Showing posts with label interior design blog montreal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interior design blog montreal. Show all posts

Friday, 13 January 2012

Country Perfection in Connecticut...

Architectural designer Nancy Fishelson transformed this 1975 clapboard house in Woodbury, Connecticut into an open and airy country gem. I love the pulley lights, antique dish rack and absence of upper cabinets in the kitchen.

Upstairs, Nancy combined 3 small rooms in order create a spacious master bedroom with an on-suite bathroom. My favorite architectural features in this house have to be the rustic exposed beams and authentic pine flooring. I also love the creamy color palette on the walls and the juxtaposition of old and new throughout the house.

A few personal highlights...




































Images Courtesy of Country Living

Thursday, 12 January 2012

It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere...



Pink Grapefruit Margaritas

Ingredients

1 cup  ruby red grapefruit juice
1/2  cup  fresh squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)
1 cup triple sec orange liqueur
3 cups ice
1 cup silver tequila
1   lime cut in wedges
Kosher salt

Method

Pour salt into saucer or plate

With a lime wedge, moisten the rim of the glass

Turn glass upside down and dip it to coat the rim

In a blender, combine grapefruit juice, lime juice, triple sec, tequila and ice. Blend until you've reached desired consistency.

Pour into glasses and decorate with a lime wedge.

Makes 4 drinks.

* Note: use Ruby Red grapefruit juice, it's much sweeter than regular and it has a lovely pink color.

Images and Recipe courtesy of  There Goes the Cupcake 



Tuesday, 10 January 2012

Office Space...

There's nothing better than working in a space that motivates and energizes you. Being a creative person, I would love to have more control over the look of my workspace alas I am stationed in an office building which unfortunately means being subjected to bland color schemes and generic office furniture on a daily basis.

If you have the luxury of working from home (insert long sigh of jealousy) here are some beautiful offices that you can inspire yourself from:

































Monday, 9 January 2012

You say Potato...


Ok so this post has nothing to do with interior design but everything to do with presentation!

I can't possibly tell you how many times I've served the same old roasted potatoes when entertaining. What I can tell you is how many times I've presented potatoes that looked this pretty... Never!

I'm not sure what brought me to the Sea Salt with Food blog, but I'm sure glad I stumbled upon this original take on an old classic.

I can't wait to impress my guests with this very simple yet absolutely stunning roasted potato recipe!


Here's how you do it:


Hasselback Potatoes

Ingredients

6 Medium Size Potatoes
2 - 3 Cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
30 g Butter
Maldon Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper


Method

Preheat the oven to 220˚C (425˚F). Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Starting from one end of the potato, cut almost all the way through, at about 3 to 4 mm intervals.

Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits. Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.

Thats it!


Photography + Recipe courtesy of Sea Salt with Food blog


Tuesday, 3 January 2012

Wisteria? Yes please...

Is there anything more fun then finding out about a new store that sells beautiful products?  I recently discovered Wisteria and just had to share my enthusiasm with all of you.  If you love reclaimed wood, textural fabrics, weathered lanterns and woven rugs then you'll definitely enjoy browsing through Wisteria's online catalog.

Here are a few of my personal faves:


Louis XVI End Chair


French Industrial Coffee Table


Reclaimed Wood Trestle Table


Patched Butcher Block Table


The Sommelier's Etagere


Wood & Iron X Back Bookcase


Riveted Door Coffee Table


Stacked Sideboard


Slipcovered Dining Chair


Weathered Window Pane


Drumming End Table

For more info, check out their website by clicking here

Thursday, 29 December 2011

It's a French Onion Soup Kinda Day...


It's a bone-chilling, flesh-numbing, heart-stopping minus 31 degrees in Montreal and all I can think about is how to keep myself warm... Today's survival kit includes: warm blankets, hot chocolate, a hooded sweater, a few movies and a French Onion Soup recipe I've been meaning to try out for a while...




Henri’s French Onion Soup
(Serves 6)

Ingredients

3 pounds yellow onions, cut into 1/8-inch pieces
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon table salt, plus more as needed
1 pinch sugar
8 cups water , plus more as needed
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 sprig fresh thyme
1/4 cup dry white wine
1 baguette , crusty
8 ounces Gruyère cheese-I sliced it thick and placed it over the top of the crock…..the cheese melted mostly into the soup and a little off to the sides, but it created a thick, even layer this way.


Instructions

Melt butter in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat.
Add the onions, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and sugar. Toss to evenly coat.
Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
Take the cover off, and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions are lightly browned.  I cooked mine for a little less than 90 minutes.
At this point, stir every 5 minutes and add water (a tablespoon at a time to loosen up the dark brown stuff that forms on the bottom of the pan).
Continue to cook until the onions are an even dark brown color, an additional 30 minutes longer or so.
Add the flour and stir for two minutes.
Add 8 cups water and thyme to the onions and bring to a boil.
Lower heat  and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add white wine and simmer 10 minutes longer.
Add salt to taste.

Meanwhile, heat the oven to 325 degrees and adjust a rack to the upper middle position.
Cut the baguette into 3/4 inch slices and arrange on a single layer on a cookie sheet.
Bake until the bread is dry, about 10 minutes. Remove bread slices and set aside.
Heat broiler and place 6 heatproof bowls in a baking sheet. Fill each bowl with about 2 cups soup. Top each with two baguette slices and evenly distribute cheese slices over the bread. Broil until well browned and bubbly, about ten minutes.

Cool for five minutes before serving.

Source: The Curvy Carrot

Tuesday, 27 December 2011

Pantry Porn ...

Despite my best efforts, I find it incredibly difficult to keep my pantry neat and tidy.

Because of its narrowness, depth, and lack of pull out drawers, food inevitably gets lost in the black abyss that is the back of the pantry and is usually discovered once it is no longer needed (or has been purchased 2 or 3 times over).  Needless to say, my cupboard is in dire need of a makeover and I have embarked on a quest for inspiration. I am motivated to transform my pantry into a functional space that is conducive to finding things quickly.

Warning: If the mere thought of a label-maker makes your heart skip a beat - yes, I'm talking about you  Sarah :) the following images may prove to be incredibly arousing...

Enjoy!