SHOP Furbish!

While perusing my blogroll during nap time, I checked out the latest post from i suwannee - one of my favorite stops for design inspiration from a business gal turned design guru.  My blogroll jaunt stopped here when I discovered a newly revamped Furbish shop and I want to share some of my favs.

one.  Spotted Club Chairs  $1800.00

two.  Golden Rhino  $35.00

three.  Pink Highback Sofa  $1800.00

four. Pink Chevron Letter Tray  $45.00

five.  Green Piped Leopard Stool  $175.00

six.  Pink Lines Settee  $1600.00

Holy Sheet! The Best of Bedding

Lately, my nighttime tossing and turning has left me daydreaming of beautiful and luxurious linens.  Here is my current roundup for all tastes and budgets.

     (starting at top left, from left to right)

           Diane von Furstenberg Giant Brush Marks Duvet Cover

     John Robshaw Pipal Indigo Collection

        Frette Saffo Collection

           Serena & Lily Coral Herringbone Throw

          Matouk Mirasol Collection

          Missoni Margot Throw

            Legacy "Yorkshire" Bed Linens

             "Puckered Diamond" Bed Linens

             Trina Turk "Trellis" Bed Linens

               IKEA EIVOR ORD Duvet Cover and Pillowcases

               IKEA EIVOR LEVA Duvet Cover and Pillowcase

                                            IKEA EIVOR Throw                                                 

Baby B

Well it's true.  Number two is on the way.  Well on the way actually.  More than half way on the way.  I hesitate to share, but I have been so busy lately that sometimes even I forget that I'm prego and I need to make some hoopla about this one just like I did with my little Miss.  What am I having you ask?  A human.  A human boy to be exact.  I am grateful to be as busy as I am, but I don't feel like I've had any time to nest or even be excited about this wonderful blessing.  So in the spirit of hoopla, I wanted to share my initial nursery idea board.

Fantasy Floorplans

A friend of mine recently told me that she and her family were seriously considering a move and would be looking for a local builder and a great floor plan.  I have always been a fan of old homes myself, from the 1940s to be exact, but thinking about local builders and great floor plans sparked some curiosity.  I began thinking about how I would build my perfect home and what my perfect blueprint might look like.  In short, I've had floor plans on the brain so you can imagine my delight and surprise when I stumbled upon Fantasy Floorplans. Created by Brandi Roberts, a woman who likes TV, a lot, the website sells floorplans for... You guessed it.  Your favorite TV homes, offices, and apartments.  From Leave It To Beaver to the Golden Girls, you can own the blueprints for most any TV digs you can think of... 

First and second floors of Don and Betty Draper's Suburban home

Imagine A Room

Sometimes when I'm in a rut and feel like my vision is lost, I create an imaginary room.  Generally I use a real room in my own house or a friend or family member's house as a template and I redecorate with whatever my heart desires.  No budget constraints.  No husband constraints.  No style constraints.  Just me and whatever I (and the furniture world) can dream up.  Lately, we have put the Home Beautification Act on overhaul for some upcoming opportunities.  One area that I am having a particularly giant dilemma about is our den or living room.  It is where we spend most of our time and it is probably the room I look at most.  Because of this, the pressure I have put on myself to make it perfect is enormous and detaching from the space has become impossible.
Enter Imagine A Room.

Color Swatch:  Spring Mint by Benjamin Moore

Sofa:  Berkshire Sofa by Layla Grayce

Painting:  Lulie Wallace

Side Table:  Turned Pedestal Side Table by westelm

Ottoman:  Turned Leg Dhurrie Ottoman by westelm

Chair:  Tobias Chair by Oly Studio via Layla Grayce

Yellow Stool:  Martini Side Table by westelm

Floor Lamp:  Kulla Floor Lamp IKEA

Sectional Bench:  Coventry 3-Piece Cornered Upholstered Sectional by Ballard Designs

