Honoring the snow

With all the snow this weekend, I thought

I'd offer Amsale Aberras' NY loft.

image via Kikette Interiors

I'm stealing this...

Designer Nicol Hollis' clever additions to the

San Francisco Decorator Showcase House

included this nautical rope as elegant tie-back.

Well... elegant in my opinion.

Photographer: Susie Nadler

image via Apartment Therapy

The Crispy Mister...

image via http://www.onehungrychef.com/

I was watching It's Complicated with Meryl Streep last night

(so-so movie, gorgeous house!) when Meryl's character

decided to whip up a delicious looking Croque Monsieur.

Craving time! Martha just posted a Crispy Mister recipe

herself in the latest issue of MS Living magazine. Must...

Have... One... Soon. Bon Appetit's May 2001 recipe follows.

One Hungry Chef (link under photo) creates an onion jam

for his version. Just sweat one small onion in a little olive oil

over medium heat until it begins to carmelize. Add 2 tbsp

red wine vinegar and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed.

Then season and remove from heat.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
Pinch of ground nutmeg
1 bay leaf
4 slices firm white sandwich bread
4 ounces thinly sliced Black Forest ham
4 ounces sliced Gruyère cheese
1 tablespoon melted butter
1/4 cup grated Gruyère cheese
2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives

Preparation

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and stir 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk. Add nutmeg and bay leaf. Increase heat to medium-high and boil until sauce thickens, whisking constantly, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Preheat broiler. Place 2 bread slices on work surface. Top each with half of ham and sliced Gruyère. Top with remaining bread. Heat heavy large skillet over low heat. Brush sandwiches with 1 tablespoon melted butter. Add to skillet and cook until deep golden brown, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to small baking sheet. Spoon sauce, then grated cheese over sandwiches. Broil until cheese begins to brown, about 2 minutes.

Collier West Twig Fetish...

If you've read The New Victorian Ruralist only a little bit,

then you still probably know just how much I enjoy a good

twig, branch, or plain old stick. I really can't explain it.

Perhaps Collier West shares my penchant for organic offshoots —

hence, the twig & branch chandeliers. $985 - $5000

http://www.collierwest.com/

Recycled Home...

Anyone familiar with this book? It was published

nearly a year ago by Ryland Peters & Small.

I have not flipped through it yet, but found this

kitchen particularly interesting. It is by Mark

& Sally Bailey, with what appears to be some

striking photography by Debi Treloar.

Lewis Carroll as the White Rabbit...

Just beautiful — so I had to share.

http://www.stevenkenny.com/

My heart literally beats a little faster...

... when I look at this photo. Stark, yes I know —

but what moody, visal impact this bed by Atelier

Haussmann creates as it monolithically (I think that's a word)

stands before that flourish of vintage-looking wallpaper.

I wouldn't have to sleep in it — I could just stand

and stare.

image via http://emmas.blogg.se/

Just one more from Factory 20...

Victorian Architects Drafting Desk.

Give me just one afternoon...

Awe-inspiring library loft from Fat Brides.

Hitchcockian Installation...

Geremia Design, in San Francisco, conceived this beguiling

ceiling at Bloodhound with a mural of scattered birds

and Roost's Halo Chandelier (yes, Finderskeepers sells it).

Bloodhound is a SOMA neighborhood bar located

at 1145 Folsom Street in San Francisco.

The Halo Chandelier is great alone, but boy

those birds sure do put a NVR spin on things.

Trying to keep my mansions green, after I've Grey Gardens seen...

Image via Light Locations

As many of you, I've been a fan for years of the Maysles'

70's documentary Grey Gardens. So now it makes me

so happy to see Ms. Drew Barrymore having such success

with her performance as Little Edie. Both her Golden Globe

and SAG acceptance speeches were so full of passion and

genuine gratitude that I nearly teared up a bit myself.

I love seeing passion like that and cannot fathom the thought

of not having my own passion. Interior design is my passion.

_______

Some have said that interior design

is materialistic and without meaning. I think it brings

dignity, functionality, and true quality to people's lives.

Besides, isn't it enough to genuinely love

what you do?

_______

Little Edie certainly lived a passionate life.

To some, her life might have looked sad

and full of desperation — but I saw a woman

hell-bent on sharing her creativity.

Sure, there was squalor and instability.

Even in those times Little Edie

held her own, pinned artwork to the walls,

danced her dance, and clothed herself

in the most revolutionary costumes of the day!

_______

The space shown above reminded me of Grey Gardens —

albeit a much cleaner and palatable version. Whenever

I think of the documentary, I also think of

Rufus Wainwright's beautiful song...

_______

But beware my heart can be a pin

A sharp silver dragonfly

Trying to keep my mansions green

After I've Grey Gardens seen

Ann Wood's Fantastical Creatures...

Chillingworth

I do not do cute often — but I found these

creations to be so expertly crafted and "thought out"

that I had to share them. Besides, there is something

a little New Victorian Ruralist about them. Don't

you think?

Eternally Curious Willet
Henchard
Mr. Guppy

Take a look at more of Ann's brilliant
creations at http://www.annwoodhandmade.com/

More from the candy pot that is Factory 20...

Vintage Industrial Steel Table
Victorian Toilette Vanity Mirror

Toledo Early Factory Stool

Old Wood and Metal Painter's Stool

Tall French Wire Mesh Basket

So much more to see at Factory 20:

http://www.factory20.com/

Words, words ...where are the words?

