Monthly Archives: August 2011

{Garden, Home and Party} Spring fever?

29 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in Holiday/Seasonal cooking, Personal Information

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Okay, I know we’re well into summer, in fact the count-down has begun for fall!  That said, I think I have spring summer fever.  I’ve hit a wall with regard to any  creative ideas for new posts.  I was a little down about it until I read similar complaints from  2 other favorite bloggers.  They were taking a break and/or cutting back for a while on their posts.

One of my favorite blog sites, for the love of a house, is taking a break  due to “bloggers block”  and another favorite My French Country Home is cutting back to regain some balance in her busy life.  Sounds good to me.

The Steward

 

Slim Paley

The Steward

Since I’ve been blogging in earnest I’ve met many creative and generous blog friends and I’ve felt as though I finally have a way of being creative while working a 40 hour week as an executive assistant.  I enjoy my job but I love the joy of feathering my nest, keeping my garden (mostly) in order and entertaining family and friends.  My site gives me the opportunity to journal various creative projects related to home and hearth.

Roger Davies Photography

So, for the rest of 2011 I will most probably post twice a week instead of my Monday, Wednesday, Friday current schedule and I’m giving myself a little vacation and will pick up this new schedule beginning September 8th.  Please don’t forget about me, I’ll miss you all!

Heirloom Philosophy

Have you ever had a lapse in your creativity?

{Home} Cozy and other adjectives that describe home

26 Friday Aug 2011

Posted by in Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Family, Gardening

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I am guilty of using some of the same adjectives to describe people, places and things (home decor) that I like or feel strongly about…such as the word “love”  (I defiantly use this word too much, wait isn’t love a verb?), warm, inviting, calming, comfortable and on and on.   One of the words that I use to describe rooms or vignettes that I like is “cozy”.

Design Chic

I search for cozy and inviting all the time.  They describe best what attracts me to a room or a corner of a room.

House Beautiful

Great meals can fall into the whole cozy definition for me…a fall or winter stew or soup with warm crusty bread can garner the feeling of cozy.  Maybe that is why I like the fall and winter seasons.

 Melanie Molesworth

What does ‘cozy’ mean to me?  I think for me it means the room has a lived-in comfort, furnishings that are overstuffed, less than perfect, warm colors, accessories that display a life of the person that lives there, a history, a warm color palate, someplace you would like to sit yourself down and enjoy a welcoming cup of tea or a glass of wine and good company.

Accessories make the room for me and antique treasures, above all, invite me in, provide the interest that makes me want to sit and stay awhile…

Content in a Cottage

Fairy Graphics

Michael del Piero Interior Design

for the love of a house

Home and Garden

Domino

But above all, certain rooms or vignettes immediately make me feel like they are inviting, cozy.

The Lettered Cottage

Books and sliding barn doors say cozy to me…

Content in a Cottage

I still like spring and summer descriptions…cool, fresh, breezy, carefree, comfortable (although this word works with cozy too).

Even gardens can create a feeling of comfort and cozy for me.  English cottage gardens do a great job of conjuring the feeling in me.

Design Chic

What do you think of as your favorite adjective to describe a home, inside and out?  What speaks to you about homes you love?

{Home} Paneled walls

24 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Decorating, DIY (do it yourself), Renovating

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There is something about wood paneled walls that I find so appealing.  I like the formal raised-panel walls just as much as the simple bead board walls.

Some of you may know I recently applied bead board paneling to our master bathroom walls and I have been very happy with the outcome.

But whether it’s a country style home or formal, traditional décor, the wood walls always invite me in.

The above wood paneled walls in white contrast the black sliding barn doors beautifully.  Black and white are such a classic.  Love the white slip covered chaise in the left corner of the image.

The pale blue/gray paint is so lovely in this more formal bedroom.  I’ve never painted wood paneled wall anything but shades of white but I love the calming effect of this whisper blue.

This bedroom is a flip of the bedroom above.  The raise paneled walls give the room a historic feel, as if you’re in an older, well-preserved home.

