News

If you’re like me, you leave the hardest people to buy for until the last minute. And then end up getting them something lame like a box of Favourites or a Kmart gift voucher.Well, this is your official notice that you can stop doing that.Because at vintage emporium Dirty Janes in Fyshwick you’ll knock over the final five people on your shopping list in a single lunch break. If you’ve never heard of Dirty Janes, picture this: a market of the most incredible vintage collections from across the region in one single place. The makers and collectors behind the stalls at Dirty Janes come from as far as Braidwood and Gundaroo. So you’re supporting a small business when you buy.Here’s some inspiration for the hard-to-buy-for friends on your shopping list, according to where they live.<h3 data-block-key="6ovc5">Kingston foreshore</h3><img alt="IMG_0793" class="richtext-image full-width" height="600" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0793.width-800.jpg" width="800">Retro Starfire roller skates Price: $40 Stall owner: Carpe DiemJust picture your best friend cruising along the promenade in these, wind in her hair and the smell of Local Press coffee in the air. Waving to people enjoying an ale outside at The Dock and young couples climbing aboard a Go Boat. The ultimate purchase for a woman on the go.<h3 data-block-key="30ka8">Ainslie</h3><img alt="IMG_0820" class="richtext-image full-width" height="710" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0820.width-800.jpg" width="800">Canberra foundation suburbs tea towel Price: $60 Stall owner: Rhiannon JonesAh, the suburbs that brought the capital to life, one by one. This beautiful design is available as a framed or unframed print, but we’re loving the tea towel version, which would look stunning hanging on the wall of a little Ainslie kitchen.<h3 data-block-key="coqvl">Bonner</h3><img alt="IMG_0835" class="richtext-image full-width" height="600" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0835.width-800.jpg" width="800">Russian dolls Price: From $48 Stall owner: Faded GlamourBelieve me when I say the joy of opening Matryoshka dolls – or Russian nesting dolls – never gets old. I mean, when you get to the teeny dolls at the end and realise there’s another teeny doll inside? So precious. These are perfect for kids growing up in the new northern suburbs of Canberra; treasures that can stay in the family for decades.<h3 data-block-key="793b">Manuka</h3><img alt="IMG_0828" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1066" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0828.width-800.jpg" width="800">British style crowns Price: From $80 Stall owner: Borlewen HouseIn case you missed it, it was Queen Elizabeth II who originally mispronounced the name of one of our earliest suburbs (she referred to it as ‘Marn-ika’ as opposed to ‘Man-oo-kah’). We’ve been using her pronunciation ever since. Give your loved one lucky enough to live in 2603 this bejewelled crown as a reminder of their suburb’s very posh origins.<h3 data-block-key="1brso">Ngunnawal</h3><img alt="IMG_0852" class="richtext-image full-width" height="600" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0852.width-800.jpg" width="800">Vintage 1982 Bon Jovi photofile Price: $25 Stall: Johnny the Fox RecordsHead to any backyard party in Ngunnawal and they’re guaranteed to be blasting Livin’ on a Prayer or You Give Love a Bad Name. This set of glossy photos from 1982 is perfect for a Ngunnawal girlfriend who likely grew up in Belco and moved to Gungahlin as a young first home owner.<h3 data-block-key="c1p7i">Banks</h3><img alt="IMG_0842" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1066" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0842.width-800.jpg" width="800">Black Mountain Tower Christmas ornament Price: $20 Stall: Beehive CollectivePerfect for those who sadly don’t have a view of our iconic tower from all the way over in the Valley.<h3 data-block-key="d4plk">Barton</h3><img alt="IMG_0838" class="richtext-image full-width" height="600" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0838.width-800.jpg" width="800">1930s Bakelite telephone Price: $55 Stall: 634We like to think this antique was salvaged from a former public service building in the late 1930s or early 40s. From the Department of the Interior (or something just as fancy). The best part of owning this telephone would be asking your children or grandchildren what they think it was once used for.Dirty Janes is located at 80 Collie Street, Fyshwick. Drive into the Domayne carpark and head right to the back!

