Design Advice: Mirror, Mirror

Amazing countertops? You've got them.
Awesome cabinetry color? Love at first sight.
Knobs and pulls? Stunning.
The perfect backsplash to tie it all together? You're stumped.

Finding the perfect kitchen backsplash can make or break your perfect kitchen design or remodel, and this anxiety inducing detail is completely justified. If there is too much grout and you risk holding onto grease splatters for a decade! Too colorful or trendy and you might end up hating it in 2 years! Too neutral and you wish for more personality! What's a savvy homeowner to do?!

My favorite classic, icy white subway tile is often a great choice when this dilemma arises, but not always the client's cup of tea. With so many amazing tile trends, finding "the one" isn't getting any easier.  Luckily, I have one go-to that I can almost guarantee won't end up in divorce. Mirrors -- with finishes like antiqued, distressed, pewter and rippled -- in shapes like beveled subway, disco mosaic, clean lines or large sheets are versatile, chic and cost effective! This material is also a great solution when trying to  make a small kitchen look bigger or a dark kitchen seem brighter. Check out a few of my favorites below.

Happy Weekend!

In the past 4 weeks, I have been ushered into my "late twenties", reconnected with old friends, lost inspiration, found inspiration, learned the importance of a morning beach run, wrangled in my ongoing design projects, indulged in too much champagne, AND officially registered my own LLC. 

What will this awesome business be, you ask? You will have to wait to find out. What I CAN tell you is that it is my personal mission to make good design accessible to the new generation of smart, economically savvy homeowners and renters --- and maybe, just maybe it will catch on. 

Stay tuned for updates and enjoy the long Memorial Day Weekend! 

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My Style: All Black Everything

I LOVE black. Love love love. I remember when I was gallivanting around in brightest candy colors back in my college days but insistently telling one of my BFFs that SOMEDAY I would have an all black closet and buckets of the most colorful accessories I could afford. Then I moved to Chicago and that's exactly what I got!

My perfect closet looks a little something like the collection below with a few flourishes of gold and red. Moving to California changed this a bit as my current closet has a bit more color. But as I consider a little (huge) hair color change up, it looks like my all black items will be making a comeback!

PS- How killer is that Quilted Balmain Blazer?

Pumps // Jeans // Perfume // Bra // Purse // Blazer // Necklace // Lipstick 

My Style: Etsy Beach Day

I got lost on Etsy (again) today while wishing for slightly warmer beach weather. 2 hours later, I decided that I should probably put my "hard work" to good use and create a post...which resulted in 2 more hours of window shopping and 3 purchases. Success!

Kiki & Polly Watercolor // Beach Tote // Turkish Towel // Sunnies // Retro Suit // Hip Flask 

Design Advice: Fabulous Fireplaces

Searching for the perfect fireplace for my parent's new home has me lusting for a fireplace of my own. Sure, it's not really practical in Southern California. But you an bet if I DID have one, it would likely be a black lacquered version of the first picture below. *drool*

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Eat + Drink: Roasted Cauliflower & Herbed Quinoa Salad

I told myself this would not become a food blog. Problem is that my life is now run by this gluten, soy, sugar, dairy free elimination diet, and this foodie needs an outlet! And what better place to share than this design blog? 

Since you can be sure that I won't be canceling my 6 year subscription to Bon Appetit, I am gladly accepting the challenge of adapting some of my magazine favorites. Adapted from the March 2013 Bon Appetit, I made a gluten free, dairy free version of the Warm Cauliflower and Herbed Barley Salad with farmers market ingredients that had to be shared. This would also be the perfect dish to take to potlucks, dinner parties, etc because it's simple, flavorful and no one would know it's elimination diet approved.  Instead of suffering (as is normally the polite thing to do), I'm bringing this dish instead. 

Roasted Cauliflower and Herbed Quinoa Salad

• 1/2 - 1 c Quinoa
• Lemon Zest
• Juice of 1 Lemon
• 1 T Dijon Mustard
• 6 T Olive Oil
• 1 Head of Cauliflower, cut into small florets
• 1 15 oz can of white beans (Cannelli, Gigante, Butter Beans), drained and rinsed
• 1/2 c Flat Leaf Parsley
• 2 T Fresh Tarragon Leaves
• Salt & Pepper

Preheat oven to 425. Toss cauliflower with 1-2 T of olive oil and place cauliflower on baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and papper and roast for 12-20 minutes. Time will depend upon how charred you like your cauliflower and how small or large you like the florets. (The smaller and more charred the better imo)

Cook the quinoa according to package instructions. 

Whisk mustard, lemon juice and tarragon in a small bowl. Slowly add remaining olive oil while whisking to emulsify. Add salt and pepper to taste. 

Transfer cauliflower, quinoa and beans to a large bowl. Add parsley, remaining tarragon and 1/2 of the   mustard dressing. Toss to coat. Divide among bowls and drizzle remaining dressing. Garnish with lemon zest, parsley, tarragon and a fresh grind of pepper. 

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