interior goodness: stylish dining rooms

I was planning on being on the road today, but the need for a radiator replacement changed the plans du jour.  I didn't have a post planned for the day so I jumped over to Marie Claire Maison for some interior goodness, dining rooms...

 

Pink is an unexpected color for a dining room, but wowza, how fun!
 

This is clearly a restaurant, but the creative use of color and furniture mix could be replicated in the home.

 

My client's dining room, 20-twelve-3 interiors

 

Neutral with a kick of color and pattern.

 

White or black?  Simple and stunning, with an injection of textural neutral.

 



love it, live it: item inspired interior style board, boho chic great room

Boho Chic Great Room

 

click on image to enjoy a larger view

 

There is no definite starting point when creating a stylish room.  It could be the bones of the room, a paint color, a painting, a piece of furniture, or a rug.  This room, it was a rug.  The Kite Wool Kilim from West Elm.  It is graphic and exotic, soft and pretty, as well as bold and sturdy.  The perfect base for the perfectly imperfect Boho Chic Great Room.

Product sources available upon request TCSTYLIST1@GMAIL.COM

interior goodness: "bohemian rhapsody" lonny mag march/april 2012

With more spring snow on the ground, and I'm hoping like crazy it is the last, the home of Anna Burke (Lonny March/April 2012) was a refreshing dose of loveliness on yet another gloomy Tuesday.

 

love it, live it: item inspired interior, west elm kite wool kilim rug

There are actually a bunch of things within West Elm right now that make me squealishly excited to be an Interior Stylist.  This rug happens to be one of many, and the featured item of inspiration for this week's Interior Style Board. 

Boho Chic Great Room coming Wednesday.

dining in: salmon on arugula with lime-ginger dressing, cooking light may 1999

One of my favorite salads from one of my favorite Cooking Light magazines.  Making another fave from May 1999 tonight!

Salmon on Arugula with Lime-Ginger Dressing

2/3 C fresh lime juice (about 5 limes)
1/2 C honey
1/2 tsp. fresh ginger
1 T soy sauce*
4 (6 oz) skinned salmon fillets
8 C arugula

Preheat broiler.

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small bowl, reserving 3/4 C juice mixture for dressing.  Place salmon fillets on foil lined baking dish.  Add soy sauce to remaining juice mixture, baste fillets.  Broil 4 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness, basting once after turning.

Divide arugula among 4 plates; arrange salmon on top of greens.  Drizzle with reserved dressing.

Enjoy!

dear mother nature...a board of inspiration

I'm sick of winter!!!

 

Sincerely,

Tamara

perfect pairings

Mirassou Pinot Noir + Pasta with Creamy Tomato Vodka Sauce

dining in: creamy tomato vodka sauce with pasta, asparagus and seafood

This sauce on its own with pasta is delicious as a side, but to make it a meal I add asparagus and shrimp, crab or salmon.

CREAMY TOMATO VODKA SAUCE

2 T extra virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
Red pepper flakes, to taste
1 can of tomatoes, or 1# fresh tomatoes diced
1/3 C vodka
1/2 C cream
1/3 C grated Parmesan

Heat olive on medium, reduce heat to low add garlic and pepper flakes. Cook slowly for 8-10 minutes, do not brown the garlic. Add tomatoes, cool over low-med heat for 20 minutes. Crush tomatoes in the pan, a potato masher works great.

Add vodka and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cream, cook for another 10 minutes. Add Parm, stir until blended. At this point you are done with the sauce.

If adding asparagus, cut into 2 inch pieces, about one cup or more. Blanch asparagus in a 2-3 quart pot for two minutes. Remove asparagus and use the veggie water to cook the pasta.

I cook the shrimp and crab in 1 T of butter. The salmon I broiled in the oven with olive oil and S&P, for 7-8 minutes.

Add the asparagus, seafood and pasta to the sauce, toss to coat. Heat through for about 5 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

love it, live it: fashion inspired interior style board, preppy living room

J Crew Inspired Living Room

 

 click on image to enjoy a larger view

I love the play of pattern, color, and style of this week's Interior Style Board inspired by J Crew.  This living room is preppy and pretty while not too traditional.  The mix creates a relaxed vibe, and it is tailored without being stuffy.  Perfect for a coastal cottage.

 

 

Product sources available upon request TCSTYLIST1@GMAIL.COM

shocking but true, plus; love it, live it: fashion inspired interiors, j crew

I am providing proof today that spring, as we would like to know it, has still not sprung.  Further proof that Punxsutawney Phil needs to retire...we are looking at a 50° drop in temperature and 8 to 12 inches of snow.  Am I going to be pissy tomorrow?  YES!!!

 

I am however going keep my chin up and create a pretty and springy Interior Style Board inspired by a lovely ensemble from J Crew 

 

love it, live it: art inspired interior style board, sunny breakfast nook

  click on image to enjoy a larger view

This week's Interior Style Board is a happy and lively breakfast nook inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe's The Yellow Flower.  The painting has sunny yellows, a rich earthy green, accents of white while being grounded by a warm, blushy brown.  The nook is mod casual and offers a dose of sunshine, even on not so sunny days.

 

Product sources available upon request TCSTYLIST1@GMAIL.COM

 



it was a dark and stormy night...

well actually it was a dark and hoping for stormy [rain] Tuesday. A fine day for reading guides on writing! I am excited at the prospect of becoming a better writer for this here blog, but it doesn't stop there. During a fitful night of sleep a few weeks ago, I developed a story idea; a mystery. A mystery with a twist a la Hitch. Stay tuned...

love it, live it: art inspired interior, georgia o'keeffe the yellow flower

My favorite artist, hands down, is Georgia O'Keeffe, yep, her work makes me squeal!  We were lucky enough to have a small exhibit at the Denver Art Museum featuring pieces of her New Mexico works.  There are many reasons why I love her work, but her use of color stands out first and foremost.  I wanted to do a lounge using the one of her paintings of  "The Black Place", a painting I had never seen until last week, but I am unable to find it online.  So, with spring finally arriving in small doses, I decided to use "The Yellow Flower" for an Art Inspired Breakfast Nook Style Board coming Wednesday.