Bubblicious Baubles
Nothing like tile that reminds you of floating bubbles to brighten up your kitchen or dining area. Even if it’s just a backsplash in an otherwise muted kitchen, Alys Edwards’ Bubblicious tile sets the tone for a fun summer gathering.
Sangria, cheese and good friends – what more would you need? Oh right, these fabulous cheese knives!
Source: Cheese display, knives, sangria
1 CommentTesting: Houzz App for iPad
“At your fingertips” has never been more literal or true than with the iPad. From magazines to movies, the iPad has tons of apps for almost every, well, application. Since I’m constantly on the lookout for more home decor inspiration and instruction, I’ve been searching for some fun, functional design apps. Naturally, I go for the free apps first and foremost and stumbled upon the design app by houzz (houzz.com).
The app features articles and profiles on professionals in the design industry, separated by tabs to the left of the screen: Photos, Ideabooks, Profressionals and My Houzz.
The Ideabooks tab is good for information. This is where Houzz’s contributors provide articles and advice on topics ranging from “how to pick the right pattern for your home” to pictures of rooms decorated with a certain color or theme and more.
Found this article on using weave stone tile.
The Photos tab is even cooler – you can pick what you want to see based on category (bathroom, exterior, kids, porch and so on). To take it one step further into sorting things for you, the photo tab also lets you pick by Metro Area so if I wanted to see what people in Nashville are doing with their kitchens, I can. When you pull up the picture it tells you which architect designed it, some with a more detailed description of the renovation or design.
If there’s a certain picture you like, simply tap on “Add to Ideabook” and it’s there, bookmarked in your My Houzz tab. You’re able to create a mood board or inspiration board of your own based on what you see and it’s easily accessible when you’re hit with that “Oh I saw this picture and thought this would be a great idea for my bathroom remodeling” moment. It’s like a magazine clipping without the mess. I think I’m going to be using this app quite a bit!
Visit the iTunes App Store or the App Store on your iPad for the free Houzz app. and get to being inspired!
Leave a commentMay Flower
Hands down, my favorite flower is the peony. The way it smells, the fullness of each bloom and oh yes, they blossom and thrive right in time for my birthday. Its pretty pink color will brighten any room and it always serves as such inspiration for me.
My favorite things, clockwise from top left: Shower curtain, Anthropologie; Mochi ice cream; Zinnia knob, Anthropologie; snail mail; Tabarka, Mission Stone+Tile; Bedding, Anthropologie. Center: The image that inspired all of this, the beautiful peony.
Hope you’re having a happy spring!
Leave a commentAlternative Uses for Tile
Traditionally, tile has been used in kitchens and bathrooms. In more recent years, tile has made its way into backsplashes, countertops, tub enclosures and floors. But now, we’re starting to see designers and individuals get a little more creative with tile.
Here’s a great example of a colorful backsplash for a funky sink. This was featured on Susan Jablon Mosaics website. She’s got some other great examples on her site as well.
I love subway tiles. Subway tiles are 3 X 6-inch rectangular tiles (often ceramic) that are usually arranged in a brick pattern. This type of tile was commonly used in New York subway stations, hence the name.
Here’s a great example of subway tiles being used in a kitchen. This was featured on the Better Homes & Garden’s website.
A good place to use ceramic tiles in an aesthetic sense is the garden. Either with mortar or freestanding, colorful and attractive ceramic tiles make lovely garden fixtures, whether they are used to line the borders of a garden or tile a flowerpot.
Ceramic tiles can be used as coasters in the home. Simply apply a few small circular pads on the bottom of each tile and you have a nice place to set beverages.
I’ve even seen tile being used for pizza stones.
Fire Clay Tile has some really neat examples of these unique uses. Here’s just one of them…a tile being used as a trivet.
Let the Irish Festivities Begin!
Feel like throwing a St. Patrick’s Day soiree? We have provided some food, beverage, and decoration ideas that will make your guests green with envy. Here is everything you may need to host a St. Paddy’s Day celebration, except the pot of gold.
Forego the cheesy St. Patrick’s decorations that you’ve seen in grade school, instead stick with green flowers, green foliage, or my favorite and reusable decoration, limes. Practice your stacking skills by layering up the limes on a white cake platter. (You can use these limes for Coronas or vodka tonics later.) Another attractive table centerpiece would be to take different sized glass cylinders and stack limes half way up from the bottom, then place white flowers or green elephant palm leaves in the vase and fill with water. You can also use the same concept with glass bowls, but instead of flowers use floating candles.
For your table setting, stick with a white table cloth and a green placemat. Roll your white napkin with a smaller green cocktail napkin over it and adorn them with a decorative napkin ring. Keep the plates white and add a pop of green color with a small salad plate or bowl.
Now that you have your chic dinner table, what shall you serve the Leprechauns? How about the traditional Corned Beef & Cabbage! It may be a cliche, but it is so delicious and easy to make, just follow this recipe:
Ingredients
- 3 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet
- 10 small red potatoes
- 5 carrots, peeled and julienned
- 1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges
Directions
- Place corned beef in large pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Add the spice packet that came with the corned beef. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 50 minutes per pound or until tender.
- Add whole potatoes and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender. Add cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove meat and let rest 15 minutes.
- Place vegetables in a bowl and cover. Add as much broth (cooking liquid reserved in the Dutch oven or large pot) as you want. Slice meat across the grain.
Tis’ the season for drinking so don’t let your guests go thirsty! Here are a couple of green cocktail and green beer recipes to keep things festive:
Green Beer: Simply pour a pint of your favorite lager beer and add one drop of green food coloring at a time until you reach your desired shade of green. The only downfall with using green food coloring to make green drinks, is that your mouth often ends up the same shade of shamrock. On the up side, drink a green beer, and no one can give you a St. Patrick’s day pinch for not wearing green.
Emerald Forest Cocktail: Combine 1 and 1/2 oz. of gin, 1/4 oz. of green creme de menthe and 1/4 oz. of white creme de menthe in an ice filled shaker. Shake well and serve this festive St. Patrick’s Day drink in a martini glass.
Now that you have your dinner and drink menu planned, get those invitations out quick! Enjoy a fun-filled and safe St. Patrick’s Day!
2 CommentsGlitterati
In keeping with the sunny, fun yellow stairs Mary Elizabeth shared yesterday, I thought I’d share this flight I’ve seen a couple of places online. It’s an oldie but goodie – mirrored stairs! So festive, not sure how quickly I’d get tired of it but how much fun would that be?
