Studio Surface

a little space

2012-01-13T08:45:00.000-08:00

The time has come to start thinking about the little one's room. Lots of changes are happening in these parts and one of the biggest ones is making room for baby. I want a room that he (yes we are having a boy!) will enjoy as a wee one and that will also grow with him. I can't handle "baby-ish" or theme-y nurseries. That's just not my style. But I want it to be a happy ,fun and colorful space for him. It's been a bit challenging to wrap my head around the design and color palette since I'm a big neutral kind of girl. So, here's what I'm thinking. I'm going to keep the walls a soft ivory and add color through the artwork and miniature baby things around the room. Patterns with grass green, pops of yellow, and bits of red and aqua will liven it up for baby and look great against the warm wood furniture. We already have the Thonet rocker and the walnut dressers we have are similar to those above (my pics of our dressers are crap). So we have some great pieces to start with. I love the crib but not the price so Jake is going to build one inspired by the Oeuf one shown. I will keep you posted on the progress of that piece and what he comes up with. So, we will see how this l'il scheme goes down over the next few months. I'm pretty excited to get to work on it!

rocker (similar here), pillow, tall dresser, low dresser/changing table, mobile, crib, basket, art, lamp, striped rug

A color obliteration

2012-01-11T11:05:00.000-08:00

What?! Kids are creating this amazing art installation "The Obliteration Room" developed by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama for the Queensland Art Gallery. Starting as a blank room painted nearly all white, it grows and changes daily under the hands of little visitors charged with applying colorful stickers in the shape of dots....

What started as a blank canvas has quickly become "obliterated" with color and shape.
The interactive exhibit runs until March 2012.

Seen in Time Magazine.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Yeah, we've been a bit busy....

2011-12-05T12:54:00.001-08:00

I know, I know. It's been 3 months! Things have been crazy around these parts and all good stuff I must say. Projects have been keeping us on our toes and have been rolling in at a fast and steady pace which is amazing.
BUT, most importantly and definitely way more exciting is that......

I'm having a wee one in May!

Jake and I are thrilled to be expecting our first baby next Spring and it has been glorious to enjoy this time with family and friends and share our excitement and happiness with them. And so I wanted to also share it with you. I will probably post little tidbits about baby Salz-Smith here and there like the fact that we find out tomorrow if it is a boy or girl!!! And perhaps other baby things that I just can't keep to myself.

So now that I have my energy back and have found a good pace, I made a promise to myself to post more regularly and share what's going on design-wise with maybe a little baby thrown in too.

I hope everyone is doing well! I have truly missed participating in blog land and visiting with my fiends here. Talk soon, I promise!! P.S. how funny is this photo? A bit ornery but I like it. : )

image via Pinterest

faces of wood - a guest post

2011-08-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

You all know I love wood. :)

And I love using it in interiors in all kinds of ways, from furniture to finishes. It adds warmth and texture and even color. In my opinion, it is THE perfect neutral and addition to all spaces.
Thanks to Susi from Design Shuffle who is sharing her thoughts on the many stylish characteristics of wood...

Hi, everyone, I’m Susi and I write as a guest blogger for Design Shuffle, a fabulous social media site that promotes interior designers and their work from around the world. My writing focuses on things I'm passionate about: interior design, decorating ideas, home furnishings, gardening, travel and art. I get to look at gorgeous things all day and write about them. I'm a very lucky girl!I am excited to be invited to write for Studio Surface. Thanks for having me visit, Michelle. When Michelle gave me the topic Many Faces of Wood it made me think of that old movie, The Three Faces of Eve, about multiple personalities. Definitely seems appropriate for wood, doesn't it? Pattern and texture can vary so incredibly when it comes to wood depending on type, cut and finish. I hope you enjoy and are inspired by the many faces of wood. ~ Susi

Curbly via

Plywood has incredible pattern to it. Sanded and polished, it makes a smooth floor that is a mix of patterns perfect for a contemporary or modern space.

Nicety via

This vintage inspired living room features turned, bent, veneered and paneled woods. Each has its own unique characteristics. Pattern and texture can relate to the wood itself or the form it takes.

You Have Been Here Sometime via

A Japanese style bathroom demonstrates the natural warmth of wood. Clean lines and a lack of decorative elements keep the focus on the wood covered surfaces.

Apartment Therapy via

Wood grain is a gorgeous pattern of swirls, arcs, circles and lines. This black and white wood floor highlights the pattern of wood grain with a smooth, high polished surface. This is one of those kitchen design ideas that immediately grabs attention and holds it.

Homes via

Rough, reclaimed barnwood gives this bathroom rustic charm. The patina of age brings out the pattern of the wood grain.

Hit Decors via

Wood walls can take many forms but we've never seen one made of timber ends. Love the collage of circles and the roughness of the bark. Incredible.

Nicety via

Painted wood stumps used as small tables retain their natural feeling. The tree's rings create a concentric pattern on the tops while cracks and bumps add texture to the sides.

Pinterest via

A headboard made from reclaimed and repurposed grey painted wood has a driftwood feeling to it. Limed wood has a grey, white washed look that highlights the grain. A truly intriguing bedroom design.

This content is provided by Design Shuffle, where you can find and share talented interior designs from from New York interior designers, Los Angeles interior designers, and more, check out the latest at Design Shuffle.

Fans that..

2011-07-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

There's no A.C in these here parts. Living next to the coast, this is pretty normal. So to keep things from burning up, fans are a must. But ugly fans? Well they're just not cool. And yes. I have been guilty of the "ugly box fan in the window" scene but things have to change. These modern contenders would do nicely. They look good, they blend in, and beat the heat in style.

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

In My Kitchen with A Diary of Lovely

2011-07-19T09:46:00.000-07:00

The lovely Helena from one of my favorite reads, A Diary of Lovely, had me over today for her fun series In My Kitchen. Please stop by and say hi. I am talking about my favorite eats, a kitchen I designed, and an amazing cobbler recipe for Summer. Go check it out!

cheat sheet

2011-07-15T14:47:00.000-07:00

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about investing in not only a better, more professional grade camera but taking an amateur photography class so I can actually make good use out of said expensive camera. It would be great to take amazing photos of my project installs, day to day musings, and inspiration for this here blog. I'm not saying I'll ever even come close to a professional, I admire the true experts out there and my expertise lies elsewhere, but you know what I mean. For the time being I can use this pretty cheat sheet to take a stab at taking better pics....

image by Miguel Yatco, Living in the Stills. You can purchase the print at Zazzle.

Found on pulse via my modern met

I vote pod for office

2011-07-06T16:35:00.000-07:00

I love having my office at home but have been dreaming of building a modern shed/studio in the back yard one day. And then I saw this. This changes everything! Darn you Archipod! This sweet round thing would be perfect for my design studio and would fit right in a modern Californian yard. Prefabricated, fully insulated, roomy and stylish, this hip garden office is right up my alley. Then I saw the price. It's a bit astronomical but I can dream right? One thing is for sure, it has inspired me to design-build a less expensive version for my future outdoor design studio. Now that would be one heck of a DIY to share with you all. :)

spotted on uncrate via pulse.

2011-07-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July! It feels great to be back home from travel on the East side. Miami is lovely but it ain't California. I plan on celebrating both my return and the holiday with a beach day, BBQ, fireworks, and friends. How about you? Any fun plans this extended weekend?

I'm going to soak it all up before having to return back to the other coast next week (more on the crazy project install later). Until then, cheers to a great weekend and sunny work week!

Image from the cool Jen Beckman project 20 x 200, photo Mike Sinclair

Hot Summer Metallics - A Guest Post

2011-06-17T11:31:00.000-07:00

Is there anything hotter, more luxurious and summery than metallics? Right now, metallics like gold, rose gold and silver are trending in home décor. What's great about metallics is you can either combine them to create an especially glitzy space, or you can use them to accent other colors. White and Gold is an especially hot combination right now, perhaps because it's so summery and chic. So take a look at these images for a bit of metallic inspiration.

Apartment Therapy (via)

This old-fashioned clawfoot tub in an old-school apartment is modernized with beautiful metallic accents of gold and silver. Interestingly enough, it used to be out of fashion to mix metals, but when done sparingly, it can be very elegant and tasteful.

Sarah Klassen (via)

The dining room design of this Parisian apartment is accented with golden home accessories. If you're afraid to go all the way with gold, try finding accents that are gilded, like this oversized vintage mirror.

Eclectic Revisited (via)

The color combination of white and sand in this bedroom, with a canopied bed, is accented by hints of gold. Again, gilded picture frames are a great way to play with the trend.

Sketch 42 (via)

A pair of Arne Jacobsen's Egg Chair, shown here in silver leather, is so unexpected and playful in this space. This 'fireplace' is so tongue-in-cheek.

Room Envy (via)

This contemporary dining room is cleverly decorated with silvery gray. From a vintage pewter cafe chair, to the silver of the Tulip dining room table-- even the blue-tiled backsplash appears to have a metallic sheen here. If you wanted to take it a step further, you can add some gilded or silvery table decor.
Be a little adventurous when it comes to metallics. Mix them up, use them in unexpected ways or use them to brighten up your home in preparation for the hot summer.

Content provided by Arcadian Home Decor, a site that specializes in top quality home decor items at extremely affordable prices. Come visit us today!

street level art

2011-06-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

I love the graphic and structured style of Noah Loesberg. He is inspired by the lower order of architecture - the elements of street level construction. It's edgy, raw and just plain cool. Check out his work at RHV Fine Art now through June 12.

1.2.3.4.5.6

I'm just gonna look...

