At Home At Home

Blog Address Update

2010-10-23T17:27:00.000-07:00

Hi All, I'm moving at home at home over to here:

athomeathome.com

The design isn't finished yet, but since it's google-able and basically functional, I wanted to point you there. Don't be afraid if it changes over the next month!

The Big Reveal

2010-10-21T11:52:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like the thrill of pulling an almost all-nighter getting a space together. Great team, great boss, great mid century house. 4 hours of sleep, a night spent at a seedy local motel and a great 'big reveal' this morning for the homeowners and the cameras. They cried. And I want to live in the space we put together for them in just 5 days. Thanks to Morgan and Heather and Mike and Mark. I'll let you know when the show is on air. I'm glad we have another episode to do together. And I like the idea of BIG REVEALS.

Damp and Quiet

2010-10-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

More rain and lots of work. The best part is that the set is actually outside of LA so I get lots of drive time to listen to music. I can listen to the same songs on repeat a bajillion times without getting tired of them. Right now, in the rain, on the road, I'm loving World News and Who Knows, Who Cares.

This was the foggy view the other morning, I loved how quiet it was.

Foggy Fall Days

2010-10-17T22:25:00.000-07:00

Slipped away and got down to the beach on one foggy morning. Took the time to actually sit down, drink my coffee and let the mist settle onto me.

The Decorator

2010-10-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a home makeover show (the schedule is crazy! I won't be posting much) and my official title is...The Decorator. I feel like I should be in some kind of action film or at the very least, wearing shoulder pads.

I spend a lot of time with these paint decks, have my own desk at the Discovery Channel and work with a great team including Morgan!

I'll blog more about it when I have clearance to talk about it, but it's a great before and after show with a focus on extreme clutter clearing and organizing. I don't have to deal with the clutter, I just get to design the after. Our first shoot day is tomorrow (I'm behind the scenes though) and we'll be working 6 days straight on the first home.

More soon!

Mae Mae Paperie

2010-10-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of working freelance is that every job I do is an adventure at a new location with, normally, people I don't know. After I shot the cover for Rue of Woodson and Rummerfield they had a last minute shoot that I was able to jump on board for. And it was so worth it. I got to meet Megan at Mae Mae Paperie and Summer at Grey Likes Weddings and we spent the day styling the Mae Mae Studio, shooting the great line of stationery that you can get as a free download through Rue (on page 59), shooting Megan for the feature and eating really good pizza. (Look, this is us!).

Then, as though that wasn't a nice enough experience, I got this impeccably wrapped little package in the mail from Megan filled with a thoughtful note and little presents from Mae Mae.

Thanks again, Megan!

And Happy Weekend Everyone.

Sneak Peek

2010-10-07T10:07:00.000-07:00

I shot an amazing house in Highland Park recently for my good friend and blogging cohort Jonathan over at Happy Mundane. You'll get to see many more images when the next issue of his awesome zine, At Your Liesure comes out, but for now, wanted to share this little peek. I've got a soft spot for great old paintings, a well placed dog and all that white and light.

Happy Friday

2010-10-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

Love this image of a vintage Martha Stewart in front of a great table with cascading, happy poppies straight from the garden. It's loose and casual but because they line the whole center of the table, it's a statement. Also, how vampy is Martha, in her own way, here. Incredible. I want to use the idea on a farm house table with linen napkins, white plates and bottles of wine.

See more vintage Martha right here.

And happy happy weekend.

It's My Birthday

2010-09-28T12:35:00.000-07:00

The big Three-One is here!

What a year this has been. I think it's true what they say about a woman in her thirties. It's just better (despite some of the crappier things that have happened). Today I'm busy starting work on the art department of a tv show, working a bunch of freelance photo and staging projects with some amazing people and attempting to get more rest. I've shot magazine covers and spreads all year, reconnected with family and taken a lot of risks.

Looking forward to taking stock and laying some plans out for the next year.

What birthday rituals do you have?

(Image from the stellar floral designers at Dandelion Ranch)

Langues de Chat

2010-09-26T18:24:00.000-07:00

My Aunt came back from France with a little gift for me: A box of Langues de Chat from La Duree (recently most known for their Macarons). Of course the packaging is amazing (the cat! with its tongue out!) and the little butter cookies inside are delicate and delicious.

Standard Magazine's Tastemaker's Dinner

2010-09-26T17:01:00.000-07:00

So I jumped off the plane from New York, changed my clothes and ran off to the hollywood hills (to this house) for a spectacular evening with Kelly LaPlante and some of the contributors to Standard Magazine for one of the best dinner parties ever. The mix of people (from the folks at Fire Clay Tiles to James Saavedra to Gabrielle from Design Ecology to David Metzler) were intelligent, thoughtful and interesting. We were served an incredible meal by Chef Michael Garner, waited on by a great serving team and it was just low key and fun.

You can see a little sneak peek on the Standard Blog.

My favorite thing (besides that Kelly had found all the serving ware and dishes second hand and so the table was a beautiful mix of mismatched vintage) was that we each had a little card at our seat with a multiple choice question and an essay question. Kelly put so much thought into each one and we read them aloud to get to know each other (and even though I normally hate that, it was great) -- they'll be printed in the next issue of Standard.

I felt so official seeing my name in print (and even spelled correctly). Everyone at the dinner was so accomplished, it really felt like a treat to be included.

Apartment Therapy Offices

2010-09-22T17:12:00.000-07:00

I finally made it to the new AT offices to meet some of my blogging compatriots face to face. It was great. I got sandwiches with managing editor Aaron and Sarah C and even had a chance to visit with Maxwell before he jetted off to Brazil!

The office is exactly what you would expect: it feels clean and organized (it was so quiet too with everyone tap tap tapping!) and there is great light, a great view and even plants.

(this one was an experiment with a new tilt shift app for the iPhone).

Anthology Magazine + New York Update

2010-09-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Update from New York. Had a great afternoon glass of champagne with Anh-Minh at the Crosby Street Hotel in Soho to celebrate the launch of Anthology Magazine--a collaboration between Anh-Minh and Meg Mateo Ilasco, two incredibly talented and ambitious women. I got to thumb through the mock up copy and all I can say is that it's amazing (there's a sneak peak on AT, too!). I'm so glad I got to work on the magazine and if you haven't already ordered your subscription, do it now, it's limited run and you don't want to miss out on it. I mean, have you seen their stop motion video?

Here's a preview shot of the venice home I shot for the magazine. Love that wallpaper, it even inspired a mock up of my dream bathroom.

Now I'm off to check out the new AT offices and get lunch with the team, then tonight, the Rue Launch. I'm loving New York, the weather is still warm with the edge of Fall creeping in.

My Shot Made the Rue Magazine Cover

2010-09-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

Drum roll please.

Rue has leaked their cover image on Apartment Therapy today and It's my shot that made the cover!!

I'm over the moon to be a part of such a great endeavor and so far, everyone I've met has been inspiring, together and overall awesome. It was a great shoot day and wonderful to meet Crystal and the designers who put together that great space (I won't go into details about them and the space until the mag is out--thursday!) Can't wait to meet everyone else in New York next week! (I bought the dress, now have to find the shoes, arg.)

Check out more of my photo work here on my website or in one of the other spreads out this month: here and here!

Get Ready

2010-09-13T18:59:00.001-07:00

For big news tomorrow!

I Heart Merchandising

2010-09-10T19:58:00.001-07:00

Happy Friday Everyone! My week ended up being packed with a lot more than I thought it would be, including helping my friend merchandise her storefront. I only have this crappy iPhone picture but we had so much fun rearranging the space and I had forgotten how much I love physically putting rooms together (and not just photographing them). It was a nice change of pace (to not be glued to my chair in front of a computer and photoshopping all night long).

Next month there will be an official launch of the showroom so I'll keep you posted so that you can go there, too.

I also nailed down plans to go to New York for the launch of Rue Magazine (did you see the latest sneak peek on coco and kelly?) and get some East Coast in me before the long hard California winter. Also, before I turn thirty one. Yes. Thirty. One. Sigh.