This Country Living room has great windows!  I actually like the antique white against the white paneling.  Love the linens!

I like the contrasting paint color of the worm-wood paneling and the bamboo shade…Dan Marty Designs

Design Chic posted a piece on banquets.  I really like this room for it’s wall of glass front cupboards to the white tongue in grove paneling.

 A Bunny Williams room…so wonderfully symmetric and calming in its neutral palate.

Isn’t this family room inviting…sisal or some natural fiber rug, overstuffed sofa and 2 great club chairs.  The paneling just adds to the warmth for me.

Now this is a bathroom…maybe in my next life!  Love the tub and the raised panel walls {sigh}

This paneling helps make the room more inviting, 2-story ceilings can be cold.

I like the extra wide opening to the living room, such a luxurious detail.

Isn’t this pretty, raised panel screen doors, paneled ceiling and wonderful doors.

Hand painted wood floors break up all of the wood but I really like the planks on the wall running perpendicular to the floor.

By the way, I fully intended to post some images of formal room with carved paneling but it seems I haven’t saved any.  I guess I’ve subconsciously embraced a simple, classic style of decor. 🙂

Do you have a paneled room in your home? 

 

A blast from the past…Southern Accents magazine

22 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in Antiques, Decorating, Gardens

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The mother of two of my nearest and dearest friends is moving from a home she’s been in for 50 years.  I always found Marilyn’s  home comfortable and charming.  It doesn’t hurt that it is located in one of my favorite Orange County cities, Corona del Mar.  But her home has gotten to be too much for her and since she has family and friends living in a nearby senior community, Marilyn has decided to make the leap to a new chapter and more manageable abode.

The CDM home is a single-story ranch style home that sits on a canyon where deer were often spotted…I’m not sure whether they still see deer but the canyon is filled with trees and shrubs so it’s such a great backdrop to the ocean view off in the distance.

Linda (Marilyn’s eldest daughter, and my maid of honor nearly 39 years ago) is down from Bainbridge Island to help her sister (my other good friend, Gretchen), pack up the home and host a garage sale to get rid of some of the items that won’t fit in the new, smaller home.

Since Linda, Gretchen and I all share a passion for home design, and nesting in general, when the sisters came across a box of magazines they thought of me.  Thank you Gretchen and Linda!  The magazines they delivered this afternoon are none other than one of my all time favorites, Southern Accents.  As most of you probably know, the magazine shut it’s doors without notice a couple of years ago and fortunately I had saved about 12 issues.  I still miss the magazine’s southern style and all the lovely rooms and fabulous gardens they published 10 times a year.

The nine issues are mostly dated 1990 and 1991 but there is a 10th anniversary issue dated 1987!  Interestingly, most of the images hold up but there are a few of the ads that clearly have the “Country French” vibe, similar to the trend that took Southern California by storm around that time…probably the rest of the country as well.

The May-June 1987 issue, had this ad for Country Life Designs.  In Southern California this look (above) was huge and I had a bedroom that resembled this look.  Some of my friends had nearly every room wallpapered in the Country Life designed paper and I always thought it was so pretty.  We all used faience farm animals as decorative accessories…bunnies and geese were especially popular.  I still have a few of the rabbits but usually only display them in the spring.  The faience geese were more timeless and I still love seeing them as an accessory in a country French style room.  Furnishings were French, some new and some antiques.

The formal garden featured in “Quintessentially Mobile” article is timeless.  The images for a home by architect Harry Inge Johnstone are typical of the lovely homes Southern Accents featured in each issue.

Like this New Orleans apartment…

The sofa looks almost slip covered, although I believe it is upholstered, the room looks as if it could be in a feature for a 2011 magazine.  Good design never goes out of style even if some of the contributing features such as wall paper use come and go.  The 3 panels above the sofa are wonderful.  Today the room might have wood floors and a sisal rug but the neutral palate is very 21st century.

In a 1990 issue I noticed a monthly feature titled Tablescapes.  That is what made this magazine a favorite of mine.  They would give you ideas for all aspects of comfortable and gracious living.

