Saturday, October 31, 2009

"Happy Halloween . . . "

Spooky greetings to all . . .

And I guess the most important part of this post - is that when I googled searched "tartan pumpkin," it gave me several options to choose from. lol. bless the internet and its clearly boundless borders.

Happy Halloween all,
tartanscot

Happy Halloween!


May you have a glamourous (but still a little bit ghoulish) day!

For more gorgeous fashion photography, go HERE.

Happy Halloween and Cute Collection of Jack-O-Lanterns

Isn't this collection of jack-o-lanterns adorable? I am loving the pirate with the parrot and eye patch.

Still need Halloween decorating ideas? Visit, Fun Halloween Decoration Ideas for Your Home - Inside and Out.

Wishing you a happy, safe Halloween!

* image from Good Housekeeping

Friday, October 30, 2009

Friday Find: 3-Drawer Side Table from Bungalow 5

It's fabulous! The Jacqui 3-Drawer Side Table by Bungalow 5 delivers high style and function. It's perfect to place next to your bed to hold lamps, books and bedside accessories.

Use in your entry or foyer to store mail, keys and hats & mittens.

Or place a pair in your living room on either end of a sofa to create a symmetrical look.

The smooth lacquer finish gives a modern touch and because it comes in various colors, you're sure to find one that fits your home's decor. This highly versatile storage piece can be found at online home stores such as Clayton Gray Home, eboniste and Tonic Home. Happy Friday!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

"Good Design, Naturally . . . "


Greetings all,

It never ceases to amazes me that whenever I fall through the 'blogging rabbit hole' I find that inspiration spins towards me from every corner. And tonight, thanks to "The Bedlam of Beefy," I'm all aflutter with the work of Edward Bulmer and his beautiful projects in the historic buildings of England. And his eco-friendly stance on design is refreshing.


I always feel such a great sense of calm in the classic rooms. The proportions are so gracious. The history of the furnishings seems to reach out to me. Telling me stories from the past.
I feel that way about some pieces in my own collection. Sometimes I look into the faces of my antique portraiture and wonder what those eyes have seen during their long lives.


And as you well know, I can never quite resist the dramatic charm of hand-painted chinoiserie wall coverings. And the dark, romantic colour would send my to slumber almost instantly.

I love Mr. Bulmer's keen understanding of historic spaces and period furnishings


"We want to have a neutral – or better still – a positive impact on people
and the planet, which is why to develop our business we
have allied design and ecology and called it...
Good design, naturally
."
- Edward Bulmer

okay, seriously. I love this.

And the weekend approaches - Happy Halloween!
tartanscot

Sleek, Simple and Modern White Kitchen

Contemporary white units by UK's Funktional Kitchens and stark marble countertops create a bright and airy feel in this modern kitchen. The French doors and sky lights bring loads of natural light into the space keeping energy costs low. The retro diner barstool is a perfect addition to the kitchen island.


A sleek ice-blue glass splashback and stainless steel appliances add to the crisp modern look. The open glass shelves are a brilliant contrast to the solid glossy cabinets. The sink however, is not in the best position - I would move it to the kitchen island. Would you change anything?

*images from Ideal Home

Paging Doctor Addison

Thanks to my best friend/pr guru Jackie, I picked up this month's In Style mag with Reese Witherspoon on the cover (she was suggesting I check out their Best of the Web feature.) LOVED the best of the web (highly recommend you check it out) and LOVED their tour of actress Kate Walsh's home towards the end of the magazine. So lux, so chic, I would move in in an instant.

Serene living room, with huge windows and lots of light


The dining room chandelier reminds me of the one I loved from yesterday's post on Steven Gambrel!


This bedroom is insanely gorgeous
And the quote "Decorating is a long-term creative process. You have to sit, wait, and let the house talk to you." So true Kate, so true.


Great bathroom. Love the floor tiles


And the Bisazza shimmering wall tiles? I die.


Another favorite - the great Marchesa dress she's wearing while lounging on her chaise. I wear Marchesa dresses all the time when lounging at home... Well, more like sweatpants and Uggs, but I can pretend they are Marchesa dressesThe house was decorated by her show's set decorator Melissa Levander. Stunning!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Stylish Home Office Supplies - Red Stamp

Adding your unique sense of style to your home office could never be easier - just check out some of these chic items available at Red Stamp.com.

Vintage print with a modern twist! This fun red and white paperweight can be customized with your name or monogram, in your choice of ink color and font.

How chic! These fine black pencils by Piffl Pen are topped with sparkling Swarovski ® crystals. I am sure you'll find a shade you love - available in light pink, fuchsia pink, purple, light blue, green, turquoise, melon, white, gold, yellow, red and orange.

