For Your Dining Pleasure: Dinner Party Ideas

With May through to August graduations, weddings, and festivities comes the celebratory ritual of culinary and social interaction and entertaining, and with that the need for dinner party ideas.

Bob Ryan is a larger-than-life fictional character from the classic HBO series Entourage.  

Portrayed by the late Martin Landau, Bob Ryan is a lovely idea of a man.

Martin Landau as Bob Ryan

He is well spoken in the language of ramble, but what he has to say is about the art of dining is worth a listen.

Bob will have no part of stressful topics being discussed before, during, or after dining.

Ambiance is key in the art and aid of proper digestion, a priority high on his list of dinner party ideas.

top hat owl

Bob Ryan reasons that proper digestion is an important part of the dining experience.

Fictional or real, the wise old owl has got a point.

What if I was to tell you a rich cup of  Louisiana coffee or tea, fine wine, accent lighting and great music is Bob Ryan 101 at Casa Places In The Home.

In the immortal words of Bob Ryan, “Is that something you might be interested in?”

menu-dinner

From menu to music to the personalities of the diners, you’ve got to put some thought into it.

Much like the perfect wine pairing, getting it right enhances the flavor of the event.

Rose wines

I don’t believe it is terminal if the music or the wine selection doesn’t perfectly fit with a course, but it can feel like there’s been a death when we’re paired with bad dinner guests.

Ther is an art to accomplishing that particular pairing- a social sommelier, if you will.

In case of social emergency, make sure the wine is flowing and hope the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Jump-Paris-1965

Melvin Sokolsky ~ Jump, Paris, 1965

If the quickest way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, music is the shortest route to their soul.

A casual meal goes well with the greatest hits of whatever decade you have the fondest memories from.

A romantic meal naturally slows down the pace of life, speeds up the pace of the heart, and goes well with a smooth groove.

romantic-table-setting

Pinterest

Music makes the mood, and no respectable formal dinner party is complete without the music.

What?

Your crowd doesn’t have an Appetite for Destruction?

There’s a lot to be said for the advice offered up from a fictional character in a cable series.

Palatable peace existing in perfect harmony in the name of digestion is at the top of my dinner party ideas list.

And yes, Bob, that is something I am very interested in.

Darleen-signature-love

Show & Tell

Green Pea And Pearl Onion Pancakes

One good thing about living in Louisiana is the abundant number of festivals and celebrations on any given weekend.

Hello, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest and Saints football season!

Laissez les bon temps rouler

We are proud of our standing as the Festival Capital of America.

Believing there is as much life in the pre and post party as there is in the actual party itself gets our Laissez les bon temps rouler way of life rolling!

Celebrating Earth Day fills the Pelican bill as Louisianians appreciate the importance of preserving, sustaining and conserving our natural resources, coastlines, wetlands, forests, wildlife habitats through environmental awareness and action to keep Louisiana beautiful while doing so!

earth-day

I am  peapared for Earth Day by going green, recycling and repurposing left over green peas and pearl onions.

peas-in-shells-in-bowl

 Karolina Kołodziejczak on Unsplash

My I’ve got to try this recipe moment came as soon as I saw the April issue of Epicurious magazine.

The gorgeous peasentation featuring vintage hotel china (love, love, love!) grabbed my attention.

Green Pea and Pearl Onion Pancakes make a deliciously impressive dish.

As a peaperfect pairing accompaniment, I whipped up a peppered sour cream to serve with this c’est si bon dish.

green-pea-pearl-onion-pancake Green Pea and Pearl Onion Pancakes 

Ingredients

8 ounces (1 cup) very young small early peas, drained

½ cup cooked(softened) pearl onions

1 teaspoon coarse Kosher salt

3  large eggs

1 cup low-fat cottage cheese

¼ cup all-purpose flour

2 Tablespoons vegetable oil (for recipe)

vegetable oil (for skillet)

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Here’s What You Do:

Completely drain canned early peas.  Prepare the pearl onions according to package directions.  Puree eggs, cottage cheese, flour, 2 tablespoons oil, and 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt together in food processor until smooth and the thickness of pancake batter.

peas and onions

Pour pureed batter into mixing bowl and stir in drained peas, pearl onions, and a few green onions.

cooking pancakes

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Use a ¼ measuring cup or ice cream scoop to dip pancake batter. Pour batter into skillet, spreading into rounds. Cook pancakes until bubbles form on top.

pea-pearl-onion-pancakes-in-skillet

Turn each pancake, continuing  to cook until golden brown on bottom and edges slightly crisp.  Top with thin sliced green onions and peppered sour cream.

