Mini indoor architectural planters are terrific accessories. Rarely are indoor architectural planters as unique and memorable as these cement containers. They look like parts of modernist outdoor gardens but actually they are miniatures, each about 7-inches square. Usually planters are bland and undistinguished. What I immediately liked about these cement babies is their … [Read more...]
Summer Pizza
Classic pizza, without cheese, is perfect for summer. What makes a summer pizza? Nothing new! It's simply pizza without cheese though it goes by the Niçoise name — pizza pissaladière. Stay with me for a moment because, pizza pissaladière usually has anchovies criss-crossed on top, over the tomato sauce, onions and olives. But for this summer pizza I dispensed with … [Read more...]
Gold Tile Kitchen Backsplash
The idea of a gold tile kitchen backsplash may sound a bit Dubai — but no! Combined with glossy black cabinets and white counters this gold tile kitchen backsplash becomes a key design element rather than a tasteful background choice. The visual irregularity of the gold-tone tile gives it the elegance and classicism of a Byzantine mosaic writ large. The kitchen design is … [Read more...]
Open Plan Showers
Open plan showers are designed to occupy areas without enclosures. A main feature of open plan showers is maximum exposure of surfaces such as walls and floors. That’s why there is a strong emphasis on texture and a seamless look achieved by marble slabs or large-format tiles. Favored for large, minimalistic spa-concept bathrooms, they feel like activity zones as opposed to … [Read more...]
A Chicken Story
I never thought of chickens as pets. Heck, I never thought of chickens, period. And then a whole flock of them fell into my lap. I have my friend and neighbor, Elektra, to thank for that. Elektra Buhalis is an artist, working most days on backdrops and murals for Broadway plays and other large-scale productions. She also does freelance work, painting murals and landscapes … [Read more...]
Dining Room China Cabinet, Repurposed
Using a dining room china cabinet for storing clothes in my bedroom is practical and economical. Unlike good quality vintage armoires, dining room china cabinets are abundant and inexpensive right now. Thrift stores in our area are being stocked by estates with furniture purchased in the 1960s. In those days, every house had a china hutch in the dining room. Now that kitchens … [Read more...]
Cucumbers in Sweet Lime Vinegar
A dear friend of mine, Donna Gelb, has co-authored a wonderful book called Saladish (Artisan, $24.95) and I couldn't resist this close up of a cucumber salad that I recently made from the book. Not only is the title stylish and modern, the book is dedicated to salad-like recipes, many with a twist on the usual ingredients. Along with clever illustrations of … [Read more...]
Making Sense of Linen Bed Sheets
Three years ago I started reading about linen bed sheets. Ironically, this was the time when I began selling off high-quality Sferra king-size cotton sheet sets on eBay with the aim of reducing the contents of my linen closet. For many years we had two homes and over time I acquired 17 sets of sheets for our king-size bed! Yet linen sheets were a trending novelty on home design … [Read more...]
Ready-Made Curtain Panels Hack
Standard curtain panels can look more luxurious than they are. Earlier this year I moved into a new apartment that’s comfortable enough to stay as long as I like. The windows are relatively large and needed curtains. In my former house I had custom draperies made to my specifications and professionally installed. For the rental it was practical to opt for ready-made linen … [Read more...]
Ham & Jalapeno Cornbread
Warm and crumbly cornbread falls into the realm of comfort food. While I'm not a Southerner, I've always appreciated the quick simplicity of cornbread. Over the years, I've come up with my own version, layered with salty and spicy flavors. Those include cooked, diced ham and minced jalapeño peppers. I also prefer an undertone of onion flavor so we cooked onions until most of … [Read more...]
Dark Green Kitchens
Will dark green kitchens slowly replace black for those who favor intense inky hues? Green is coming into its own in the kitchen and dark green kitchens — call them inky green or British racing green — look very current to me. Perhaps that’s because black and near-black led us to yearning for a bit more color. Let me quickly say that these greens are not pure jewel tones like … [Read more...]
Front Door Blues
The shade of blue on a front door can range from sky to navy or even lean towards teal. The color of the front door counts. Why? Because color sends a message about mood and taste of the people who live in the house. However, I don’t feel that blue on the door translates as sad — although “the blues” have that connotation. For me, a glossy cobalt blue door on a white house … [Read more...]
Peony Pink Power
Peony pink ranges from blush to intense with its own subtle spectrum in each blossom. Bubblegum — not peony pink — was the mid-20th century pink hue I remember in bathrooms and kitchens. In those days that shade of pink suggested a room used by women or children. It also was popular for nail polish. My mother had two pink living rooms of memory and, perhaps, that’s why some of … [Read more...]
Six Ways to Create Kitchen Character
What's kitchen character? It’s the idea of using one unique element to make a kitchen memorable. Too often these days I see kitchens that are sadly cookie cutter. They often look so similar they become formulaic whether they are the classic all-white kitchen, black and white, wood tone, or one of the popular muted colors such as gray or pale green. Creating kitchen character … [Read more...]