I apologize for the blurry pic.  My scanner wasn’t working so I took a picture of the magazine page.

I always looked forward to the issues with reference articles done on various antiques.  They would advise you how to purchase authentic antiques and what to look for and what to avoid.

If you visit Southern Accents website HERE you will see some of the later rooms featured in their magazine.

When I’m experiencing withdrawals from Southern Accents I’ll now have the dozen or so issues I kept for the year or so before the magazine closed their doors and a dozen issues form the early nineties.  That should give me plenty to garner ideas and inspiration for some time.

Do you have an all time favorite home designs magazine?  I’d love to hear.

 

{Party} Easy barbecue chicken skewers and vegetables

19 Friday Aug 2011

Posted by in Drink, Entertaining, Food, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

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I’ve been a little crazy busy this month.  First our trip to Austin to visit family (very fun, very HOT) and then our trip to Phoenix (not so much fun, very HOT).  I am ready to live out the final several weeks of summer with relaxation and back yard barbecues on the agenda.

For ideas and inspiration I visited the one and only Martha Stewart Living.

 Clever leaf coasters would be cute at a backyard barbecue.

I’m not sure I’d make these cute little envelop packets for my melon balls but you have to admit, they’re kinda cute.

This is more my speed.

With that in mind I thought I’d pull out a recipe I received at a friend’s bridal shower.  The hostess requested that everyone invited to the shower provide a favorite recipe in advance of the date of the event.  When we arrived she had printed out all of the recipes for each guest.  There were some really tasty recipes in this packet and this is one of them.

I haven’t used rosemary as skewers but I love the look, maybe this idea I will use when I fix these skewers.

Note, I cook these on the outdoor grill but as the recipe states, you can fix these on a grill pan in your kitchen…but why would you?

On the whole leaf theme, these votive and vases look great covered in leaves.  I also like the burlap table runner and plant to make one for my patio table.

The main goal is to relax for the remaining weeks of summer…at least I’m going to try!

And one last Martha idea…remember those handles you get from departments stores to make holding shopping bags easier?  That’s what this holder is…placed over what looks like a cardboard container.  Visit her side if you are interested in making this, I’ll be relaxing in the back yard.

Grilled Balsamic Glazed Chicken and Vegetable Skewers

 

6 chicken breasts, boneless and skinless 12 cremini mushrooms, cleaned
3 cloves garlic, minced 2 red onions cut into eighths
3 T. basil, chopped 5 zucchini, cut into large cubes
2 T. thyme, chopped 3 red peppers cut into 2” pieces
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar Salt and pepper to taste
3 T. whole grain mustard 12 skewers soaked in water
1/2 c. olive oil  

 (Note:  You can substitute other veggies if you aren’t fond of this list)

 Cut each chicken breast into six large cubes and set aside.  Place the garlic, basil, thyme, balsamic, whole grain mustard, olive oil, salt and pepper into a bowl and whisk together to incorporate.  Pour 3/4 of the marinade over the chicken and reserve the rest to brush onto the vegetables while grilling.  Let the chicken marinate for one hour or more.

 

While the meat is marinating, cut up all the vegetables and place into separate bowls.  Once the chicken has marinated, take the skewers and place one piece of chicken, onion, pepper, chicken, mushroom, zucchini and another piece of chicken and place onto a baking sheet.  Repeat until all the chicken and vegetables are gone.  Sprinkle the skewers with salt and pepper.  With a pastry brush, lightly brush the vegetables with the reserved marinade.

 Heat a large grill or grill pan and place the skewers on the grill; cook for 3-4 minutes, then turn and cook until the meat is cooked through.  Remove from heat and keep warm in a 250° oven until ready to serve.  Place the skewers on a platter and garnish with fresh herbs.

 I serve this with the a mixed green salad and some fresh sliced melon.  Easy and tasty.  Enjoy.