cest-si-bon

Show & Tell

Pfister Faucets: To Protect And Conserve In Sustainable WaterSense Style

Happy Earth Day!  April 22, 1970 was the first Earth Day, and the celebration of the environmental awareness has continued each year since. My darling mother’s father preached water conservation to her from an early age, and that conservation conversation is had on a frequent basis here at Places In The Home.  Also from reading this blog you may know that my favorite travel destination and desert oasis is Las Vegas.  Water conservation is indeed a big concern for Las Vegas, which sits in the middle of the Mojave Desert.  I distinctly remember a conversation I had with an engineer from Las Vegas on a flight out to the desert.  His firm worked on the concept, building, and installation of The Fountains of Bellagio.  He explained to me how the water recycled from a well beneath the property for conservation and earth friendly responsibility.  Kudos, Bellagio!

Bellagio – Las Vegas

As I am considering replacing the not in use at the moment dressing area sink faucet set in the master bathroom, I am taking a few things into consideration.  High on my list is water conservation, savings, reducing energy consumption, and as always- sustainable style.

bath faucet

The Virtue Widespread Bath Faucet from Pfister is the stylish and logical choice, all things better for the environment considered.  With its brushed nickel finish, unique texture and elegant attention to detail, the Virtue Widespread Bath Faucet satisfies my desired function meets form meets style requirement.

 

The Virtue is WaterSense Certified, meaning it meets or exceeds EPA WaterSense Standards, which reduces water consumption by 30% and helps average households save up to $200 in their annual water bill, will satisfy my darling mother’s water conserving requirement. It’s a win-win situation for Earth Day and everyday, baby!

 

Indira™ Kitchen Faucet

The principle of Earth Day and environmental protection is something we strive to practice our daily lives and kitchen and bath decor and fixtures choices.

Kitchen design is only as beautiful as kitchen function.  Meet the Indira kitchen faucet from Pfister- a Pfister faucets focal point. Say that three times.

Indira™ Kitchen Faucet

If the need or decorating desire for a new bath or kitchen faucet is in your home improvement future, take a look at the quality faucets and accessories available from Pfister.

 

 

Show & Tell

My Roots Are Showing

I’ve been told three times this week my roots are showing.

A homemade drain cleaner, a bottle of Clairol, and a lifetime of wisdom put things in check.

Here’s a glimpse into my roots are showing world.

Your roots of the clogged drain kind are showing and the at home solution to the problem-

When we moved into this house three years ago,  right off the bat we had slow to no drainage issues with the bathtub.

The plumbercam scanned the backyard and zeroed  in on the culprit- roots.

Those little darlings continue to deal drainage misery from time to time, this past week being one of those times.

As I contemplated waving the white flag of surrender and once again calling a plumber, a quick Google search resulted in a “recipe” for an inexpensive, kid, environment and pet safe unclogging solution that worked like a charm!

It more than likely did not dissolve the root, but it solved the slow drain issue.

vinegar and baking soda

DIY Drain Unclogging Solution

¼ cup baking soda

1 cup white vinegar

hot water

Shake ¼ cup of baking soda into the clogged drain.  Pour 1 cup of white vinegar over the baking soda in the drain.  Let this combination sit and perform unclogging magic for 15-30 minutes. Pour hot water (be careful not to burn yourself) through the drain for a 1-2 minutes.

 

Clairol hair color

Your roots of the Clairol kind are showing-

Through the beauty of natural sunlight and a mirror it has been brought to my attention my roots of the Clairol kind are showing.

Problem?

What problem?

If  an easy solution of baking soda and vinegar can take care of one root problem, Clairol surely can fix the other.

Remember my advice from a previous post to never miss an opportunity to color your world, especially when your world needs a root touch-up.

hobnail-cake-plate

Your roots of the what makes you, You kind are showing-

I don’t know about the apple falling far from the tree, but I do know the roots of said tree continue to ground me.

They weave their way through the memories deeply rooted in things like the hobnail cake plate bought on a buying trip with my maternal grandmother, the antiques dealer.

This time of year takes my thoughts back to summers spent in East Tennessee with my paternal grandparents.

My grandmother, the consummate baker, was known for her pound cakes.

grandmothers-pound-cake-with-nutmeg-recipe

There’s no denying my family roots are showing when I follow to the letter her handwritten pound cake recipe.

grandmothers-pound-cake-with-nutmeg-1

I know without a shadow of a doubt my roots are showing each and every time the exact life lesson words my parents said to me when I was a kid travel out of my mouth, making a beeline to the ears of my own child.

Who said that?

