It’s Time For A New Dining Room Paint Color

A tedious decor project I’ve been working on collided head on with my consulting duties last week.

My schedule got crazy busy and caused a delay in my posting.

Taking a break from the monotony of term sheets and contracts, I shifted my attention to an at home project long overdue.

It’s time to choose a new dining room paint color.

It’s no secret how much I love Sherwin-Williams Fired Brick, but with the lack of natural light in the dining room it is proving to be on the dark side.

The lighting of a space (or lack thereof) is a crucial factor to consider in the selection of paint colors.

Sherwin Williams Fired Brick

I’m heading in the direction of a barely there classic color palette that will:

  •  frame the flow of  bookend color from foyer to butler pantry
  • bring the French inspired ooh la la factor to the space
  •  allow a better showcase for the existing light fixtures

Valspar Mesa Sand

The color choice needs to complement the new kitchen paint color, Curio Gray.

Considering the foyer wallpaper, drapes, and dark finish of the living room suite (not my fav, but it keeps the peace), I’m leaning towards the pink/red family of colors- one with a whisper, a scant hint of pink with a café au lait base.

When done right, pink defies the connotation of  frill and femininity so closely associated with the color.

Achieving light, tone, and shade synergy is the trick.

First up is Valspar Mesa Sand.

dining room paint color

Paint color samples can fool the eye.

I highly suggest purchasing a sample container of the color(s) you are considering and trying it out on the wall.

Paint a large enough area of the wall and let the paint completely dry in order to get a good and proper color read.

Mesa Sand sample

Well that’s a big no go on the Mesa Sand!

What a paint color sample looks like on a chart or in a can is very different from what it will actually look like on the wall.

Mesa Sand looks to be the perfect shade of  brownish pink in the first image, a peachy salmon with a brown base in the paint sample image, and a flat beige on the wall.

On to the next choice.

Farrow and Ball Setting Plaster

Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster is working for me.

The sample is en route and my fingers are crossed.

crystal chandelier

What project Dave the Builder will be tackling on his summer vacation is no longer a mystery.

I’ll show you what else I have in mind later in the week.

Think light fixture.

 

 

Show & Tell

Peaches on Parade: Recipes Featuring Fresh Peaches

Recipes featuring fresh peaches shine in the summer fruit spotlight this time of year.

PeachesEat This Lafayette

The peach is the summer star of the recipes featuring fresh peaches right from the farm show.

My mother and grandmother used to haul our peach picking fannies to a local peach orchard to pick basket after basket of Louisiana peaches.

peaches-in-baskets

Peaches found on the ground were free for the picking up, and we came peach eating prepared with small plastic margarine containers full of Louisiana pure cane sugar.

Good and tasty times!

The peach is so well loved we celebrate it in Louisiana festival glory.  The Louisiana Peach Festival celebrates the summer crop, growers and deliciousness that is Ruston peaches.

2011-poster-smallLouisiana Peach Festival

Long days and warm afternoons can zap the desire to prepare lunch or dinner right out of you.

When my summer got up and go would rather be my summer got up and went anywhere but the kitchen, I refer to a tried and true formula for summer culinary burnout.

keep it summer simple

KISS- keep it summer simple!

Serving summer cold salads, small side sandwiches, and fresh seasonal fruits is the way to go.

biscuit bacon lettuce tomato sandwich

Last week I hit the fresh fruit jackpot with cantaloupes and two Louisiana grown favorites, Sugartown watermelon and fresh Ruston peaches.

The peach is the star of these keep it summer simple recipes that deliver big flavor.

Melon and Peach Salad with Bacon and Peach Mayonnaise

Ingredients

watermelon

1 cantaloupe

2 peaches, peeled and sliced

½ teaspoon coarse Kosher salt

¼ teaspoon fine black pepper

2 Tablespoons honey

½ cup peach puree (recipe below)

6 slices of cooked bacon; crumbled

peach mayonnaise (recipe below)

Peach Puree

2 peaches,  peeled and sliced

1 teaspoon  honey

Peach Mayonnaise

½ cup peach puree

1  cup mayonnaise

1 ½ Tablespoon deli mustard

1 ½ Tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon sugar

Directions

Cut watermelon and cantaloupe  in half removing seeds. Using a melon baller, scoop out melon balls and place in medium serving bowl.  Peel and slice peaches and add to melon balls. Refrigerate  fruit until chilled, approximately 30 minutes.

fruit-salad-mix-kosher-salt

Add honey, salt, pepper, and peach puree to melon and peach mixture, gently tossing to coat.