This adorable noteBLOCK cube features 700 self-adhesive notes and a sweet bird design printed on all four sides.

Thomas Paul designed this fun desk tray in multi-colored stripes. It's perfect keep your desk, counter or small space organized and looking stylish.

This clever paper mouse pad and perpetual calendar/to do list combo by Thomas Paul is gorgeous and practical. Gotta love that!

And of course, I couldn't help but share these colorful bee push pins. So fun to jazz up a mundane bulletin board. These little busy bees are now on my wish list. Are any of these items on your wish list?

* images from Red Stamp

Style Compass can do no wrong

Style Compass, the designer spotlight section on the antiques website 1st Dibs, can do no wrong. I love the interior designers they choose to showcase (hopefully it will be me someday!)

Steven Gambrel's work is no exception - I love how he blends traditional and eclectic, funky and tame, all in a gorgeous color palette.



This monotone collection of goodies is fantastic


Great tufted sectional (yes, I STILL love tufting)


That chandelier? Insane. In the best sense of the word.

Viva Miami!


Tonight Dave and I are off to Miami for a four-day weekend. The first three nights will be spent at The Standard, where I plan to take full advantage of its many spa amenities as well as its salt water pool. On Friday, I'll be dragging Dave to Miami's fabulous design district for a bit of serious art and decor sight seeing. We'll also be meeting up with Dave's brother and his wife (who live in Plantation) for some fine dining and drinking on Thursday and Friday nights. The weekend will be spent back at Casa Conn for some trick-or-treating with my niece and nephew. I'll be bringing my laptop with me and will try and post some while I'm there, but if posting and/or commenting is light until Monday, I promise to make it up with some great Miami-related posting next week.

ALL DIY INFO



http://alldiyinfo.com/

Informative Blog on Home Improvement and all aspects of Home advise, decorating, interior, gardening, furniture and much more.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Dinner Time

I'm loving these two dining rooms from this month's Metropolitan Home.

This one is from the home of Dixie Chick Emily Robison (love those dining chairs)

I would love to live in a loft like this - polished concrete, enormous windows, exposed ceilings...


This would be a gorgeous dining room for a house in Malibu, overlooking the ocean. Or in a private dining room in a restaurant.
Designed by Nicole Hollis.

Cibus Corner: Autumn Culinary Delights


After a summer hiatus, Chef Babs is back with a new installment of Cibus Corner just in time for fall entertaining. As the temperatures in Houston return to hospitable levels, fall is our favorite time for entertaining and cooking warm, inviting meals. To help put you in the mood, I've also included pictures from a rustic barn home in upstate New York featured recently in Martha Stewart Living. In addition to being a lovely example of rustic-meets-modern architecture and design, the rooms also feature wonderful fall touches that could be inexpensively replicated for your next fall get-together. And with that, I'll hand the keyboard over to Chef Babs!


Fall has always been my favorite season. I love this time of year. In Texas, at least, our best weather is often in the Autumn. I also love the culinary delights of the colder seasons. The hot apple pies, the roasts, stews, curries, soups and hot chocolate that people steer away from in the warmer seasons is finally brought back to the culinary forefront. The following is a sprinkling of some of my favorite recipes that are perfect for this time of year.


Chef Babs’s Turkey Meatball Subs

I normally do not spend much time making sandwiches at home. Unless it is tuna, I tend to stay away from making them myself. I am not sure why, but most sandwiches bore me. One night, however, desperate for a new recipe but not wanting to venture to the grocery store, I looked at the contents of my fridge and decided to try my hand at a meatball sub. It is the perfect meal to enjoy in the fall. It is also tasty and impressive enough to serve to guests who come over to watch the football game of the weekend. It would also be a hit later in the winter at a Super Bowl Party.

1.5 lbs Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage (casings removed)

1 egg

½ cup Italian Style Breadcrumbs

¼ c. Olive Oil plus more for drizzling

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Jar of your favorite marinara sauce

¼ c. Fresh Basil

4-6 Large Sub Rolls (I prefer Wheat)

4-6 Slices Provolone Cheese (1 per sub)

4-6 Slices Mozzarella Cheese (1 per sub)


Combine the Italian Sausage, egg, breadcrumbs, olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Roll the meatballs in your hand into the desired size (I use about two tablespoons per meatball). Continue to make meatballs until you are out of the sausage mixture. Place the meatballs on a non-stick skillet over high heat on the stove top. Cook the meatballs until they are beginning to brown. Turn them so that they brown on all sides (about 7-9 minutes). Once the outsides have browned, pour the marinara sauce over the meatballs and turn the heat down to medium. Cover and cook for another 5-7 minutes. Turn on the broiler. Drizzle the subs with olive oil and place in the broiler for about 2-3 minutes, until the subs are lightly toasted. Once the meatballs have finished cooking, place them in the subs and place one slice of provolone and one slice of mozzarella on the top of each sub. Place one whole basil leaf in the middle of each sub. Place the subs back in the broiler until cheese is melty (about 1 minute). Serve with a salad and a cold beer or cider.