{Home} Toile, a classic

17 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Decorating

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My readers probably have picked up on the fact that toile is a favorite of mine.  I talked about it HERE.  When my friend, Carol, gave me her blue and white duvet cover and shams I posted about the facelift I gave our guest room using the blue and white toile linens HERE.  I later revealed that we covered the toile wallpaper in our master bathroom due to some dry wall damage that had occurred HERE.

The withdrawals have been challenging but I still have a toile chair in my reading room and I completed a serving tray with some of the leftover Pierre Deux toile wallpaper and some of the left over toile from the reading room chair and that has eased the pain. 🙂

This is the master bath wallpaper under glass on a $9.99 Home Goods tray.

This is the leftover fabric from the toile chair.

I hope to use the tray and the glass (I purchased from my frame shop) throughout the year.  I’ll cut some fabric or papers that reflect the season…pretty fun.

This photo was taken before my re-do of this room but it’s a better shot of the toile ladder-back chair than the newer image.

So I have been compiling some lovely images throughout the year of rooms that use toile and thought I’d share them.

image via Country Living

Image via tartanscot

Unknown

Home & Leisure

Unknown

Unknown…isn’t this the sweetest vase?  The roses look good enough to eat.

Do you like toile?  Is it too fussy for your taste?  I understand if it is…I live with someone that feels that way!

 

{Party} Fettuccine with Sausage and Summer Savory

15 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in Drink, Entertaining, Food, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

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Happy Monday my blogland  friends.

I’m currently in the hot spot of the nation, Arizona, closing my parents house…my mom passed away a year ago and my dad passed one year later.  In any event, not fun stuff, but the home sold with little effort, which is a good thing.

As a result, I’m passing along a very simple, delicious recipe that I’ve had in my files for years. (I believe I got it from Carla and she got it from a cooking class she took one summer).  It’s very yummy and very easy, and I thought you might enjoy serving it to your family and/or friends one of these summer evenings.   It’s great with some warm,  crusty bread and butter and a simple green salad with a Dijon vinaigrette.  I like to pour a glass of Sauvignon Blanc from the Marlborough region of Australia…Kim Crawford is a favorite.  Enjoy!

Image via Heirloom Philisophy

-OR-

I’ll be back Wednesday with a fun post on toile.  I look forward to chatting with you then.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon summer savory
  • 3 tablespoons butter, room temperature
  • 8 sundried tomatoes (I used roasted grape tomatoes, cut in half)
  • 1 lb. Italian sausage (I used ½ spicy, ½ regular)
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • ¾ lb. fettuccine, or any other pasta you like
  • Parmesan cheese

Preparation Instructions

Cream butter and beat in savory, cover and refrigerate overnight (I didn’t do this step).  Remove sausage from casings and brown in a large skillet until cooked through, add garlic and cook 1 minute longer.  Add chicken broth and tomatoes.  Bring to a simmer and add the savory butter (or savory and butter).  Simmer another 10 minutes and serve over cooked pasta.  Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Serves 4-6

Stay cool this week and celebrate each of the last days of summer!

{Home} Paint colors…making a difficult choice

12 Friday Aug 2011

Posted by in Decorating, Renovating

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As some of you may know, we’re finally renovating our guest bathroom.  It’s a bit of a good news/bad news deal.  Good news:  I have many of the major components [vanity, wall sconces, canned lighting, fan, bathtub, toilet, crown, base and door casing selected; bad news:  I’ve decided to select a paint color with a hint of gray  to it to go with the Carrara (thanks to Vignette Design for setting me straight on the spelling) marble vanity top and floor.

image via Vignette Design {1}

The vanity we have ordered (below) is a Pottery Barn design.  Due to limited space in the guest bathroom we choose this little 26″ wide piece.  The counter-top is Carrara marble, and is part of the reason I’m looking at gray paint.

This is the recessed mirror/medicine cabinet we’ve ordered.  The wood looks aged and has a little white/gray to it.

The wall sconces we’re using are these Pottery Barn beauties.   Again, I think they lend themselves to the gray I have in my mind…yet to be found!


