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!

 

 

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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

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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

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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

 

 

 

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Summer Outdoor Entertaining Tips 2

It’s that time of year again to get the party started with summer outdoor entertaining tips 2.

Outdoor spaces of oasis dressed out for backyard grilling and chilling take center stage this time of year.

vintage backyard bbq

Here’s a few outdoor entertaining tips for getting the summer essentials prepped and ready to go.

summer entertaining tips

Butcher Blocks and Cutting Boards

To deter bacteria from finding a home in the cracks and on the cutting surface, wash the block or board with mild dishwashing detergent and warm water.

Allow the butcher block or cutting board to completely dry.

Cover the butcher block or cutting board with a thin layer of coarse salt to draw residual moisture out of the cracks.

Wipe of excess coarse salt and use a clean cloth to apply mineral oil, rubbing with the grain.

Let dry overnight.

grain prep board

Searching for an easy and inexpensive grill degreaser?

Try baking soda and a steel wool pad.

Apply elbow grease and voilà!

Keeping Outdoor Cushions Neat and Clean 

Keep the comfort and color, lose the mold, mildew, and dirt with a solution of 2 teaspoons borax, 2 teaspoons dishwashing liquid, and 2 quarts warm water.

Mix and pour solution in spray bottle.

Liberally spray each cushion down with solution and allow to sit for 15 – 20 minutes.

Hose off cushions with water hose and hang from clothes line or stand up to dry.

outdoor chair cushion

 

Flavored Ice Cubes 

The heat and humidity will melt those ice cubes soon enough, but with flavored ice cubes watered down beverages retain their deliciousness.

This is so simple- fill ice trays 3/4 full with the beverage of choice and freeze.

Take the taste to the next level by adding fresh mint to iced tea or punch cubes, rosemary sprigs to lemonade,  pearl onion or halved seasoned green bean to Clamato for bloody marys, or a blend of cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and strong coffee for iced coffees.

fresh mint ice cubes

Grab the blender (or food processor) and purée watermelon slices or fresh strawberries for a summer kick over watermelon or strawberry flavored ice cubes.

Redbook

Weeds No More 

Weeds between patio pavers, bricks, and deck boards are unsightly summer sights.

Let the sun shine in and down on weeds that have been sprayed with a solution of 1 gallon white vinegar, ½ cup of dishwashing liquid, and 2 Tablespoons salt.

Fill a spray bottle with the mixture, set to stream, and spray the mixture on the weeds.

This works best on a warm and sunny day as heat from the sun aids in the process.

Mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus They Carry

Talk about buzz kill!

Keeping these pesky uninvited guests away is outdoor priority number one.

Citronella candles, tiki and table top torches, and decorative lanterns come in a wide assortment of styles, sizes and price points.

citronella candle

Is That a Bee in Your Bonnet?  

No, it’s a dryer sheet!

Strategically placed in an apron pocket, under table linens, or pinned to the corners of a tablecloth, dryer sheets help to keep bees at bay.

dryer sheets

Freshen Up With a Twist 

Enjoying the summer good life can get messy, sticky, sweaty, and smelly.

Hand sanitizer and wet wipes work well, but I also like to make individual “freshen up with a twist” packs.

options-script

For hands:

Place two damp paper towels in a Ziploc bag – one with a trace of liquid soap (I love the fresh scent of Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Lemon Verbena Liquid Soap) on it for cleansing, and the other for rinsing. Include a slice of lemon for an extra twist of fresh.

Lemon softens your skin and is a natural odor eliminator.

summer-lemon-slices

Photo by Sama Hosseini on Unsplash

For Freshening Up Face/Neck/Arms:

I’ve tried almost every brand/every scent of facial cleansing towelettes on the market, and I invariably come back to the Equate Beauty Rose Water Cleansing Towelettes. The scent is divine, and the cleansing is gentle.

rose-scented-facial-towelettes

Refrigerate towelettes package a few hours before outdoor living party time, and when fun in the sun or evening things heat up simply put summertime beat the heat survival kits consisting of chilled towelettes and a travel size spray bottle in color choice filled with Dickinson’s Enhanced Witch Hazel Hydrating Toner with Rosewater.

Place individual packs into a larger Ziploc bag, seal it tight, and place it in a lunch tote or outdoor fridge to keep them nice and cool until ready to distribute.

summer-entertaining-season-tip

Getting things ready for spending time outdoors entertaining and enjoying the best of summer goes with the backyard territory.

My friends, summer is making its presence known.