Also, have you guys seen what Morgan has been up to? Yes, she is finally officially offering design services. Hit her up, she will school you (in a nice way, I promise, she's really very nice).

And for those of you obsessed with tomatoes (I mean, who isn't?) check out Emma's gorgeous post on the subject.

Happy Weekend Everyone, stay out of trouble!

New Spread in Standard Magazine

2010-09-09T13:12:00.000-07:00

September might not be so bad after all. A bunch of work I did over the summer is making its way into the public starting with a spread I shot for Kelly LaPlante's new online magazine (with a focus on green): Standard Magazine. I got to shoot this incredible home in the hollywood hills that married indoors with out. It was for a piece called "The Modern Man's Guide To Hillside Living' and it starts on page 66.

Here are some of my favorite shots (including some outtakes that didn't make it into the spread). See the whole thing in the new issue of Standard!.

Thanks to Kelly for the opportunity to shoot such a great place!

John and Mary

2010-09-08T09:17:00.000-07:00

Recently watched this movie John and Mary with Mia Farrow and Dustin Hoffman that I had never heard of before. The film was made in '69 and I would die to have the apartment that John is living in in New York. He works as a furniture designer and yes, he designed the leather sofa.

Love all the white light fixtures, the space, the leather, the olive green cups, the windows, the weirdly angles ceilings and narrow kitchen. Almost the whole movie takes place in the apartment, but there's one flashback scene that I love that's just over-the-top colorful with Mia on the beach:

I Heart Cake

2010-09-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a great labor day. I spent some time with friends and family out in Palm Springs. Thanks for everyone's suggestions for dealing with heartbreak. If I can offer my insights so far:

1) See friends often
2) Wear nice clothes (don't just sit around in sweats)
3) Exercise
4) Watch funny things (like this and this and this.)
5) Keep Busy (thankfully I've gotten a chance to work with some amazing people recently: from Kelly LaPlante to Rue Magazine to my old boss Nadia Geller).

Once I have my own place again I would love to get a series of these amazing Cake Paintings from Paul Ferney. They make me so happy.

Rummy Bears

2010-09-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

If you don't know the blog Rummy Bears check it out. It's a couple of incredibly stylish Aussies with an adorable baby documenting their day to day. They take beautiful photos and always look put together and basically picture perfect. I love them and envy them all in one.

Spread in Nesting Newbies

2010-09-01T20:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all the kind words, it really does help (even though you're technically strangers, right?) You know what also helps? I shot this great project for Upward Bound back in February (maybe you remember this?) and it's now a pretty big spread in the most recent issue of Nesting Newbies.

It was awesome to work with such great designers and a big shout out to Nesting Newbies for doing such a great job with the layout and the story!

See the whole thing here (the article starts on page 155).

You can see more of my work on my website.

At Home in Alaska

2010-08-31T10:44:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd share some pictures of my family's house in Alaska. They built the house 28 years ago and, as you can see, it's made of logs. The inside is warm and comforting and filled with artwork and textiles from their travels abroad: afghanistan, mexico and asia.

It was perfect for my second trip up to Alaska, due mainly to the fact that E and I are breaking up after 5 years together. I went up to be taken care of, to be outside and to be comforted. It was a lively house with all 3 of of my cousins, aunt and uncle, 2 dogs and 3 cats. I'm glad I took the time to indulge in trip #2.

Jon and Tyke's Modern Cabin

2010-08-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

Remember that Sunset Magazine article I wrote about Jon and Tyke's Topanga Canyon cabin? Well, if you're curious to see more, I posted a house tour with a bunch more pictures on AT the other day. It's such a great house and Jon and Tyke are such an inspiration, happy they let me broadcast it to the world!

Summer Travels

2010-08-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

A week ago I was at the Ace in 109 degree weather by the pool. Now I'm in Alaska (yes, again) fresh from a camping trip with my cousins in Denali National Park where we saw bears, wolves, eagles, moose, caribou and loads and loads of striking landscape. Anchorage has been clear the last couple of days so I've soaked in some stunning sunsets and views across the cook inlet. Summer is rolling along bringing change and some space. Back to LA soon enough.

Before Photos

2010-08-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

I have a soft spot for the mundane, the broken down, the empty and slightly sad in photographs. So it isn't really any surprise that I love these before pictures from a mid century remodel. They're a little Judy Fiskin , a little Bill Eggleston, a little Candida Hofer. They speak volumes about the history of the house. And though the finished house is basically a dream house (my dream house, even) the before pictures are so rich in texture and history that I have trouble looking away.

More images from Alaska are on their way, in a twist of the time/space continuum I'm actually ~~going back up for a couple of days (leaving tonight)~~ there right now, camping with my cousins.

Spanish Living

2010-08-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

It's from a little while ago but I can't get enough of Cecilia and Roope's Barcelona Hilltop House Tour. It's open, has light, is a little helter skelter, has plenty of white and personality. I would love to retreat there for a month for an indian summer.

Also, the photos are beautiful, they're by Marc Goodwin

Rue Magazine

2010-08-12T15:41:00.001-07:00

I'm sure most of you have already heard of Rue Magazine, a new online magazine launching this September. I just shot a spread for them and since I can't reveal much about what or whom I shot, I can say this: the magazine is going to be awesome and the ladies behind it are as passionate and excited about interiors as all get out).

I had a great time with them and can't wait to see the first issue! (You can see some samples of my photo work here or you can follow me on twitter.

Alaska

2010-08-05T16:25:00.000-07:00

I took so many pictures in Alaska that it might take me the next year to get through them. I was only gone 10 days but I managed to ride in a float plane, catch a couple sockeye salmon, see bears almost every day, go off the grid, collect a lot of pretty rocks, ride in a lot of boats, see a lot of daylight, sea kayak, shoot some guns, hang out with three of the best dogs ever, meet some manly wilderness men, hang out with family, hike in places that maybe no one else has walked before.

It felt like summer camp. I laughed. I got wet. I got dirty. And reluctantly, I came home.

All the wilderness stuff was in Bristol Bay on Lake Ilimana at this amazing lodge: The Alaska Rainbow Point Lodge mainly known for its proximity to and expertise in fishing, but its situated so that it's essentially in the middle of some of the most breathtaking wilderness ever. (Also, this area is being threatened by a proposed copper mine that could destroy the entire ecosystem).

I promise to post more pictures and more details about the trip as I get through the photos. But if you're planning a trip to Alaska, email me, because I have a lot of information!

Sunset Magazine

2010-07-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

I'm back from Alaska (images forthcoming)! And I'm so excited because I came home to the August issue of Sunset Magazine that has an article in it that I wrote! It's a brief look at Jon and Tyke's modern cabin up in Topanga. I had a great time meeting all the Sunset staffers and loved seeing Jon and Tyke get profiled for their great style and design (it's all about diy in their house).

Sunset loved their color coordinated book case, their art collection and how light and airy they made their house (the before's painted a much difference story!).

Here are some behind the scenes at the shoot (the spread was shot by the uber talented and in demand Lisa Romerein):

Keep your eyes peeled for a more in depth look at their house later this month when I post it on Apartment Therapy as a house tour!

Nougat de Montélimar

2010-07-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

I made this Nougat with my Tante Marie a while ago and even posted about it, but now I put together a much more in depth post and recipe for The Kitchn. It's involved, but totally worth it if you have any interest at all in making the most delicious candy on earth. Of course, if you'd rather skip it, you can buy Nougat at The Little Flower Candy Company right here in Pasadena.

OK, consider me on vacation, see you at the end of the month!

White Photographs

2010-07-19T16:55:00.000-07:00

It's been so hot that I'm drawn to images that are spare and full of space and cold even if some of these are the desert sand and some are icy mountains. T minus 36 hours until Alaska.

From great photography site: Lumas. Julia Christe and Jean de Pomereau.

Alaska

2010-07-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

Next week I'm going on a real vacation, on a plane and everything. I'm going to visit family in Alaska. They live in anchorage (in a house made of logs that they built) and we'll be taking a side trip to an out of the way, wilderness-y area that you can only access by float plane. It's going to be awesome. There won't be cell service, there will probably be bears and the sun won't set until around 11 at night.

