My Dining Room: Before

Yesterday, I posted about Mary and Russel Wrights’ “Guide to Easier Living.” I found myself straying from my original post, and decided that this post could stand alone.

Most houses here contain formal dining rooms, and in some cases, formal living rooms. It is not a concept that I like; my preference is that all living spaces should be utilized and used often. I love our walnut dining room set, but I really wish I could turn our existing dining room into a library/office (for me). Once we adopt, I will lose the office space I have, plus I don’t really enjoy having an office upstairs. I find myself not motivated to spend time in there. However, our kitchen is not big enough for the table and chairs alone, much less the hutch. The buffet resides in our living room.

So, in this house, we will keep the formal dining room, but it is getting a makeover.

This is a quick shot I took of our furniture to show the owner of an antiques store. The whole set was custom made in the 1950’s out of one walnut tree. The wood is so beautiful.

The dining room is a work in progress: we need a new chandelier, new paint (I was thinking Abalone by Benjamin Moore, but then saw this picture of Silver Fox, shown below, with mid-century furniture). The table in the corner has to be stripped and cerused or limed, and may be moved elsewhere if I can find matching pieces for storage under the two pictures which flank the window. Have been toying with new chair seats for the dining room, but not sure about replacing the original seats, even though I don’t like the color. Here is an amazing fact: those vinyl seats were made in 1954 and are in perfect condition! What would you do?

 Apartment Therapy

Going to dash, we have more gravel and river rock coming today for the backyard, and I am off to an appointment. Hopefully soon, I will have some after pictures for you all.

Entertaining the “Wright” Way

 I was reading this morning, and came across an interesting article in an old Saveur.

We deplore the passing of the American farm kitchen, with its massive dining table in the center. This is not mere sentimentality. That big table  was the logical place for the family to dine. The hot biscuits were really hot out of the oven, the second helpings kept warm on the back of the stove, and Mother did not waste a step in setting, serving, or clearing.

“Today, we do seem to be coming around again to the conclusion that a room used only for dining is a waste of space, steps, and labor. The dining room is already becoming extinct. You are not surprised at its absence in a modern city apartment or a new house. It has been replaced by a number of arrangements – by a dining area in the living room, or perhaps by a dining foyer, or by a dining alcove in the kitchen or separated from it only by a pass-through counter.

"Thoughtful architects are murmuring against the ‘efficiency-size’ kitchen in which there is no room for a table. The American family for which they design a home today is usually one in which the woman does her own work, and where is the efficiency of a kitchen that isolates her from the family group and costs her many wasted steps daily in the serving of meals? We actually conceive of the kitchen not only as the place to dine, but as the center of family living.”

This excerpt is from a book published in 1950: Guide To Easier Living, by Mary and Russel Wright. Russel Wright was Martha, before there was Martha. He was the first designer to successfully market his wares using his own name as a well-defined brand.

In addition, the Wrights’ guide promoted such novel concepts as the “New Hospitality”: buffet suppers and one-pot meals. Of course, traditional homes in the past used to have servants, so even modern traditionalism is a far cry from previous generations. However, it is interesting how many ideas that they proposed have become commonplace in our culture today.

Once I read the book, I will let you know what I think, but I can already tell that I have much in common with the Wrights. How about you, what works in your home?

Friday Finds: Rue Magazine, John Derian for Target & Mary McDonald Interiors

For you all who can’t get enough of design, the new online magazine Rue, debuts in September. The pictures below are from their sneak peek at ShelterPop.

photo credit: Manny Rodriguez

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I adore the designs of Mary Mcdonald.  So, if you have any reason, ANY reason at all to buy me a gift, I want her new book: Mary McDonald: Interiors: The Allure of Style. It comes out in October, but you can pre-order now (hint, hint).

The John Derian collection for Target debuts on September 5. However, if you are a member of Gilt Groupe, the preview sale starts today! Known for his vintage-style decoupage, this collection is sure to fly off the shelves, with prices starting at $1.99.

Before & After from Mrs. Howard

I think my brain is still on vacation. A week without Internet, magazines, cell phone and more was sorely needed.