Grandma Christine’s Fresh Apple Cake

I love apples in the autumn. I eat one for lunch every day from September to December. They are the one food that I never tire of eating. Their hardiness and freshness also makes them a perfect fruit for baking. This cake recipe has been in my family for at least 50 years and is the perfect cake to finish a hearty meal, like stew, but is also great served for breakfast as coffee cake. My father’s mother used to make it every fall, and my Aunt and mother continued the tradition. Now I bake it at least two or three times between September and December. If you want to make it even more special, drizzle with caramel sauce and serve warm with a scoop of ice cream.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.


1 ½ cup Wesson oil

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

3 cups apples, chopped and peeled

1 cup chopped nuts

3 cups sifted flour

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

¼ tsp cloves

¼ tsp All Spice


Sift and measure the flour. Then add the soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, and cloves and resift. Cream the oil, sugar and eggs together. Add vanilla and beat in. Add the apples and nuts. Add the sifted dry ingredients and mix well. Bake in greased, floured Bundt pan for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, then at 325 degrees for 30-40 more minutes.


Shortcut: You can use canned apples (found in the baking section with the pie fillings) instead of fresh apples. Rinse them off before using and then chop them up.



Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cupcakes


I happen to be a big fan of pumpkin and cupcakes, but until last weekend, I had never before combined the two. A few weeks ago, I came across a recipe for pumpkin cupcakes in a new cookbook The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook that my friend gave me for my birthday and is rapidly becoming my new favorite cookbook. Everything that I have made in it is wonderful. The cupcakes are creative, tasty, and easy. The Hazelnut Cupcakes may be the best cupcakes that I have ever tasted (the recipe calls for a spoon of Nutella in the center). Even better, you do not need to be a skilled baker to master these recipes. My other favorite recipe, which is seasonal, is the recipe for pumpkin cream cheese cupcakes. What I like about these cupcakes is that people who do not generally care for pumpkin enjoyed them. Averill, for instance, will not eat pumpkin pie, but happily ate a couple of these delightful cupcakes! They will also make a nice addition to any Thanksgiving feast. Since I do not have permission to publish the recipe, to obtain it you will have to purchase the book. It retails on Amazon for $18.45. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is especially a great purchase for people with children from the ages of 4-11.


All photographs courtesy of Martha Stewart Living.

Interior Design Color Trends for 2010 - Purple

It's royal, healing and eccentric. You may either love it or hate it. But, get ready purple is making a comeback and is a big color trend for 2010.

Trend setting interior designers have already added shades of purple back into their color schemes. New York-based designer, Amanda Nisbet created a dramatic bedroom in purple, brown and white. Loving the Louis XV chair and foot stool in white with brown and white contemporary upholstery! And the throw pillow pulls the color scheme together perfectly.

The master of color, Jamie Drake designs a stunning Manhattan bedroom in magenta, fuchsia and purple. Creating a focal point, Drake adds a dramatic custom button-tufted headboard wall in chenille from Cowton & Tout called Brasilia Lilas. The floral brocade bedspread is also from Cowtan & Tout.

Designer Phillip Sides creates a soothing bathroom in the North Carolina home by using white subway tiles and painting the walls a soft lavendar - Classic Lilac (1002-5C) by Valspar. The cafe curtains in Manuel Canovas Suzon by Cowtan & Tout are hung mid-window to allow for natural light while still giving needed privacy.

Charleston South Carolina's Angie Hranowsky designed this ecclectic dining room with striking walls in plum. It work beautifully with the white accents - table, chandelier and table lamp and hints of blue - vases.

New York-based designer, Christopher Maya combines shades of purple and pink to create an exquisite formal foyer and vestibule at this year's Kips Bay Show House.

Maya beautifully fuses new and old decor elements throughout the space making it a perfect place to entertain guest or read alone by the fireplace.

As we head into 2010 you will see more textile and furniture designers launching lines with shades of purple, but here are some trend-setters available today.

Osborne & Little's richly colored pomegranate and grapevine wallpaper - Maharani W6022/01-07

Designers Guild - Darnley in Heather - silk velvet with classical motif in Heather

Large raffia storage boxes/coffee table with embroidery in purple

Thomas Paul - Broderie Pillow in Violet


Pair of black Louis XV chairs in contrasting Madeline Weinrib's Purple Luce

Istanbul Table in lavendar with gold nail head

Will you be welcoming purple back into your home in 2010?