2011-06-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

I took these pics a year ago this week. And honestly it feels about that long since I have enjoyed the nearby beach and the beautiful surroundings I'm blessed to be a part of. It's hard for me to not get lost in the mountainous "to-do" list, constantly looking ahead and not around. This weekend I am going to work on that - looking around me and not what's ahead. Instead of being absorbed in thoughts of work and schedule and what I could be doing better, I'm going to notice the beach and and enjoy the smell as I drive by, take a breath and just enjoy it. Here's to a happy weekend friends!

images by me and ShakeItPhoto.

some bangin' headboards

2011-05-24T13:52:00.000-07:00

I tell you what, these headboards from casa midy are doing it for me. I love modern and organic when they come together and play nice. And again I can't get over the whiskey (or as some like to say cognac) leather. I go to it over and again for projects of late. I love it.

SHOP TALK - ECLECTIC BACHELOR

2011-05-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

We had a good time with this project. Chesterfield sofas + kilim + a bit of Union Jack = fun, urban cool. Here's the concept we developed which resulted in the spaces above:

two bachelors who, though very different, share one thing in common: they both fancy themselves as rock n’ roll enthusiasts, scotch experts, and up and coming career men. Incorporating bold colors with warm woods, aged metals, and unique art and accessories, this space is a sophisticated, eclectic, rock-lovin' bachelor pad.
And P.S., this was done using a mix of high and low. Ikea, CB2, and other retailers mixed in with some "to the trade" items helps to elevate this project on a budget...

Images by and property of Studio Surface, The Design Studio. Do not copy without permission. Designed w/ APT Design Studio.

caterpillars and water drops become art

2011-05-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

I don't know where I've been that I am just now seeing this but Reuben Margolin is brilliant. He humbly says he "grew up making stuff". I know right. Now I usually skip over posts with videos because I hate committing the time but I'm dead serious about you having to watch this - you will trip out. This is the perfect example of how little things can inspire. I am continually amazed by how creative folks are in other fields that I haven't really thought about.....
This is mobiles on a whole new level.

Hello from the STL

2011-04-29T17:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday from the Midwest! Thought I would swing by and say hello while on a brief break from my busy week/weekend. I have work to attend to here but as it's my hometown, I lucked out in that I get to see my fam while here. And that's a pretty big deal since Jake and I get to only see my side about once a year!

Well I hope everyone had a fantastic week with a great weekend ahead! I'll have some fun design posts coming next week that I can't wait to share with y'all.

Talk soon!

Hello Splendor Giveaway!

2011-04-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Did you know that it's a birthday week? My dear friend Beth from Hello Splendor is having a birthday extravaganza this week to celebrate a bloggiversary. Yeah that's right. Hello Splendor is turning 1! And part of this week's festivities is a pretty darn cool giveaway from Studio Surface, The Shop. Swing by Beth's place, say hi and learn how to win our strands bracelet. I'm serious. Go!

swanky on a monday

2011-04-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

How swanky is this airplane interior?! Travel used to be so stylish and hip! Now its just well....kind of lame. That could be because I have been travelling coach and doing quite a bit of it. I would love to get my hands on a private jet and design the heck out of it. Any takers? On a similar note, I'm back from a project install in Cleveland and I got to tell you, it feels good to be sitting back in my office designing and not traipsing across the country. But. I'll admit it is good to mix it up a bit. I will be sharing some snippets of the project later on this ~~week~~ month. Until then, happy Monday. Let it be a fantastic, successful week! Say hi below and link to your blog if you would like - it's been a while since we had a meet and greet.

image source

live life

2011-04-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

and enjoy your weekend....

that's what I'm going to try to do. in between the hustle and bustle, errands and work, i'm looking forward to a bit of down time and celebration this weekend.
image source

creepy cool

2011-04-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

Pretty cool vintage sign, huh?! It's one of the odd and curious objects I am crushing on over at Under a Pink Moon today for Estelle's Creative Crush series. Go check it out.....

design mail - a "boho-chic" office space

2011-03-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

I received a design mail dilemma from my dear blog friend Estelle. You know Estelle. The super-funny, talented author behind one of my favorite blogs, Under a Pink Moon. Well it seems that Estelle's office was on its last leg and things weren't looking too hopeful friends. And here's the rub. Estelle shares the office with her husband so it can't be girly-girl. AND they're hopefully selling their house in the upcoming year so all the new cool stuff has to be able to come with......
But...all is not lost. There is potential in this sweet little space. And I believe it can be revived to be the inspiring office it was meant to be.
Incorporating existing pieces and Estelle's request for an earthy, bohemian vibe with a bit of color, I curated an office design that embodies "boho-chic" with an infusion of energizing hues. Turning this office into a destination NOT to be avoided. Check it:

Design Montage: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6
Original photo from Estelle

shop talk -rustic sophisticate

2011-03-02T15:12:00.000-08:00

Remember my northeast adventure last week? Well this is what we were up to. Project installs can be intense and make for a crazy week (I will have to share some behind the scenes footage with you in an upcoming post) especially when dealing with travel, time crunches, and snow. BUT I love it when a project turns out as we had envisioned. The payoff? The client is happy and that's really what it is all about. Curating a mix of existing accessories, furniture, and artwork along with some new pieces, we created a rustic yet elegant space with a bit of edge and sophistication. The neutral creams and grays provided a soft backdrop for the punches of graphite and gold throughout......

1. Dining

2. Living

3. Kitchen

All images by Studio Surface, the Design Studio.

Project designed with APT Design Studio.

lunch break

2011-02-28T16:37:00.000-08:00

Gosh it feels good to be home. And no joke, I enjoyed today even though it was a Monday! I had a nice, beautiful lunch break that included a trip to a nearby beach coupled with a cupcake (or two) to ease into another hectic work week. How was your Monday? I hope your week is off to a fantastic start! And I hope that you hang out a bit with me this week. As promised, there will be some fun design posts this week that I invite you to check out. See you soon friends!

Yeah I'm here. Sort of.

2011-02-24T14:27:00.000-08:00

Hello from the northeast! I know it's been a minute since I have been on here but with good reason I promise! I have been running non-stop since Sunday when I hopped on a flight(s) to NYC, drove to Greenwich, CT where we installed project #1, and now am en route to Philadelphia where we will be installing design project #2. It's a crazy, whirlwind week and I can't wait to share some pictures from behind the scenes along with some of the final results!

Hopefully we can knock this second install out pretty quickly so the hubs and I can enjoy a nice dinner in Philadelphia tomorrow night with some sight seeing Saturday morning before heading back to the west coast.

Oh and check out the snow fall above that welcomed us the first morning...(if the picture is loaded. My blogger app is being a little sh*+.

I hope you check back next week; I have lots of great design posts coming up that I'm pretty stoked about! See you soon...

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

shop talk - paint magic

2011-02-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Amazing what a bit of paint can do. For this Miami apartment design project we couldn't replace the existing finishes so we had to rely solely on cosmetic changes. BUT the difference is pretty fantastic. A sophisticated version of nautical is created with classic navy and modern accessories and art:

So much is possible with a bit of creativity and inspiration! I love working on projects - "virtual" ones too. Make sure to check out my Design Mail posts to see some fun design taking place via the internets and my inbox.....

pixie love

2011-02-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

source

don't mean maybe.

Happy weekend friends!

design mail - do ya like 'em real or fake?

2011-02-02T06:00:00.000-08:00

Taxidermy art that is. Is there a happy compromise for the love of taxidermy but without using (read shooting) the real thing? Another design dilemma. Let's read my letter from Kenny to see....

Problem:
"Michelle, I have been wanting to enhance our decor around our house by using wildlife artistry in the form of taxidermy. I know not all homes can pull this style off, but I believe our home has the right personality. What would be the best way to "bring in the outdoors" while not being kicked out to them, if you catch my drift. Your help would be awesome."

Solution:
Wow. That's a challenge alright. Let's face it, there is a bit of controversy over real or fake these days. And it has trickled into the taxidermy world too. :) I myself am not a big fan of the real deer heads and antlers and animals under a bell jar 'cause I think about how one got them. BUT, the trend of mixing the outdoors with interiors, rustic with modern, and collected "lodge chic" is just not letting up. Now, there is something quirky and a bit kitschy cool about adding these elements to your space in an artificial way. And it's a way that would make you and your significant other happy Kenny. Check out some examples of ways to incorporate the look inside without getting booted outside. Note no animals were harmed in these stylish settings....

AND, you're not just restricted to deer. Think about introducing the fellow brethren in the animal kingdom such as the deer's friends horse and fowl:

The key is to mix the faux animal accessories with modern elements to keep it fresh and hip. The goal is to avoid this:

NOT cute.

Send me your design questions and dilemmas for a creative, fun and modern solution.
Until next time friends...

images: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

By the way, how cool is the knitted deer by Rachel Denny?! Pretty incredible if you ask me.

a face lift

2011-02-01T10:02:00.000-08:00

Go ahead. Take a look. Look up. Keep going.....keep going... There! How great does the new blog banner look?! My friend Ana created this little face lift for us and I love it. I think It really captures the spirit of the blog and Studio Surface. And with the new year in full swing it's nice to have a bit of a freshen up.

In the market for a new look? Go visit Ana, who also has a terrific blog Live and Enliven and hook it up.

