May 12, 2017
OMMO
Simple, functional pieces that can be easily moved from room to room depending on what I need them for draw me to them like a moth to a flame. When I came across OMMO‘s products, that combine both eastern and western cultures, it was love at first sight. The word OMMO stands for the idea that good design is for everyone, and their collection exemplifies just that.
May 8, 2017
Charcuterie + Crudités + Tappas Boards
Snack-filled meals have long been some of my favorites, back in November I even laid out my dining room with charcuterie, crudités, and tappas for my housewarming party. What I love most about these types of spreads is that there are no real rules, only fast and loose suggestions.
These tappas boards by Samarie Designs would be a beautiful addition to any spread. Printmaker Samarie Higgins teamed up with woodworker Jeremy Happ to create these one-of-a-kind pieces that use sustainable wood. Each one features a swirling work of art that’s sure to complement the food served upon it.
Charcuterie includes mainly meats and cheeses, with some supporting roles thrown in by way of fruits, veggies, nuts, and carbs. It’s definitely an appetizer that’s heavy enough to be considered a light dinner. (A recommended 5 oz. of meat and 2 oz. of cheese per person, if you’re curious.)
+ dry-cured salami, prosciutto, smoky sausage, speck, coppa, chorizo, and sopressata
+ one of each type of cheese: stinky (blue), aged (cheddar, gouda) , soft (double or triple creams), hard (parmesan, manchego), and fresh (ricotta, goat, mozzarella) served at room temperature
+ toast a sliced baguette and/or cut up flatbreads in the oven
+ add small bowls of nuts and dried fruits scattered in between
+ olives, cornichons, and artichoke hearts will elevate your entire board with new textures
+ a few types seasonal fresh fruit, either sliced or in bowls
+ slice the hard cheeses, break up the stinky ones, provide different knives for the soft and fresh
+ add in a grainy mustard, fig jam, and fragrant honey for those who want to get adventurous
Crudités platters are usually full of seasonal vegetables, something pickled, and a few sauces. It’s a versatile appetizer because it can be served cold or hot, depending on the time of year. Separate everything into groups when plating on platters and boards for maximum visual impact.
+ cold, sliced seasonal vegetables– broccolini, cauliflower (white, green, orange and purple), radishes (red, black, watermelon), asparagus, celery, carrots, assorted bell peppers, snap peas, haricot vert, English cucumbers
+ mini skewers with things like mozzarella balls with cherry tomatoes
+ steamed, grilled, or baked vegetables such as corn on the cob, mini potatoes, and edamame
+ something bright and citrusy, like sliced oranges or Meyer lemons
+ two to three sauces for dipping
+ hollow out a few small heads of cabbage and fill them with thicker sauces for serving
+ a fancy salt, like pink Himalayan
May 3, 2017
Block Shop Table Linens
You may be familiar with Block Shop‘s traditional Indian hand block printed scarves, but did you know they recently released a line of table linens? Because they did and they’re ideal for summer entertaining. The easy California vibe of each scarf carries over effortlessly to table runners and napkins, furthering sisters Lily and Hopie’s mission to make heirloom textiles with a high social benefit and low environmental impact.
April 10, 2017
Purpur
I love ritual, and Purpur looks like it would lend itself to such things instantly. Roxanne Flick‘s conceptual graduation project to create a tea set inspired by the beauty of nature and art is stunning. Using the form and behavior of the flamingo, Flick designed a kettle, teacups, and sugar and cream bowls made from porcelain, oak saucers and an oak, glass, and granite table.
April 4, 2017
Let’s Talk Pantries + Organizational Tips
In my dream home I have an entire room as a pantry, a la Martha. But in the real world it’s about working with what you’ve got – whether that be a closet you can convert, a corner to build out, or a few existing cabinets that need to do all the heavy lifting. Or you can get creative, make it an entire wall of open shelving or a free-standing piece of furniture. Whatever the case, we all know food storage in the kitchen is a necessity, read on for some organizational tips and inspiration!
Keys to a keeping a super functional pantry:
1. Go through and clean it out regularly.
2. Use it for more than just food – serving pieces, cookbooks – if you have the space.
3. Have everything visible, or as much as possible. Risers work great!
4. Group like with like (cans, baking ingredients, etc).
5. Place the things you use most often at arm’s reach.
6. Think vertically as well as horizontally, store cookie sheets and serving trays upright.
7. Set shelves at different heights to use your space best.
8. Bring in baskets to collect dish towels and more.
9. Use glass containers to store dry goods, they’ll stay fresh longer and you’ll always know how much you have.
10. Take advantage of the inside of the door as well, it’s a great place to keep spices and food storage supplies.
via Trendland
via Decor Pad
March 29, 2017
Shapes Mugs
My morning coffee is the reason I get out of bed. Each day I look forward to the ritual involved, while the coffee is brewing I choose my mug – I purged them last year, so every one is a favorite. AANDERSSON‘s porcelain Shapes Mugs would make for an easy addition with their geometric handles and smooth finishes.
March 28, 2017
Canon Wine Tilt
Canon Wine Tilt takes any table or countertop to the next level. Crafted in 3D printed porcelain, Canon is designed to hold most standard wine bottles. The cylinder tilts the bottle at a 45-degree angle and can function as either storage or to provide greater aeration for an already open bottle. At the base, its horizontal tunnel holds a standard corkscrew and is the perfect hiding place for a cork and foil, to keep the table tidy.
March 24, 2017
Nordic Kitchen
If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you likely own a very heavy cast iron pan. Eva Solo‘s Nordic Kitchen line reinvents the classic – and then some – by starting with an aluminum and using the cast iron as a finish. A special four layer coating gives each pot and pan a surface that doesn’t require a lot of fat when cooking and that’s easy to clean, and and oak handle adds a touch of Scandinavian design. Use them on all heat surfaces, including induction, then throw them in the dishwasher to clean. The collection includes various sizes of pots, frying pans, a saucepan, a sauté pan, and a grill frying pan, as well as a beech wood knife stand, black mixing bowls, and oak and leather cutting boards.
March 7, 2017
Coil + Drift
Brooklyn-based Coil + Drift was founded in 2014 by John Sorensen-Jolink, an acclaimed modern dancer-turned-designer. The studio creates contemporary furniture, lighting, and accessories with a focus on form, sustainability, and function. Sorensen-Jolink taught himself how to design in an attempt to further understand space and the objects within them. I’m looking forward to keeping an eye on what is for sure an up and coming brand!
