PlumSiena

Plum Get-Away

2012-02-20T20:50:00.000-05:00

The warmer climes call out and we are heading south for a mini blogation!

See you next Sunday.

Giverny's Flowers Up Close

2012-02-19T22:06:00.000-05:00

Sharing a tiny glimpse of the fall beauty that we experienced for a few hours at Giverny, the home of Claude Monet located west of Paris in Normandy. From the blues to the pinks and yellows, with lots of green both in the water and out, the garden has enough inspiration to last a lifetime.

The garden's various rooms are laid out in swaths of color.

Enjoy...

And last, but not least, is my favorite picture of all- Mr. Snail caught hiding under the sunshine.

February Doldrums Break: Giverny

2012-02-18T23:23:00.000-05:00

I had been holding off sharing my photos of our ever so inspiring trip to Giverny last fall, waiting for the right moment. It is here! We all need a break from the winter greys and there can be no better way to kick those greys than to stroll the grounds that Claude Monet walked every day.

It was every bit as colorful as you might have imagined it. I had always wondered just exactly what color that pink was. You cannot see much of it from the front of the house, but this view of the back shows the home at its best color. As we saw often in France, literally the back wall of the house is directly on the street.

It was almost impossible to take photos without hoards of people surrounding you. While Monet's home is very public now, other than restricting visitors, I don't know how else they can handle it.

When you arrive at the property, you have little choice with your route. But, what a route it is, strolling through the various "rooms" of the estate and catching the familiar looking glimpses that you've seen in the postcards and books.

It must be quite humbling to work in the gardens- the actual soil that Monet so beautifully painted. It takes a large team of dedicated workers to keep this huge garden in a constant blooming mode.

The trellises are all here, their green color vibrant.

The water lilies, the willow trees...

the vibrant colors of the flowers. Tomorrow I'll cover the flowers close up.

Quite amazing, really. Makes you want to get out that easel...

Into Blue & Green

2012-02-17T15:03:00.000-05:00

Seeing the striking colors of Rock at Sea by Raymond Jonson, housed at the Cleveland Museum of Art, reinforces exactly why I like the color combination of blue and green together. Here they are brilliant and vibrant,

while here, blue and green are peaceful and calming.

The soft green plaster walls and blue shelf accents read charming, no?

Who can resist deep blue hyacinths?

Beautiful shades of green are layered on this headboard.

I always love checking out the powder pigment colors with their myriad of possibilities.

A fabulous blue/green combination on this aged French door.

Do you do blue + green?

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Whitewashed

2012-02-16T15:31:00.000-05:00

Totally textured, bleached pine doors that were whitewashed...

(cool knob)

With a reflective design inside the room...

I would like to know if it was limewash or acrylic paint.

What is your guess?

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Gold Crush

2012-02-15T16:57:00.001-05:00

Even though gold goes in and out of vogue, it is always a favorite of mine.

The funkier, the better!

Speaking of funky, how would you have liked your plaster crown molding like this?

The Gold Snake by Frenchman Mathias Kiss - a private installation

Melanie Turner's statement with the fab patinaed mirrors and the gilded polyptych painting by Tom Swanston for the 2011 Decorators' Show House & Gardens.

A gold leaf schaibin table, created by applying torn pieces of gold leaf rather than the more familiar square pieces.

Why not gild some plates?

Always precious- a painted and gilded side table

What is your preference- gold or silver leaf?

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Not a Red Rose In Sight!

2012-02-14T13:36:00.001-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day to you all!

Instead of the usual red roses, I'd like to suggest gorgeous colors to make you smile.

A petite vase of deep blue hydrangea?

Or a happy vase of bright daffodils?

Perhaps quince branches? You can force them to bloom inside yourself if you cut the branches now. (See how here.)

Enjoy a riot of colors... all without a red rose in sight!

If you could choose, what would be your preference?

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Window Art

2012-02-13T14:28:00.007-05:00

Well, I think the Art Director at the Anthropologie in Natick Mall (MA) has earned a raise. She/He has created a lovely abstract Impressionistic display, wouldn't you say?

Laura Burkhart captured the moment for us all over at her blog, The Daylight. Laura is a wonderful artist in her own right. Her style is fresh and colorful with pops of metallics- see for yourself here.

Thanks, Laura!

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Growing Phals

2012-02-12T14:01:00.000-05:00

Imagine yourself trudging through the snow on the third day in a row of bland, grey skies and whipping winds. You're ready for spring, already! Opening the door, you're glad to be in out of the elements and into the warmth. You're in a warehouse now, rather sparse but organized. You're invited into the next area, but first you need to stand on a special mat that sits in a basin of disinfectant- this company is serious about cleanliness! All you see are plants with lots of green strappy leaves. Looking further, you begin to see color in the distance. As you walk, you realize the immense size of the fully automated greenhouse and before you know it, you are standing in the middle of acres of blooming phaleanopsis orchids, otherwise known as butterfly or moth orchids.

Recently we had the opportunity to visit Green Circle Growers, a greenhouse that specializes, amongst other plants, in growing phalaenopsis orchids. Their orchids are known as Just Add Ice orchids because they advocate simply providing the orchid plant with 3 ice cubes a week, set on the soil to slowly melt. Phals are temperamental when they have too much water- their roots rot.

Tiny starter plants are received...

and planted in packs...

where they remain for weeks until they send out flower spikes.

The plants are then potted individually...

and kept in the greenhouse for months more until the flower spikes open.

Green Circle is adamant about the plants' growing conditions. The greenhouse is immaculate throughout. Their policy is to touch the plants with human hands as little as possible, thereby reducing the possible of exposure to bacteria.

The flower colors were simply beautiful, their range across the board.

I wouldn't have minded one of each!

Thank you, Frank and Elise, for a memorable tour of your impressive facility.

Have you been able to have your phalaenopsis orchids re-bloom at home?

I have not had much luck with this. If you have, please give us some tips!

Black & White All Over

2012-02-11T12:12:00.000-05:00

Today I am in a black and white, graphic sort of mood.