My roots continue to show when I see my son’s eyes stare back at me in my own reflection in the mirror, and in the conscious decision I make to see only the smiles on the faces of loved ones and old friends rather than the wrinkles, receding hairlines, and extra pounds we face on this side of 50.

Simple products make it easier to alleviate some roots from showing, and wisdom makes it possible and easier to appreciate when the roots that matter most are showing.

Love your style!

Show & Tell

St. Patrick’s Day Decorating With Green

Decorating with green beautifully creates lush and lavish interiors. It’s a classic color that evokes the splendor of the outdoors, four-leaf clovers, St. Patrick’s Day, and the essential recipe for spring.

emerald green

Shades will vary, however, the beauty delivered from decorating with green never wavers.

green crystalPeriod Living

St. Patrick’s Day decor favorites in gorgeous shades of Erin go Bragh green fill the eye with the color of St. Patrick’s Day.

green-kitchen-cabinet-gloss

DecorPad

green panel wallsMy Domaine

brass-washstand-with-marble-sink-tiled-bathroom-ceiling-green-penny-tiles

Studio Mrs

Schumacher-peacock-wallcoveringSchumacher Cascadia Wallcovering in Peacock

Inspiration is everywhere!

green-peacock

Commons Wikimedia

e4c1569067a150118717fd0c86d71f7dPinterest

Color awakens a space, and decorating with green associates the beauty of nature.

traditional-entry-green-door

Houzz

Palette balance lends flow which in turn complements the core elements of design and decor.

794d3800dff67ba6a264c5de8ba73121Live Auctioneers

green-fabric-swatches

Octopus chandelierAdam Wallacavage Lighting

antique rush bottom chairLaurel Home

May what beautifully fills your eye beautifully fill your heart and your home.

green-walls-dining-room

Houzz

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 

Darleen-signature-love

 

Show & Tell

Design Show and Tell

A wonderful opportunity and prospective client may be in my future. It is crazy busy, crazy beautiful at Places In The Home, and I’m loving every minute of it- multitasker extraordinaire that I am.

The world of interior design and home decor is a beautiful place to resource in.

With swatches, fan decks, caffeine  patience, eye drops, and Tylenol keeping me company,  the moodboards and mock-ups featuring dining room tables and chairs are under design and decor construction.

Dave the Builder knows it serious when I break out my readers.

Love the world wide web contacts and convenience, but  computer time wreaks havoc with my eyes!

Anywho, the original concept for this blog remains near and dear to my heart- a design show and tell.

dining room tables and chairs

Be steel my heart!

On trend for 2013 is the mix and match styles of dining room tables and chairs.

I discovered the decorative and design impact of this one afternoon at Hopefully Classic, details here.

This option may not fly with the client(s), but I’m considering  these metal dining chairs from Masins Furniture Classics Metal Collection.

Masins Furniture metal chair

I have a vintage china cabinet with double arch pediment in storage that is a candidate for an update in the style of this Thomas bookcase in dark grey with antique pearl grey inside from Blanc d’Ivoire.

gray bookcase

The beautiful thing about sourcing for potential projects is I never get bored with it,  regardless of the outcome.

Keep plugging, keep sourcing, keep stylish, and keep beautiful- the mix and match of life and design.

I’ll share more later of this design show and tell project.

Show & Tell

From Prefab to Post Fab: Customizing Bookcases Part 2

Prefab to post fab customizing bookcases enhancements for that custom built-in look as promised.

Yes, decoristas, you too can build, design and style a better mousetrap (bookcase).

Customizing a bookcase with moldings, panelings, trims and embellishments takes an average, plain and otherwise boring bookcase from prefab drab to post style fab.

decorative molding

Crown and trim moldings easily punctuate the custom look.

Most basic prefab 5-shelf bookcases are approximately 6′ tall, but not all ceiling heights are created equal.

Decorative furniture feet will take the bookcase to new heights.

furniture feetWaddell Bun Foot ||  Square Bun Foot   || Pumpkin Bun Pine Foot

The custom look is enhanced by adding for example by updating the back of the bookcase.

Beadboard paneling or beadboard pattern wallpaper take the look from common to custom.

beadboard

The art of customizing bookcases is further enhanced by adding ornamental appliques and onlays.

appliques-onlays

Ornamental appliques and onlays applied to the front, side or back panels take the ordinary to the extraordinary.

appliques-moldings

Molding Installation and Applique and Onlay Application Recap:

The bookcase has an assembled height of 71.25 inches.

Decorative molding will have to be cut as it is usually sold in 8 ft lengths.

Measure the selected area of the bookcase where the molding will be placed.

Keep things as simple as you can by marking the area on the molding to be cut with a pencil.