I will post some pictures later on this week, as I slowly make my way back into reality. But today, I saw a before and after from Mrs. Howard and had to share.

photo credit: Phoebe Howard

Insider Tricks-of-the Trade

image via HB

Today’s post will be short and sweet. Finally had a moment to sit at the computer; I feel liked I have packed enough to go away for a month!

The room above is from one of my favorite homes decorated by Jeffrey Bilhuber. It was my inspiration for the color palette for our home (the living spaces downstairs, the private spaces upstairs are much more colorful).

Here are some insider tricks-of-the-trade from House Beautiful. How many of 8 Things You Didn't Know About Decorating did you know?

Have a great weekend!

Ricotta Pancakes with Fresh Fig and Blueberry Sauce

Content Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility for any weight gain caused by today’s post.

That being said, these pancakes look delicious! According to the recipe, adding ricotta makes them “incredibly light.” Katalin added her own twist, by taking the blueberries out of the recipe, and adding them to a delicious sauce to top the pancakes.

Ricotta Pancakes (adapted from Ricotta Pancakes with Blueberries) by Neal Fraser.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 3 large eggs, separated
• 1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons milk
• 6 ounces ricotta cheese (1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons)
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• Unsalted butter, for the griddle

Directions

1. In a small bowl, mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder and salt with a whisk. In another, larger bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the milk, ricotta, sugar and vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and whisk until the batter is smooth.
2. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the egg whites at medium speed until frothy. Then raise the speed to high, and beat until soft peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the batter carefully, mixing well. 
3. Preheat the oven to 225°. Heat your griddle or pan, then lightly butter it. Use a scant 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake, leaving room between each pancake, as they will spread. Cook over medium low heat, until the bottoms are golden and the pancakes just begin to set, about 1 to 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook until that side is golden and cooked through, about 1 more minute. Transfer the pancakes to an oven-safe plate, and warm them in the oven while you make the rest. 
   

Fresh Fig and Blueberry Sauce

• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 cup fresh blueberries
• 1 cup figs, sliced in half lengthwise

In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. Stir in the brown sugar (2 tablespoons),  the blueberries and the figs. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Allow to cool slightly. Serve over pancakes.

I may have to read the original article online at Food & Wine, for all of the delicious breakfast dishes from Neal Fraser. Or, even better, travel with my husband on his next business trip to L.A., to eat at Neal’s BLD (Breakfast Lunch Dinner) Restaurant. However, in the meantime, I think I will try Katalin’s version using figs from my friend. I share basil from my garden, she shares figs from her tree. A delicious trade!

Photo credit & recipe adaptation: Katalin Eisenberg

We Interrupt this Post…

to share some “Colorado Dreamin’”, instead of the regularly scheduled “California” version.

Can you tell that I have vacation on my mind? Perhaps it is to take my mind off of: a sick husband, feeling unwell myself, now a sick dog (poor pup), mountains of laundry, bills to pay, contractors in our garage moving our attic space, the last vestiges of wallpaper taunting me (I didn’t realize what a pain 12’ ceilings in the bathroom would be) and more!

So, while I have tried to think of exciting home design ideas to share and have a ton milling around in my brain, I can’t seem to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and bring forth inspiration.

But, how could I possibly be more inspiring than nature? Here are some photos from our road trip last year; my new SLR arrives tomorrow, so I look forward to even better photos this year. 
  

The coup of our last trip was seeing a bull moose, a cow and a calf. We carefully got a picture of the calf using the zoom, as we had no desire to give the cow a reason to charge our car. Not sure if the bull was part of this family unit, as he was further down the road.

  
Speaking of inspiration, you will notice shorter posts starting this August and perhaps more guest posts. Since I am married to a brilliant software guru, I may take advantage of this opportunity to make my little piece of the online world even more exciting!

I love reading blogs, but to keep up with 10, 20 or more a day, plus commenting on every great post is time-consuming. So, I want to offer greater content, make it easier to read, and have it be chock full of information and inspiration. My goal was never to be a writer, but to share information with like-minded readers who are passionate about design: in interiors, food, entertaining and products. So, in order to focus on that, I may have to divert some of my time to creating a new site.

As always, I love to hear input from you, so email me with suggestions about what you would like to see featured!