Happy Birthday Josef Frank

2010-07-15T09:21:00.000-07:00

I love Google's home page today in honor of Josef Frank's birthday. The architect, furniture and textile designer wasn't technically a Swede, he sought asylum there during WWII and ended up contributing immensely to what we think of as the modern Scandinavian aesthetic.

He has an interesting history since most of his life he was an outsider in the design world while big names like Le Corbusier and Mies Van Der Rohe were in the spotlight. He began to see modernism as predictable and uniform and so his focus shifted to creating comfortable, liveable spaces shaped around the individual.

One of my favorite qutoes:
“The entire struggle for the modern apartment and the modern house has at its heart the goal of freeing people…”

--From The Home As Path and Place.

See Josef Frank's work at Svensktten (plus lots of amazing Scandinavian Design) and here on bonluxat.

Let The Right One In

2010-07-14T19:12:00.000-07:00

I'm probably late to the train on this one, but I watched Let The Right One In recently (it's available on Netflix on Demand, the greatest leap of technology in my lifetime, I'm pretty sure) and the photography of it blew me away. The film itself is quiet with punctuations of drama, and the cinematography follows suit: wide open angles, landscapes reduced to geometry and textures thrown into contrast by moments of intense darkness or color.

I'll have to find more of cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema's work.

Interview with Sunset Magazine's Tom Story

2010-07-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

In my life as a photographer I have had many heroes: Uta Barth, Robert Frank, Andreas Gursky, Julius Schulman, William Eggleston, the list goes on. I appreciate photographers that excel at capturing the mundane and who are able to translate real life into something that makes you look twice.

One of my heroes in the contemporary (and more practical world) is Tom Story. He is the man responsible for ~~90%~~ what feels like 90% of the images you see in Sunset Magazine and is a huge inspiration to me. I love the way he captures a space: open, light, crisp, but always with warmth. He shoots architecture, lifestyle, decor, food, travel, you name it. He sets the tone for much of the magazine's more recent modern bend. He was also nice enough to answer some of my questions even though he is a very (very) busy man:

How long have you been working as a professional photographer? Were you trained or self taught?

Well, I've been with Sunset for going on 11 years now, before that I was freelancing, mainly architectural photography. I started college in Munich, Germany, went to Salem State College in Mass where I was extremely fortunate to meet with and take classes from an amazing photographer, Shelby Adams, who gave me the push to explore photography as a medium. I finished up my degree at the Academy of Art College in SF, where having landed at a very commercial oriented school I proceeded to primarily study alternative processes, such as making Daguerreotypes under another extraordinary photographer Jerry Spagnoli.

How did you start working with Sunset?

I was assisting different photographers who were shooting for Sunset, so I met and worked with various editors and directors on shoots. The director of Photography at the time, George Olson and I struck up a good relationship, primarily concerning vintage Mini Coopers, one of which I was the owner at the time and he got to see me working as an assistant on cover shoots and big home shoots and liked the way I carried myself I guess. Eventually, the staff photographer at the time Norm Plate decided to retire after 30 years and go freelance. Sunset asked if I would be interested in becoming the replacement garden photographer. This was right at the height of the dotcom explosion in the Bay Area and I was very busy, but also having talked to architects at the time who were telling me that this company just bought a new couch for 12k, but only had enough money to run for 6 more weeks etc. I had been hearing that story over and over and was realizing that maybe it was a good time to explore a steady paycheck.

With shooting such varied subject matter for Sunset, are there certain set-ups that intimidated you at first? Is there a style you prefer i.e. interiors vs outdoor travel shots?

The first three years were almost exclusively garden oriented, which really taught me the patience for light, early morning, late afternoon the weather such as wind, taking advantage of overcast days (giant softbox!) ~ at the time, there was another staff photographer, the very talented James Carriere who primarily shot food and I learned a lot from watching him. Slowly I shot more home stories, and felt my strengths lay in the home/garden realm. Over the years I have started shooting food more which I love to do, and travel, which I think takes an incredible amount of energy and concentration, organizational skills, and finding ways to work with people as subjects. That has probably been the most fun and the biggest challenge in my career. Most of my people photography up to that point had mainly been contained within a home or garden shoot. So learning how to take a shot list, break it down into a schedule, dealing with travel light weather etc has been a fantastic challenge on many levels and completely enjoyable. I have to say that I am incredibly lucky and fortunate that I am shooting food in the studio one day, a home the next, traveling to Hawaii or Canada or New Mexico the next week and then shooting a garden in SF the next day. It keeps all of it fresh and the skill sets are definitely interchangeable.

Do you like to work with a defined shot list or do you like to go off the grid during a shoot?

I generally work with a shot list, fortunately there are editors and writers and they do a great job researching and narrowing the story down to fit the pages and needs for that issue. That said, I can't remember the last time I ever stuck strictly to a shot list. There's a reason behind hiring photographers, you need to be engaged in the story, experience it for yourself and bring your vision back also. If I find something that seems visually more appealing or a better fit for a certain story, I'll definitely shoot it and let the editors make their choices back at the ranch.

Do you have any tips for amateurs that are shooting their homes for blogs?

Level your camera, use the longest lens possible for the shot, use a tripod, slow down and compose. It's all about editing. You have four walls in which to compose your image, be aware of your focal point, but have fun playing with the edges. Expose for a mood or feeling. Vignettes tell the story better than 1 wide angle shot. Details tell the story too, finishes, hardware etc... not everything has to be in focus...

Are there some homes you've shot that stand out as favorites?

My personal taste runs more in the mid-century modern and I've shot quite a few of those for Sunset, but I really like it when you can see the owners personality in the home.

What camera do you normally shoot with?

They will pry my Contax 645 out of my cold dead hands. I use the Phase P45+ back on it, upgrading to the P65+ hopefully soon (hint hint Sunset!). I primarily use the Contax glass, but have collected some tilt/shift lenses that I use when I shoot homes. I also use a Sinar P2 when I shoot food or product in the studio. The Canon 5dMKII comes along also, I primarily use it when I need the speed of use, or any ISO over 800 which the Phase does not handle well. I also picked up a Panasonic GF-1 this year which I love, have adapted manual focus lenses for (a whole nother conversation) and I tend to use it for things like a Bi-Plane ride I had to shoot this year or where I want to be a little more low key. The RAW files are quite nice.

Do you continue to shoot for pleasure when you're off the clock? What do you like to shoot?

I have two small kids now, Clara age 4 and Miles age 2 so there is no shortage of material on my days off! When I do shoot on my days off for projects it tends to be more landscape oriented.

Do you have an iphone or use any of the camera apps for it?

I love my iPhone and use it ALOT. I almost exclusively use shakeit, I have an extensive SX-70 collection and miss the images from that camera, but feel like the look I get from Shakeit comes real close. Really the best camera is the one you have with you, and to be able to shoot snaps or video with something that's almost always on you is fantastic. The editing process that comes with the Phase files can be exhausting time wise, it's really nice to have something that shoots jpeg and I don't have to deal with it in post.

Thanks Tom for taking the time to share!

(All Images: Thomas J Story for Sunset Magazine)

Chocolate Root Beer Bundt Cake

2010-07-07T09:06:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves a bundt cake and I love this one because it is so easy to make and because it uses brown sugar and root beer so it stays moist and delicious. I was inspired by Emma at the Marion House Book Blog and the full post and recipe are up on the kitchn.

Shake It

2010-07-06T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! I spent mine married to my phone since I found this app that approximates the look of the old SX-70 land cameras. I got tipped off by one of my heroes, Tom Story at Sunset (interview with him forthcoming) and have gone a little crazy.

Since it's not easy to get film for them anymore, it's nice to be able to play around with the look from the comfort of my phone. Here are the deets on Shake It for the iPhone.