Get summer ready, get outdoor entertaining prepped, and go!

Darleen-signature-love

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Balsamic and Honey Baked Vidalia Onions

A summer entertaining series is on tap for the next few weeks here at Places In The Home.  Speaking of places in the home, wouldn’t we all love to have an outdoor space like this New Orleans courtyard?  Relaxing outdoor spaces, areas, decks, patios, and porches take the edge off the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  The stylish outdoor space has become a natural extension of the life lived within the home.  The outdoor home decor and accessories available in today’s market make it very easy to enjoy the summer in style.

New Orleans courtyard

Good times go well with good cuisine. Light fare, delicious salads and sides, and grilled anything make up the menu of summer.

balsamic and honey baked Vidalia onions

Balsamic and Honey Baked Vidalia Onions have the culinary chops to be the main course or the star attraction side. Easy is the main ingredient along with balsamic vinegar, honey, butter, and garlic.  Here’s the recipe.

vidalia onions

Balsamic and Honey Baked Vidalia Onions

Ingredients

per medium sized  Vidalia onion

1 medium Vidalia Onion, peeled and cored

½ teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

1  ½ teaspoon honey

1 tablespoon butter

pinch of Kosher salt

¼ teaspoon fine black pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.  Peel and core Vidalia onion, leaving root end of onion intact. If needed, cut root end to allow onion to sit upright. Score onion on sides to allow better balsamic vinegar and honey absorption. Chop onion top and set aside.

peeled onion

Cut foil square large enough to wrap and twist onion up in and place onion in center of foil square. Sprinkle onion center with garlic powder.

balsamic vinegar and butter

Next, drizzle onion with  balsamic vinegar and honey.  Top onion center with butter, Kosher salt, fine black pepper, and chopped onion top.

butter and honey

Wrap foil up around onion, twisting at top to seal.

foil wrapped onions

Place onion in oven proof dish or iron skillet. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until until tender. Be careful of steam when opening the tops of the foil packets. Serve in foil packets in individual cast iron skillets or transfer onion(s) to serving dish.

baked vidalia onion

If grilling better suits the occasion:

Preheat grill to medium heat. Double wrap onion with foil.  Place onion on the grill over direct heat. Close grill top and cook for 30 minutes or until onions are soft. Allow onion to cool for approximately 5 minutes before opening the foil packet.

 

enjoy

 

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90 Degrees In The Shade: Outdoor Entertaining Tips

Leading a comfortable climate controlled summer existence and enjoying those 90 degrees in the shade summer days and nights is quite doable with cool outdoor entertaining tips and amenities.

Friends

Outdoor relaxing and entertaining is a natural part of summertime fun and the answer to recharging the battery that makes us go! go! go!

I do like a space “where we can sit and talk… and the breeze can get at us.”

I love that line from the classic film, Giant. 

If you’ve seen the film and/or experienced the brutal 900 degrees in the shade temps that is Texas, you know exactly what I’m talking about!

outdoor furnitureBetter Homes & Gardens

A cool breeze, refreshing beverage, delicious seasonal dishes, smooth tunes, good company, and stylish appointments only enhance the environment.

Comfortable is always in season!

Party with a crowd who remembers good times, good tunes and good tastes.

pink-sparkling-punch

Photography by Jennifer Davick – Styling by Mindi Shapiro Levine

Sparkling Punch

Ingredients

1 (12-oz.) can frozen pink lemonade concentrate, thawed

4 cups white cranberry juice cocktail

1 qt. club soda, chilled

Garnish: fresh mint sprigs

Directions

Stir together lemonade concentrate and cranberry juice cocktail in a large pitcher. Cover and chill at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Stir in club soda just before serving. Garnish, if desired.

-Southern Living

Cream of Asparagus soup

Cream of Asparagus Soup with Crab and Watercress

Ingredients

2 bunches thin asparagus (about 2 pounds total)

½ medium yellow onion, chopped

3 sprigs fresh thyme

¼ cup unsalted butter (½ stick)

¼ cup dry white wine

1 quart whipping cream

2 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth or water

Salt and ground black pepper

2 fresh-cooked Alaskan king crab legs (about 1 pound)

Small watercress leaves, stems removed

Directions

Snap off woody bases from asparagus; discard. Cut asparagus spears into ¼- to ½-inch pieces.  In 4-quart Dutch oven bring 8 cups water and 2 tablespoons salt to boil.

Blanch asparagus in 2 or 3 small batches for about 30 seconds each; transfer blanched asparagus immediately to ice-water bath to halt cooking process. (Allow water to return to boil between batches.)

