RSVP Collection No. 24 - Chili Beef Stuffed Zucchini

Chili Beef Stuffed Zucchini

4 Zucchini (about 2 lbs.) halved lengthwise and seeded

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

1 onion, finely chopped

3/4 lb. ground beef

1 t. ground cumin

salt and pepper

2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 c. jarred pickled jalapeno chiles,finely chopped

1-8 oz. bag mexican-style shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Arrange the zucchini cut side up in a 9" x 13" baking dish. Add 1/2 c. water to the dish, cover with foil and  bake until the zucchini begins to soften, about 15 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the beef and cumin and cook, breaking the meat up, until just browned, about 4 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the tomatoes and pickled jalapenos. Uncover the baking dish, pour off the water and season the zucchini with salt. Fill with the beef mixture and sprinkle the cheese on top. Bake, uncovered, until the cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Serves 4.



Rethinking the Look of Things No. 16 - Open Kitchen Shelves

It's been said that the kitchen is the new living room. I know this to be true from our Christmas Open House events over the last several years - we can't get most of our guests out of the kitchen and into the living room! I've given up on trying and I just move from kitchen to our open dining room/living room area to make sure I enjoy time with everyone.

And the kitchen industry has been listening to this shift in the time people spend in the kitchen both cooking and entertaining. Ordinary pots and pans have become "designer" and dishes have become both serving pieces as well as art to be hold.

So I'm rethinking the look of open kitchen shelves which used to be reserved for the gourmet chef's kitchen.

Image Sources: Decor Pad, Traditional Home, Architectural Digest

Gotta Love No. 11 - Toiles

According to Wikipedia, toile became an English word in the year 1561. In French, “toile” is a much older word meaning fabric. The famous toile de jouy style of fabric, depicting country scenes in one color on a white or off-white background, was created during the 18th century and is attributed to the town of Jouy-en-Josas (hence the name) near Versailles and just southwest of Paris.

Toile de Jouy, sometimes abbreviated to simply "toile", is a type of decorating pattern consisting of a usually white or off-white background on which a repeated pattern depicting a fairly complex scene, generally of a pastoral theme such as (for example) a couple having a picnic by a lake. Toiles also often consist of an arrangement of flowers.

A toile pattern is one of the few patterns that looks good overdone as well as underdone.

Image Sources: Barry Dixon, Thibaut, Traditional Home

Rethinking the Look of Things No. 15 - Good Bones

When I am asked to redesign a room I always look for existing pieces in the home with good bones. I define pieces with good bones as those pieces that quietly sustain the emotion of a room's design.  Pieces that are shuffled from room to room because we just can't part with them but we don't know why. These are the pieces that I draw inspiration from.

My inventory of things a client currently owns that I want to use in a room's redesign sometimes brings a quizzical look from them, but I encourage an open mind. Most times I save the surprise of reusing a "good bones" pieces for discussion at the presentation of my planned design. I love the twinkle in the eyes of its owner. They know they love the piece but are torn by design trends.

I encourage you to rethink your current furniture pieces and ignore design trends. After all, it is the "good bones" pieces that are the detail that completes a room.

Here are some images of my favorite rooms with "good bones" pieces. See if you can spot the good bones.

Image Sources: Decor Pad, Veranda, Architectural Digest

Be Inspired No. 18 - Richard Hallberg

I am inspired to discover one of the designer's who "gets it"! This inspiration comes because I get discouraged every time I read a designer's mission statement. More times then not, a designer's statement contains something like: "we keep your personal tastes and lifestyle in mind". Well, no kidding. That should be a given shouldn't it?

So I am inspired by some recent quotes I read by Richard Hallberg, Interior Designer...

"How did art inform the decor? It didn't, I let both stand on their own and speak to each other."
Veranda Magazine, September 2011

"I don't use fabric with pattern to design a room, my pattern comes from the assemblage of objects."
Veranda Magazine, September 2011

Another reason why this designer inspires me? Details are his obsession!

I love details! I match his philosophy on assemblage of objects! And you should know already, I love to marry vintage with modern where it is lest expected.

Be inspired!

Image Sources: Veranda, Richard Hallberg

RSVP Collection No. 23 - Cupcake Fashion!

There is nothing like a cupcake to bring a smile to your face. My mother-in-law volunteered to make cupcakes for our daughter's birthday/graduation party last year and took her assignment seriously. She recruited friends help and wow what a cupcake smorgasbord!

Cupcakes have become a gourmet item with designer baking liners and Martha Stewart even introduced cupcake individual pedestals. A dessert plate for the cupcake!

These gourmet designer cupcake papers are yummy!

Image Sources: Sutton Gourmet Paper, Martha Stewart, Etsy

Be Inspired No. 17 - Modern English

I'm always inspired with the unexpected. And I love the breath of fresh air that a room has when the unspeakable is done in a room design. Thus the reason for my love of the Modern English look.

I wonder what Mr. Chesterfield might say about his sofa married with Mid Century Danish, or Regency, or a cowhide bench ottoman?

Image Sources: Decor Pad, Metropolitan Home, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Mitchell Gold+Bob Williams