See you soon!
P.S. got a fun and unique Design Mail question to share with you this week. You will want to swing back by to check it out!

studio surface art crawl - Valerie Galloway

2011-01-27T13:03:00.000-08:00

I am in love with the work of Valerie Galloway. inspired by old family portraits and cinema, she has created pieces that are just blowing me away! I would place these in my home as well as those spaces of my clients. They are vintage and modern at once so I think they would fit in wonderfully in really any setting. Do you see a bit of nostalgic playing cards in the women's faces? I do. There is a hint of French too. And those red tights are to die for.

row 1: one, two, three

row 2: one, two, three

visit her shop here.

rockin' chairs

2011-01-21T07:00:00.000-08:00

clockwise - one two three four

design mail

2011-01-20T12:11:00.000-08:00

Hi there. I hope everyone is having a terrific week! If not, the weekend is almost here! I want to introduce you all to a new series on the Studio Surface blog - "Design Mail". As you may know, I'm a licensed Interior Designer and this blog is a companion to my boutique interior design studio of the same name. And as I mentioned before in the post below, I strongly believe that design is part of celebrating an inspired life as design can connect us. That being said, I love talking about design to any one who will listen and imparting my "wisdom" to whoever would like a bit. Think of this new series as a bit of free design advice alright? I love educating folks about what I do and perhaps giving them a nudge in the right direction when it comes to their design needs. So it will go a bit like this: readers will email me with their design dilemmas and I will post my design solutions in a Q & A format with photo examples. Example:

Q. Michelle, I'm thinking about painting our master bedroom bright pink and my husband threatens to leave me if I do. Is there a way to compromise and sneak this color in? Or, is our marriage doomed? Thanks, Charlotte.

A. Hi Charlotte. That is a dilemma. Bright pink is a bold choice and I think it would look kick ass, but I can empathise with your husband and that he doesn't want to feel like he is waking up to a "girly" room each morning. How about sticking with a neutral backdrop such as gray or white walls with crisp white bedding, then punctuating your room with touches of black accents? Reserve the bright pink for a few decorative pillows and artwork. Add a bit of yellow or orange to round it out. Check out this example.....

source

Your marriage is intact and now you have an awesome room for both of you to enjoy (and just may make your marriage stronger if you get my drift, hint..hint...)

OK, so the "dilemmas" probably won't be that dramatic but you can see where I am going with this. You send design questions to my "mailbag" and I dole out tidbits of design wisdom.

Looking forward to it!!!

it's been a while

2011-01-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Well I'm back. Yeah I went out of town last week but I mean I'm really back. You know. To the blog. I have been MIA for some time taking care of business and handling the surge in projects that have traipsed in. Don't get me wrong; I am stoked and so thankful that 2011 is off to an amazing start for me and my design company! But, well, I have neglected this creative, must needed outlet of mine, this blog. I have been doing some thinking and there will be a few cool updates for this hangout, all which I am excited about and all which will continue to support the blog's focus of celebrating an inspired life. AND, since this blog is a companion to my design business and as I truly believe that design is part of celebrating an inspired life, there will be loads more design driven info and advice and pictures and content in the posts to come. I can't wait!

Oh and how great are these views from my plane window en route home?! I love how as we headed further west the clouds split up and went from smushed up cotton to tiny little wisps.

And since it's Monday, please stop by and say hi and leave a link to your blog below so I/we can do the same! Here's to a fantastic week!

SAN ----to----- MIA

2011-01-08T06:00:00.000-08:00

image by the lovely Cassia Beck,

It's the weekend friends! As you are reading this, I am in transit to lovely Miami. Although it is a business trip, I do get to squeeze in a bit of play time and visit friends! Part project install, part fun, I'm so looking forward to a l'il journey. I'm hoping to check out some amazing places along the way too and if I do, of course I'll share.

How cool is this image?! I love Cassia Beck and you will too. Check her out here, here, and here. Oh and here.

Signing off.....happy weekend!

Now that's smart

2011-01-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

A clever l'il furniture line from Planet Rooth Studios in San Diego is made wholly of French wine barrels. Wine and furniture - two of my favorite things together?! Yes please!
These super cool lounge chairs by Barrelly Made It are made from 99+% repurposed materials.
Each piece is made from 1 wine barrel and held together with their original metal straps. The entire collection is bad a**. Check out their collection here.

image and chair spotted on thrillist

A Country Christmas

2010-12-24T12:23:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from the country! I hope everyone has a fabulous wek and safe travels. We made it to the Midwest safely and are looking forward to tons of food and family and SNOW! My childhood friend's farm is just up the road and we'll be sure to say hi to the chickens and pigs and even a cow or two.

On a similar note, we are so in the country it took 12 hours to get a signal and post this. :) So I'm signing off for now. Have a great holiday!

Merry Weekend!

2010-12-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

image

Happy Friday! Can you believe this is the last weekend before Christmas?! The good news is that I have almost all of my shopping done and can spend the weekend enjoying a few holiday get togethers and starting in on some stocking stuffer holiday baking. Then next week the hubs and I are off to St. Louis to be with my family, most of whom I have not seen in 13 months! That is just plain ridiculous. Needless to say, we are excited to play with the niece and nephews and reconnect with my sisters and brother and their other halves.

So next week is going to be crazy busy wrapping everything up before heading out of town. Speaking of which, we have a connecting flight in Chicago so fingers crossed that the weather cooperates and we make it all the way through! Not ready for a planes, trains, and automobiles adventure.... :)

P.S. how beautiful is the bucket of gifts? I love all the natural textures and simple embellishments - total inspiration for my wrapping this week. What do you have planned for the holiday next week? Anyone braving the weather to head around the country?

12 days of Christmas - Day 5!

2010-12-14T02:30:00.000-08:00

On the 5th day of Xmas The Alternative Wife gave to me, a stylish pouch and book that suit me to a tee!

I love my presents! Dawn picked out the perfect gift for me. Why, you ask is a blogger friend whom I've never met in person sending me presents?! It's part of Aspiring Splendor's 12 Days of Christmas / Secret Santa Blogger Gift Exchange. Say that 3 times fast. It has been loads of fun and the best part (besides the gifts) is learning more about each other by reading each other's blogs in order to select the perfect surprise gift.
Tomorrow, Anna from In Honor of Design shares her gift from me. I hope she likes it!!! A little hint.....it's homemade and a blend of two of my favorite elements.... Visit her blog home tomorrow to see what it is!

a homemade natural Christmas

2010-12-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday y'all! The weekend flew by and I have been quite busy creating and gathering xmas gifts and ideas. I probably shouldn't post these pics pre-Xmas in case any of the recipients see. But as only a handful of my family members and local friends actually read my posts, I should be pretty safe. :)
A few weeks back, some of my fave ladies and I went to a great planter making class at our friend Korin's home to learn how to make these fantastic concrete planters. Kassandra from Barrels and Branches generously shared her craft and recipe. I loved them so much that I decided to make enough for an army to hand out as stocking stuffers and gifts. They turned out great! Between me and my m-i-l, we have quite the succulent farm so planting these babies was pretty easy actually. Some of the succulents actually came from my wedding from over two years ago! (They spread like wildfire y'all). I added some pieces of my driftwood and shell collection and voila. Aren't they the cutest l'il sh**s?!

hasta

2010-12-03T12:12:00.000-08:00

Sweet Jesus it is the weekend! I don't know about y'all but I'm super stoked to get to some holiday shopping (craft fairs!) and eggnog drinking (with rum) and candle lighting with fam (I married a Jew). Toss in some handmade goodness going down here at the Salz-Smith household and that makes for some major fun things in my neck of the woods this weekend. I feel a bit like the Target lady prepping for the big show. :)

My lovely friend Bianca will be at the Zig Zag event with fellow talented folks showcasing handmade apparel goodness. Then I will be heading out to my friend Karin's Holiday Artist Market where all sorts of handmade art, pottery, and crafts will be on display all by local artisans. I LOVE searching out unique gifts for the holidays (and goodies for myself). AND to find amazing handmade treasures by local artists is the absolute greatest. Maybe I will find some sweet notions like the buttons above to embellish my gifts with...

So I'm off. Everyone enjoy their weekend! Can't wait to hear all about it. Now go!

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Xmas Wood

2010-12-01T22:33:00.000-08:00

Get some Xmas wood at 15% off in our shop. I'm serious. We're celebrating the holiday season in a big way. Enter coupon code "xmaswood15" and spread some cheer! We will have some more good stuff coming up the next couple of weeks to share the holiday spirit with y'all. Cant't wait.....

Check out the wood goodness here.

'tis the holiday season...

2010-11-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had a fabulous thanksgiving weekend with lots of food and tons of drinks! The Xmas season is officially here and there are lots of fun things coming up these next few weeks on the home front and in the blog community.

I will be hustling to get some new pieces added to the shop for the holidays as well as knocking out some design projects that are wrapping up by end of year. Throw in some gift making and gift wrapping and I am one over busy gal. But it keeps me out of trouble.

Any big plans or to-do lists this week? Say hi and post a link to your blog below!

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happy thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T10:50:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends! I am looking forward to a day with family, friends and great food. I am thankful for a lot of things today (well every day really) and plan to celebrate well into next week.

I'm off to put on my stretchy pants and get started. See you all next week!

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mason jars + acorns = i like

2010-11-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

I have acquired a slew of old canning jars showing various stages of age and love the simple, rustic feel they bring. I like the idea of recreating them every so often for holiday or every day. I think these would be lovely as part of our tabletop for tomorrow mixed in amongst the foods and place settings...

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great people talk about

2010-11-22T13:00:00.000-08:00

word.

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holiday countdown (& happy monday!)

2010-11-22T10:47:00.000-08:00

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OK so first, happy Monday! Why does the year start moving along faster when the holidays hit? It's like Summer then all of a sudden we are eating turkey dinner. It blows my mind. I got some baking to knock out this week and on the agenda: pecan pie, pumpkin pie, sweet potatoes, chocolate something or other .... but it will all be done with love. (mostly).