French Atelier School Desk
Farm Step Ladder

Early Century Pendant Light

Amish Pine Carpenters Work Bench

1920's Steel Pharmacy Cabinet

19th Century Industrial Bar Table

Factory 20 (http://www.factory20.com/) is an

absolute candy pot for all the New Victorian Ruralists

out there!

Perfect gift for your New Victorian Ruralist Sweetheart...

Hidden pleasure inside a treasure.

This pocket watch case is a detailed replica of the

splendid Edwardian original, but conceals

a charming secret—it’s filled with solid fragrance.

Apply to wrists, neck, or a love letter.

Wear it alone or layer with the other scents

we offer to create your own signature fragrance.

Tied with an elegant black satin ribbon.

Fragrances include Yuzu Flower, Cassis,

and Lily of the Valley. $29.00

Big Window Challenge and Vintage Brass Flowers...

image via coco + kelley via Eddie Ross

If you are not familiar with Eddie Ross and his blog,
make sure you visit (http://www.eddieross.com/) and take
a look at his amazing window display for
Elle Decor's Big Window Challenge
(http://bigwindowchallenge.apartmenttherapy.com/).
Cassandra Lavalle from Coco + Kelley
(http://cocokelley.blogspot.com/) shares more
photos and information at the Coco + Kelly blog.
By the way Cassandra, if you read this please
get in touch with me. I have some of the vintage brass
flowers I'd love to send your way. I agree, Eddie's ice bucket
bouquet is just lovely!

Farmhouse Bathroom...

What a nice change from all of those lifeless

hotel bathroom imitations. I understand the

desire for the sleek, spa-like, sterileness of

all new appointments — but look just how inviting

this little bath is with its random furniture &

finishes and all that light. Unfortunately, the

toile is all that distracts me.

Source unknown.

Small, full of character, and loaded with interesting things...

Matt Albiani / Domino June 2008

People, I beg you — experiment with your rooms,

fill them with things you enjoy, don't play copycat,

show off your personality, and forget the rules.

You will be rewarded.

Your house shall not be an anchor, but a mast

— Kahlil Gibran

Industrial Country...

Lately, dark walls are certainly getting my attention.

I love the mix in Kevin Reiner's Ohio farmhouse.

images are via Country Living

Diet = Craving Pasta

Pasta with Peas, Cream, Parsley, and Mint

Bon Appetit, March 2008

Ingredients:

1 16-ounce package large shell pasta or elbow pasta
1 1/4 cups heavy whipping cream
1 16-ounce package frozen petite peas (do not thaw)
2 1/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for serving
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley, divided

Preparation:

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot.
Meanwhile, bring cream to simmer in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add peas and simmer just until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes. Add 2 1/4 cups cheese and stir until melted and sauce thickens slightly, about 1 minute. Stir in mint and 1/4 cup parsley. Pour sauce over pasta and toss to coat, adding pasta cooking liquid by tablespoonfuls if dry. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to bowl. Sprinkle with remaining parsley. Serve, passing additional Parmesan alongside.

Mystery Mercury Pots...

Does anyone know what plant is nestled in these mercury pots?

lobster and swan for Once Wed

Classic and Modern combined...

Designer Tom Scheerer creates an ethereal mix in this

Brooklyn townhouse. I love the way the egg-and-dart

trim caps off the room and punctuates the entire scene.

www.tomscheerer.com

Everyone keeps telling me not to paint...

... but I really do like dark cabinets.

I especially like Ralph Lauren's Surrey on

the cabinets in this kitchen photographed by

Don Freeman for Country Living.

Benjamin Moore's Night Shade was the color

chosen for Lindsey Buckingham's kitchen cabinets.

Lindsey's kitchen was featured in the March 2009

issue of Elle Decor and showcases those amazing

cement tiles from Mission Tile West.

The Murano glass chandelier was found on ebay.

The Bathtub...

Designer Paolo Moschino pulled colors from

his artwork to create this serene haven of

cleanliness. The walls are Light Blue and

the wainscotting is Old White, both by

Farrow & Ball.

House Beautiful, August 2009

Su Blackwell's Art...

Alice Through the Lookingglass, 2007

Take a look at the the process. The image is lifted directly

from the page and brought to life.

Alice: A Mad Tea Party, 2006

Alice arrives at the teaparty. I love how the table

begins as a flat image on one page and then springs to

life on the next — prepared for Alice to take her seat.

12 Dancing Princesses, 2007

Pandora Opens Box, 2007

http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/

Visit Su Blackwell's website to see more of her

magical book-cut sculptures.

Diane Keaton's Kitchen Lamps...

Diane Keaton's kitchen was featured in the

November 2008 issue of Architectural Digest.

Each and every page was packed with marvels

of scale and genius design. I especially liked

the two ceiling lamps above the kitchen island.

Finderskeepers has a very similar fixture

hanging in its entrance. I'll have to post a

photo soon so you can compare. The scale

and shape are nearly identical, but ours is

without the stitching detail. One last thing —

those cacti!

Happy Birthday...

... to my partner in everything.

A True Treasure Trove...

I received this book as a gift for Christmas

(thanks Pam) and it sure is a feast for the

eyes and the imagination. Sibella Court

investigates what decorating a home

truly means. Inventive, inspiring, and

truly one-of-a-kind — this book

delivers the goods!