There are so many ways you can go with this...

A striking black and white plaster design on a wall in Naples...

Seriously elegant black paneling with a touch of gold...

or an all-out embellishment of gold to highlight the (charcoal) black doors and walls...

A contemporary room with a funky, aged wall finish in various tones of black and white and greige...

...heading all the way down to the floor with this oversize damask-like pattern.

For some fabulous floor ideas, many in black and white, visit Design Sponge's Best of Patterned Floors here.

Do you have black and white anywhere in your own home?

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Tulip Day

2012-02-10T13:15:00.000-05:00

I can't wait any longer!

I am proclaiming today as Tulip Day... in anticipation of our treats to come.

I suspect it may be due to the extremely mild winter that we are almost expecting spring to pop soon (although the snow is starting as I write this).

I, for one, look forward to colorful flowers poking through the soil.

Artist Kerri Rosenthal's painted tulips are equally as beautiful as the real deal. I first saw her work in the House of Fifty.

Where else would we see tulips as a matter of course other than in Holland?

Have you ever seen The Art of Living in Amsterdam by Melanie van Ogtrop?

Beautiful book.

If you visit Holland at any time of the year, it is a common sight to see folks with a bunch or two of flowers on their way home from work.

They don't reserve flowers just for special occasions.

I like that.

Last, but not least, why not tulips on your Roman curtains?

Charming, no?

What are you celebrating today?

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Paint Therapy

2012-02-09T14:47:00.000-05:00

Michelle Oppenheimer's abstract watercolors are paint therapy for me. Their colors are mesmerizing and so intense, yet soft at the same time.

095 Water Color 18”x22”

164 India Ink and Oil Stick on Paper / 22" x 30"

Michelle lives and works in Los Angeles. Her background includes a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, which helps her to imagine creating works of art that soothe the soul and foster a certain peace in their enjoyment. She does not add titles to her work which might influence the viewers’ interpretation of the piece.

Watercolor, India Ink / 6 x 12

098 Watercolor Painting / 22" x 30"

053 Mixed Media / 22" x 30"

140 Original Watercolor Painting

141 Original Watercolor Painting

149 Water Color / 18”x22”

You can visit Michelle's website here and her blog here.

Locally, her current show is at Lark Gallery.

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Form & Function Reflected

2012-02-08T09:42:00.001-05:00

“Form follows function - that has been misunderstood.
Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union”

Frank Lloyd Wright

I am really enjoying the design aesthetic of the Danish company, Gubi.

Simple, elegant, practical.

The Adnet mirror's leather equestrian inspired detailing sets it apart. Funny, I am usually all about gilded pieces with lots of ornament.

The Adnet mirror was designed in 1950 by the iconic designer, Jacques Adnet.

From the late 1920's until 1960, Adnet lead La Compagnie des Arts Francais. He described himself as an innovator and classicist, preferring to combine exotic woods with metal, leather and mirrored glass to create his exclusive designs.

Where are your design preferences leading you?

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Dinner is Served

2012-02-07T15:08:00.001-05:00

As part of the monthly By Invitation Only get together over at Marsha's Splenderosa blog, our challenge this month is to host a fantasy dinner party with any ten people in the world, past or present. Sounds easy. Ha!

There were so many routes to take for this party it was difficult to decide. So, instead of the usual route of famous celebrities or writers or artists or royals (although I came very close to inviting the young royals from the U.K., Belgium, Sweden, Netherlands and Denmark- doesn't that sound fun?), I decided to invite those folks who, in my book are celebrities in their own right- online. Those folks (who just all happen to be female) whose blogs and ezines have lured us all to visit often. Some sell things, some do not. All are very successful at what they do and stand as inspirations for me, especially since I am currently in the phase of a new project that I know they had to go through also to get where they are today.

Dinner: 7 p.m. in my own humble abode.

The menu: Fresh, juicy sea bass with mushroom risotto, tender, crisp asparagus spears, arugula and Boston lettuce salad, followed by espresso, homemade biscoti and dark chocolate squares.

Flowers by Pieter Bouterse (of course!)

The dinner guests:

Grace Bonney from Design Sponge

Michelle Adams from Lonny

Vanessa Sicotte from Damask & Dentelle

Kim Vallée from At Home with Kim Vallée

Crystal Gentilello from Rue and Plush Palate

Anne Sage from Rue and The City Sage

Ronda Carman from All the Best

Joni Webb from Cote de Texas

Holly Becker from Decor8

and

Diane Dorrans Saeks from The Style Saloniste

Isn't that a savy group of women? Power houses- each!

Not only would I like to hear the story behind each woman, but to hear and observe the interactions between so many alpha personalities in a small space.

And now- off to visit another interesting group of women who all regularly contribute to that amazing place in the ether that we call the internet.

Want to join us?

Architectural Detail Day

2012-02-06T09:12:00.004-05:00

A walk through our main library yielded this treasure trove of architectural details.

To admire in person, the next time you are visiting Cleveland, be sure to stop by the downtown main branch of the Cleveland Public Library.

And, last but not least, even the lowly copper walls of the swing doors have a lovely patina.

If you missed the overall view of Library building itself, scroll down to yesterday's post, here.

A Beauty With Books

2012-02-05T12:40:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite buildings ever is right here in my hometown: the Cleveland Public Library. I have loved libraries since I learned how to read; I remember receiving my library card was such a huge deal. And then when we could walk there alone (and sneak into the candy store on the way home), we just felt so important. I don't think I visited the main library downtown until I was out of college. Not sure why, although I suspect that many Clevelanders have never visited one of the city's true treasures.

"The Cleveland Public Library first opened as a “Public School Library” for the Cleveland Board of Education in 1869. It was the first large public library to allow people to select their own books directly from its bookshelves."*

The Cleveland Public Library's main branch was begun in 1923 and opened in 1925. Cleveland's City Beautiful movement conceived The Group Plan of 1903, when the city was attempting to design the downtown in an orderly way. An early example of urban planning, the plan designed a group of buildings to be built with similar design features and classical architectural motifs.