I visit a lot of blog sites and am almost always impressed with how lovely rooms can look with gray paint.  However, I get to the store and am overwhelmed by all of the shades of gray to choose from, not to mention the samples they offer are the size of a postage stamps and it can be difficult to select from that sample.

While I love this bathroom by Jill Sharp Brinson, I believe it’s too dark for my small space.

This paint (below) is “Natures Essentials” by Benjamin Moore…its very close to what I imagine but I couldn’t find the color at my hardware store today so the search continues.

This gray and white (below) is lovely but may be a little dark, the room in the image is quite bright and cheery so it can handle the darker paint.

{2}

What’s that you say, just buy the little sample pots so many paint companies offer?  Let me just say this about that…they rarely have the color in sample size that I’m interested in and when they do it can be pretty pricey.  Does this ever happen to you?

I love the gray of this room (below) and the black and white accents are something that appeals to me.

 {3}

This soft gray is perfect but I don’t have the name of the paint so the search continues.

{4}

Polished Pebble recently redid a bathroom in their Ojai home and I love the  Cararra trim accent used with the white subway tile.  I’m following her design idea and using 12″ Cararra tile on the floor.

{5}

This is a pretty pale shade of gray that accents the blue and white beautifully.

{7}

This taupe-gray (below) is what I really envision.  Love this room!

{8}

Heirloom Philosophy painted her living room recently a Farrow & Ball color called Hardwick White.  I like the contrast with the white trim, which is what I’ll be using on the crown, base and door casing.  What do you think?  It’s hard to see the actual color on a computer screen, don’t you agree?

{6}

On the right (below) is Hardwick White; on the left (below) is Lamp Room Gray, both by Farrow & Ball

So I’m doing my due diligence and revisiting some of the beautiful gray rooms I’ve seen on various sites and then I’m going straight to my friends for honest input and advice.  Isn’t that always the best anyway.

I will be posting before and after photos once we’re underway.  Meanwhile, while I try to compile all of the components I welcome any and all input from you, my faithful readers.

Meanwhile, if any of you have a wonderful gray paint color you’d like to share please email me.

Images: 1. Vignette Design; 2., 6.,  7. & 8. Heirloom Philosophy; 3. & 4. Griege ; 5. Polished Pebble

{GHP} Summer…just do it

10 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Entertaining, Family, Gardens, Outdoor living

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I’m not a summer person, most of my nearest and dearest know this fact.  Not sure how they know, unless it’s my whining as the summer heat sets in and I start to feel like it will never be cool again.  I haven’t had as much to whine about the past couple summers since its been pretty comfortable here in Southern California.  So, with that in mind I’ve decided to embrace the season, slow down and take time to read more, spend time in the garden, dine out on the patio more, relax, sip iced tea or, if it’s 5:00 p.m., something refreshing and seasonal  like a vodka tonic with lime.

To help me get in the mood…here are some images that make it feel like summer and inspires me to work on my attitude!

This image appeals to me, and I do currently have a bicycle in our garage (although it doesn’t have a cute basket attached),  it makes me want to enjoy a ride around the neighborhood.  However, the neighborhood is rather hilly and a bike ride like that will undoubtedly make me feel hot, so maybe I won’t. 🙂 (Am I whining again?)

 

There are other activities that I associate with summer.   When I was growing up we had a very large “side” yard.  I’m not sure if our lot was a 2-lot location or if the builder of the tract of houses felt the “side” yard wasn’t large enough to build a house on and tacked it on to our home.  In any event we used to play croquet in the side yard at every family summer barbecue, birthday celebration and holiday.  I loved this sport and wish my current back yard had a more level playing field for croquet.

 

image via Martha Stewart

 

via Party Resources

Joni over at Cote de Texas posted about her Pottery Barn vs. Kooboo chairs some time ago…this [below] is her outdoor use of those chairs and it was an image that inspired me to make better use of my outdoor garden space and to purchase a set of Kooboo chairs for my patio dining table HERE.

