that look simply amazing whether they are adorned or not.

Here at Parkes Furniture One we have Christmas presents for everyone in the family and we still have time to deliver to Condobolin if you get excited and can’t fit your purchases in your own car. And remember to take time to just sit and relax this holiday season. Put your feet up and enjoy a rest. See you all in 2017.

Love Karen

Start A New Christmas Tradition Each Year

December 22, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

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What are your Christmas traditions? You can keep on creating new traditions every festive period for wonderful memories for the years ahead.
Here are some ideas:
Baking and fun food traditions: Have a cookie day and invite nan and your kids’ friends to help decorate them, or make a gingerbread house or even a whole village. A chocolate fondue with lots of different fruits is sure to be a winner. Choose somewhere to go to surprise people with Christmas cookies or chocolates, like a hospital or nursing home.

Keepsakes and memory makers: Make one keepsake ornament each year, such as handprints in salt dough. Give your children a new tree decoration each year to build up their own collection for when they leave home. Buy a bauble and write memories of each child on it and do one every year, or let your child grasp it with paint on their hand to get their hand print. On Christmas eve write a letter to each of your children about their year, what they
love and what they’ve learned and keep it for them when they turn 18. Donate some of your kids’ toys to charity, or let the kids buy presents to put under charity trees.

La Bella Celebrates Another Successful Year With Clients

November 24, 2016 By Maggi Barnard

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La Bella Medispa celebrated another successful year with their clients at the business’ annual Christmas party last week. This year the party was held at the newly opened Hart Bar at the Railway Hotel. The La Bella team at the party were at the back Jess Galvin, Jaymie Wheeldon, Laura Jelbart, Jasmyne Perceval, Rebecca Miller, Carla Poole and Marty Dswonitzky. In front are Codie Sense, Hannah Tanswell and Chloe Ingram.

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