Dwell Home Tour: Judy Kameon

2010-07-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Although I was mainly tied to the convention center for all of Dwell on Design, I did make it to one of the homes on the home tours: that of Judy Kameon. I've been a huge fan of Judy's since I saw her speak on a panel at Dwell on Design three years ago. She owns landscape architecture firm Elysian Landscapes (they designed the garden at the Parker Hotel in Palm Springs!)and has a line of mid century inspired outdoor furniture called Plain Air. I think she's hugely talented and, at the same time, completely down to earth. So I couldn't miss seeing her home.

Modern with definite mid century influences, Judy's use of color is stunning. With a background in painting and some help from this guy, Judy and her husband have woven in color, texture and personality into their home. And even though there is color everywhere you look, the overall feeling in the house is one of lightness and space and warmth. The inside is seamless with the outside and the garden abounds with nooks and private spaces that make it feel much larger than it is.

The kitchen is particularly stunning with its aqua colored heath tiles and orange-red cabinet fronts. Judy's husband built all the cabinets himself. The cork tiles throughout make the space feel open and warm. I also love how the downstairs is one big space that spills out into the garden--great for entertaining.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

A Bag of Donuts

2010-07-01T18:28:00.000-07:00

At some point in the middle of the craziness of Dwell on Design, I woke up, checked my email and found a message from my friend Ethan: Check Your Porch. And you know what was there? A bag of Donuts.

Ethan is my best friend.

Rainforest Flora

2010-06-30T16:19:00.000-07:00

Phew, I'm done with Dwell on Design! What. an. experience. I met so many awesome plant people and solved so many problems and basked in the glory of a beautiful outdoor section and got so little sleep. It was all worth it. But now I have so much I want to share that I don't even know where to begin.

Well, hopefully you saw the show, but if not I'll be posting some pictures here soon -- and I posted some fun behind the scenes pictures on flickr. I worked closely with Jen and Ive from Shades of Green who are up in Northern California. Even though I've only known them a couple of weeks, I feel like I've known them for a lifetime (working on Dwell was kind of like summer camp) and one of the first things we did when they got down here was going to Rainforest Flora down in Torrance. They loaned us Tillandsia (or air plants) and Bromeliads for the show.

Rainforest Flora is basically a wonderland. Jerry and Paul, who run the place, have been in the business of tropical Tillandsia and Bromeliads for 30 years. Paul has even written a couple of books on the subject. They're passionate, they know what they're doing, and they have a lot of plants.

We weren't there for long, but we got a quick tour of their space (they have an even larger farm (?) down near San Diego) and it was beautiful, and overwhelming and full of magic. My appreciation for air plants skyrocketed after this trip. Bromeliads (which I had associated with dated house plants) have also made their way to the top of my list in terms of interesting plants to rival succulents (though, don't be mistaken, they need a totally different climate.)

They're largely wholesale but have a retail space and sell everything in their online store. And considering what a huge trend air plants are becoming (they're the new terrarium, according to me) they are a great resource.

Thanks Paul and Jerry!

(Find their online store right here.)

Michael McDowell

2010-06-21T21:18:00.001-07:00

Love these simple hanging planters by Michael McDowell. I also love his You Are Beautiful project. So. Simple.

Check out his etsy shop here.

Refreshed Interiors

2010-06-20T19:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, I haven't had such a refreshing weekend in a long time. It somehow felt really long and I could luxuriate in hanging out with family, getting some work done, celebrating fathers day and generally feeling ready for what is sure to be a crazy week at Dwell on Design.

I also ran across this great blog that isn't in English (Swedish is what I'm guessing and I'm too lazy to google translate it). But I love the two versions of this room with that amazing fireplace. Both are crisp and modern but they have such different feels. Love them both. The blog, highway design is a great find, full of inspiring interiors, almost like a little sister to emma's designblogg.

Won't be blogging much this week, but follow me on twitter for some behind the scenes looks at the Dwell on Design Install.

Letter To The Weekend

2010-06-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Weekend,

I'm so glad you were able to make it today. The natives were getting restless without you. We welcome you lovingly into our home and hope you make yourself comfortable and stay a while.

Love,
Laure

(I love this old letterhead I found on leaterheady via dwell. Happy Weekend everyone and send me a message if you're planning to be at Dwell on Design next week so I can say hi!)

Dwell on Design

2010-06-15T18:51:00.000-07:00

So another couple of busy weeks are ahead as I've been hired to help out with Dwell on Design's Outdoor Spaces. I've just jumped into it today so there's lots to learn and do, but I'm really excited to be on the floor while everything gets delivered, help set it up and enjoy the camaraderie of long days.

Are you going to Dwell on Design (June 25-27)?
How about one of the cool home tours?
You can also volunteer to man a home on a home tours or at the convention to get in for free (plus some other goodies)?
And there's a great party happening for a good cause on Saturday the 26th.
You can also follow the event on twitter or follow me!.

Phew. I'll keep you all updated as much as I can. I'm already so inspired by the vendors I'm working with!

Lemon Verbena

2010-06-11T17:21:00.000-07:00

If you ever come across verveine (or lemon verbena as we call it stateside), buy it. It's not a common plant on the westcoast so snatch it up as soon as you see it. Like mint, it's a great herb to make a tea out of (just pour boiling water over it and let it steep. The french drink it after a big meal to help digest and chez panisse makes a verbena/mint version that sounds awesome). My aunt always had a bush growing outside the back door so she could take a handful of it and shove it in a teapot.

I bought this little plant at the Descanso plant sale a couple of months ago and plan to use it to experiment with different kinds of iced tea and some of these recipes:

• Lemon Custards with Lemon Verbena
• Lemonade Slushies with Lemon Verbena and Mint
• Raspberry Apricot Compote with Champagne and Lemon Verbena
• Lemon Verbena and Orange Blossom Fizz

Happy weekend, everyone!

The Marion House Book

2010-06-10T00:02:00.001-07:00

I just can't get enough of this house and the stylish family behind it. The Marion House Book is a Canadian blog chronicling the ever changing interior design of an old Victorian Home. I love that it's modern, but still full of textures. It's getting me inspired to readdress this old house's decor.

Check out the blog (complete with recipe for root beer bundt cake). Found it via Bloesom.

Sun Tea

2010-06-09T19:16:00.000-07:00

It's summer here in Pasadena. It's hot and you can't really just drink all day to battle the heat, so I found an alternative: Sun Tea. It's fun to make, because it's easy, and it makes it feel like it's really summer. This past weekend I did a combo of green tea and trader joe's calm tea.

I put three tea bags in an old mason jar and put it in the sun for a couple of hours.

Then I poured it over ice, squeezed in some lemon and added a sprig of mint.

It was delicious. Plus, I realized, it would be a great mixer for cocktails.

So I wrote a post over on thekitchn about refreshing concoctions that start with tea. What's your favorite kind?

Doughnuts and Bourbon

2010-06-09T18:58:00.000-07:00

So Abby, Grace and I went out for a fancy meal of doughnuts paired with bourbon at a place called Grace (conveniently enough). We each had different expectations for this evening of debauchery but they all seemed to center on: doughy donuts, enthusiasm, booze and fun. What we got was, well, on the sterile side. The doughnuts were so so and the bourbon was in champagne flutes instead of chunky shot glasses or glasses you could really palm, and the restaurant was bright and empty (instead of raucous and full and loud like I pictured when I thought doughnuts and bourbon). We were more ladies who lunch than like indulgent foodies.

So we've decided that our version is better and we ought to host a night of homemade doughnuts (piles of doughnuts!), chunky glasses teeming with bourbon, good lighting, good friends and some loudish music.

What do you think, sound fun?

Morgan is Having a Sale

2010-06-07T00:12:00.000-07:00

You guys, Morgan (of the Brick House) is having a sale. For reals. This weekend. So if you are in LA or near LA or near Palm Springs, you need to go to Hemet and snatch up her finds. I've been out there (look, her house tour), it's not that far and she has so much great, great stuff. Make a day of it, it's so worth it.

Check out All the sale details.