Dish onto chilled salad plate or bowl, top with crumbled bacon and peach mayonnaise.  Serves 4.

fruit-salad-with-peach-mayo-dressing

Peach Puree

Peel and slice peaches and place in food processor. Drizzle honey over peaches. Process until smooth.

recipes featuring fresh peaches

Peach Mayonnaise

In medium mixing bowl, stir together mayonnaise, sugar, honey, deli mustard, and peach puree.

peach-mayo-ingredients

Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

peach puree

Biscuit BLTs with Peach Mayonnaise

Ingredients

1 lb. bacon, cooked and drained

2 large tomatoes, sliced

1 package butter lettuce

peach mayonnaise

1 package frozen biscuits

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil turning up edges. Lay the bacon strips out flat on the baking sheet. Bake in oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until done to your liking.

oven fried bacon

Prepare biscuits according to package instructions.

biscuits

Split each biscuit.

Layer with bacon, butter lettuce, sliced tomato, and peach mayonnaise.

bacon lettuce tomato on a biscuit

enjoy

Show & Tell

Travel Times: Summer Vacation Memories

Deep in the soul of summer travel times with family and friends lurks the shadows of summer vacation memories.

A rise in temperatures signaled the rise in my travel anticipation, even if our holiday road only lead to a local pool, creek, or lake.

summer vacation memories at the lakePinterest

“Summer will end soon enough, and childhood as well.”

– George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones

Hancock Springs poolThe Road Trip Destination Guide

For those times when the holiday road lead to East Tennessee or anywhere in the great state of Texas the party was on!

Summer, family reunions, cousins, and swimming pools go naturally together.

Lampasas, Texas set the scene for our annual summer family reunion. While the parents, grandparents, aunt, and uncles told tall tales, prepared epic picnic fare, and played 42,  my cousins and I clocked hours in the Hancock Springs Pool.

I’m not sure,  but I believe my love and fascination with swimming pools began there and then.

Everything is bigger in Texas, especially the memories!

Great Smoky Mountains National ParkThe Great Smokies

Gatlinburg, Tennessee and the  Great Smoky Mountains National Park will forever be considered my home away from home.

Every summer of my childhood my parents, brother, and I made our annual trek to East Tennessee.  It’s a travel tradition that has carried through to my family.

Memories from the past blend in with new memories we are making. I like a little past served with the present, and summer vacations tend to deliver on that front.

Remember these?

aluminum tumblersLeaf tv

A picnic in the Smokies is a must do for our gang of merry travelers.

As much as convenience tempts me, Solo cups need not apply.

I pack a mean vintage picnic basket complete with aluminum tumblers circa 19ihavenoidea.

Ever the colorista, these darlings make a summer tablescape pop with their blast from the past retro fashion colors.

Holiday Inn signFast Company

Dave the Builder and I were both raised in the era of larger than life hotel and motel swimming pools.

How many of you were too?

Big haul road trips came with the extra added bonus of at least one overnight stay in a hotel or motel.

The mid trip overnighter existed in order to break the “are we there yet?” monotony.

This is where things had the power to get summer splash zone interesting.

The first indication of how good or how bad things were to come was based on the size, style, and neon quotient of the hotel or motel sign.

Didn’t your heart drop at first glimpse of a beloved Holiday Inn sign?

The parents may have measured the quality of the overnight accommodations by the luxury offerings, but the kids knew what really mattered- the swimming pool.

In order for a property to receive the kid approved five star rating there better be a whole lotta pool time on the schedule.

Twin Islands Best WesternGatlinburg, Tennessee

I guess the more things change the more they stay the same.

We’ve clocked many sun screened soaked hours at many a swimming pool with our son.

Whenever I see the swimming pool in the image above my mind and heart immediately take me back to a late July afternoon twelve years ago when our son learned to swim.

It’s those kind of summer vacation memories that become the priceless souvenirs of a lifetime.  

Where will you be making summer vacation memories this year?

Show & Tell

Adventures In Decorating Rental Property

During a recent all in the family design consultation the question how would mom approach decorating rental property was asked and answered.

arches at LSU campus

Flickr

Our son is on the move once again in the pursuit of higher education and stylish digs, and thus begins our adventures in decorating rental property.

He has clear and concise idea of what he wants on the education front, but questions his decorative decisions on the latter.

LSU-sticker

I’m considering replacing my LSU Mom bumper sticker with a custom sticker stating “My son and my money and my furniture, home furnishings, and home decor accessories go to LSU.”

LSU mom

It’s important when decorating rental property to be fully aware of the rules and limitations regarding changes to the existing decor, but to also keep a personal stamp of style in mind.

Color does just that.

The color palette I’m suggesting consists of his all time favorite colors.