Carefully make the cuts on the molding using a miter saw.

Sand each finished cut with sand paper to smooth edges.

For Top Crown:

Nail the crown molding into place at  the top and sides of the unit.

Fill the gaps with caulk and allow to dry for approximately 30 minutes before paint application.

For Appliques and Onlays:

Determine desired placement of applique or onlay.

Apply small beads of Liquid Nails Paneling and Molding Construction Adhesive or a preferred wood glue to the applique or onlay and put in place.

Small bead applications of adhesive or glue will help to prevent it from running out from under the sides when pressure is applied.

Apply pressure for a few minutes to ensure tight adhering.

dining-chair-pullArmac Martin

Decorative furniture hardware remains one of the most inexpensive and dramatic accent updates known to decoristas.

Inspiring design features are ripe for replication.

A strategically placed decorative pull(s) or door knocker on a front trim, side or back panel takes the piece to custom built-in statement piece status.

cabinet-ring-pulls

We’ll look at how to go from prefab drab to post style fab by creating polished style in the stacks in part 3 appropriately titled From Prefab to Post Fab: Customizing Prefabricated Bookcases Part 3.

 

 

Show & Tell

Wiser Words In The Key Of Style

I like how one word can be associated with many different areas.

Life, fashion, interior design, business, music, and writing all assign a sense of style however, I like to focus on the style of home.

I’m not simply referring to decorating and dinner party ideas, the construction, or architecture of a house.

The decor, personality, hospitality within, graciousness, and how we as hosts handle a less than comfortable situation measures the style of home.

Welcome+Or+Go+Away+Sign+Ornate+Cast+Iron+Front+Door+Plaque

Designers, actors, shop owners, one blogger, one musician and two chefs reveal their sense of style through meaningful words.

Biography

“The oldest form of theater is the dinner table.”

– Michael J. Fox,  actor & author

Elle Decor

“I learned that passion about objects and furnishings makes for fearless decorators—and that if you are comfortable in your home, everyone else will be too.  That sense of authenticity is what gives a home its soul.”

—Courtnay Daniels Haden, interior designer

cell-phone-on-table

“Turn off cell phones!”

—Joan Michaels, interior designer

“A room should start a conversation before people actually start exchanging words.”

– Barry Dixon, interior designer

Food and Wine

“Make a home-cooked meal, even if it’s just a bowl of chili and a salad with garlic bread. There’s nothing better than simple and delicious.”

—Lisa Fine, textile designer

“In case of an entertaining crisis, take a deep breath and ask, ‘What would Auntie Mame do?’ If a guest accidentally breaks something, regardless of value, simply say, ‘Thank you. I’ve been looking for a reason to replace that old thing.'”

—Bryan Batt, actor/shop owner

cashews-out-of-bag

Nuts.com

“When I was in Italy one summer, our hosts served cashews and potato chips in crystal bowls while we sipped Prosecco.  It was a revelation: right-out-of-the-bag snacks become sophisticated when they’re served in a gorgeous dish.”

—Stephanie Ballard

Brass Heart Shape Ink Well & Stand Circa 1900

“Handwritten thank-you notes after being entertained are a must.”

—Grant K. Gibson, interior designer

Apartment Therapy

“You can never have too many white plates, platters, and bowls.”

—Cheryl Katz, interior designer

“I try to greet my friends with a drink in my hand, a warm smile on my face, and great music in the background, because that’s what gets a dinner party off to a fun start.”

–Ina Garten, celebrity chef and author

“In life as in design, it is not perfection you should be after. There’s beauty in the faded and worn, the well loved, and the sentimental…After all, life has seams. Your home should be like a loosely woven fabric of desires, memories, practical, notions, and even compromises.”

–Celerie Kemble, interior designer

rose-tarlow-ad100-2016-portrait

Architectural Digest

“When you’re building a room, you’re building character, and character is the strength and wisdom of a home.”

– Rose Tarlow, interior designer

johnmayerbattlestudies

“You should have a picture of yourself as a kid in your home so that you remember where you came from.”

—John Mayer, musician

daniel-boulud

Digital Food Network

“Kitchens should be designed around what’s truly important—fun, food, and life.”

— Daniel Boulud, chef/restaurateur

charlotte_moss

“There are two things that make a room timeless: a sense of history and a piece of the future.”

— Charlotte Moss, interior designer

Mark Hampton

Architectural Digest – Photo by Carlos Domenech

“Real comfort, visual and physical, is vital to every room.”

—Mark Hampton, interior designer

 

Wise words, a good sense of taste and humor, and impeccable manners are strong anchors in the game of style.

Love your style!

 

Show & Tell