Yay for the short week too right? Got lots to tackle this week but thoughts of holiday imbibing and stuffing my face makes me happy and thankful and of course the presence of family too. :)

Thanksgiving is such a special time for me and how different it is now that I have my own family and am beginning new traditions. Since my side of the family is back in the Midwest, me and the hubs swap every year between a Thanksgiving visit and a Xmas visit there so every year brings different memories with a different setting. This year we stay in San Diego for turkey day, so a bit warmer Thanksgiving for sure.

What do you have planned?

P.S. share a link to your blog home below!

ideation station

2010-11-19T14:55:00.000-08:00

Last week, Jake and I participated in an amazing charity event called Chairs for Chair-ity held at Hold It Contemporary Home. Designers and creatives "competed" in this silent auction to benefit Make-A-Wish foundation of San Diego. We all received a chair which we then modified/reinvented for this fabulous event. All proceeds went to little Emily who is battling Aortic Stenosis. Because of all the incredible bids, she and her family will be going to Italy. Her wish was granted!

Our chair started as a wee stool and we transformed it into a towering chair/lamp hybrid. Jake fabricated everything from the steel frame which he welded, brushed and waxed, to the industrial cable and plug, to even the socket which he made and welded to the underside. He even angled the existing wood base so that it was a more comfortable sit.

We "took second" by having the second highest bid of the night. There were 25 chairs total and the night was an absolute blast with food truck and apps by the amazing Deborah Scott, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Sinless margaritas, a rockin' D.J. and more. Click here to see some of the awesome chairs up for bid that night.

We are already planning our strategy for next year...... :)

{images by Studio Surface}

and it's a wrap

2010-11-19T12:25:00.000-08:00

Remember the California exam that consumed my life for a good while? Well I passed it! Insert sigh of relief. It feels good to check that off and clear up that head space for something else...
Because I know me, and I will quickly add another item on my ever growing to do list.

So, I'm going to relax and celebrate a bit this weekend, get to work on handmade holiday gifts, and take care of grocery shopping for the big day next week. What do y'all have planned?

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monday meet and greet, making preparations

2010-11-15T06:30:00.000-08:00

Hello! I'm looking forward to tackling my ever growing to do list this week. Work is busy, busy, new projects are on the boards, new endeavors are growing and the holidays are fast approaching!!! I have been brainstorming ideas for homemade holiday cards, gift wrapping, and the gifts themselves for this season. There is something so special and warm about a thoughtful, unique homemade gift. Read a tasteful homemade gift, hence my careful brainstorming and planning. Believe me, I could have several posts worth of stories of homemade gifts gone bad in which a loved one or myself has been the lucky recipient. Maybe a seasonal upcoming blog series? :)
I love this photo above. How nostalgic and clever to send handmade stationery in an old fashioned air mailer all wrapped in twine? It has me thinking about fun possibilities for this year's holiday greetings..
Do you have any unique ideas for the holidays this year or wrapping, gifting tips?
And I almost forgot, it's Monday so please say hi and introduce yourself if you haven't already. We'd love to visit your place!

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well done

2010-11-15T06:15:00.000-08:00

My friend Lauren aka Aspiring Kennedy told me about this incredible initiative taking place. We take so many things for granted at times, especially those items that are so readily available to us. It's pretty amazing to me that others around the world view something so accessible to us, a luxury. Like water. It is a necessity yet for reasons I don't always understand, it is not a guarantee for some.

Thankfully there are groups such as Charity Water that are working to make water available to every single person on the planet one well at a time. It takes $5000 to dig a well to bring water to 250 people.

As bloggers, both big and small, I think it is nice to blog about the important stuff. Pretty rooms and clothes are great. But I think blogging can be that much more powerful when some real, tangible good can come from it. This week bloggers are spreading the word to raise the remaining $1000 to build this well. AND, if just 200 bloggers/readers donate $5, the well is finished. Knowing how interconnected this blog world really is, this can happen by week's end.

So please spread the word and click here to donate!!! one bit at a time and the well will be completed. :)

http://www.mycharitywater.org/p/campaign?campaign_id=5907 - to donate.

monday meet and greet, come say hi!

2010-11-08T09:45:00.000-08:00

Happy Monday! I had a great weekend and am looking forward to the week ahead (kind of ). It's going to be a busy one and there is some fun stuff happening that will be nice to share these next few days. I don't know about you, but how sweet is this little shed? I think it would make my work this week a bit more bearable if I was in there instead...

Since it's been a while since we had a Monday Meet and Greet, be sure to say hi and leave a link to your blog below so we can swing by your place too. Next Monday will be a extra special meet and greet and you'll meet one of my favorite friends who also happens to have a sweet l'il blog too...

Talk soon!

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my pride and joy

2010-11-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

It's the little things that make me happy, my husband as a fat ballerina with a 5 o'clock shadow for example. And any opportunity to laugh my a** off at something as ridiculous as this is truly what keeps me going. It's absolutely fantastic. Let me also preface this by saying that he has no idea this is being posted. :) Here is what transpired Sunday evening in the actual order of events:

OK so obviously my laughter and insults started to wear on Jake's nerves. But really how do you take a pissed off fat triangle seriously? He went from mildly annoyed to seriously rooted in about 30 seconds and it was priceless....

I know some of the pics are blurry but that is purely because of me walking while laughing while snapping.

polaroid frame

I'm baaacck! And I'm an addict.

2010-11-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! It's good to be back in the blog community. I missed my blog friends and it appears I have a lot of catching up to do.

Last week was a busy, hard week for me and I discovered something about myself. Well maybe I always knew this particular thing but I hadn't given it much thought before.
The whole time I was studying (painfully I might add), in between the building codes, I mostly thought about how lovely it was going to be when it was over and I could just relax and laze and enjoy a day or two without any agendas. But who is fooling who here?! I don't know what to do with myself if I don't have a list to attend to. I'm starting to realize a little begrudgingly that I thrive a bit on "busy". I've figured out that I'm a restless, anxious mess when I don't have a slew of projects and tasks on my plate. It's an unfortunate truth really. BUT, like everything, it's about balance. And just having to focus solely on work and side projects without the addition of studying is a relief. More importantly, I have learned that if I could squeeze in 6+ hours a day to study when it was my priority then I can allot the same for my family and personal goals which is/should be my constant and most important "task".

{Image by John Horton}

Pretty Mommy Recipe Exchange

2010-10-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

Man I love a good recipe exchange. Especially during Fall when all I want to do is bake and cook and put on my "winter coat". You know, those extra 5 or so pounds..... :)
The lovely Michelle over at Pretty Mommy is hosting this lovely recipe exchange and the recipes from everyone participating have been fantastic! I am taking a pause from my study break to bring you the most yummy potato soup. AND, it's easy to boot.....

You'll need:
3 medium red potatoes
2 cups water
1 small onion
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
crushed red pepper flakes
ground black pepper
3 cups milk ( I do 2 cups milk, 1 cup cream)
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 cup cubed cooked ham

How To:
Peel potatoes and cut into 1 inch cubes. Bring water to boil in large saucepan, add the potatoes and cook until tender. Drain, reserving liquid. Set aside your potatoes. Measure 1 cup of the cooking liquid and set aside. Peel and finely chop the onion. Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and add the onion being sure to stir frequently so they do not over cook. Cook until tender and translucent but not brown. Add the four to make a roux and add pepper flake and black pepper to taste. Cook an additional 3 - 4 minutes. Gradually add the potatoes, reserved cooking liquid, milk, and sugar to the onion/roux in large saucepan. Stir well. Add cheese and ham and let simmer over low heat for 30 or so minutes stirring occasionally. Give it time and it will thicken! Serve with bread or ladle into bread bowls for a comfort meal..

Check out Shades of Sunshine who shared a lovely recipe yesterday and also visit Jennifer at Croissants and Root Beer (cute name huh?!) to see what she has cookin' Monday..

{Image by me}

Back to the books. The exam is today!!!!!

a study break

2010-10-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

crazy frog leg (catching flies) on flickr

Sort of. I'm taking a break this upcoming week from the blog world to study. Lord help me. I think exams, certification, registration, licensing.... it never freakin' ends. I'm a licensed Interior Designer which means I have sat for the national exam and completed many other requirements. However, depending on the state where you work and live, there may be additional "hoops" to jump through. Long story short, when moving to California, if you want to be certified in the state, you guessed it, another exam. Specifically, The IDEX which is all about the building codes and business legalities that impact an Interior Designer practicing in this lovely state. :)

So it is go time and down to the wire as I'm staring down the last week before my test next Friday. To put it in perspective, the study guide to reference the study material available to me is a couple hundred pages itself. So.....I have 4 textbooks, the building codes of California, state bulletins, and regulations to memorize these next 6 days. Meaning, I will not see daylight for some time. Wish me luck and see you next week!

Fingers crossed!

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bake: halloween goodies! aka bloody finger cookies...

2010-10-20T05:45:00.000-07:00

All I can say is that it is almost Halloween y'all. These cookies kind of horrify me and fascinate me at once. But as I am not the squeamish type (I don't think), I would love to freak out my upcoming party guests with these gory sweets. Thanks to Hilary for this craaazy recipe for Bake.

Are you going to a Halloween party and want to really WOW the guests with a gory dessert? This is the one for you. These bloody finger cookies always elicit a “gross!” response but the party-goers can’t stop eating them!

A cross between a butter and sugar cookie (and really, how can that be bad?), these scary treats are easy to make and are super creepy looking. When you’re shaping the fingers, keep in mind that the cookies will spread so make sure they’re not too fat.

Ingredients
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Almond slices
Red decorating gel or frosting

See more of the recipe after the jump. P.S. you don't want to miss the pics!