What to buy your Canberra friends for Xmas, by suburb

Canberran Carly Stone admits she has the best job in the world.Her family owns the much-loved Bredbo Christmas Barn, and Carly spends several months of the year in the United States and Europe, shopping, quite literally, for Christmas decorations. She orders them en masse and brings them home to the giant barn 80km south of Canberra.<img alt="IMG_0455" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1066" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0455.width-800.jpg" width="800">“I’m very lucky,” she laughs.“At the moment we’re actually shopping for Christmas 2024, we work about 14 months ahead.”From the Christmasworld Market of Frankfurt, Germany, to the Christmas Fair of Dallas, Texas, Carly gives us the top five decorating themes people the are obsessed with globally this year.<h3 data-block-key="1k68u">Country luxe</h3><img alt="IMG_0469" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1066" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0469.width-800_CVyNx4k.jpg" width="800">For years now it’s been all about the neutrals – natural light woods combined with highlights of silver and white. That’s because this is the colour palette of most modern homes, Carly says.<img alt="IMG_0506" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1054" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0506.width-800.jpg" width="800">“Modern and understated is definitely here to stay,” she says. “And the beauty is that if you start with this palette, you can build on it year after year.”<h3 data-block-key="cbdj3">Gingerbread and home-baked treats</h3><img alt="IMG_0480" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1066" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0480.width-800.jpg" width="800">For many people, Christmas is captured in the smell of baking gingerbread (except me: I’m lazy and buy the pre-made house kits from Aldi). Gingerbread men, women, children, houses and entire villages, sprinkled with icing sugar snow, are flying off the shelves this year.<img alt="IMG_0481" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1066" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0481.width-800.jpg" width="800">‘Fake bakes’ are also big: think hanging cupcakes, red-and-white peppermint cappuccinos, cookies and sweet pastries – all fake of course – from the branches of your tree.<h3 data-block-key="c9ifc">The anti-Santa</h3><img alt="IMG_4700" class="richtext-image full-width" height="983" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_4700.width-800.jpg" width="800">Are Canberrans getting crankier each year? Or is it just that the story of The Grinch represents the power Christmas can have on even the most cold-hearted of people?<img alt="IMG_0474" class="richtext-image full-width" height="944" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0474.width-800.jpg" width="800">Either way, the horrid green guy (with a soft heart underneath) is more and more popular every year, with Dr. Seuss-inspired decorations hitting mantles, Christmas trees and front doors.<h3 data-block-key="be5kd">Woodland magic</h3><img alt="IMG_0463" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1066" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0463.width-800.jpg" width="800">Greens and reds are always popular, Carly says, but this year dark forest greens with dark wood – highlighted by animal print – is magical for Christmas trees and homes.The darker tones are perfect if you’ve already got a foundation of the white and light wood tones mentioned above in country luxury.<h3 data-block-key="bts6p">The Nutcracker</h3><img alt="IMG_0507" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1054" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0507.width-800.jpg" width="800">Designed by Germans to keep away malevolent spirits and bring good luck at Christmas, nutcrackers are a symbol of the festive season adored the world over.<img alt="IMG_0483" class="richtext-image full-width" height="1066" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/IMG_0483.width-800.jpg" width="800">Tchaikovsky’s ballet, written in 1892, is performed at Christmas time across the globe, while newer adaptations of the ballet’s story – captured in this Barbie movie, for example – ensure the nutcracker dolls stay relevant to younger audiences.