After asparagus has finished cooling, set aside 12 to 18 asparagus tips to use as garnish.  Allow excess water to drain from remaining asparagus.

In large saucepan, cook onions and thyme sprigs in hot butter over medium-low heat 5 minutes or until tender. Remove from heat; add wine. Return saucepan to heat; cook until wine has evaporated. Remove thyme; discard. Stir in cream.  Bring just to boil.

Transfer cream to large measuring cup; cool slightly.  Place half of cooked asparagus and 1 to 2 cups slightly cooled cream in blender.  Cover; blend until combined. Repeat with remaining asparagus and cream mixture.

Transfer to bowl or return mixture to saucepan if serving warm.  Stir in broth to reach desired consistency.  Season with salt and pepper.

Cover bowl and chill at least 2 hours or cook and stir over medium heat until heated through.

For crab legs, twist legs at joint to remove meat, pulling meat from shell as you twist. (If some meat remains in shell, use kitchen shears to cut through shell; pull shell apart.

Remove meat with seafood fork.) Coarsely chop meat.

If serving soup warm, heat reserved asparagus tips and crab meat in small skillet with 1 tablespoon water over medium heat until just heated through.

To serve warm or chilled, ladle soup into bowls; garnish with crab, asparagus tips, and watercress.  Makes 6 servings.

–Traditional Home

SB digs

Sun kissed and color drenched patinas are the artwork of wonder.

I love the living “umbrella” that offers a shady respite to the verdigris touched statue.

FYI~

VerdigrisDesign Sponge

Keep the mood cool and the style hot while heating up those hot summer days and nights, outdoor decoristas!

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One Idea & Two Recipes: Blackened Salmon and Ranch Chicken Soft Tacos

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  This recipe repost is the 5th of May appropriate, double delicious, and a reader favorite. Blackened Salmon and Ranch Chicken Soft Tacos are a Cinco de Mayo 2-for-1 ~ a culinary happy hour special.

Last week I was thumbing through an issue of Woman’s Day when the above photo caught my eye.  My first thought was “These look good!”  My second thought was, “Hey, I think I have all the ingredients to make these except the salmon, romaine lettuce, and cilantro.”  It was time play the culinary home version of  I Spy in the Places In The Home test kitchen.  I spy a package of ranch dressing mix, chicken breasts, fresh spinach, fresh limes, sour cream and flour tortillas.  Oh yeah, Ranch Chicken Soft Tacos is on the menu.  Where there’s a meal, there’s a way!

Blackened Salmon Soft Tacos

Ingredients

1  1 ¼ pound(s) piece skinless salmon fillet, cut into 4 pieces

2 tablespoon(s) blackening spice mix or Cajun seasoning (no salt added)

½ small head romaine lettuce, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)

½ cup fresh cilantro

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

Kosher salt and pepper

8 small flour tortillas, warmed

Low fat sour cream, for serving

Directions

Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Coat both sides of the salmon with the seasoning mix and cook, covered, until opaque throughout and blackened, 3 to 4 minutes per side.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, cilantro, oil, lime juice, and ¼ tsp each salt and pepper.

Flake the salmon into pieces. If desired, spread sour cream on the tortillas, then fill with the salmon and top with the lettuce mixture.

Ranch Chicken Soft Tacos

Ingredients

1 tablespoon(s) olive oil

4 boneless,skinless chicken breast

1 medium onion; chopped

1 14 oz. can chicken broth

1 pkg. ranch dressing mix

½ small container fresh washed spinach

½ tsp. black pepper

¼ tsp. minced garlic

8 small flour tortillas

1  fresh lime, sliced

sour cream, for serving

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Peel and chop onion, add to oil, and cook until translucent.

Place chicken breast in skillet with onions. Saute over medium high heat until chicken is lightly browned on both sides.  The onions will now be reaching the caramelized stage.

Add ranch dressing mix, pepper and garlic, coating chicken breasts. Slowly pour chicken broth into skillet, stirring to deglaze onions and seasonings from bottom of skillet. Mixture will thicken as it cooks.

Cover and simmer on medium low for approximately 30 minutes or until chicken is tender.  Cut cooked chicken breast crosswise into thin slices. Warm flour tortillas by desired method.  I warm each tortilla individually in the microwave for 15 seconds.  Fill centers with chicken and spinach and fold sides of tortillas over center.  Top with sour cream.  Squeeze fresh lime over taco and add additional black pepper if desired.

enjoy

 

 

 

 

 

 

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