Table Lamp:  Glass Jug Table Lamp by westelm

Table:  Farmhouse Pedestal Dining Table by Bradshaw Kirchofer via Layla Grayce

Chairs:  Eames Molded Plastic Dowel Leg Side Chair from Design Within Reach

Rug:  Draper Stripe Wool Rug by DwellStudio

Lamps:  Elizabeth Lamp by Schoolhouse Electric

Desk:  Metal Parsons Desk by westelm

Chair:  Louis Ghost Chair by Kartell

Mirror:  Green Inlaid Bone Mirror by Anthropologie

Happy Saint Valentine's Day

Cute and quirky terrarium from Twig. Terrariums .  A welcome and much longer lasting alternative to the usual dozen roses and box of Whitman's.

Rigatoni with Roasted Eggplant Pesto

I originally saw a similar recipe while waiting in line at the grocery store.  I picked up the latest issue of La Cucina Italiana and for some reason eggplant pesto sounded mouthwatering.  I didn't buy the magazine, but read the recipe and ingredients and figured I could remember it.  Well, by the time I made it (last night) it had been atleast a week and I didn't remember the recipe, so I did what I do best: improvised.   After some searching I did find the original recipe, but I won't lie, I rather like my version. 

Unfortunately, I'm a decorator, not a recipe writer, so you will have to bear with me.  The measurements and cook times are a bit hazy.

Rigatoni with Roasted Eggplant Pesto

1 lb rigatoni or pasta of your choosing
1 eggplant
8 garlic cloves
roughly 1/4 cup of pine nuts
roughly 1/2 cup arugula
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup olive oil, plus extra for roasting
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400F.
Cut the eggplant in half and using a sharp knife, cut a cross hatch pattern in both sides of the flesh.  Sprinkle generously with olive oil, salt and pepper.
Sprinkle garlic gloves and pine nuts with olive oil and spread on sheet pan or place in ramekins.
Roast eggplant flesh side down for 30 to 40 minutes or until soft.  Roast garlic and pine nuts for less time - this part is hazy- just keep an eye on them- you want both to be golden.
Remove garlic, pine nuts and eggplant from the oven.  Allow to cool slightly. 
In a food processor, combine eggplant, garlic cloves, pine nuts, arugula, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.  Process until a moist paste is made.  Pour over cooked pasta and toss to combine.  Serve with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Variations

For a bolder garlic flavor, cut the amount of cloves in half and skip roasting them.

Parsley or even basil can be substituted for arugula.  Arugula is what I had, so that's what I used!

Winter Blues

It hasn't felt much like winter here in the south, but I am still longing for the hopefulness of blooming flowers and new life. Although these hues may seem icy, I think they are as crisp and clean as the first day of Spring. In fact, I like them so much that I am in the process of painting not one, but two rooms shades of cool blue. I just can't get enough fresh mint and predict it will be all the rage this Spring.

[clockwise from top left]

Mint Imperial print by Andreka, $20.80, Society6.com

Double Drop Slice earrings, Michael Kors, $95.00, Nordstrom

Delta Table Lamp, Robert Abbey, $150.91, LampsPlus.com

PHASE OUT by Sally King Benedict, SOLD

Saja clutch, $199, AmandaPearl.com

Ruffle Swimsuit (Infant), Little Me, $28.00, Nordstrom

Mint Candy Apple nail polish, ESSIE, $8.00, Nordstrom

Vintage Kilim Area Rug, $495.00, HighStreetMarket.com

Newport Console, $2,420.00, Oomph

Snakeskin sandal, Prada, $990.00, Nordstrom

Embroidered Linen Pillow, Trina Turk, $110.00, Layla Grayce

Olmo chair, $980, Anthropologie

French Style Mini Quiche

When I lived in France, breakfast for me usually consisted of a pain au chocolat from Bechard, a fabulous local patisserie, OR a small quiche purchased from one of many local bakeries on my way to class.  This quiche wasn't your everyday eggs in a pastry shell with some cheese.  It was a small round egg wonder with bacon and tomato or ham and Gruyere all baked in a puff pastry crust. I always think about this tasty morning bit and when I found Dufour Puff Pastry at the market, I decided it was time to attempt a recreation.  And so...