It’s been established the living area and kitchen colors will remain as is for the following two reasons:

A neutral color palette in a common area works to your advantage.

gray paint colors BHG photo by Marty Baldwin

Better Homes & Gardens – Photo by Marty Baldwin

Neutral colors are wildly popular because most everyone lives well with them.

With that in mind, it’s a safe assumption a neutral color palette in shared areas will reduce the risk of conflicting tastes with the roommate.

Your security deposit dollars and post graduation time schedule thank you in advance for your consideration.

Introduce color through accent pieces and home decor accessories.

It’s much easier to add and subtract on a smaller scale than to go big or repaint at this stage of the college housing game.

nautical color palette

The decorative emphasis is on the bedroom.

The floor plan offers enough space and full walls for better furniture placement.

Windows are great, but can wreak havoc with furniture placement.

Thankfully, this will not present a problem.

Storage and a sufficient work area remain big considerations in the overall plan.

bedroom floor plan

Let me share with you a renter/lessee tip.

Before painting the interior or exterior of a property, obtain written permission from the landlord or property management firm.

With written permission from the property management firm giving the okay to paint firmly in place, we’ve reached a color compromise of sorts.

 

We both agree the 14′ X 13′ bedroom is better equipped to do a core color decorative justice as a focal point color.

Enter the accent wall.

red-accent-wall-SITC

“I Heart NY” is one of my favorite Sex In The City episodes.

Moon River.

A red accent wall.

The charismatic Chris Noth as Mr. Big.

That one red wall is captivating!

Other than my gush, our son has no point of reference.

Unfortunately, Dave the Builder does due to the years of overexposure to my obsession.

Dave suggested the above image for visual reference.

The decision has been made and we have a winner.

sw-hyper-blue

Sherwin-Williams Hyper Blue SW 6965  is the one color he is set on.

Dave the Builder insists on making a custom upholstered headboard.

It’s a practical and affordable way to bring more color into the space and to create a striking look.

One sheet of plywood, a jigsaw, upholstery foam, batting, upholstery fabric, and a staple gun will get the DIY job done.

For the next two months one thing is for sure- college decorating days are here again.

This is a refresher course for me in the ABC’s of decorating rental property, an all in the family affair, and I’m loving every stylish minute of it!

 

 

Show & Tell

18 Easy & Elegant DIY Chandelier Ideas

I received the nicest email late last week. They’re the best kind, don’t you think?  My bird feeder chandelier project recently posted on Hometalk opened the door to me being asked if I would like to curate a  DIY Chandelier Ideas clipboard on Hometalk’s Facebook page.  Being a person who loves any opportunity to show, tell, and talk all things house that make a home, I could not hit the send button fast enough to the gracious folks at Hometalk with my answer- a  huge home talking yes!  Hometalk is a community for those who love to create, share, and help with everything home and garden. Ideas and inspiration abound within this wonderful community!

DIY chandelier ideas

DIY talent runs deep throughout the blogosphere. I am constantly amazed and impressed by DIY projects born out of ideas, eyedeas, and the spark of inspiration that fuels the desire to create and replicate.

Dixie Delights via DIY Chandelier Ideas Board on Hometalk

From repurposed beauties to reinterpreted garden genius, these and countless other inspiring  DIY Chandelier Ideas are hanging around Hometalk for your viewing pleasure.

Anythingology via  DIY Chandelier Ideas Board on Hometalk

These are just a select few of the range of tastes, styles, and examples of DIY chandelier ideas to inspire. Want to see more? Click on any image in this post to view my entire Hometalk DIY Chandelier Ideas clipboard. It’s full of good ideas, great looks, step-by-step DIY how-to tutorials, and talent galore!  Inspiration awaits.

Deja Vue Designs via  DIY Chandelier Ideas Board on Hometalk

Show & Tell

Tea It Up! Arnold Palmer Granita

Thumbing through a throwback issue of Garden & Gun magazine I stumbled upon this recipe for a fantastic take on a traditional Arnold Palmer.

GG-magazine-cover

Andrea Litvin, former pastry chef at the now closed The Spence in Atlanta, Georgia offered this recipe for her Arnold Palmer Granita – an icy slush of sorts steeped in sweet tea and fresh lemon.

fresh-lemon-sliced

Served either as a stand alone beverage or dessert with a twist, this Arnold Palmer Granita will impress.

Buford-Long-Golf-Tournament-Las-Vegas-Hilton-Tournament

My darling Daddy was an avid golfer who appreciated the game and the greats who “mastered” the green.  The throwback photo within the photo is of my Dad playing in the Las Vegas Hilton Buford Long Golf Tournament.  What better way to watch the opening day of The Masters than to tea it up with great memories and a round of Arnold Palmer Granitas.