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325° F. Combine dry ingredients. Lightly grease a cookie sheet.
In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla, beat in dry ingredients. Cover and refrigerate dough for 30 minutes.
Working with one-quarter of the dough at a time and keeping remaining dough refrigerated, roll heaping teaspoons full of dough for each cookie.
Since shaping the fingers can get a little tricky, here are step by step directions with photos.
Squeeze dough at three places to create knuckle shapes.

Use a paring knife, make slashes in several places to form knuckles.

Press an almond firmly into one end for nail.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until pale golden. Let cool.

At this point, you can make the nail bed or bottom of the finger (or both) bloody.

· To bloody the nail bed, lift up the almond, squeeze red decorator gel onto nail bed, and press almond back in place so gel oozes out from underneath.

· To bloody the finger, dilute red frosting with water then dip the bottom of the finger in the frosting.

You can also dribble blood on the fingers to add more gore.

Yields 3-4 dozen.

Thanks to Nosh with Me for another great Bake!
{Images: Nosh with Me}

celebrating the inspired life - Ana from Live & Enliven

2010-10-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

For today's meet and greet, I'm so happy to share with you one of my favorite people, Ana Degenaar from Live and Enliven. Celebrating an inspired life is a huge focus of my blog and I have learned that it isn't a solo endeavor. Celebrating an inspired life involves true connections and ties to others who provide and share some of the inspiration that comes onto our path. Ana is one of those friends that I glean inspiration from through the beautiful thoughts and imagery that she shares through her blog daily.....

First of all, I just want to thank Michelle for inviting me to share on her blog. I am about to rant about what inspires me and yet Michelle is one of my main online sources of inspiration. Being in contact with people who want to be inspired and to inspire others is simply amazing.
There are so many things that inspire me in life but I have to admit I am most inspired by my daughter. Even before she was born she brought so much more color and purpose to my life. I find that the small things in life have the biggest effect in the way I do things. I love nature, colors and shapes but mostly things that money can’t buy, like a sunset walk on the promenade or experiencing the changes of each season.

I try to surround myself with as much inspiration as I can, not only to create or be creative but to look at my every day with more expectation and happiness. I collect quotes, mostly Biblical ones or deep thoughts that relate to my life at a certain stage. I read as if there was no tomorrow and I try to live out those words as closely as I can.

I also find people in general to be inspiring, even some that are not in the least bit interested in art. I admire the way people talk, the way they nurture others, the way they smile and most of all the way they live, trying to make their lives as beautiful as they can, with whatever they have at hand.

Some days are tough… and I feel completely drained of inspiration. I know then that I need to stop and take time out for myself, even if it is just to read a few pages of a book or sit on the floor to play with my daughter.

I get through those uninspiring days by looking at the boards I've hung all over my house, in the kitchen, in the office, on my closet's door... And I succeed most of the time, except when I am so physically tired that my brain needs a real break to jumpstart again.
I usually post quotes, photos, magazine scraps or bring items that inspire me to my office… which is basically a wooden box with a woven mat and two comfortable pillows. I sit on the floor because I like it this way and I try to keep things related to what I need inspiration for close. These days it's been difficult to get into the kitchen and plan something creative, so I brought in some cook books… and diaries (in case of a sudden and miraculous flow of new recipes), food related magazine scraps and my little plant that I love.

I have a guitar that I can see through the corner of my eye because I want to learn to play. I also want to get back to painting and so I have a piece of “modern art” that Emma-Pearl made when she was only a year and 9 months old (As I said my daughter is my biggest inspiration). Sometimes I just have Emma there and it's fun because she loves what I do, especially if it has to do with illustrations.

Having all these things there remind me that one can always make time for all the things you love in life.
I celebrate the inspired life by creating beautiful things to the best of my ability, whether it is a birthday party for Emma, a handmade gift for a friend or just a nice supper for me and my two loves (hubby and Emma). I love to get inspiration from all kinds of sources and interpret it my own way, with a bit of latin spice and a ton of love.
I always wonder what people find inspiring? How do you celebrate the inspired life?... Do share!
Thanks again, Michelle!
xo

{images by Ana Degenaar}

If you haven't already, be sure to stop by Ana's blog. Like me, I think you'll find it a quick favorite and a place of inspiration.

the weekend at last

2010-10-15T12:01:00.000-07:00

The weekend. Finally! This has been a crazy week. So crazy in fact, that I didn't get to go estate sale-ing and thrifting with my Friday finds friend Bianca. Bummer right? I did get lots accomplished but it looks like I will be working right through the weekend which also happens to be my and Jake's b-days. So, I'm hoping we get a little R & R at some point and some fun packages like the ones above. :) Speaking of packages, I just sent out a lot to a dear friend for a super fun blog event coming up. I love creating little treasures with a simple, homemade with love feel. And I can't wait to find out how the recipients react to them. I will be sure to share details and pics later....

Happy weekend and I hope you tear it up! Or enjoy it quietly too.

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art crawl - chris sisarich

2010-10-14T11:49:00.000-07:00

- chris sisarich

I first saw Chris's work at the Art of Photography show downtown. I wrote about one of his incredible images a while back along with other featured photographers from the show. I keep coming back to his work and am blown away by his range.

See his work here.

{Images by Chris Sisarich}

bake: chocolate almond cookies

2010-10-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday friends! Todays amazing fall recipe comes from my sister Melanie. She is by far one of the best bakers I know and the love and care she puts into all of her creations is really what makes them most special. I'm happy to have her "here" sharing one of her favorites...

Fall is here. It crept in slowly here in our corner of the Lou. The trees are turning and soon I'll be able to drive on leaf filled streets and watch the colors fly out my back window. The smell of wood smoke and fire pits are a weekend treat and apple cider and pumpkin bread will become our menu staples. There is nothing quite like Fall. It is my favorite season. It means a kitchen full of children excited to see what new treat is being made for lunchboxes the next day. It means crisp Saturday mornings outside watching children playing soccer. And it means cookies. These cookies. The ones you're going to love me for. They are going to change your life. Promise.

My Chocolate Almond Cookies
AKA "Sweet Jesus Help Me"

In a large bowl cream 1 cup of EACH: Butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Please don't use fake butter. This isn't a margarine recipe. It's the real thing. If you have an aversion to real butter; we can't ever be friends. Really, no amigas.

Beat in 2 eggs and 2 teaspoons of almond extract.
Oh almond extract. How I love thee. I use it in my buttercream, added to cherries, peaches, or other fruit for cobblers/pies, a little in hot chocolate can be a substitute when you want an amaretto kick without the alcohol, or in pound cakes or cakes. It's an obsession I tell you.

Now if you have a stand mixer, just let it beat and walk away. You want it fluffy. If you have a hand mixer, my deepest apologies. Beat for about two minutes. You want it to look like this:

In a bowl add 4 cups flour, 2 teaspoons of baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add to our lovely creamed mixture. Now start on low so you don't shoot flour all over yourself and half of the kitchen. I speak from a wealth of experience on this. It is not attractive to get flour up your nose. I lose my dignity at that point. Mix well and it will pull all the batter from the sides and give you an attractive lump of dough. Go ahead. Take a pinch. Okay, take another. Okay, at this point you need to stop or you'll never get to the finished cookies which are worth it.

In a small bowl pour 1/2 cup white granulated sugar.

I have a lovely medium scoop from a kitchen supply store but you can also use your hands to make 2 inch balls. Roll in the white sugar and place on a cookie sheet. I'm in love with baking stones. They make the BEST cookies. I haven't found a cookie sheet yet that can compare with a baking stone. Now look at these little nuggets. They almost make my ovaries flinch they are that cute. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on racks.

Now for the Sweet Jesus part:

In a bowl melt a couple squares of chocolate. You can use Ghiradelli, Godiva, Nestle, or heck even a Hershey's bar. You can go milk, semi, or dark. If you buy the candy bars, buy an extra. My children prefer milk. They seem to disappear in our pantry when they are intended for baking.

Drizzle the melted chocolate onto the cookies. We like to tweak ours every now and then and add some raspberry or blackberry preserves on top of the cookies as well. We can't help going over board on variations. It's our family motto: Go Big or Go Home.

And finally, Enjoy.
See below the jump for the full recipe:

1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp almond extract
4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
white sugar
chocolate

In mixing bowl cream butter and sugars. Beat in eggs and almond flavor. Beat until fluffy. In smaller bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Mix until dough forms. Roll into 2 inch balls and roll into white sugar. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Drizzle with chocolate.

Thanks Melanie!!!!
{Images: Melanie Wiginton}

monday meet and greet, an Autumn Party

2010-10-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

source

Good morning! I hope every one had a fantastic weekend! Mine was kicked off with my weekly estate sale-ing/thrifting adventure with Bianca. We stumbled upon an estate sale on our way to Matilda's Mouse. I scored some great finds - an old wire basket and some old fashioned Ball mason jars that will be perfect for storing knick-knacks or tea lights for the patio. Speaking of Ball jars, I also tagged along with Bianca and Grace to a fantastic store opening for Bixby and Ball in Solana Beach. It was a super fun night with champagne, treats, and beautiful objects and trinkets in an even more beautiful setting. I can't wait to do some more shopping there for upcoming projects...

Fall is here and I am looking forward to the get-togethers with friends and family during all the upcoming holidays. And in the spirit of Autumn gatherings, feel free to say hi and leave a link to your blog below so that we can come hang out at your place for a bit. Also, tell us, what are some of your favorite ways to welcome Fall? Is it a seasonal recipe, a unique tradition?

Next week's meet and greet will be all about celebrating an inspired life and discovering how some of my favorite people do just that. I can't wait to chat with one of my favorite blog friends and sharing her thoughts on the topic with you.

