April 2nd, 2013 No Comments

this week’s color palette: gray, yellow and cream- straight from photographer liz banfield’s cheerful studio

Photographer, Liz Banfield shared the gray paint color with us in her lovely studio- it’s Benjamin Moore’s Wickham Gray. Her designer, Janet Gridley, layered in creams, golds with pops of fun and energetic yellow. We’ve selected Benjamin Moore‘s Banana Yellow and Bavarian Cream for the remainder of the paint palette for you to work off of if you love this combination.  A cream sofa piped in yellow is a wonderful way to introduce color without a huge commitment. The designer’s use of natural fibers like sisal & jute make the cool gray color look and feel more approachable … Read more

March 31st, 2013 No Comments

happy easter!

We hope you are having a lovely Easter with family and friends. We will return with a new weekly color palette on Tuesday this week instead of Monday, as our staff is enjoying Easter Monday as a holiday. Travel safe.

March 29th, 2013 No Comments

chocolate easter eggcups

With Easter this Sunday we thought we’d share a fun recipe today from Donna Hay- her Chocolate Easter Eggcups. Let us know if you make them and send us a picture if you do! Directions:

March 28th, 2013 No Comments

Judy Ross’s rugs can change the entire look and feel of your room! (like her lagoon rug)

A rug can make a big statement and change the entire look of a room. Judy Ross Textiles creates rugs that do just that. “Rugs are definitely a wise investment; they are functional and can be enjoyed for many years, and even passed down through generations.” Judy says. So just like a diamond, or a heirloom watch, rugs can be a very important purchase, because a well made rug can last for years and years. The rug above which is from Judy’s line is called the Lagoon Rug. (As you know I love blues and this one fits … Read more

March 27th, 2013 No Comments

weddings with peter callahan: 3 great berry ideas for your wedding or celebration

I spent a few summers in Maine when I was young and developed a great love of blueberries. Pancakes to me must have blueberries and our mini blueberry pancakes (above, served on a white tray lined with powdered sugar) we like to make right at the party while the guests are there. Lemonade (shown below), is made even better by blackberries, it adds a wonderful texture and burst of berry flavor. The berries make it so elegant. And the perfect ending to a meal is grilled stone fruit (below) drizzled with some delicious balsamic honey and then the cool mascarpone … Read more

March 26th, 2013 No Comments

time to update your kitchen? new dishes can freshen things up, here are my favorite picks

I have spent years covering the tabletop and entertaining markets and on my shop I carry my favorite pieces. If you saw my kitchen in yesterday’s post, you can see that you can make a big impact with dishes- even white dishes when displayed as a collection. You might have also noticed the black deep dishes, bowls etc. in the photos too and wondered where I got them. I sell those too on the shop! They are amazing. They are Black Clay Pottery from Columbia. You can take these dishes from oven to table and the presentation with food is … Read more

March 25th, 2013 4 Comments

this week’s color palette: seaside blues and white in my farmhouse kitchen by the beach

House Beautiful published my kitchen in their April 2013 issue. I’m honored that they chose it as their “Kitchen of the Month”. I thought I’d share with you the photos from the magazine & link you to the story so you can read it yourself. There are several tips for small spaces- like under-counter refrigeration and a vent for the stove that pops up from behind the range- freeing the space of a giant hood.  I’d also like to share with you the Benjamin Moore paint colors of this kitchen in case you like the blues. … Read more

March 22nd, 2013 No Comments

citrus salad: susan spungen shares a recipe…and that she has a new book on the way!

Susan Spungen is unbelievably talented. Susan is a cook, food stylist, recipe developer, editor and author. I had the pleasure of working with Susan at Martha Stewart Living (Susan was the founding food editor for Martha Stewart Living). I even got a chance to collaborate and cover her brother’s wedding for the magazine at the iconic Rainbow Room- with a dream team of Susan, floral & event designer ,Michael George and cake baker Ron Ben-Israel. After MSLO, we kept in touch and I’d run into Susan here and there in the city and even on a set… like the … Read more

March 21st, 2013 No Comments

bored with a neutral room? citrus colored accessories & flowers are a fast, simple solution

Do you have a room in your home that all of a sudden looks really bland now that spring is here? Painting or purchasing a large piece of furniture can be timely and costly. And what if you realize on Monday morning that the green walls that took you all weekend to paint- just isn’t for you? If you are looking for quick interjections of color just try adding pillows, throws and even flowers in the color you’d like to test out. This is far less of a commitment and it’s a small step if you are afraid of making … Read more

March 20th, 2013 No Comments

weddings with peter callahan: 5 creative ways to include citrus at your celebration

1. (above) Hollowed out lemons filled with fresh squeezed lemonade and vodka with candy sticks and straws. “I love hollowed out lemons, they remind me of happy summer days and add a great flavor to any lemonade.” -Peter 2. Mini key lime pies with edible johnny jump up flowers. “Key lime have the perfect sour to sweet factor and I like them served chilled.” – Peter 3. Sgroppino bar with lemon sorbet, limoncello, vodka and prosecco served with citrus marigold garnish. “This is a classic dish from Italy that a client brought back from a pre-wedding trip. The action of … Read more