Interview with Marta Teegan of Homegrown LA

2010-06-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

I recently got a chance to interview Marta Teegan of Homegrown LA. She's a chef and a certified Master Gardener and specializes in growing edibles. She is an inspiration and a treasure trove of information. Here are some of my favorite tips:

On easy to grow edibles:
"there are some veggies and herbs that are especially hardy, including mint (which should always be planted in its own pot so that it doesn't take over your garden), oregano, thyme, chard, and kale. All do very well in pots. If you have the space for cucumbers to grow up on a trellis or railing, they are natural climbers, grow very quickly, and produce a large quantity of fruit - you will definitely be impressed with how many cucumbers a single plant can make!"

On exotic edibles to try growing:
"I find many people shy away from artichokes, so I always recommend growing them. They are such beautiful plants, they are prolific producers, and they are delicious to eat! I also always recommend that people with container gardens grow potatoes. Yes, potatoes can be grown in a pot! Nothing compares to the flavor of potatoes, prepared simply with butter and salt, eaten an hour after being harvested.

Some other great edibles to try would include cornichon cucumbers for pickling; the small, red pequillo peppers for frying with eggs; and Catalogna dandelions for a bitter green salad with shallots and bacon."

See my whole interview with her over on Apartment Therapy.

And here are some updates from my own garden. The 'cukes and squash are coming in and the tomatoes are looking promising. I accidentally (I'm lazy) let the lettuce bolt, so no more salad for a little while, but the swiss chard is still going strong!

Happy Weekend everyone. What are your plans? How are your gardens growing? Have you eaten outside yet?

Springville

2010-05-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

Took a road trip recently with some friends looking for a wedding venue that's on the rustic side. We were looking for a barn, but didn't find quite the right one. We did, however, get to spend the day in Springville, CA. We found a little burger place to eat at and had deep fried mushrooms and onion rings. It was hot and we had a great time.

I'm getting excited for summer road trips, picnics and popsicles.

The images above are the Springville Ranch but the barn unfortunately isn't available for rent.

House of Honey

2010-05-26T16:08:00.000-07:00

Stumbled across a new(ish) showroom in South Pas called House of Honey run by Tamara Honey. I remember seeing some interiors a while ago on Design Sponge that were a good mix of traditional regency with some modern flair. The showroom is a little more ornate and glammed up than is my personal style but I appreciate the eclectic mix she has going on and how well she does this look. Also, the walls are the most perfect grey and she makes me want gold everything.

But I especially love all the different wallpapers in the store (can anyone tell me where the trees are from?) and how she blends patterns without it getting to be too much.

See a whole slideshow of the store here and some examples of Honey Interiors design work.

Mexican Hot Chocolate

2010-05-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

The cousins have all left and I'll admit that I miss them. The house has been bustling for the last two weeks with multiple pots of coffee brewing each morning, laundry humming away, beds in the living room, lots of people eager to play with hazel and no shortage of fun things to do.

But what they left behind (besides, obviously, some great memories and seeds planted for future reunions and trips, etc.) is some Mexican Hot Chocolate. Lily and Owen have been traveling the world the last 3 years and they came here from a month long stint in Oaxaca. So they brought the most delicious hot chocolate with them and we enjoyed it (oh did we enjoy it) and luckily there's plenty left to fill the the new quiet in the house.

For those that have never had Mexican Hot Chocolate it is an incredible blend of chocolate and spices that makes for a much more grown up flavor than traditional cocoa. The Aztecs and Mayans considered it a sacred drink and it was brewed and consumed unsweetened as part of ceremonies. Ours was premade, we just melted the bars of chocolate into milk on the stove. But if you aren't as lucky, you can follow this recipe which calls for cloves, nutmeg, chili peppers and cinnamon.

Cousin Reunion

2010-05-18T18:58:00.000-07:00

Things are going to be a little slow here for the next couple of days. I'm deep into a long overdue cousin reunion. We just got back from the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs which continues to be awesome and perfect. I'm also loving this camera app for the iphone. I resisted for a while because it was too hyped, but it's basically awesome, so I gave in.

Marinated Artichokes at Gjelina

2010-05-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

Had the best meal at Gjelina the other day (check out my last favorite meal there). We got a spot on the patio for lunch (my second lunch of the day to be exact) so Em and I shared a couple of dishes. The oysters were good, the beet and avocado salad was good too. But the Marinated Artichokes with Burratta and Crunchy Shallots took first place. Hop over here to hear me take a stab at how to make it yourself.

I love the design aesthetic of Gjelina though it's way too noisy when it's packed. Always try to get a table outside (tip: go early).

Here's info on Gjelina in Venice.

Vegetable Garden

2010-05-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, remember when I first planted the vegetable garden? Well look at it now! The lettuce wants to bolt, the cilantro already has (oops) and the squash are sending up blossoms (which can only mean one thing). It's moving faster than I thought and I now wish I had made a bed about double the size. I had no idea that this one would get filled up so quickly!

Updated Photo Site

2010-05-10T17:37:00.000-07:00

Phew, it's been months in the making, mainly due to my reluctance to make decisions, but finally by newfangled website is up with more photos and a new layout! Check it out here: laurejoliet.com.

I'm still tweaking some small things (like the, ahem, bio picture) and there were photos I wanted to include but didn't, so those might get swapped back in when I'm tired of looking at these! I also plan to add a gallery that's just food photography.

Chocolate Chip Guinness Ice Cream

2010-05-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

My friend Ethan lives close by and has the habit of making ice cream. I know, it's tough having friends that make ice cream all the time. Well, earlier this year I forwarded him this recipe for Chocolate Guinness Ice Cream from my hero, David Lebovitz, and he made it and we ate it and we swooned. The Guinness gives a depth to the chocolate that is subtle and offsets the sweetness just enough to make you want to keep eating the entire batch. So I recently requested more and this time I participated. Also, this time we added chocolate chips at the end.

We assembled ingredients.

We fired up the Il Gelataio 800 (I know, what?).

And we made some ice cream.

It was so good.

Next time we're going to try to make Nutella Ice Cream.

Here's the Choclate Guinness Ice Cream recipe, just add some chocolate chips at the end to make it like ours. Prepare yourself, it is so good.

P.S. I'm playing with the look of At Home, it might change around a bit, or it might stay like this!

Individual Blackberry Bourbon Slumps

2010-05-04T17:23:00.001-07:00

I spent yesterday afternoon making these bad boys. They were so good and so easy. Just grab some fruit and whip up a batch (and keep some of the bourbon for sipping, too). Recipe is here.

Weekend Inspiration

2010-05-02T22:32:00.001-07:00

I was out and about a lot this weekend and picked up little bits of inspiration:

I adore these red shiny stools at Heath Ceramics. They look like Science Lab stools that they painted themselves. I want a counter height something just so I can have some of these myself. (also, check out the great show by Kristen Wicklund that's at Heath for the next month).

I love large scale photography in white frames:

Saw this at Ten Over Six and was inspired. I have so many photographs begging to be made larger. Plus I just heard that you can get great poster sized prints at Costco for something like $15 (does anyone know about this?).

My grandmother's orchids bloomed under my mom's care and now I have them displayed all over the house.

The PCC flea market is great! I went for the first time and although I didn't buy much, I loved walking around (it's free) and taking it all in. Some of it is in a parking structure, some of it is outside, it's lower key than the rose bowl (and there isn't as much furniture) but there's tons to dig through and lots of nice people. I loved this Arts and Crafts style needlepoint but it was, sadly, out of my price range.

I'm hosting a little cousin reunion in 2 weeks (my American family is not that big and the 6 of us cousins live spread out between Alaska, Boston and Northern California). We plan to BBQ and just hang out and I really want to get some frosted globe lights like these for the backyard.

More on this soon, but the LA Garden Show at the Arboretum was awesome. I loved this garden by The New California Garden Association of Professional Landscape Designers:

Phew, more soon, but for now want to get to bed so I can read a few more chapters of this book.

Chocolate Whiskey Pots de Creme

2010-05-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

Joanna over on The Kitchn posted about these Chocolate Whiskey Pots de Creme and since I happened to have heavy cream in the fridge, I made them within hours of her post. The recipe is simple, rich and delicious. It was a total hit with everyone who tried it.