'Fake bakes' and The Grinch: The Christmas decorating trends of 2023

Property

You can walk to the local shops, school, adventure playground and Point Hut Pond park from this lovely home at <a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">8 McCarten Place</a> in Gordon.But with stunning views from your front door to the Brindabella Mountains - and a very comfortable four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with a great backyard - you may never want to leave the house.<img alt="8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485-image-0-20231016050158927593-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485-image-0.width-800.jpg" width="800"><a href="/agents/colin-mcintyre/">Colin McIntyre</a> from <a href="https://zango.com.au/agencies/mcintyre-property/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McIntyre Property</a> says the McCarten Place home has great neighbours.“This house is at the end of a cul-de-sac so it has one home beside it and another behind it, and on the other side is a greenbelt,&quot; Colin says.“There’s nice undulation in most areas of Gordon, so you get mountain views from most of the homes.”The property features an 18-panel solar system and a range of climate control options, including ducted gas heating, evaporative cooling and ceiling fans.<img alt="8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485-image-0-20231016050159936869-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485-image-0.width-800_wCEvukG.jpg" width="800">The bedrooms are generous, with the main bedroom located at the front of the home, away from the other bedrooms.“The house has been well maintained and it will be a great second home for somebody or someone looking to retire to single-level living without giving up the luxuries of a nice home,” Colin says.The home is pet-friendly and has high fences for privacy. The garden is low care with a chook pen in place and a raised space ready for filling with flowers and plants of your choice.<img alt="8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485-image-0-20231016050201543473-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485-image-0.width-800_8y7xsvr.jpg" width="800">“The undercover area is well-shaded and is framed by wisteria. It sits on the eastern side of the house so it&#x27;s great for entertaining on an afternoon in summer out of the western sun.”Special touches include a pyrolytic self-cleaning wall oven, new hybrid flooring, and new 100 per cent wool carpet.“With the kitchen located in the heart of the home, you&#x27;ll be able to watch the children playing in the great-sized family room,” Colin says.As a resident of the Tuggeranong area, Colin describes Gordon as a great place to raise a family.<img alt="8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485-image-0-20231016050202825420-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485-image-0.width-800_hVND0GT.jpg" width="800">“It’s a family-friendly area and it has evolved over the years. It used to be ‘nappy valley’, but that was 25 years ago, and now all of those kids have grown up and moved away, and we are starting to see them move back with their own families,&quot; he says.“Now it’s their kids who will grow up in the area and probably get involved with the same sporting clubs and go to the same schools.”He said the area in Gordon was one of the original suburbs in the Lanyon Valley to be developed.<img alt="8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485-image-0-20231016050203703991-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485-image-0.width-800_brooGvY.jpg" width="800">“It had some good covenants in place when it was being built in regards to each dwelling required to have a tiled roof and a brick garage – there were no tin or metal garages allowed. This has all created a high standard of consistent living throughout the suburb.”This property has a double garage, providing internal access to the home and additional off-street parking for your convenience. Public transport is just a stone’s throw away.8 McCarten Place, Gordon, is for sale for $919,000.<a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/8-mccarten-place-gordon-act-2906-88485/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the full listing.</a>Article originally written and published by <a href="https://the-riotact.com/settle-into-a-great-neighbourhood-in-gordon-and-enjoy-mountain-views/715431" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Riotact</a>.

Love the Christmas lights of Gordon? Move in just before the holiday season

With plenty of natural light, spacious rooms and a new pool, this home in Gordon is great for entertaining or relaxing.<a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">4 Jerome Place, Gordon</a>, features four bedrooms, two bathrooms, ducted reverse cycle heating and cooling, landscaped gardens and a self-cleaning, heated, saltwater in-ground pool, with an in-ground retractable thermal blanket.<img alt="4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639-image-0-20221115033146455549-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639-image-0-2.width-800.jpg" width="800">Beautifully landscaped gardens frame the front of the home. The front door opens onto a light-filled formal lounge and dining room. Featuring full-length picture windows and sliding barn doors, this makes a lovely space to retreat to and relax in.An open-plan kitchen, meals, and sunroom area is at the heart of the home. Perfect for watch the kids play while you cook up a storm.<img alt="4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639-image-0-20221115033142937456-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639-image-0-2.width-800_9IpdFXZ.jpg" width="800">Stainless steel appliances, including a freestanding oven, are a highlight of the kitchen, along with a five-burner gas cooktop and a dishwasher. There’s a large pantry great for food and appliance storage, space for a double-door fridge and stylish concrete benchtops, plus space to accommodate bar stools.The sunken sunroom is a place for the whole family to gather, drowning in natural light. With a gorgeous view out to the pool, this home offers space, practicality and lifestyle.<img alt="4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639-image-0-20221115033141696564-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639-image-0-2.width-800_4x2BAoP.jpg" width="800">The bedrooms are all large and feature built-in robes. The master bedroom is segregated to the front of the home and offers a walk-in robe and large ensuite bathroom with a good-sized vanity for plenty of storage, plus a large corner spa bath.The main bathroom has been renovated and features a beautiful freestanding soaking tub, floating vanity with vessel sink and feature hexagon tiles. The shower has frameless screens and mixer taps.<img alt="4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639-image-0-20221115033145447100-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639-image-0-2.width-800_3Eu8Sil.jpg" width="800">Outside is where the lifestyle really begins – enjoy relaxing on deck or splash about with the kids in the self-cleaning (yes, self-cleaning!) saltwater in-ground pool; the pool is heated by a heat pump for extended use in Canberra&#x27;s four seasons and offers an underground retractable thermal blanket.The home is close to a choice of local schools, a short drive to Lanyon Marketplace or South.Point Shopping Centre as well as local shops. It&#x27;s close to public transport and offers plenty of walking trails and parks to nearby.<img alt="4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639-image-0-20221115033148166697-thumbnail-1920x1920-70" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639-image-0-2.width-800_pBC0w0B.jpg" width="800"><a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">4 Jerome Place, Gordon</a>, is for sale for $1,059,000.<a href="https://zango.com.au/sale/4-jerome-place-gordon-act-2906-69639/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">View the full listing.</a>Article originally written and published by <a href="https://the-riotact.com/bright-space-and-beautiful-gardens-in-gordon/613346" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The RiotACT.</a>