Talk soon!

happy thoughts for the weekend...

2010-10-08T15:47:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving you with some soft sentiments for the weekend. These thoughtful clothespins would look sweet while hanging photos and clippings from some twine or framing wire as a simple inspiration board. Some of these are a little too sweet and kum ba yah for my liking but I like the idea behind them. I would burn some ornery phrases on to mine to keep me motivated throughout the day and or make me laugh.

Happy weekend and see you next week!

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art crawl - rodger stevens

2010-10-07T07:40:00.000-07:00

- rodger stevens

studio

counterpane, steel wire and driftwood

waterfall, steel wire and driftwood

bulb sconces, steel and aluminum

hangman lamp, wood, hardware, bulb

downpour, steel

box lamp, cardboard, ink, electrics

coldfire, painted steel

Barney's mobile in AZ

I am bowled over by Rodger Stevens' work. I received a postcard from his studio a while back and it had somehow disappeared in the recesses of my desk. It resurfaced yesterday and I was thrilled to re-discover it. Rodger hails from Brooklyn and attended Parson's School of Design and the School of Visual arts in NYC. His work has been exhibited around the country and in Paris since 1993. His various commissions can also be seen throughout the country is such places as Barney's, Tiffany and Co., and The W Hotel.

I absolutely love his sculpture work compiled of steel, wire, skill. Whether free standing or hanging overhead, it truly is stunning. His lamps are pretty clever too. What do you think of the box lamp prototype?

{Images courtesy Rodger Stevens Studio}

before and after.....new bedding

2010-10-06T09:00:00.000-07:00

Last Friday I picked up an old vintage twin sheet set from an estate sale with my friend Bianca. It has become a weekly ritual and I look forward to it every week. Without fail, I find so many amazing things for myself and for client projects. This sheet set for example. 3 BUCKS. It feels a little Missoni-esque doesn't it? Not too feminine, not too masculine, perfect for my home. Now this is not a total blow your mind DIY. I get it. It's not like I created a lamp or car from this fabric. BUT, I did have some great Euro Shams sewn from it with plenty of cloth left to spare for custom pocketbooks, sachets, matching pillows, whatever. So..... check out my new bedding:

Thanks to my m.i.l Jennifer, I have these new shams for our master. They look awesome with our freshly painted charcoal walls and white bedding. Our bedroom is in the midst of a complete overhaul and I will be sure to share with you the completed space when all is said and done. It takes time people. What do you think? Pretty cool pattern huh?

bake: banana nut bread

2010-10-06T06:15:00.001-07:00

Hi friends! I hope every one is having an amazing week!

I love all breads especially those sweetened with fruits and nuts and all about Fall. Banana nut bread is probably an all time favorite and I find myself making it all the time. I have tried a few variations but this one I have used forever because it's simple and wonderful. The bread is really so good and moist, it will kick. your. a**. And it makes your place smell amazing while it's baking.

You'll Need:

5 T Butter

1/2 Cup granulated sugar

1/2 Cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 large egg

2 egg whites

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 Cups mashed bananas (make sure they are very ripe)

1 3/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 Cup heavy cream

1/3 cup chopped walnuts

How To:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bottom only of 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. (I prefer to use butter). Beat butter in large bowl until fluffy. Add sugar and brown sugar and beat well. Add egg, egg whites and vanilla and beat until well blended. Add the banana and beat on high for about 30 seconds. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder in medium bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to the butter mixture alternating with cream, ending with the flour mixture. Add the walnuts to the batter and blend. Pour batter into the loaf pan. Bake for approx. 1 hour 15 minutes or until brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Tip: It's especially good slathered with butter in the morning with a cup of coffee or tea. And it's even better the next day if it lasts that long! Let me know if you try it!

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surface studies: white & wood, take 2

2010-10-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

I have been on a neutral high lately and I just can't shake it. My home is slowly turning into a study of whites, grays, charcoals, and taupes with hints of golds. I also love adding wood tones in a space to provide warmth, texture, and a natural aesthetic. I had posted my love of white combined with wood at my other hangout Alluminare where I talk about design and decor tips for the home.
Now white is synonymous with pure, clean, fresh, and modern. For a “color” (it’s actually the sum of all colors) it works double time as a primary hue in a modern setting and also as an incredible backdrop to showcase other colors in their best light. It is THE best of the basics, it is modern, and every home needs a bit of it. White is classic, timeless, and the perfect canvas to introduce other textures and colors to your space.
My absolute favorite combination and look right now is white paired with wood. It is ethereal and oh so modern but in a warm, never stark way. Sometimes referred to as Scandinavian inspired, whites and wood tones are paired for a natural, simple, sometimes rustic aesthetic that is both casual and sophisticated. The white/wood design combination also takes its cue from mid-century modern interiors when white was also called upon frequently for a home. White combined with wood creates a bright, light and airy, natural interior.

This bedroom is a stylish retreat. The pale wood accents and furniture pieces look amazing against creamy white walls. The grays and soft taupes add texture and softness as middle tones between the contrast of the whites and pale woods. It’s so airy and calming, I don’t know that I could leave this room.

The organic sculptures and stacked logs are the perfect accessories in this all white space. The various textures keep this room interesting and avoid feeling flat. The white walls and flooring reflect the natural light and bounce it around in this full volume space. I love the combination of modern lines and rustic elements. It makes for an organic, fluid design.

The tones warm up a bit in this bedroom. The artwork, furniture, and flooring all have warm yellow undertones that pop brightly against the flat white. Again, this simple space is an example of how adding subtle textures like the sheers and rug can add interest to an otherwise basic palette.

Wood doesn’t just belong on floors. Wood plank flooring looks fantastic as a wall covering! It’s especially nice sandwiched between white walls. Its so soothing and natural; it feels like a modern day log cabin.

These dining rooms are so fresh and inviting! Any spread wood look incredible in these neutral settings. What a dreamy space; I could curl up on the sofa in the background in the first one after a full meal.

When designing with white and wood, it’s important to keep a few rules in mind.

1. Don’t forget to add texture. To avoid a sterile, lackluster space, be sure to add rugs, window treatments, and accessories with different textures and shapes. Whether you choose neutrals or bold colors to reside with your white, these are the elements that will shine against a neutral white and wood backdrop and keep things from turning boring.

2. White takes some know how and forethought. Although you think it would be an easy choice (and it can be!) selecting the right white is crucial to create the right mood.

3. Finally, (and this may contradict #2 somewhat), white can be both daring and an excercise in restraint. It’s easy to slap color on the walls and call it a day. But white hides nothing. And that can be a good thing! It shows your space as it really is and lets your furnishings and accessories have the spotlight once in a while. White interiors are authentic and honest. Embrace it!

White can be an exciting (never boring) addition to your space. Pair it with wood to warm up your home and add organic interest.

{Rooms:1.2.3.4.5.6.} Original post at Alluminare.

little treasure

2010-10-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

I love little treasures. You know, miniature things that are so sweet they make your teeth hurt. Like this lovely pocketbook from my friend Bianca. I really love it and I feel so ladylike (no easy task) when I use it. I finally purchased one after eyeing them for so long. Meet Annika.

{check out Bink and Boo}

monday meet and greet - class reunion!

2010-10-04T04:45:00.000-07:00

Well it's just right out ridiculous what we're up to today. Ridiculously funny! Last week I begged and threatened some of my blog friends to post senior pics in celebration of all things geek and my love for Glee. Plus it's a fun way to get to know one another. Actually, it's an opportunity to laugh our hind ends off at the expense of one another. I am a little alarmed that after several years and a slew of different hairstyles (read blonde pixie cut), I found my way back to a style similar to the one I had my senior year! What?! And these pics are clearly pre-eyeliner and eyebrow maintenance. I sort of miss the gold herringbone chain too. I was proud to be a band geek and a bookworm. It's all in fun and without further babble, here are my fellow classmates. Meet the class of ,....ahem:

Michelle (me) at Studio Surface
Beth at Hello Splendor
Estelle at Under a Pink Moon
Danielle at Elleinad Spir
Torrie at A Place to Share

Swing by to say hi, grab some punch, and reconnect with some blog friends.

{images by Studio Surface, notebook paper}

this weekend you should...

2010-10-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

source

write a fan letter to your self or create a collage with your junk mail.

{miscellaneaarts on flickr}

art crawl - native vermont

2010-09-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

boy in the bear mask

black bear swim

love birds I'll share my heart with you

the barnacle whale graphic art collage

fox in the ferns

you and me

numerology art collage

I've got Fall on the brain. These beautiful illustrations feel like home in Autumn to me. They are honest and authentic and just plain lovely. From Native Vermont on Etsy, these illustrations are inspired by the view from the artist's window in Salisbury, Vermont and his time at the forest and lake. I would love to be there right now seeing the same inspiration he is looking at daily.

P.S. that sweet whale will soon be residing atop my dresser.

Visit his shop and profile here.

{images courtesy of native vermont}

don't be scared

2010-09-29T11:52:00.000-07:00

Ok. So next Monday's Meet and Greet theme may be a bit over the top. But. It's so stinkin' funny that I can't help myself. Surely none of the high school pics out there compare to these. I laugh until I choke every time I look at these pics that I created on yearbookyourself.com. I think the funniest part is that the hair is pretty crooked in each one and you can see my ghost bangs in all. Or the fact that I look like a hybrid of Michael Jackson and a unabomber in the bottom row second in.
So, I hope you're not scared and join in the silly meet and greet next week. It's an online class reunion of sorts and it's all in good fun. If you're in, let me know below and I'll add you to the list of crazies. :)

P.S. don't mind the crooked Photoshop attempt at a yearbook page above.

bake: brown sugar shortbread

2010-09-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

It's Wednesday again! Which means another amazing Fall recipe from the lovely Nosh With Me. It focuses on yummy brown sugar again and I'm so excited to give this one a try! If you do, let me know how it goes.....