Main Library Branch with its 2 buildings on Superior Avenue

The Library's second building, the Louis Stokes Wing, was completed in 1997. The Eastman Reading Garden stands between the two buildings and is open in the warmer weather months, spring through fall.

Hidden roofline with its curves and patina

Eastman Reading Garden (between the two buildings)

The interior of the building is just full of beautiful details at every turn. The marble, the carved wood, the leaded glass windows, the plaster moldings, the painted ceilings- all are there for the viewing. Overall, the library is maintained well. What I am not quite sure of is why more folks don't go there to visit. The Library's Fine Art Department is one of the best in the nation. I have never gone there and not found what I needed, however obscure. And if they don't have it, they'll find it for you. Their archives are to-die-for.

Gorgeous door and window in the main floor's Brett Hall.

Amazingly beautiful!

What a ceiling!

Main floor

Main entrance ceiling

Looking up the marble stairwells

Brett Hall ceiling

The mural was created in 1934 as one of the Public Works of Art Projects, part of Roosevelt's New Deal.

My favorite room , the Special Collections Room, where displays change throughout the year. I love its simplicity, period feeling and beautiful display cases.

Tomorrow I will follow up with detail shots taken throughout the building.

Please join me!

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Gumbo It Is

2012-02-04T13:24:00.000-05:00

If you are in a stay-at-home-for-the-afternoon mood, may I suggest attempting to make a gumbo? The real deal, with a roux from scratch and raw shrimp. The famed New Orleans dish, gumbo can be like a stew or a soup, with as many recipe variations as there are cooks! As long as there is okra, as this thickens its consistency, gumbo is a great meal for the dead of winter. Sausage, shrimp, chicken, crabmeat- all are frequent additions. It will warm you up both inside and out.

When making the roux, stay right there, as you'll need to monitor it every minute or two for a stir. If the roux burns, it turns bitter. I make a dark roux, chopping and preparing the rest of the ingredients at the same time.

I used this recipe from Patois' chef, Aaron Burgau. It was delish and made enough to feed an army.

What do you prefer in your gumbo?

Shrimp-and-Okra Gumbo

Makes 10 to 12 servings

For the Creole seasoning: For the gumbo:

2 tbsp kosher salt                                      2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp black pepper                                    2 medium onions, diced
1 tbsp cayenne pepper                                 1 red bell pepper, diced

1 tbsp dried thyme                                     2 green bell peppers, diced
1 tbsp dried basil                                     3 ribs of celery, diced
1 tbsp dried oregeno                                   1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 tbsp paprika                                          4 oz crushed or diced tomatoes
1 tbsp granulated garlic                              2 lbs 21- to 25-count shrimp
                                                             3 qts shrimp stock

For the roux:                                           4 bay leaves
1 cup vegetable oil                                      1 lb okra, trimmed and sliced (use frozen)
1 cup flour                                                Hot sauce, to taste

1. Make the Creole seasoning: In a small bowl, combine all the herbs and spices and set aside.

2. For the roux, heat the oil in a heavy-bottom pot and add flour. Stir constantly until the roux is dark. Do not burn; it will make the gumbo bitter.

3. In a large saucepan, heat the vegetable oil. Add onions, green and red bell peppers, celery, and garlic and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and roux. Add a 1/2 pound of shrimp. (The next time I will not add any shrimp at this point and just add for the last 10 minutes.) Add shrimp stock (I used 75% chicken stock and 25% shrimp stock), Creole seasoning, and bay leaves and bring to a boil.

4. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes to one hour. In the last 10 minutes of cooking, add okra and remaining shrimp. Season to taste with hot sauce.

5. Serve over steamed rice, passing additional hot sauce at the table.

Patois

6078 Laurel Street New Orleans, LA

504-895-9441 patoisnola.com

[Recipe, photo]

Looking Up

2012-02-03T13:55:00.000-05:00

As I have mentioned before, I spend a fair amount of time looking up when we are on walking trips, either in my hometown area or away. Well, here is a new twist to looking up in your own home.

Can you imagine lying in bed and gazing at this?

Or this?

The German company LIGHTBOYS has designed an intriguing combination of ceiling fresco with a ceiling light (which are often so ugly) called Roof Top Lights.

They afix illuminated photographs on top of a 40mm-thick, ultra-light frame that mounts to the ceiling.

What a way to transform a room!

The fixture can be made up to 9.8 feet.

I'd be hard pressed to decide on which one... You?

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Walls of Paper

2012-02-02T16:42:00.003-05:00

Walls of torn paper and repurposed wood. An irreverent and creative outlook.

Architect Jeremy Barbour of Tacklebox has an impressive project list.

Saipua's walls of gorgeous, recycled silver barn wood make for a beautiful backdrop for Sarah Ryhanen's flowers and Susan Ryhanen's olive oil based soaps.
Follow along at Sarah's blog- her floral arrangements are gorgeous and her outlook is witty, occasionally moody and honest.

Saipua is located at

147 Van Dyke Street Brooklyn, NY 11231

718.624.2929

Last fall Aesop, the famed Australian maker of skin care products, opened up a stand alone shop on Elizabeth Street in NYC. TACKLEBOX's wall design made use of 2,800 New York Times newspapers which were hand-torn into 400,000 strips, pressed and stacked like bricks to create the walls.

I love their depth and texture.
They will eventually fade with age, turning into a light tan.

So cool!

Aesop Nolita

232 Elizabeth Street

New York, NY 10012

1.877.60AESOP

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Ball Masque Anyone?

2012-02-01T14:03:00.002-05:00

With Carnival season in full swing and Mardi Gras on Tuesday, February 21st, New Orleans is gearing up for the annual parades (here is the schedule). It's always an exciting time to visit!

Here in Cleveland, we were just treated to a fabulous exhibit of Ball Masque invitations and posters from the '20s era at the Cleveland Public Library, our gorgeous main library downtown (more to come this weekend). The exhibit celebrated the 100th anniversary of The Kokoon Arts Klub, the rather controversial group of artists who embraced the new Modernist movement.