The technique is similar to a creme brulee: you simmer cream on the stove and then mix in chocolate. Let it cool slightly and then slowly add it to egg yolks and honey (and even though I'm not a huge fan of honey in general, it made the pots creamy and sweet without being too sweet). You can use a fancy chocolate, but I'm a big fan of the Trader Joe's chocolate in the brown wrapper.

Here's the full recipe.

Happy Weekend!

Great Rugs From Overstock

2010-04-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

(click the image to see it larger)

I got into something of an obsession with overstock today and started sleuthing around for some decent rugs. Ever since I went into a shop in Los Feliz and asked them where they got their cool, graphic rug and they said overstock. I've been periodically checking for another one like it. I love overstock simply because they carry the worst, most hideous things ever, and then, if you're looking and persistent, you find the best scores.

The Rugs (clockwise from upper left):
Ban Grass Stripe Rug, $60.99
World Classic Grey Rug, $169.99
Wool Oasis Rug, $168.99
Hand-woven Kaalein Multi Wool Rug, $174.99
Cream Rug, $229.99
Blue New Zealand Rug, $359.99
Shag Rug, $94.99
Hand-knotted Kuba Kilim Red Wool Rug, $145.99
Flaatwoven, Elite Wool Rug, $91.99
Inca Wool Rug, $177.99
Matrix Indoor/Outdoor, $143.99

Lone Poppy

2010-04-27T17:53:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we went for a stroll in Eaton Canyon and I stumbled upon this one, lone, (opium?) poppy. It was a bright smack of red against the sandy sides of the canyon. I go pretty often and had never noticed it before. I love beautiful surprises like these, don't you?

Ikea Intrigue

2010-04-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

Stopped by Ikea last week and managed to only buy the things I went in for (success!). I was tempted, but I settled for shooting the things I felt urgently I must buy. This way I can consider them and maybe go back once I've had a chance to come down off the Ikea high. (Sorry for the crappy photos!):

Love these great indigo and white pillow covers. They seem like a nice cross between the simple Swedish Aesthetic and something Japanese. Once we order a new sofa (oh god when will this decision ever happen!) these might go on them in the background.

I'm a sucker for dish towels. I have...a lot of them. I really had to hold back to not buy these.

I love the Molger Mirror Series. They're simple and provide a nice little shelf. I might go back for one if I don't ever find a fancy gold, gilded mirror at the flea market.

The Snodd Knobs are fun, red and cheap. If I work red into any room (as apparently I should) these are going in.

We need some small nightstands and all the ones I love are majorly pricey so I've been looking for something to use in the meantime. I ideally would like something with a drawer, but some kind of simple stool like this one could do the trick.

This Alseda Rattan Stool is a classic. You see them everywhere in interiors. We could use more kid-friendly options for the living room and if we got these, they could double as foot rests.

Kelly LaPlante tipped me off to these simple, grey pillow covers that are a cotton/linen blend. They look totally chic and you would never realize that they're ikea and only $6.

Dream Rooms and Dinners

2010-04-21T19:29:00.000-07:00

Over on AT we've started doing a lot more 'dream spaces' type posts. They're a lot of fun to put together and I've been surprised by what I actually choose (and how similar they all are) so I wanted to present them here, in one place. One thing I noticed is the color palette that I go to over and over (and ironically it doesn't actually match any room I've ever lived in) and that Plants and France seem to be themes:

Dream Bathroom: The Farmhouse Modern Bathroom

Dream Studio: The White and Bright (and plant filled) Studio (with a frog chair)

Dream Dinner Party: French Countryside, Wine, Stars, Good Food

Happy Little Elephant

2010-04-21T15:47:00.000-07:00

Today I had something disappointing happen. I'm trying to look on the bright side and learn from it, but, still, it's raining outside and I'm feeling a little bit blue. Luckily the roses outside are blooming out of control. So I snipped some and filled this sweet little elephant to help get my spirits back up. It makes me smile every time I look over.

What do you do to cheer yourself up after suffering a setback?

Lego Land

2010-04-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

I don't think I've ever mentioned my love of miniatures and dioramas here. Well a trip to Lego Land last week totally reignited the passion. So. Awesome.

California Home and Design

2010-04-15T09:16:00.001-07:00

I bought three copies of the April issue of California Home and Design last night. Why? Because inside is a story that I shot all the images for! I'm so excited to share my first editorial spread with you.

I look a little bit serious here in my contributor photo (yay for being a contributor).

It was a really great project put together by Vanessa de Vargas. Basically 18 different interior designers took on a room in the Upward Bound Shelter in Culver City and made it their own. Many of the designers went deep into their own pockets to get it done and a lot of care went into each one. I shot all 18 (in one day and without any electricity in the rooms, omg it was stressful) and California Home and Design featured 3 of them: Vanessa de Vargas, Kelly La Plante and Bridgid Coulter. For info on all the designers and vendors who donated their time, energy and goods click here.

From the Garden

2010-04-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

The Garden is exploding! I've made 3 salads already with all the lettuce and on a whim I just go out back and grab a hand full of herbs. It is intoxicating. Can't wait for the tomatoes and cucumbers to start coming in.

Here are the heirloom pumpkin seedlings. Need to get these into the ground.

How is everyone's Spring?

Wick Architecture and Design

2010-04-13T13:47:00.001-07:00

I wanted to share a recent project photographing a Build it Green and Energy Star certified residence designed by Leed Certified architect David Wick. David was great to work with and obviously the space he created is awesome.

See more of the pics on the Wick Architecture and Design website.

And stay tuned, I'm putting some finishing touches on my new photo site. (Can someone else please write my bio for me, though?).

UPDATE: Yay, Jetson Green covered the house and wrote up a quick story right here.

Framed Paintings

2010-04-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

I noticed this simple idea at my dad's house. He has quite a collection of smaller thrift store paintings up around the house. Recently he put some of them in simple Ikea Ribba frames, floating without a matte.

I think it gives them a lot more presence without any of the fuss of 'framing' your artwork.

My Little Office Update

2010-04-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

Despite positive reviews for my little office, I did a swaparoo to accommodate a little credenza I found at the salvation army and painted with leftover paint from the kitchen. I love it, though it's sort of so small that it's not that practical for storing the boxes I have full of decorations, supplies and photographs.

I paired it with Elliott's pelican, a poster I found at a store in Portland for $4, a thrift store print of Mt. Hood and the portraits of my grandmothers that I love so. I'm also trying out a succulent I had sitting outside. Not sure if there's enough light in there. And, of course, Hazel likes to squeeze herself in anywhere she can.

Anywho, I put it against the wall that the desk use to be against and now the desk is on the other side, though it needs some major tlc so it doesn't look so sad and alone over there.

I'd like a nice chair to cuddle up in next to it. And I'm still searching for the rug that went missing after our move because I think it would be perfect for covering up the wall to wall.

I love this little room. It clearly used to be a sleeping porch that someone walled in at some point. But it feels like a little tree house. In another life, this would be my bedroom.

Thea's Parents' Garden

2010-04-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

Went back in time yesterday to dye eggs with some of my best friends at a house we all spent a lot of time in in High School. Thea's Parents' house in echo park has a giant backyard with 4 raised bed vegetable gardens, a koi pond, wildflowers (from Theodore Payne), a cheramoya tree, a whole succulent propogation area and a beautiful view. It always feels reassuring to be able to return to a place that is so familiar and so beautiful.

Happy Weekend

2010-04-02T15:31:00.000-07:00

Wrapping up a long week of editing and retouching images and going cross eyed from looking at the computer (also, stay tuned, I should have my website updated next week). Looking forward to an easy Easter weekend with relaxation, a couple episodes of Friday Night Lights (I know, I'm about 3 years late, but I'm obsessed!) and some time spent outdoors.