Men-in-Green

nicklaus-palmer-masters

Jack Nicklaus ~ Arnold Palmer 

Arnold Palmer Granita

Ingredients

2/3  cup sugar

2 ½  cups water

2  black tea bags, preferably English breakfast or other good-quality tea

2  lemons, zest; then halve and juice

Directions

Bring sugar and water to a boil. Add tea bags and steep for five minutes. After steeping the tea bags, add lemon juice and zest.  Cool to room temperature.  Pour liquid into an 8-by-8 inch baking dish (any shallow, freezer-proof dish will do); cover with plastic wrap and freeze.

sweet tea with lemon zest

After an hour, run a fork through the mixture to break up any large pieces of ice; return to the freezer.  Repeat every 15 to 20 minutes until the consistency is fluffy and no large ice crystals remain, about two or three more times.

frozen-granita-1

Scoop into glasses and serve.

arnold palmer granita

Granita may be made ahead and stored in a plastic-covered container in the freezer for up to three days.  Fluff with a fork before serving.

Masters-Tournament-Logo

Speaking of tradition, do you know what goes good with an Arnold Palmer Granita?

A pimento cheese sandwich.

Pimento cheese is right up there with fried chicken and shrimp grits in the Southern food hall of fame.  Pimento cheese is part spread, part relish, all Southern delicious- a staple of cocktail hour, bridal showers, ladies who lunch luncheons, and a favorite sandwich choice at Augusta National.

pimento-cheese-sandwich

Recipes for pimento cheese vary from Southern kitchen to Southern kitchen, but my taste buds have yet to meet a recipe for pimento cheese that they do not like. The pimento cheese sandwich takes its rightful place in Southern culinary traditions every April at the Masters Golf Tournament.  For $1.50 you can treat yourself to a taste of tradition.  For slightly more cheddar, you can whip up a batch of the good stuff at home from the book Par 3 Tea-Time at the Masters by the Junior League of Augusta, Georgia.

Pimento Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients

3 cups shredded white cheddar cheese

2 cups shredded yellow sharp cheddar cheese

4 oz crumbled blue cheese

1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1 (4-oz) jar sliced pimentos, drained

1 cup light mayonnaise

2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 loaf of white bread

Directions

Combine cheeses, pimentos, mayonnaise and Dijon mustard in a food processor and process until smooth.  Cover and refrigerate until chilled.  Spread on bread slices.  Makes four sandwiches.

enjoy

Show & Tell

Herbes de Provence

Browsing the aisles of Marshalls last week in search of home décor this and that my eyes zeroed in on a striking bottle of  Herbes de Provence.

Herbes de Provence have captured my culinary attention for awhile, but the actual investigation of these Mediterranean herbs coming together to create an aromatic and delicious addition to meat, fish, pasta, and vegetable dishes is a recent discovery.

herbes-de-provence (1)

The aroma is a combination of sweet and bold, and the combination of dried savory, oregano, thyme, marjoram, basil,  rosemary and the herb de résistance, lavender, is gorgeously delicious.

lavender

edible-lavender

Organic food grade lavender is a premium ingredient of higher quality used for cooking and baking purposes.

Herbes de Provence

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons dried savory

2 Tablespoons dried oregano

2 Tablespoons dried thyme

2 Tablespoons dried marjoram

2 Tablespoons dried basil

2 Tablespoons dried rosemary, crushed

2 Tablespoons dried lavender, crushed

Directions

Mix all ingredients together. Place in airtight container for storage.

seasoned-red-potatoes-herbes-de-provence-recipe

This recipe to test the taste proved to be the perfect choice to showcase the marriage of sweet and bold.

This rather simple blend of herbs comes together in pungent and fragrant aromatic harmony making the entire house smell absolutely fantastic while it is cooking.

Herbes de Provence Pot Roast with Vegetables

Ingredients

3 lb.  beef roast

8  red potatoes, gently washed and halved

1 package baby carrots

1 cup beef broth

½ cup dry white wine

1 stick butter, cut into tablespoon pieces

2 Tablespoons Herbes de Provence

1 teaspoon Kosher coarse salt

1 teaspoon fine black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Place beef roast in roaster pan, layering  potatoes and carrots on sides of roast.

Sprinkle vegetables with Herbs de Provence. Season roast with coarse salt and fine black pepper.

Pour beef broth and white wine into roaster. Top red potatoes and baby carrots with butter pieces.

Cover with lid and place in oven. Bake for 3 hours or until tender.

seasoned-roast-new-potatoes-carrots

 

enjoy

 

 

 

Show & Tell