The Ball Masques were held as yearly fundraisers and were strict with their admittance: the costumes had to be created at home (no rentals allowed) and folks were turned away at the door if their costumes weren't historically accurate and in keeping with the theme.

Local hotels, dance halls, and auditoriums were transformed into glowing caverns with extensive decorations.

The group started "Artist Curb Markets" which became a place for the "Kokooners" and other artists to sell their works during the Depression. The first Artist Curb Market was held in 1932, with 12,000 people attending and shopping.

Enjoy the art show!

Aren't these amazing?

A big Thank You the the Cleveland Public Library staff for a wonderful display!

Your hard work and dedication shines through!

The Winter We Didn't Have

2012-01-31T10:22:00.000-05:00

How about a winter treat?

Because we in the U.S. are experiencing a winter that is really more winspring, it's not been possible to fill the slightly sunken area in the backyard with water and watch it freeze into a mini ice rink. Was that a sport of yesteryear?

However, as my Dutch husband pointed out, this year Holland (and much of Eastern Europe) has been on the cold side and their ponds and lakes and canals have frozen over to provide ice skating galore.

Pieter relates to me that when he was growing up, it was just what you did when you were three or four- your parents strapped on the ice blades, brought you out to the canal with a small chair and you began to learn:

Of course, when you were too tired, you'd rest!

Apparently, it was very unusual not to know how to skate. And because they get very little snow, with the land being so flat, the ice becomes like glass.

What a wonderful custom!

And so beautiful.

Do you remember those days of being a child and playing outdoors (and not in front of a computer screen)?

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Vintage Modern

2012-01-30T09:15:00.005-05:00

For those who wish to transport themselves elsewhere while remaining in their own home, check out this collection of vintage modern wallpapers created by British design team, Young & Battaglia. Their collection can be found at Mineheart.

Loving this Black Wrought Iron Panel wallpaper...

White Panelling wallpaper

White Cast Iron Lace wallpaper for the French inspired room?

Inspired by the Chesterfield sofas...Deep Buttoned Chesterfield wallpaper

And my favorite, for obvious reasons. Since I am not a muralist, I could definitely see "settling" for this if I can't have a summer villa in Italia.

Stone Angels wallpaper

Closeup of Stone Angels

Which is your favorite?

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French Twists

2012-01-29T11:26:00.000-05:00

One hundred twenty-five years ago, the Eiffel Tower was begun. Imagine how big the festivities will be on May 15, 2014 for the 125th celebration of its opening at the 1889 World Fair in Paris.

For a fascinating read on the construction of the Eiffel Tower, visit here.

Did you know that the Eiffel Tower "was painted in Barbados bronze, a reddish brown color, which was applied in progressively lighter shades from bottom to top in the hopes of making the tower look even taller"? I didn't either.

It has to be the most recognizable building in the world!

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The Wow Factor

2012-01-28T09:11:00.000-05:00

No subtlety here.

And that amazing wall of Azzurro Onda Marina granite definitely qualifies for a Wow!

It is perfectly set off by the white and black in the rest of the bathroom, designed by Juan Montoya,

wouldn't you say?

Here the floor and steps quietly compliment the rest of the foyer, but when you look closer at the onyx, the beauty of the pattern draws you in with its drama.

Mish Tworkowski's recently opened New York City store also provides major drama in the reception room with its hand-painted, faux bois walls. Mark Uriu Studios did a gorgeous, gorgeous job.

Definitely the Wow Factor!

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Natural Wonders

2012-01-27T09:06:00.000-05:00

Conservation International recently revealed more than 46 new species that were discovered in southwest Suriname during a study aptly named "An Armored Catfish, a 'Cowboy Frog', and a Rainbow of Colorful Critters discovered in Southwest Suriname". We need turn no farther than Mother Nature for our inspirations and color combinations!

Even a gilded leaf beetle!

To see the full story, click here.

I don't know about you, but our location in northern Ohio was totally covered by thick clouds for most of this week, so we missed any hope to see the extra special Aurora Borealis of 2012, special because of the sun's extraordinary activity.

Here are some photos taken in Alaska and the northern countries of Norway and Finland of those extraordinary skies.

Awesome!

Did any of you manage to see the Northern Lights?

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Marble You Say?

2012-01-26T10:24:00.001-05:00

On the heels of Fooling the Eye, I present you two classic designs with an unexpected twist.

The first: a marble chair.

Ouch- a tad hard, but an interesting concept.

Created by Haute Couture designer Maurizio Galante, in

partnership with trend forecaster Tal Lancman, (who run the design and consultancy service company INTERWARE), the marble chair is a wingback chair, yes, but with the latest in
print technology- a 100% silk cover finished with a digitally reproduced carrara marble pattern. The chair's framework is plywood structure with polyurethane foam, designed for the Italian manufacturer, Cerruti Baleri.

The pattern is amazingly accurate. So cool.

Louis XV Goes to Sparta chair

There are two other patterns.

Portasanta marble pattern

Grande Antico marble pattern

The second: Marbelous Wood by Danish designer Pernille Snedker Hansen.

Pernille beautifully combines the old marbling technique, similar to the marbling of papers, with lengths of pure pine wood to create her marbled floors. The result is a vibrant pattern in harmony with the wood's natural grain, giving the wood an organic, colorful look.The colors and patterns can be customized to fit the decor.

Pernille Snedker Hansen has an excellent video presenting the creating of Marbelous Wood, which you can see here. A few excerpts follow below.

After she has established the colors and patterns that she likes, each piece of raw pine is dipped into the bath to obtain its coloring.

Clever and so beautiful!

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Fooling the Eye

2012-01-25T10:17:00.002-05:00

It is described as fooling the eye.