I'm also excited to dye some eggs and hide them for the little girls. Then, with the hard boiled bounty I plan to make an ass load of egg salad.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Show Off Alert

2010-03-31T22:00:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to mention that things have been a little slow around here because of a little work I picked up with the man pictured above. Yes, that's who you think it is. I got a special spot in the art department of a show he's working on. I've had a great time over the last week with the crew and even a few funny moments with Thom.

Spring Flowers

2010-03-31T21:54:00.001-07:00

I have been good about keeping fresh flowers in this vase on this credenza in the dining room since we moved. And when I'm feeling flexible I'll even get stargazers, even though they inevitably fall apart and leave staining pollen dust on everything. They're just so beautiful they're hard to say no to.

But hands down, my favorite flowers right now are ranunculus. The way they always look wild and the petals feather out and they come in all these colors, they just make me feel so happy. So these sit next to the bathtub and in front of Elliott's zebra (the one he got from his gramma).

Bird's Nest

2010-03-30T08:44:00.001-07:00

We recently discovered a bird's nest tucked under the eaves on the front porch. When I peeked inside there were these two little eggs. Then this morning, I peeked again and there were three! The mama stays close unless we slam the front door (or start climbing up to peek) and I can't wait to hear those babies hatch.

DIY Raised Bed Vegetable Garden

2010-03-28T18:17:00.000-07:00

On my list of things I wanted to do in 2010 was build a raised bed vegetable garden. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I have done it. With the help of E and Thea and my mom I am now the proud caretaker of a vegetable garden complete with cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, herbs, swiss chard, lettuce, beans, artichokes and squash. I'm also trying to start some pumpkins, watermelon and other tomatoes from seed, so those might end up in the bed further down the road.

I was surprised how easy it was to build. A lot of sites suggest some pretty complicated ways to build a raised bed, but here's how we did it:

Pick a spot.

We picked this spot because the grass was already dead and it got really good light all day (south facing).

Choose Dimensions:

I did 4x6 so that I could still easily reach across about 2 feet on each side. I plotted where the box would sit and turned the soil to discourage any of that grass from growing underneath my vegetables.

Deter Weeds and Rodents:

I used a wire mesh to keep gophers and moles from burrowing up below and a weed cloth to keep the grass out.

Build the Frame:

To build the box we used 2x6 pieces of redwood (you want to get redwood or cedar because they're just straight wood and won't leach any chemicals into your food the way a pressboard or plywood would). I wanted the bed to be about a foot deep so we built two levels of 4x6 dimension frames and stacked them. Nothing fancy, just screwed it all together and stacked them.

Fill It With Dirt/Compost/Fertilizer:

I bought a whole car load of soil (24 cubic feet of soil). I got 'organic' and didn't go for anything with a fertilizer built in because that stuff scares me. I also bought 2 bags of manure for fertilizer and 2 bags of compost to work into the soil to keep it from getting too dense.

Placement:

We poured all the soil in, stirred it around and then leveled it off and started plotting our placement. Since it was my first vegetable garden I wanted to start with some momentum so I didn't start everything from seed, I just went to armstrong and picked out the things I wanted to try and grow. I followed the directions on the packages for placement and made sure that anything that would grow really large wouldn't end up shading other plants. I'll need to make a trellis for the beans once they grow larger so I put them on the northern side of the box so that they won't cast a shadow when they're growing up. Besides that, I just tried to make them look nice.

I can't wait to watch these things grow and then walk out to the garden to pick things to cook. Delicious!

Spring

2010-03-22T19:30:00.001-07:00

Finally made it to the Pasadena Saturday Farmer's Market. Look at the bounty! It feels so good to be eating fresh vegetables that taste so good. The other night I ate a cut up bell pepper, a handful of radishes, a couple of carrots, some good mozzarella I had on hand, some of those kirby cucumbers, drizzled some olive oil over it and some shopped up basil and called it dinner. It could not have been more satisfying.

Vegetable Garden

2010-03-19T12:37:00.000-07:00

I just bought all these veggies and herbs to plant my vegetable garden this weekend. I got tomatoes, 3 kinds of cucumbers, peppers, artichokes, peas, beans, swiss chard, 4 kinds of lettuce, basil, thyme and parsley. I even grabbed some strawberries for the girls to watch them grow.

I'm so excited, I've been waiting years to have a vegetable garden. I'm so looking forward to being able to walk outside and gather some food!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Terrarium

2010-03-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

In my process of making this house a home, some weeks are full of huge changes and some are small and quiet. A couple of weeks ago, a trip to the salvation army yielded this great glass bowl/display globe for $2. It inspired me to put together a new little terrarium that now sits in the dining room (I was also inspired by this place!). It's one part fern and one part succulent and it's doing surprisingly well even a couple of weeks later. I think it's happy here.

Breakfast and Tea Time

2010-03-08T15:20:00.000-08:00

Jin Patisserie: a great place to stop and collect yourself with a cup of tea and some tasty pastries (including great French Macarons). I had the opportunity to go last week with some talented ladies that I really only know because of the internet.

We also ate breakfast together at 3 Square Bakery. It was salty, crunchy, delicious:

What delicious things dd you eat over the weekend?

Making My Aunt's Madeleines

2010-03-05T10:14:00.000-08:00

Check out my post on The Kitchn today. It's all about how to make authentic french madeleines based on a cookbook my family has passed down for generations. The book was originally published in 1897 and the recipes inside are no thrills, get out your bowl and wooden spoon recipes. This one is a classic and always a crowd pleaser.

See the recipe here and have a great weekend!

Great Cake

2010-03-04T16:57:00.001-08:00

Ran across this fun cake for a 5 year old on Moline's Blog. Love the forest theme and the cute porcupines. Also love that it uses a bundt mold as it's base (always looking for an excuse to bust that one out). You should also check out her kitchen, it's pretty awesome. I talked about it once before here.

Home Made Bread

2010-03-01T11:16:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I tackled a recipe I've had bookmarked forever-- no knead bread. I have never made bread before and this could not have been more simple or more delicious. We ate it piping hot with nutella. It was heavenly. Crispy crust, moist doughy insides.

It's also so easy to make that it's the perfect way to impress people when you're hosting a dinner party. It takes no work and you can time it perfectly for fresh hot bread at the dinner table.

Find the recipe over on the kitchn.

My Little Office

2010-02-26T12:47:00.000-08:00

I set up a little office in the bonus room at the top of the stairs. This is the stuff we had on hand so it isn't yet what I envision. I want to paint the desk either charcoal or white, add a rug, get the seat cushion recovered in a new fabric and get a little daybed or cozy chair for the other side of the office. I thought I'd be really into the lamp, but I might swap it for a task lamp and then get a globe light for the room.

In the frames are pictures of my grandmothers (one is weaving and the sad girl is one of her weavings). This was my solution for getting all the framed stuff up off the floor and hung. There's still more but this is what would fit, in the meantime, on this wall.

It is so nice to be able to shut the door to a separate office. And also to make a big mess and only have it affect me!

Have a great weekend everyone. I'm running in a 5k on sunday and then planning to indulge in a host of sugar related treats!

Great Minimal Decor: Axe in Venice

2010-02-24T15:51:00.000-08:00

Axe in venice is one of my favorite lunch spots. Now that I don't live in venice it's a great excuse to meet my dad there for a rice bowl with chicken. The food is delicious--a fusion of asian and fresh farmers market ingredients. Get there early and beat the lunch rush.

I really appreciate how minimal they've kept the space. The wood ceiling with the simple light track, concrete floor and boxy furniture is soothing (although noisy once everyone is talking). They have a nice outdoor patio in the back too (but I didn't get a picture).

Also, great coffee.

Living Room Inspiration

2010-02-17T19:58:00.000-08:00

I'm shopping for a sofa for the living room and I'm still in the brainstorming stage. I have a danish modern chair and we have a giant TV and a simple white ikea TV stand at the moment. Otherwise, everything else is up for discussion so I'm really able to start from scratch. We've got two little girls and a lot of video game action happens on the sofa so it needs to be durable/comfortable and stain resistant. But it's also the first thing you see when you come in so I want it to look amazing!