I hope some of you were able to try the brown sugar cookie recipe from last week, because it really is divine! And since it's fall (though you couldn't tell by the record highs we've had in southern California this week), I wanted to share yet another autumn appropriate, brown sugar fave--brown sugar shortbread. When you think of shortbread, dry, bland, and crumbly cookies tend to come to mind. Not these cookies! These are rich, buttery, (and chewy or crispy, depending on which baking method you choose), and have just the right amount of salt to complement the sweet.

And I should also mention they’re easy. While last week's recipe was a bit time consuming (but totally worth it!) with the rolling and flattening and baking, this shortbread is simple and has only four ingredients: butter, brown sugar, salt, and flour. And as a bonus, you can choose if you want crispy or chewy cookies. Since the recipe makes enough dough for two pans of cookies, you can even try out both textures. I prefer them chewy, but I've made them both ways and they are both always a huge hit.

Follow the recipe after the jump:

Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar (If you only have dark available, don’t worry, it works just fine)
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 cups flour

Preparation
Heat the oven to 325 degrees. In a stand mixer or medium bowl with electric beaters, beat the butter, sugar and salt until creamy, about 2 minutes, being careful not to overmix. Gradually beat in the flour, working in the last one-half cup with your hands if necessary (the dough will be stiff). Divide the dough in half.

To make chewy wedge-shaped cookies, butter 2 (8-inch) metal cake pans and line with parchment. Butter the parchment and press each half of the dough into a pan. Smooth the top with the bottom of a buttered measuring cup. Prick the dough with a fork in a decorative concentric circle pattern. Refrigerate the pans, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
To make crispy bar cookies, shape each dough half into a 10-by-4-inch rectangle on a lightly floured board. Run a blunt knife or your fingers along the edges to straighten them (it doesn’t have to be perfect). Carefully lift each rectangle onto a buttered baking sheet, lifting both edges with your hands. With a blunt knife, score each one once lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Score crosswise 11 times to make 24 rectangles. Prick each one several times with a fork. Refrigerate the sheets, uncovered, for 30 minutes.

Bake both the wedge and bar shortbread until lightly brown along the edges, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove and cool for 5 minutes, then slice the shortbread while still warm. Unmold the wedge shortbread by running a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cookies from the sides. Gently flip the pan over, then slice the shortbread into 12 wedges. Slice the bar cookies all the way through the scored marks before moving to a cooling rack.

Tips and Hints!

· Baking the cookies in a cake pan allows the dough to retain more moisture, giving the cookies a chewy texture. Baking the cookies on an open, flat sheet makes the cookies crispy.
· It is very important to cut the cookies while still warm, otherwise they will crumble.

Brown Sugar Shortbread from L.A. Times

surface studies: green and wood, a post rerun

2010-09-28T09:29:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday! Today's surface study is about green and wood. It's such a natural, pretty combination that is fresh and timeless. Although you may think it is suited best for the warm spring and summer months, this combo is relevant year round. I originally ran this post back in June over at Alluminare where I hang out on Mondays. You can see the original post here of course or there.

I can’t think of a more serene color to use for interiors than green. As a predominant color found in nature, it has an ability to soothe, calm, and relax. Green signifies new growth, life, and abundance. It is also one of the most popular shades found in interiors due to its universal appeal. While its brighter shades can energize, enliven, and embolden a space, its paler hues such as sage, grass, and avocado showcase its softer, fresher side. As it is a “natural” color, it only makes sense that it sings when paired with wood. And by wood, I say any wood tone looks fantastic combined with green. You can create a very organic, modern appeal to your space by combining these two earthy elements. Subtle or bold, adding green alongside wood can immediately alter your home. It’s also a clever way to introduce the outdoors into your interior. Take a look at how green with wood can work in every setting …

Beautiful plants and artwork add just the right amount of fresh green to this clean, modern dining area. I love the combination of rustic and contemporary. The Thonet chairs pair nicely with the contemporary, sleek steel and wood table and the green elements add the finishing touch and warmth to this space. Green is a perfect shade for kitchens and dining rooms as cooking conjures up leafy vegetables, fruits, and herbs.

This kitchen is an amazing example of how green touches and wall paint bring out the beauty of wooden cabinetry. The green herbs in the windows are both functional and beautiful and contrast nicely with the paler sage walls. This kitchen is also a beautiful example of contemporary lines juxtaposed with more traditional elements, creating a serene, transitional space.

This hallway is incredible! Imperial trellis in green is the perfect match for the rustic wood plank flooring. Even the kelly green bicycle with its wicker basket is a welcome fixture in this space. Again, combining the elegant and rustic, the fresh green and warm woods, makes for a dynamic area. FYI, this hallway also belongs to the lovely Chloe Sevigny.

Apple green found in both the bowl of granny smiths as well as the accent pillows in this Living Room look great against the walnut tones of the coffee table. Bright shades of green always work with deeper tones of wood and create amazing contrast and “pop”.

In this rustic foyer, interest is provided by the collection of terrariums and inherent green of their contents. What a great look! It’s creative and timeless with a touch of quirkiness that comes from the unexpected. Against a backdrop of botanical illustrations, the green plantings with the wooden table and flooring creates a unique vignette.

“Bringing the outdoors in” by combining green with wood is great but where more perfect a place to incorporate these two elements than in a sun room. This covered porch area seems to go on forever and blends seamlessly with the view due to the green and bamboo used together. The pops of citrus yellow help to intensify the bold green and overall natural feel. This space is fresh, modern, and inviting. I would love to curl up in one of these lounge chairs with a glass of iced tea.

Whether you paint your walls green to pair with your wooden furniture or choose to add beautiful green plants throughout, green and wood were made to live together! It is a natural, effortless combination that works to bring life and serenity to a home.

{Images: Decorpad} {Original Post: @ Aluminare}

monday meet and greet, let's spread the blog love

2010-09-27T06:15:00.000-07:00

source

Happy Monday friends! You know what's crazy?! I actually look forward to Monday's now because of the Monday "Meet and Greets". Last week was a total blast with the "meet and greet recipe exchange" and once again I met so many awesome bloggers through the tour around the blogosphere hopping from one blog home to the next. Thanks to everyone who joined in! It was so much fun that I think we'll do a recipe exchange theme again in a couple weeks time. I love the community of friends and creatives that is forming; it's really a small world and it's quite fascinating to discover how everyone is connected!

In the spirit of creating connections, please say hi and leave a link to your blog "home" below so that all can stop by your place for a visit.

Now for next week's "meet and greet" let's try something new....I love some old school tunes (Journey is my favorite band and I don't care who knows it) and I love the series Glee so much it hurts my heart. It brings back some great memories of H.S. Sort of. Unfortunately band and choir weren't considered very cool back in my day when I was rockin' the two. I was a band geek and in the H.S. musicals and proud of it. :) For those of you confident enough to put yourself out there... I want to see some good ole' senior pics. Yes!!!! I'm being completely serious. In honor of Glee and all things geek, let's have an online class reunion and share our choice photos from back in the day. I ain't scurred and I hope you aren't either. If you think you have the chutzpah, let me know and I'll email you the deets for next week's gig. Don't make me hunt you down. I'm laughing just thinking about it! Can't wait!

why did I start

2010-09-24T11:15:00.000-07:00

source

Happy Friday! I'm in two places at once today. The lovely Ana from Live and Enliven is having me over to talk a bit about why did I start. Blogging that is. And why do I keep doing it? I am so honored and excited to be hanging out over at Ana's blog which is one of my absolute favorites. Ana has become a good friend and the funny thing is we haven't even met face to face yet. I'm sure when we do it will be like catching up with an old friend. Please stop by and send a little "how do you do?" her way.

art crawl - tyler ramsey

2010-09-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

- tyler ramsey

Avoiding a paintbrush or any tool for that matter, Tyler prefers to paint with his hands to deliver as much paint as a canvas can withstand. Tyler, "Rejecting brushes gives a painter the opportunity to approach the craft from a fresh perspective."

battle series - "glory"

battle series: "king buck"

battle series: "move"

Besides his canvas pieces, Tyler has teamed up with TOMS to translate his work to another medium, shoes.

tyler ramsey women's hand painted

I have seen a few pieces of Tyler's in person at a family member's home and the texture created from from the crazy amount of paint moved with fingertips is insane. You can see more of Tyler's art on his website as well as some permanent installations around town. Check him out here.

Bake: Brown Sugar Cookies

2010-09-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Good morning! I am excited to introduce a new series on the blog: "Bake". We will be introducing some of my favorite bakers, their amazing recipes, tips, and inspiration, all from the oven. It's the perfect time of year to get into the fun and joy of baking. For me, it's more than just a hobby, but a way to show my love. I enjoy baking goodies for friends and loved ones because I think there are few things more powerful than breaking bread together and honoring someone with a baked kitchen creation.

To help kick off our new series, is friend and fabulous baker,the lovely food blog, Nosh With Me. If you haven't already visited, well you should. I'm happy to have her here today! She is generously sharing her recipes and tips with us and actually, she is nice enough to be joining us for a few upcoming Bake posts.

As a child, Autumn meant gathering leaves into piles and jumping in them, the smell of fresh cider and doughnuts from the cider mill, and of course, the beginning of the school year. As an adult, it means rich, warm colors, the return of long sleeves, and the amazing baked goods that are made with brown sugar.