Trompe l'oeil is the art of illusion and if you are going to visit Paris in 2012, be sure to stop by the Musées des Arts Décoratifs, where they are holding an exhibit of over 400 items from their extensive archives. The exhibit, Trompe-l’œil. Imitations, pastiches et autres illusion, is opening on February 2, 2012 through November 15, 2013. The exhibit will feature never seen before works from their storerooms, including wallpapers, floorboards, paintings and jewelery.

Armoire Surrealiste by Jean Marcel, 1941

From the sublime to the ridiculous...

An illusionistic canvas depicting a false dome by Andrea Pozzo (1702) in Arezzo, Italy

Man sitting on a cafe terrasse Gunnar Larsen, 1973

A great book, which occasionally surfaces in used bookstores and websites, is La Peinture en Trompe-L'oeil by Henri Cadiou and Pierre Gilou. Below is a taste of the steps required while painting trompe l'oeil. I find the art quite amazing and way beyond my reach!

Mouchoir Pendu by Pierre Gilou, 1989

The Trompe L'oeil exhibit will also focus on the works of Owen Jones and his famous The Grammar of Ornament, as well as Albert Racinet’s L’Ornement Polychrome, which not only provided medieval and Moorish motifs for 19^th-century creators, but still continue to today. I treasure my copies and look to them for inspiration often.

Les Arts Décoratifs 107, rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris

tél. : 01 44 55 57 50

P.S. Kelly Wearstler has some fab trompe l'oeil photos up on her website...

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Pizza Break

2012-01-24T12:35:00.001-05:00

Arugula Salad White Pizza

To avoid the January doldrums, last week we varied our menu a bit and decided to make our own pizza. While many of you probably eat pizza often, pizza is not on our usual menu list, so this was a welcome break. I was inspired by Country Living's Everything Guide to Pizza. We like a thinner, yeasty tasting dough and this recipe fit the bill. It's a perfect dough to make when you're home for the afternoon, so you can monitor the dough's rising.

Homemade Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

1/4 cup(s) warm water, for yeast mixture
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) sugar
1/2 teaspoon(s) active dry yeast
3/4 cup(s) warm water, plus more if needed
2 tablespoon(s) olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) cider vinegar
2 1/2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1/4 cup(s) whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon(s) kosher salt
Cornmeal, for dusting

Directions:

In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup warm water, sugar, and yeast. In a glass, mix 3/4 cup warm water, olive oil, and cider vinegar.
In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, and salt. Create a well and add liquids from Step 1.
Using a wooden spoon, stir, bringing in flour from the edges, until a soft, shaggy dough forms. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons more water, if needed.
On a lightly floured surface, knead dough — using the heel of your hand, stretch dough away from your body, then fold it back onto itself — until supple, about 10 minutes. (P.S. I was impatient and only kneaded for 5 minutes and it turned out great!)
Form dough into a ball, lightly oil, and place in an oiled bowl. Cover with a damp towel and let dough rise until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
Using a knife, divide dough in half. Pat 1 half into a disc. Using a rolling pin, flatten disc into a 1/4-inch-thick 12-inch circle. Repeat or refrigerate remaining dough up to 1 day.
Transfer dough to a pizza peel or cookie tray that's been liberally sprinkled with cornmeal (to prevent the dough from sticking).
Top dough with a thin layer of sauce, cheese, and desired toppings.
Slide pizza onto a preheated pizza stone or the cookie tray on to the lowest shelf of the preheated oven. Bake until crust is golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

Here are the photos for the making of the dough- they do help.

I used my homemade pasta sauce that I had on hand, but this recipe sounds delish, especially if you use fresh tomatoes from your garden in the fall.

Roasted Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pound(s) plum tomatoes, quartered
1 yellow onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup(s) extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoon(s) kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon(s) crushed red pepper
1/4 cup(s) chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoon(s) fresh oregano

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. In a 9- by 13-inch baking pan, toss together tomatoes, onion, bell peppers, oil, salt, and crushed red pepper. Roast for 1 hour. Remove pan from oven and fold basil and oregano into vegetables. Cook for 30 minutes more.
In a food processor, blend vegetables until pureed. Use immediately, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks, or freeze.

Sausage Mushroom Pizza

Potato Pesto Pizza

We made the Sausage Mushroom and Arugula Salad pizzas- yum! Doesn't the Potato Pesto pizza sound good? I might try combining potato and buttermilk blue cheese instead. Here are a few other combo ideas:

Shredded rotisserie chicken tossed with barbecue sauce
Radicchio drizzled with honey

Anchovy paste and sliced green olives
Fig jam, prosciutto, and Taleggio
Caramelized onions with avocado and chorizo

Crispy fried calamari and jalapeño rings
Ricotta with sliced peaches and plums
Sautéed celery with blue cheese
Roasted cauliflower and capers

What are your favorite pizzas?

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All Aglow

2012-01-23T14:48:00.000-05:00

It's usually when I've been working on a wedding or special event that I am reminded of the importance of good lighting. Whether in a tent or one's home, it is the key ingredient in setting the mood and creating the ambiance you want. Obviously good design is important, but if the lighting isn't right, the design may matter little.

I've collected a few images of fixtures that inspire me...

A beautiful Murano glass chandelier

A simply elegant gilt chandelier

Muriel Chandelier by Oly The cast resin "bubbles" will cast fun shadows.

Love the roughness of the stone wall compared with the ornate crystal chandelier

Fun and funky

Arctic Pear Chandelier by Ochre

Seed Cloud Chandelier by Ochre

Swarovski crystal chandelier Its color is to-die-for!

This is the "before" look of a tent wedding designed by Pieter Bouterse Studio; the "chandeliers" were a combination of tiny lights and lucite rods. They were absolutely magical with the tent all dressed up for the party.

What are your preferences for lighting your own home?

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Working on a Wedding...

2012-01-22T09:33:00.000-05:00

all in white.

See you tomorrow!

Oozing Creativity

2012-01-21T09:07:00.013-05:00

Creativity simply oozes out of Sarah Illenberger's genes.