I believe this is a French Kissed image…I love the pea gravel and comfortable seating under the shade of a tree…I’m currently attempting to create the same look in our back yard.  I’ll show you pics once I get the pea gravel installed.

image via Dan Marty

There are so many activities that feel like summer, dining alfresco is one of them…I must make an effort to do this more often.

via House Beautiful

via Cote de Texas

image via John Saladino

image via Elle Decor

When entertaining in summer there are a wide array of little things that can enhance the appeal of the food and beverage.

image via Country Living via Party Resource

Another of my favorite spring / summer activities is work in the garden.  I understand how this isn’t everyone’s idea of fun, but I find such a comfort from digging in the dirt and am always relaxed once I’ve clocked in some time in the garden.

image via Content in a Cottage

Polished Pebble always has some inspiring images on her blog (her yard in Ojai, California)

I’ve always wanted to grow this variety of primulas…primrose. 

In the famous words of Nike ads, Just Do It (summer)!

{Party} Barefoot Contessa, new easy recipes, and Austin

08 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in Family, Food, Recipes, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook, Travel

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Austin was wonderful.  HOT, but wonderful.  We always stay with Son #1, his lovely wife and now, Olivia!  Since Olivia is our first grand child we are over the moon with joy and we delight at her every move.  She is crawling and charming us with her smile.

While in Austin our kids always make it a  point to try new, well-reviewed places to eat.  I’m pretty sure I gain weight each visit but come away wishing Orange County, California had 1/4 of the fabulous places to dine.  I’m giving you the list, just in case you visit Austin sometime soon.

+ Walton’s Fancy and Staple

 

This little gem is owned by Sandra Bullock (yes, that one) and her sister.  the pastrami sandwich on pretzel bread was the best pastrami sandwich I had eaten in a very long time.  I unfortunately ate it all which left me with no room for one of their fabulous desserts.  The cafe also sports a florist and small gift shop.  It was wonderful.


+ Eastside (I actually mentioned this HERE)

I had eaten here a visit ago with Jamie’s mom (DIL).  We’ve decided to make it a tradition.  The food is delicious and many of the ingredients are grown on the grounds.  They even have a chicken coop with a wide array of chickens, their eggs are from those wonderful chickens.

This little rooster was very small for a rooster.  The baby chicks above are so cute.  I didn’t take a picture of the mom but there are a wide variety of chickens at Eastside.

+ Haddington’s

 

+ Franklin Barbecue (this was mentioned in a recent Bon Appetit as the best barbecue in the nation!  It didn’t disappoint but you have to arrive before they open to get in line.  Once they run out of brisket, ribs or any other delicious meat, they close)

When we got home I was ready for some simple recipes for easy summer meals, 87 degrees, not 107 temperatures.  I had tried a couple of recipes from Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten’s “How easy is that?”.  Even though this recipe requires the oven, I think you will enjoy the fresh flavor of the green herbs and summer is the ideal time for salmon, right.  I prepared this with rice and a mixed green salad.  Super easy and so delicious.

image via the kitchen designer blog

Roasted Salmon with Green Herbs

Serves 6

1 (2- to 2 ½-pound) skinless salmon fillet
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup good olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ cup minced scallions, white and green parts (4 scallions)
½ cup minced fresh dill
½ cup minced fresh parsley
¼ cup dry white wine
Lemon wedges, for serving

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Place the salmon fillet in a glass, ceramic, or stainless-steel roasting dish and season it generously with salt and pepper. Whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice and drizzle the mixture evenly over the salmon. Let it stand at room temperature for 15 minutes.

In a small bowl, stir together the scallions, dill, and parsley. Scatter the herb mixture over the salmon fillet, turning it so that both sides are generously coated with the green herbs. Pour the wine around the fish fillet.

Roast the salmon for 10 to 12 minutes, until almost cooked in the center at the thickest part. The center will be firm with just a line of uncooked salmon in the very center. (I peek by inserting the tip of a small knife.) Cover the dish tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Cut the salmon crosswise into serving pieces and serve hot with lemon wedges.

Hope you are staying cool and enjoying the final weeks of summer.