Visual exercise from the mind to the palette...

This is a a study how the mind visually can affect our palettes. Below is a picture of a hot meal prepared for your pleasure.  After the meal picture are three kitchens.  This is a personal taste test...which kitchen would you like to think this meal was prepared in?  And, how do you think the meal would taste in each of these kitchens??!

 

Hot grilled steak!

What do you think??

"Magical showerheads"!

Artos Kascade dual-function showerhead in polished chrome finish by Westover Company.

Memowell - Magic Showerhead

Do you believe in magic? We do, thanks to the multicolor Magic Showerhead. It showers you in seven colors, but is green at heart. LED lights are powered by water pressure alone: no electricity or batteries. The two-minute color rotation reminds you of time, encouraging shorter showers and water conservation.

I came across these and wanted to share.  I love seeing new products and how they are advancing. If anyone would like more inf., please contact me!

So much to be thankful for...

I will be putting these around the dining area to give a pretty glow. Very easy to do!

I have so many wonderful blessings in my life that I am thankful for everyday.  Health, happiness, family, friends, pets, clients, a warm home, laughter, and my list could go on forever.  Thank you to all the supportive people who have been with me through thick and thin (you know who you are xo).  I  always wish to be with you and hope my love and support will help guide you.  HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING!!

Renovations That Give You a Return on Your Investment

It's the fundamental question facing anyone who has ever embarked on a home renovation: How likely am I to get the money back when I sell my house?
There's no easy answer, because what a buyer might be willing to pay depends on many factors — everything from the choice of project to the materials you use to the value of other homes in your neighborhood. But it's important to have some idea of what your improvements might be worth.

No cake for me, I will have a tapeworm please!!

I

OMG!! Can you believe this was an actual product??!  "Easy to swallow" and "no ill effects" REALLY???

I was e-mailed more horrible ads if you would like to see them!?

Smurfs-Came across this picture...

This was in the closet under our stairs.  The area is now new cabinets and storage next to a fireplace we put in.  Anyone remember watching the Smurfs Saturday mornings??!!

Time for a fresh look for the holidays!

I have a subscription to This Old House magazine and the step by step instructions are great.  You really can do this!!

How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets

By: Jennifer Stimpson, This Old House magazine

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20209705,00.html?xid=hinewsletter-101109-kitchen-cabinets

This just in...

New Ralph Lauren wallcoverings that coordinate with Kravet Fabrics.

Thanksgiving- Are we ready?!!

I love white as a backdrop so all of the rich Harvest colors of food can be the focal point.

 

Pottery Barn Turkeys to decorate with!

Architectural and Resource Mission

It was time to go on a quick road trip to find inspiration!!  It was a beautiful 74 degrees with the sun shining, so we went on a wonderful drive to find resources for clients and possibly a little soul searching.

Our first stop was at a place where they reclaim old house parts.  I love places that keep all parts of a house when it needs to be torn down or people are just remodeling.  So many gems!

Confessional booths from a church!  Note the two lights at the top: one green and one red to signify if someone is in there listening to confession!

Another one: would love to have these.

Look at this detail.

The foliage is still beautiful and I hope it stays a little longer.

This was a surprise to find!  A castle built in 1850 after one in Scotland! We were able to tour it. It is now a botanical library and event center for learning.

This is the grotto in the rear yard where wedding pictures are always taken.  We stopped here to have our picnic lunch we packed.  What a gorgeous view all around us.

Of course, the second I find a spot to sit,  out of the woods pops a cat!!  He walked right up to me and purred.  (It never fails, they find me everywhere!)

I fed him a little of my ham sandwich and cheese nips.  He was so playful and tried to follow when we left. :(

The next thing we saw was this building sitting at the entrance to a gorgeous cemetery built in 1838!

This is the original chapel on the grounds.

As you can see, the leaves are stunning. This is where Susan B. Anthony and her family plots are.

The cemetery is very hilly and some graves are on top of hills. What a great day it ended up being.

A classic tale of misinformation and BEER!!

http://www.lostabbey.com/

Apparently some members of the Wiccan religion believe this label is not appropriate thus there is an entire article from The New York Times on this.  If you read about the lost abbey brewery, its "crusade", and the meaning behind the label of this particular beer, you would realize that this is NOT something derogatory toward Witches!!  PLEASE BE INFORMED, PEOPLE, BEFORE CASTING JUDGEMENT.

Summer Wit Ale

Aroma
There are tons of esters present in the beer as well as a soft yeast note. This beer has also been spiced with Grapefruit Zest, Orange Peel and Coriander. Each of these is subtly stated so as to not overwhelm the nose of the beer.
Taste
Most definitely, this first and foremost a wheat ale. You can taste the wheat from start to finish. A faint toasted note from the addition of flaked oats is present in the beer as well. This is a light bodied beer that finishes with a spicy layer in the end. The overall impression should be an easy-to-drink refreshing ale.
Style: Belgian Wit
ABV: 4.8%
Availability: Summer

Never summon anything you can't banish!

Kitchen "Flor" design-instead of using an area rug, try using Flor squares to create any look or size...

Great example of blending contemporary looks with traditional

The "Powder Room"

The Perfect Powder Room

Typically one of the smallest rooms in the home, the powder room is also one your guests will visit the most frequently.
Do you know how the Powder Room got it's name?  Back in the early days when it was stylish for the men to wear the wigs (oh boy!) there was a small room off of the bedroom where men would keep and powder their wigs, hence the name powder room!  Eventually they moved the chamber into the room as well, and the modern day powder room started taking shape.

New Color Trend Forecast for 2011-What do you think?

PURELY REFINED-Elegant, Tailored, Understated

RESTLESS NOMAD-Sultry, Exotic, Primal

BOLD INVENTION-Experimental, Artsy, Expressive

GENTLE MEDLEY-Fresh, Airy, Innocent

Morning coffee and porches!

I would be having my morning coffee on one of these porches any day in Autumn!!

Colors and Moods...

Research shows that you can change your mood by the colors you surround yourself with.  Scientists have studied the effect of color on our mood and way of thinking for many years. Since the time of Pavlov and his experiments with salivating dogs, psychologists have known that stimuli can take on the properties of other stimuli with which they are associated. Pavlov used a bell and some meat; current theorists are focusing on colors and the moods with which they are associated.

One of my favorite rituals...

"Always throw spilt salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for luck, and fall in love whenever you can."

New Faucets...

In Love...