One look at her creations and one can see that Sarah looks at things in her own unique way. Sarah's parents were jewelers by trade and gave Sarah her own workbench at age seven to explore and create (How cool is that!).

Sarah Illenberger's studio is in Berlin, where she designs works ranging from organic sculptures to ad campaigns for commercial clients. An attempt to categorize her work proves to be difficult.

Sarah's innovative concepts are all carried out by handwork. She creates abstracts out of everyday materials, manipulating them in unexpected ways, as you will see below. Her sense of humor shines through each one.

RUBINE

ARTYSCHOKE

GRANATE

VÖLLIG WEICHGEKOCHT

ZWIEBEL

BIRNE

CHILLIS

MCFOREST

MELONCHOLIE

TRENDGEMÜSE

POMELO

Sarah Illenberger in her studio

Visit Sarah Illenberger's studio here.

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A Lovely Lady

2012-01-20T09:30:00.001-05:00

Last week, I came across this painting while doing research for a post on Highclere Castle.

This is Catherine Wendell, the 6th Countess of Carnarvon. She married the 6th Earl of Carnarvon, Henry George in 1922. They divorced in 1936.

For some reason, I find this painting to be hauntingly beautiful.

Maybe it is its tone-on-tone effects with just strategic pops of color.

Or the pretty woman.

No matter, just enjoy!

(If anyone knows, please tell me who the artist is.)

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About Those Lacquered Walls

2012-01-19T12:33:00.004-05:00

The Spa in the Royal Mansour in Marrakech

Lacquered walls continue to be an enduring design element. Their beauty is unquestionable; their creation is a dedication to perfect prep work. While describing the wall preparation yesterday for the The Art of Scribbling mural, Wall Drawing #1268:Scribbles: Staircase (AKAG), seen here, I described the numerous steps that were taken to make the walls as smooth as possible. Besides the sanding and layers of skim coat plaster, the walls still need to be primed and painted with many layers of paint to obtain the smooth sheen that you see in the following examples.

The light blue color is nice to see in the world of lacquered paint finishes- dark colors are seen more often.

Kudos to the patient team who painstakingly painted these perfect cabinets.

The walls above and below are actually Venetian plaster. Instead of numerous layers of paint, most often three or four layers of plaster are skillfully applied, followed by a protective wax layer and buffing.

The lacquered, taupe door has been accented with a gold leaf trim.

A lovely shade of gunmetal blue graces this lacquered door.

Lots of texture contrasts in a Jeffrey Bilhuber designed study.

I love the way the deep aubergine high gloss walls are accented by bookcases trimmed with gold leaf.

For more information, view here.
Do you have any lacquered walls in your home?
Are they only for the few due to their incredible amount of labor?

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The Art of Scribbling

2012-01-18T13:45:00.012-05:00

Imagine... you were just hired to work on a project where all you had to do was scribble. Yes, scribble, with a pencil. OK so far. (I mean, how hard can it be?) You report in the first morning, a little curious about where this scribbling is to be done and a little smug at landing this job. (I mean, how hard can it be?) You meet the boss and your fellow artists in the lobby of the building. That building is the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, New York, in the section where the two museum buildings meet. The boss casually waves his arm and says that this is where you'll be working. Everyone looks around, puzzled, thinking "Where, exactly?" He then clarifies the situation, stating that all of the 2,200-square-feet of the lobby walls are your canvas.

Whoa.

This is how the mural, Wall Drawing #1268:Scribbles: Staircase (AKAG), was started, just as you see above. The mural was designed by artist Sol LeWitt in 2006, but he passed away in 2007, before it was actually started. Under the direction of five master draftsmen from LeWitt's studio, the mural was completed in 2010.

Because of the very public location and importance to the museum and the precise substrate needed to accurately complete the mural, the walls needed to be extensively prepared. After the large scaffold was erected in the eight foot stairwell (with two viewing windows for guests to peek into built within the structure of the scaffolding), the wall prep included: "seven layers of sanding, two coats of plaster skim coat, two coats of oil-based paint primer, and five to ten coats of latex paint, with a total of nineteen days of drying in between layers."**
(Hmm- that is actually the same prep needed for a lacquered wall...)

Just think of the amount of black dust that must have been produced by covering the wall in graphite! The entire twenty-six foot scaffolding was wrapped in plastic; the artists entered the protective plastic “cocoon” by walking on Sticky Mats catch the dust from their shoes.

Before his death, LeWitt left simple instructions:

Line. Continuous gradation and feel of steel.

So, 16 artists worked (scribbled) 7 hours a day for a total of 5,026 hours over 54 days using 1,717 pencil leads. They had to work in sections, completing each one before moving on. Entire walls were “gridded out” to match LeWitt’s plan using common household thread.When adjacent sections were completed, the paper was removed and the joining edges were touched up. The mural was varnished before the scaffolding was removed, not only to protect it, but also to darken it and give the surface of the drawing a matte finish.

To have worked on this mural, I imagine that each artist had to crawl inside his head and dig deep to be able to scribble for that long of a time, day after day. They probably saw different shapes in their scribbles with many emotions surfacing throughout the day. I don't think I could have done it myself.

What a beauty!

Cheers to the artists for just earning the Best Mural Award given by Wallpaper magazine in their February, 2012 issue.

The artists were Darren Adair, Takeshi Arita, Kyle Butler, Roshen Carman, Andrew Colbert, Cynthia Cui, Katharine Gaudy, Aviva Grossman, John Hogan, Ani Hoover, Gabriel Hurier, Roland Lusk, Amanda Maciuba, Allison Midgley, Alyssa Morasco and Joshua Turner.

Visit here for fascinating reading at Albright-Knox Art Gallery's blog on the wall in progress.

[**via]

Post Script

I just ran across the work of Il Lee- along the same line, but Mr. Lee's medium is the ballpoint pen.

Some pretty amazing works, wouldn't you say?

[via]

In a Contemplative Mood

2012-01-17T11:36:00.001-05:00

In the mood for time to reflect...

and quiet progress at work.

We all need these days once in a while, wouldn't you say?