Please chime in with favorite styles because while I love mid century and all things modern, there's a vote over here for tufting. Yes you heard that right, Big E thinks something with tufting would be....awesome? So here are some living room ideas in no particular order:

Here's our living room for reference. It's not huge, but there's room for something awesome.

A bright color and neutral furniture from apartment therapy.

My original inspiration via Domino. I love that it's modern but warm.

Total Mid Century Inspiration with lots of color from apartment therapy.

Sophia Coppola's place is glamorous, modern and well... comfy.

Lydia Pearson's Home in Vogue Living is chic and simple. Via Happy Mundane.

I'm a sucker for anything Swedish like this living room from desire to inspire.

Beautiful Parisian Mid Century apartment on Design Sponge.

A bold burst of color in a sleek room. It's fun, it's liveable, but it's still risky. From flickr.

AB Chao's living room is crisp and white and modern but with cozy traditional elements.

Love love love Jeana Sohn and her cute living room with little plants and plenty of empty space.

I like some glam elements like the coffee table in Cassie's Living Room.

And I want to make sure it stays light and bright like this image from Domino.

Valentine's Day Weekend

2010-02-13T10:47:00.000-08:00

I just had a lovely weekend filled with old friends, lots of baking, LOTS of eating, a beautiful hike, a good run and time with my sweetie.

We attempted red velvet cupcakes using a mix and our wits and only sort of succeeded, next time we need more red food coloring and more chocolate. We'll use this recipe if we do it again.

They sure looked good before we baked them, though.

Most impressive were these heart shaped pear and raspberry tarts that Jamie and Thea made using a recipe from the last page of the February issue of Martha. They came out light and fluffy and delicious.

Then we all sat around the table, eating and catching up for hours. It was great to have my oldest friends over to help break in the house and fill it with good cheer. Here's the dining room, it's coming along slowly:

Portland: Ink and Peat

2010-02-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of the blog Housemartin for years. It's just a great resource for beautiful flower inspiration, housewares and things happening in the Portland area. It was great to be able to visit their brick and mortar store, Ink and Peat.

As expected the shop has tons of great housewares that, in a lot of cases, I've only seen on etsy. I loved their blankets and wanted to curl up with these wooly cozy numbers.

And this chandelier!

The owner had it made using vintage style bulbs from Hippo Hardware, a Portland fave. It's a little like the classic from Jean Pelle but has more of a laisser faire quality to it.

Ink and Peat also carry fresh flowers and make custom floral designs. They're in the NE, find them here and check out their blog, Housemartin.

Tiramisu for Two

2010-02-08T11:28:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I decided to make a quick Tiramisu (more or less with this recipe) in little coffee cups. I like making individually portioned desserts because somehow it makes them feel really special.

Tiramisu is one of those desserts that seems like it would be complicated but is actually pretty simple as long as you have some kind of mixer (I use a Kitchenaid Stand mixer).

I'm also dying to make some of David Lebovitz's desserts. Have you read the Sweet Life in Paris yet? It is so good.

Bulgarini Gelato

2010-02-07T16:11:00.001-08:00

In the most out of the way, totally hidden strip mall in Altadena is the best gelato I've ever had (and I've been to Italy). The owner of Bulgarini is Italian and shuts the store for months at a time while he's gone researching flavors and bringing back key ingredients like Italian Espresso or Pistachios. It's worth the trek for those of you further away. Lucky for me I'm just a couple of miles away!

I got three flavors last time: Pistachio, Coffee and Chocolate.

As the sign says, it's crazy good.

During the winter, Bulgarini Gelato is only open on weekends, FYI.

Dark Bedroom + Curtains!

2010-02-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

I spent a good amount of time over the last two days getting the curtains done for the bedroom and it's finally starting to come together and at least is a serene place to rest my weary unpacking eyes!

The walls in the bedroom are a dark grey (Kendall Charcoal From Benjamin Moore in the flat Aura Finish) and the curtains are just from Ikea. I wanted to keep the bedroom dark and simple (see my inspiration right here).

I'd like to get a rug to put towards the bottom of the bed and we still haven't figured out night stands (um, yeah, that's a moving box I'm using). I love that we get so much sun in here during the day and that we can see the neighbor's orange tree from bed!

UPDATE: Here's a before picture (oops, forgot it the first time)!

Beautiful Peonies

2010-02-02T11:21:00.000-08:00

Somehow, I missed this gorgeous print by Gregory Krum on 20x200 last year. I'm a sucker for half dead peonies and this photograph is just so delicate and amazing. Plus, it's only $20 for an 8x11.

Erin and Chris's Fantastic Fixer Upper

2010-02-02T09:07:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen this house tour from a while back, be sure to check out Erin and Chris's Fantastic Fishtown Fixer Upper. It's a treasure trove of inspiration. Mainly I love how they scavenged or built most of what's in the house but it doesn't look like a flea market, it looks modern, comfortable and full of individual style.

Here's the link.

Sunset Trip Archives

2010-02-01T09:52:00.000-08:00

Speaking of Sunset, have you guys cruised all of their Western Trip Destinations? I get lost all the time dreaming about the gorgeous places they feature. This year I've been dying to get more travel in, so I'm bookmarking some of my favorites. Among them Fall California Trips including a trip up the 395 to the Eastern Sierra (pictured). This is one of my favorite drives and in the right season camping near lone pine is absolutely magical. I'm also really raring to go to some of the National Parks I haven't seen yet.

Here are some other favorites. I'm planning to sit down with a calendar and plan in some trips so the year doesn't escape me!

9 Great Fall Trips in the NorthWest

Plan A National Park Tour including Golden Season in Yosemite (which I caught last year, spectacular!)

Palm Springs: Rent a House, Not a Hotel Room. I also did this last year and it was awesome.

6 Winter Escapes that look serene and gorgeous.

Portland Pistils Nursery

2010-01-31T09:39:00.000-08:00

I didn't expect to find so much garden inspiration in Portland but the city is literally teeming with little boutiques, nurseries and beautiful gardens. I'll need to go back in the summer to experience their world famous rose gardens. Pistils Nursery in the NE is a tiny place chock full of interesting terrariums, indoor plants and, in the back, they raise chickens and have a whole selection (of largely dormant) plants. It was a sweet place that definitely inspired me to bring more plants inside, ater all, if they can grow inside in the middle of a winter in Portland then surely I can grow more in sunny Socal.

You can find out more info on the Pistils Nursery site and Sunset where they did a whole article on the nursery and their Urban Homesteading.

Portland Stumptown Coffee

2010-01-28T15:27:00.000-08:00

Portland was amazing. I'll be posting about my finds over the next week, but suffice it to say, that town knows how to eat. Mix that with cold weather and grey days and I'm in heaven. I loved local roaster Stumptown Coffee. Sure it's hip and all the locations are super cool, but it's just a really really good cup of coffee and it felt more relaxed than either Intelligentsia or Blue Bottle. Plus, no jitters!

I drank it every day and was tempted to buy a bag to brew at home. But I opted not to, so that it would remain a special treat when I visit Portland.

Going To Portland Plus Links

2010-01-21T16:15:00.001-08:00

A quick update before I leave for Portland for the weekend to visit friends (let me know if you have recommendations!):

I'm still surrounded by boxes, though we're making progress. I'm replacing the pendant above the dining room table by myself today and have a couple hundred projects on deck.

So that I can close some of the tabs on my computer, here are links I've kept open because they make me so happy:

Gorgeous black kitchen from moline on flickr

This incredibly vibrant yet sophisticated living room from h4ndz on flickr.

Rebecca just moved here from Paris and she's selling her flat there. Who's with me?

I'm in the mood for some bread and maybe when I get back from Portland I'll try my hand at this no knead stuff.

It is my goal in life to make things look as beautiful as this cheese spread from Sunday Suppers

Have a great weekend everyone!

Grey Paint

2010-01-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

I did a post over on AT on Grey Paint colors and a lot of people chimed in with their favorites. Kind of wish I had done that before I painted things 3 times. Anyway, it's a great resource for some good greys.

(Image is from Max and Gen's House Tour)