Stunning home in Canberra's Christmas lights suburb - Gordon - on the market

For some it’s an obvious answer: ‘wherever it can fit!’ while for others it has pride of place in the exact same spot every single year. But when it comes to the perfect location for your Christmas tree, it’s what happens underneath the tree that matters most according to local stylists Julia Roos and Kiara Shah.According to Julia, owner of Canberra-based <a href="https://www.instagram.com/modemodern_/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mode Modern</a>, “the perfect spot is the comfiest spot for sitting around on the floor on Christmas morning to open pressies and give cuddles.&quot;<img alt="shutterstock_455965228 (1).jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/shutterstock_455965228_1.width-800.jpg" width="800">“The Christmas tree should definitely go in the lounge or living space – the cosiest, best place for just the family to enjoy,” Julia says.“In the evening, when it’s time for feet up, I love collapsing onto the couch and enjoying the twinkling lights, the soft scent of a real tree and the quiet ambience the tree provides.”Kiara Shah, principal designer at <a href="https://www.loftstudio.com.au/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Loft Studio</a>: “Share the special feeling outside as well. Show the love to passers-by putting your tree in a window and having the lights sparkling from dusk onwards.”<img alt="shutterstock_297024461.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/shutterstock_297024461.width-800.jpg" width="800">But what if you live in a studio apartment in Braddon or a one-beddy in Bruce?“Go for a little potted tree - Bunnings have good ones - that can sit on a console, bench or table, or a large vase with some gnarly branches to hang various trinkets from,” Julia says.“If you have a little balcony or courtyard, your tree can go out there! Just make sure you use outdoor fairy lights and go as big as you can.”<img alt="shutterstock_1586505676 (1).jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/shutterstock_1586505676_1.width-800.jpg" width="800">Kiara says curated is okay, but nostalgic decorations are more meaningful than bought ones. Julia has two non-negotiable rules: white tree lights only (not coloured ones) and under no circumstances should tinsel ever be used.“Remember the canvas you’re working from is deep green, so colour is always going to pop and look beautiful,” Kiara says.“Be careful not to over decorate and neutral or white ornaments can balance out the colour.”Julia: “The joy and nostalgia the kids experience when they pull the decorations out of the box each year makes me so happy. But it’s important to note that there’s nothing wrong with curating the tree look – they don’t all need to go on every year, and only the cutest ones make the cut.”<img alt="shutterstock_518892604.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="525" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/shutterstock_518892604.width-800.jpg" width="800">Julia prefers real trees to fakes but does remember one nightmare Christmas when a friend got more than she bargained for with a real tree.“She and her family found a huge one at a Christmas tree farm, brought it home and decorated it,” Julia recalls.“The next morning they awoke to find two huge, fat huntsman spiders on the wall and hundreds of baby spiders all through her living room.“She’s had a fake tree ever since.”<img alt="shutterstock_2087179099.jpg" class="richtext-image full-width" height="533" src="https://d2t3vhau9g43uy.cloudfront.net/media/images/shutterstock_2087179099.width-800.jpg" width="800">Kiara once had a Red Hill client whose huge foyer was designed around the Christmas tree.“Just like the tree, we had deep green furniture as a base and then complemented that with coloured artwork and accessories.“It was stunning.”

5 news articles with tag christmas

What to buy your Canberra friends for Xmas, by suburb

'Fake bakes' and The Grinch: The Christmas decorating trends of 2023

Love the Christmas lights of Gordon? Move in just before the holiday season

Stunning home in Canberra's Christmas lights suburb - Gordon - on the market

Family debate: Where should your Christmas tree go?