May you feel calm and happiness today as well.

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Capital Collection

2012-01-16T10:36:00.001-05:00

For anyone who appreciates classical plaster ornaments, a visit to Aynhoe Park is in order. I thought before virtually leaving Britain that we could peek into this 17th century Paladian mansion in the Oxfordshire countryside. I first became aware of this collection of plaster casts when I spotted the acanthus leaf flower ornaments here.

Aynhoe Park's present owner, James Perkins, began collecting classical plaster casts as young man. It has now grown into an impressive collection which is considered the largest in the world. He purchased Aynhoe Park during a fire sale and began renovations in 2004. The building had been turned into 28 flats, with the interior covered with glossy paint and no character.

Architectural fragments, columns and capitals, statues... they are all here.

Farrow and Ball paints were used throughout the house in knocked back stone colors to allow the collection to take center stage.

A twelve foot, 19th century cast of Athena

The gorgeous acanthus leaf flower ornaments

Mr. Perkins' private suite of rooms:

Aynhoe Park is open to tourists, designers and private collectors.

It is also available to rent for private parties.

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Peace

2012-01-15T10:55:00.001-05:00

May you enjoy peace...

with our gift from Old Man Winter...

Bella is!

Have a good one!

The Brits Have It

2012-01-14T14:45:00.001-05:00

Stepping into our living rooms are several stately British homes that are either newly opened to the public or are the location of film shoots. Especially with the popularity of Downton Abbey, I thought I'd travel across the sea from France and Italy and take a look at a few details of these magnificent structures.

Architectural Digest's February 2012 issue showcases the renovations made by Prince Charles to save Dumfries House, located in Scotland, from the auction block. It is an 18th century Palladian villa and contains some fifty pieces from cabinetmaker Thomas Chippendale's early workshop.

It had to be entirely restored, with new heating, wiring and plumbing, along with the restoration of the painted wall decorations and exceptional ceiling plasterwork. Special attention was given to using laborers from Great Britain.

I especially like looking at the ceiling details.

Blue Drawing Room

The Pewter Corridor- wow!

Love the skylights in the Gallery

Closeup of the plasterwork and Murano glass chandelier in the Blue Drawing Room

PBS' Jane Eyre took place at Haddon Hall in Derbyshire. This medieval manor house dates from the 12th Century, and has been in the same family since 1567. It was empty for over two hundred years, from 1700 until the 1920s, when it was renovated and brought back to life. Its grounds contain stunning Elizabethan gardens which are open to the public from April to October.

A corner of the Banqueting Hall, which held between 40-50 diners at a time.

15th century tapestry in the Banqueting Hall

The Long Gallery's gorgeous wood paneled walls

The Long Gallery, 110 feet long and 17 feet wide

PBS' Masterpiece Theater production of Downton Abbey takes place at Highclere Castle. While evidence suggests people have been living there for over one thousand years, this mansion was begun in 1838 by the 3rd Earl of Carnarvon and finally completed in 1878. The building was transformed into a hospital during WWI and during WWII was a home for evacuee children from north London. (An interesting side note- in 1922 the 5th Earl of Carnarvon and Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun.)

The current (8th) Earl and Countess of Carnarvon now live part time in the Castle.

The gothic style Saloon- the heart of the house. Its wall coverings are made of leather created in 1631 and brought back from Cordoba, Spain.

The Drawing Room

The Library

The Entrance Hall

The Music Room's walls are hung with 16th century Italian embroideries.

Close up of the Italian tapestry wall coverings in the Music Room

The Smoking Room with Dutch paintings on the walls and an 18th century Dutch leather screen

Details of the Spanish, embossed leather wall coverings in the Saloon, circa, 1680

See you at 9 p.m. Sunday evening for Downton Abbey?

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Blog Award- Thank You!

2012-01-13T13:21:00.003-05:00

Right before Christmas, the lovely Maureen at Eclectic Revisited passed along the
Blog on Fire Award to me.

Thank you so much, Maureen! It is always nice to know that folks out there are visiting PlumSiena. My fellow bloggers certainly know how much work it takes to blog consistently, much less daily. For those of you who don't have a blog, you would be shocked at how much time it takes to even put up a simple post. It's one of those cases where you have to love what you are doing.

There are two conditions to winning the Blog on Fire Award. The first is to tell your readers five things about yourself that they do not know. OK- here goes:

-Three years ago I had never visited any blog before.

-I could eat sushi every day.

-I was an RN in my first career. I must admit I have never looked back.

-For my next career, I’d like to join forces with Pieter and offer cooking classes using fresh veggies that the students harvest in our organic garden and only locally produced/grown meats and produce.

-If I win a lottery, I’d like to have a second home either in France, Italy or the Netherlands. Love it on the other side of the pond!

The second condition is to nominate 5 other blogs for this award. My nominations are:

Julie at Being Ruby. Julie's artistic eye for beauty with her camera and computer skills makes me smile every time I visit. Being Ruby reminds me of the finer things in life.

Melanie at Classical Addiction. Melanie is seriously talented, being not only a fine artist, decorative painter and interior designer, but also a partner in Beaux-Artes. Melanie's blog is, as it says, a dose of classical inspiration in the arts.

Deborah at Dirt Simple. This is one knowledgeable woman who absolutely loves what she does. And it shows. I am giddy when Deborah publishes a post. She owns Detroit Garden Works and is, to put it simply, a font of gardening tips. Her planted pots are the most creative and gorgeous I have ever seen. You'll be hooked once you visit Dirt Simple.

Glenda at The Paper Mulberry. Glenda has quite the eye for design and each of her posts is a thing of beauty. They always takes me a long time to read as I study them. Go take a look for yourself so I can tell you I told you so!

Delphine at Paradis Express. If you like gardening at all, then visit Paradis Express for peaks into gardens all over the world. I don't know how Delphine finds them all! Check out her book, too!

I hope you take the time to visit my friends.

You will soon be adding them to your favorites list, I promise you.