Yes, brown sugar - something you've undoubtedly baked with before, but never knew could have such impact on a cookie. Brown sugar is a combination of sugar and molasses, and adds depth, flavor, and richness to many recipes, including this one which is hands down, my favorite cookie ever.

Follow the recipe after the jump:

Ingredients
14 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 3/4 sticks)
1/4 cup granulated sugar (about 1 3/4 ounces)
2 cups packed dark brown sugar (14 ounces)
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus 2 tablespoons (about 10 1/2 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preparation
Heat 10 tablespoons of the butter in a pan over medium-high heat until melted. Continue to cook the butter until it is browned a dark golden color and smells nutty, about 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer the browned butter to a bowl and stir the rest of the butter into the hot butter until it melts- let this rest for 15 min.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a baking dish, mix granulated sugar and a ¼ cup of the brown sugar until combined well; set this mixture aside to roll dough balls in.
Mix flour, baking soda, and baking powder in a bowl. Add 1 ¾ cup brown sugar and salt to cooled butter and mix until there are no lumps. Add egg, yolk, and vanilla to butter mixture and mix well, then add flour and mix until just combined.
Roll dough into balls about 1 ½ inches in diameter, and roll balls in brown sugar and white sugar mixture. Place balls about 2 inches apart on parchment lined baking sheets.
Bake sheets one at a time until cookies are puffy and lightly browned, about 12- 14 minutes. (It says the cookies will look slightly raw between some of the cracks and seem underdone, but be careful not to over bake.) Cool on sheet for about 5 minutes and then transfer to a rack to cool.
Yields two dozen cookies.

Tips!
To prevent the cookies from puffing up too much, use the palm of your hand and gently flatten the dough while on the cookie sheet prior to baking.

Afraid you’ll eat the whole batch and only want to make a few? Freeze the remaining cookie dough! Simply roll the dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet. Put the sheet in the freezer for one hour then put the dough balls in a freezer bag, and return to the freezer. When you want to bake, allow the dough to defrost then roll each ball in the sugar mixture and bake as usual.

Brown Sugar Cookies from Cooks Illustrated

Thanks Hilary!!! We'll see you next week!
You can follow along with Hilary on her blog, on Twitter and on Facebook.

Oh and P.S. how cute is the "Bake" button? It's created by my talented friend Ana from Live & Enliven. In fact, she designed all of my buttons and updated blog look! If you haven't already, go check out her amazing blog.

post rerun - gray paint roundup, a surface study

2010-09-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

OK, so by now everyone knows that gray is all the rage. Gray walls, gray furniture, gray fingernails. We see it everywhere and I. LOVE. it. So, I wrote about it at my other hangout, Alluminare back in June. I'm posting a rerun here because selecting the right gray paint can be a nightmare without a bit of research.

We finally got around to turning our bedroom and bath into a charcoal oasis and it looks fab. Selecting the gray paints was easy since I had done some research for this earlier post. I have been loving gray for some time and I really can’t bring myself to step away from it. It was the color of my bridesmaids dresses a couple of years ago, the color of my fabulous new sofa, and now the new shade of my master bedroom. Thankfully, gray and I don’t have to part ways any time soon because it is still very much a color of the moment. But the even better news is that gray is also timeless and classic so no worries of feeling dated if you to choose to incorporate this fantastic shade into your space. And paired with yellow (my fave), plums, golds, blues, it absolutely rocks.

Gray can fade into the background (although it never cowers) or be boldly front and center. Whether it’s a soft whisper gray or a daring charcoal, it is a transformative shade that runs the gamut from modern to traditional based on it’s surrounding decor and architectural elements. And paint is one of the quickest and most affordable ways to introduce gray into your interiors.

Here is a roundup of incredible gray paints that make the cut. The paints are divided by cool, neutral, and warm:

Some great cool gray paints from light to dark are:
Pale Smoke by Benjamin Moore has a great soft, silvery feel.
Cumulus Gray by Martha Stewart is a lovely mid-tone cool gray.
Castle Gray by Farrow and Ball is a deep, smokey blue-gray that is mysterious and stormy.

Favorite Neutral Gray Paints from light to dark:
Sterling by Benjamin Moore is a great pale neutral gray with a smoky touch.

Adagio also by Benjamin Moore is a medium to deep neutral gray.
Mountain Road by Sherwin Williams is a great deep, dark, neutral gray.
Beautiful warm gray paints that made the list:
London Fog by Benjamin Moore is a subtle warm gray perfect for a bedroom.
Timber Wolf by Benjamin Moore is a fantastic medium warm gray for a kitchen or dining room.
Magnetite by Martha Stewart is a cozy, warm gray that is inviting and bold. (this one is in my Master)

How do you feel about gray? Do you have it in your home?

P.S., I'm over at Alluminare every Monday so be sure to swing by and say hi and see more posts like these offering design and decor tips. Until next time....

{Image Credits: “Cool” collage clockwise from top left: Decorpad, Decorology, Twolia. ”Neutral” collage all via Martha Stewart, “Warm” collage all via Decorpad. Painting in bottom corner of left pic in warm collage is via Kerrisdale Design.}

blog crawl - my life is an open book

2010-09-20T04:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks Beth for hosting the Blog Crawl! For all my lovely friends, be sure to visit Hello, Splendor to see what the blog crawl is all about. Along with myself, Beth from Hello, Splendor and Kelly from Fabulous K are kicking this thing off.

Also make sure to visit Janell from Isabella & Max Rooms tomorrow to see what her story is all about!

{Image Credits: photos by studio surface, book background, polaroid frames, suitcase, heart token}

meet and greet recipe exchange - stuck cake

2010-09-20T04:05:00.000-07:00

stuck cake

Welcome to the Meet and Greet Recipe Exchange! Fall is just around the corner and with it the smells of spices and baked goods wafting from my kitchen. I love a good recipe exchange and so I, along with some of my fave bloggy friends are sharing some of our favorites today. Be sure to visit all the lovely ladies below (after the recipe) to join in the fun and collect some new faves!

The Stuck Cake is so simple and yummy. It's a fun dessert for your family or a rustic but elegant choice for company. Keep in mind though that it's best shared from the pan....
You'll Need:
Shallow Cake Pan, 9-12 inches round
9 ounces chocolate (semisweet or bittersweet works well)
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 eggs, separated
1 1/4 cups sugar
Preheat oven to 350 F
How to:
Melt the chocolate and butter in microwave or in a bowl over hot water. If in microwave, stop frequently to stir and to prevent burning. Beat the egg yolks with the sugar until mixture is pale. Combine the chocolate mixture with the egg mixture. Whisk the egg whites until stiff peaks form. A little tip: use a hand mixer. If you try to whisk by hand to prove a point like I did the first time I made this cake, you will be whisking for three days and sustain permanent wrist damage.
Lightly fold the peaks into the chocolate mixture. Pour into your cake pan and bake for approx. 20 minutes. Note that the cake will rise and then fall leaving a crunchy crust around the edges of the pan.
Don't bother turning the cake out of the pan because it won't! This simple cake is meant to be dug into while warm and shared. Enjoy!!!
{I have used this recipe several times with success. It hails from "Chocolate" by Trish Deseine}

Recipe Exchange Friends:
Ana from Live & Enliven
Estelle from Under a Pink Moon
Bianca from Bink and Boo

Damaris from Kitchen Corners

Suzie from Cupcake Monkey

Susan from House of Brinson

Be sure to visit all of the ladies!

P.S. This recipe is a kick-off for some new stuff happening on the blog. More to come this week with a new series "bake" (see "the regulars" on the side bar) and fun guests!

friday four & faves - we hit paydirt!

2010-09-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

mid-century dresser w/ mirror! Bianca in the reflection. :)

I am so stinkin' excited I can't stand it. Today was an amazing thrifting day! The lovely Bianca let me tag along on her estate sale/thrift store adventure and we hit pay dirt. No joke, I scored two mid-century casegood pieces for $125. Yep. And a sweet teak tray, a chevron knitted throw, a coach handbag (Bianca won't talk to me now because of it) and a hip, vintage leather blazer which will be fabulous and on trend for this Fall. I'm going to run out and buy a lottery ticket now but will leave you with these pics of my finds....

the matching highboy

My bad ass throw. How cute will this be in a future nursery?!

a teak catchall tray

Until next time.....Have a fantastic weekend!

art crawl - Nan Lawson

2010-09-16T14:45:00.000-07:00

Love is a Book - Illustration print

I'm sure that everyone and their mom has written about Nan Lawson because she is just that amazing. But I don't care. I couldn't help myself. Don't you just love her illustrations?! What a great style. I really want to start a collection; I think they would look so lovely as a grouping on my office wall, a collection to cheer me throughout my work day. Endearing pictures and sweet sentiments that just make me happy. Her art has been described as "sweet and quirky" with a bit of edginess which perfectly explains why I love it so much. Here are a few of my favorites....

Autumn Girl - Pen and Ink Illustration

Let's Ride Illustration Print

Let it Go - Typographic print

Music Tree - Pen and Ink Illustration

But did you know that Nan is an awesome photographer too? Yep. She is one multi-talented lady.

City of Romance

Dreamy Vegas

Green Ocean

Nan creates beauty and I love all that she does. She can create custom portraits too! I would love one of me Jake and the fam.

You must visit Nan's site here and her illustration shop here.

{Image Credits: Nan Lawson}

letters

2010-09-15T13:38:00.000-07:00

Letters really are like art to me. I remember "practicing my letters" when I was little. How I loved to write them! And read them. Still my favorite pastime by far. Letters are powerful and influential. The different styles, fonts, types, and shapes - all graphic,inspiring.

Images U, B, A, letter stack, Y, e