French Style Mini Quiche(s)
For two 4 to 5 inch quiche, you will need:

3 eggs
1/2 cup of whole milk (or half & half or heavy cream for a richer taste)
salt and pepper
1 cup of shredded cheese (whatever you have on hand)
2 slices of tomato
Dufour Puff Pastry Dough



Thaw puff pastry overnight in the refrigerator (or for at least 8 hours).
When pastry is completely thawed, remove from fridge and unfold.  Lightly butter your pastry tins or baking dishes.  Unfold pastry and remove two of the prefolded dough rectangles from the plastic wrap (or however much you desire).  Press the dough into the tins or baking dishes.

Arrange shredded cheese on the bottom, place tomato slice on top of cheese.  Beat egg, milk, salt and pepper and pour over tomato and cheese.  Fold edges down and in.  Using a pastry brush, spread some of the egg and milk mixture onto the pastry crust.  Bake at 350F for 30 minutes. 

Bon Appetit!

Color Love: Pink, Gold & Black

It's a classic color combination and one of my all time favorites: black and white plus pink and gold.  The effect is simply magnificent.  Here are a few of my favorites...

Room by Mary McDonald via VERANDA

Unknown decorator via decorpad

Jonathan Adler via ELLE Decor

Mary McDonald via ELLE Decor

Unknown decorator via House Beautiful

via domino Magazine

via

Furbish Studio

via

PurePhoto Favs

Aside from a comfortable sofa, fabulous linens and great lighting, I think that compelling art is the most important part of a well decorated home.  One of my go-to places for art and inspiration is PurePhoto, a "social commerce network" whose chairman and co-founder is my [eh-hem] cousin (by marriage).  It's a fabulous site that connects art collectors with photographers from all over the world.  If you haven't checked it out, please get with it and do so now!

Anyway, I was just doing my weekly stroll through the virtual gallery that is PurePhoto and thought I would share my current favorites.

Artist Unknown, Gray Dress and Red Hat, Hamburg Kennedy Photographs

Robert Canis, Green-winged orchid meadow at sunrise

Matt Schwartz, girl with plane

Thomas Birke, Hong Kong #09

Louis Gaillard, 6

Alin Popescu, Have a Seat and Take a Look

Roberta Murray, Sunday Drive

Rafael Fuchs, Mom on Bicycle

Mina Georgescu, Carnivale

Walter Meregalli, Via Bramante

Miss Progress Gets Progressive

I am of course referring to my mama's kitchen, which I have unofficially named "Progress".  I am pleased as punch to report that Miss Progress has undergone some exciting transformations since last we saw her.  She isn't quite complete, but really, who is?  She'll probably be done just in time for a year to have passed since we embarked on this adventure.  Patience and progress.  
Here's the proof. But first, let's recall the before...

And now, I present Miss Progress....

Since my last update, [almost] all of the overhead lighting has been installed and the beautiful back splash tile has been completed.  The light over the sink is from Rejuvenations.com and the overhead lights I purchased at Lowe's.  The glass lamp on the counter is from Target and was formerly on the stainless steel work table/desk, but I shifted some things around before I took pictures and liked it better near the sink.  The improvised desk light was less than $10 at the hardware store.  I found it in another room and decided to give it a try, just for shits.  Turned out kind of cute- I don't know if it's permanent, but I rather like it.

Miss Progress has come a long way and my client is very happy with the results, but there is still some work to do.  Namely, the crown molding needs to be put up, the flooring installed (although I am not offended by the current floor), plug covers attached, window treatments finished and other stylistic details completed.  A bit daunting considering all we've already done, but progress keeps us wanting more and anxiously anticipating the finished product.