Purple Door Day

2012-01-12T09:51:00.001-05:00

In the mood for purple / plum doors today.

They make me happy!

Love the painted ornament

A Parisian café door

A door in Siena

What would you like to see today?

[1,3]

Belgian Linen

2012-01-11T14:08:00.000-05:00

When you see it, you know. Quality linen is like no other fiber. It resists dirt and stains, has no lint or pilling and feels cool to the touch. Did you know that linen is stronger wet than dry?

Linen is created from the fibers of the flax plant, with the best conditions for growing flax being the coastal areas of northwest France, Belgium and the Netherlands. Belgian linen has long been considered to be the best.

The French company, Good Ideas, produced a fascinating short film called Be Linen, from which the photos below are taken.

It describes the entire process of making linen, from the flax sowing, pulling and retting...

to its scutching,...

combing and carding.

During the entire production of linen, no chemical is used- no added oil, nothing. The original green fiber.

Linen weaving is an ancient art, with flax fibers having been used at least four thousand years ago.

We had the privilege of seeing beautiful linen firsthand during our trip to France last fall. You can find gorgeous examples at Sharon's My French Country Brocante and with Karin at LaPouyette.

To watch the Be Linen video, click here.

Are you a lover of linen?

[via]

Beauty in the Bar

2012-01-10T13:14:00.000-05:00

The state of design in bars these days is long past the chipped wood and sticky bar counter of my college days, at least in some areas. I never did frequent bars very often (ok, there are some exceptions which we won't discuss here...) but the following bars would sure tempt me to go for a few rounds.

Les Suites Bar is part of the ski resort, Les Suites de la Potinière, in Courchevel, France, close to the Italian and Swiss borders and in the midst of great skiing.

Check out this great wall!

La Banane's bar, below, is certainly appropriately designed to fit into the island theme of this St. Bart's hotel with a collection of nine private cabanas.

Last, but not least, is the over-the-top Club Silencio in Paris, owned by the owners of the Social Club, Arnaud Frisch, Manu Barron and Anthony Caton, and designed by director David Lynch. Located down six dark flights of stairs below street level, it is a private club until midnight, when it opens to the public. The gilding on the walls and "golden tunnel", including on each wood cube below, was carried out by the prestigious Ateliers Gohard.

Club Silencio, 142 Rue de Montmartre, Paris

Alright, after I win the lottery, which bar should we hit first?

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Ikat on Walls +

2012-01-09T10:31:00.007-05:00

With the increasing Moroccan influence in the design world, we've seen lots of Ikat and Suzani accessories and even painted floors. What we haven't often seen is Ikat on the walls... until now. The latest issue of Veranda offers several charming examples.

The Ikat pattern on the walls here were actually hand-painted by the uber talented artist, Nicola Vigini, to resemble Ikat fabric. What a great idea! For those of us who are not quite that talented, consider stenciling instead. With the added bonus of choosing your own colors, not to mention being able to paint right over it down the road instead of removing the wallpaper (ugh... not a fun experience), the possibilities are endless. Check out these great Ikat/Suzani/Moroccan stencils at Royal Design Studio, Modello Designs, Cutting Edge Stencils and the Etsy shop, Olive Leaf Stencils.

(OK- I love that chandelier!)

For this wall below, here with fabric providing the Ikat design, it could easily be done with a stencil.

Melanie Royals, at Royal Design Studio and Modello Designs, has been doing the Moroccan/Suzani style for more than a few years now and offers some fabulous inspirations at her blog, Design Amour. Here she showcases her stencil line in a tent pavilion entirely covered with the various patterns.

Melanie has made four trips with students to Peacock Pavilions to hand stencil the floors and ceilings of this amazing inn in Morocco, run by Maryam and Chris. Some of the projects follow...

Design stenciled on canvas which then gets hung on the wall.

What say you? Are you a lover of Moroccan design?

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Cheers to Color

2012-01-08T12:33:00.000-05:00

I could use a bit of color right about now.

Here's to the use of color in 2012!

The Open Window by Pierre Bonnard

Oil on canvas 1921

No one does it better than Pierre Bonnard and his striking use of color. The Open Window was painted in Vernon, a charming town in northern France located on the banks of the Seine River.

Are you partial to color or sticking with the whites and greys of the past few years?

Italian Accent

2012-01-07T09:02:00.003-05:00

On my first visit to Italy, we were invited to stay with friends who had rented a large villa and invited their friends and family to join them. We decided to take them up on their offer, totally unaware that there was anything unusual about the home we were going to visit.

We walked through the doors, already in awe from the drive up to the villa from the street, past gently rolling hills and a huge kitchen garden that could provide enough for a restaurant.

My first view inside was of the dining room and living room, which were actually fairly simple in their decor. Then we turned and saw this room. I had no idea what the term trompe l'oeil meant, but soon found out.

Trompe l'oeil (French for 'deceive the eye'): visual deception, especially in paintings, in which objects are rendered in extremely fine detail emphasizing the illusion of tactile and spatial qualities.*

Or, an art technique dating back at least two thousand years, involving extremely realistic imagery in order to create the optical illusion that the depicted objects appear in three dimensions.*

The sixteen foot walls were painted on directly, but the doors' grottesca painting was done on canvas which was then glued to the doors.

While the trompe l'oeil was not museum quality, it was utterly charming and awe-inspiring. I spent quite a while every day just gazing at all the scenes on the walls.

It was hard to leave the gorgeous Umbrian Villa Schifanoia.

[9,10]

Artistic Decay

2012-01-06T13:39:00.001-05:00

And not quite the kind you would probably expect here.

Other than a few inches of snow, we have had the most mild winter I can remember. Today is like the first day of spring, with temperatures in the high forties, blue skies and brilliant sunshine. (I could get used to this.)

On a recent walk in the local park, we encountered a fair number of fallen trees which offer many opportunities for life to continue.

The textures alone are amazing.

Just think of the hiding places these fungi offer for those tiny critters we never even see.

Once again we are humbled by Mother Nature.