Showing posts with label divine dining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label divine dining. Show all posts

Monday, August 1, 2011

Pinterest Challenge July 2011 | Project Results


The above photo was the inspiration for my project.  It originated from Addicted 2 Decorating.  I repinned someone elses pin, from a blog feature on Classy Clutter. Wow, you could totally play "seven degrees of Pinterest".  Back to the challenge...

 The week before the challenge was issued I had begun a little dining room makeover and was contemplating repainting this cabinet.


The room was getting a new coat of paint and going from Valspar City Storm to Benjamin Moore's Gray Owl.  You can see the City Storm color in the above shot and will see Gray Owl in the room in photos below.  I began to think about the turquoise piano I pinned 6 weeks ago and a lightbulb went off that I did not have to have a piano to recreate the look but could do it with my red cabinet.  I was not sure exactly what color was used on the piano so in the end I custom blended my own turquoise color. 


After I got the color just right, I painted the outside the teal/turquoise and the inside black.  I then worked on the back panel that I did a faux bois treatment on.  Get more detailed information about how I custom mixed the color, what colors I used and how I did the faux bois here.


While waiting for the paint to dry I began to work on the plate part.  First I laid out the plates to get an idea of what I wanted. For more detailed information about the hanging plate part, click here.


After getting the layout right, which took a few days of moving, photographing and lots of head tilting, I moved on.  I then rolled out craft paper and laid the plates down again and traced around the outside to make a pattern of sorts.


I planned to hang up the pattern above the cabinet to make sure that I liked the placement.


This is probably the third pattern I made.  I lived with it for a day taped to the wall above the cabinet before I began hanging plates.  I am so glad I did this step because they really looked different on the wall.  I used much bigger plates that the inspiration photo which is good and bad.


Next came plate hanging hooks {came with the plate hangers}.  The whole plate hanger part of this is a whole other issue/story for another time. If you want to know more about it, click here for details. Anyway, I hung the hooks and then placed the plates up.


Then it was time for the paper to come down!


Back up the plates went!


I had been playing with different accessories for the top of the cabinet and decided to go with these CB2 vase/candle holders I have had for several years.  I also have white Zgallerie pillar candle sticks that look good that could be a future option.  I liked the lighter visual weight that the glass has since the plates are big.


Since living plants cannot survive in my home due to two furry inhabitants I just cut a few herbs and plants from the yard.



Please ignore the crazy long plate hangers!  I am going to replace/snip them down.  I really wanted to get the project done, so this had to do for the time being. For more information about the plate hangers I used, click here.


Now for a side by side comparison from the inspiration and my completed project!

There are a few changes I plan to make such as changing/modifying the plate hangers as I have already mentioned; adding or swapping plates; changing the wicker vase next to the cabinet; and maybe different knobs on the cabinet.  I love the end result!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Pinterest Summer Challenge!

I am so excited about this challenge!  I have the perfect idea for a dining room project obviously inspired by Pinterest.  It is probably my most loved pin.  ever.  So excited!!!

Not sure what I am talking about?  Check out YoungHouseLove, Emily Henderson, BowerPowerBlog, or Making a House a Home.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Message in a cookie cutters


I have been resisting the temptation to peruse the catalogs that come weekly.  Today, I could not help but look through the Williams-Sonoma one.   I am so very glad that I did!  I stumbled upon the cutest cookie cutters I have ever seen! Message-in-a-cookie Cutters!











Apparently there was also a holiday version, that is of course sold out.


 

I really love the current set, my favorite is the scalloped edge cutter.  Too cute!  I still have some Christmas money burning a hole in my pocket...I just may have to get these! 

Saturday, December 19, 2009

truffles and tortes

I am trying out two recently acquired recipes on Chris' family tomorrow for their annual holiday get together the Sunday before Christmas.  I love making new and fun appetizers and dips to bring to a party.  I will be honest that I have been craving the cranberry walnut torte concoction from Trader Joes. So when posed with the task to bring something different...I decided to see if I could make one myself.



I altered the recipe as the container I was using to make my torte was a 1 qt. souffle dish.

Here is my version:
8oz. package low fat cream cheese {softened}
5oz. crumbled Gorgonzola {room temperature}
Dried Cranberries
Walnut chips

I also used cling wrap in my dish instead of waxed paper. Check out the original recipe and directions here.

My next new treat are Oreo Truffles. The Beginning of Forever recently blogged about cake balls and how she calls them truffles.  Which is so perfect...really, I wish I would have thought of it. lol. This rather settled my issue with "cake balls" so I am proud to say they have a new name now....cake truffles!  I am so excited I found this Bakerella recipe.  

So back to the Oreo truffles.  After reading about the existence of these delectable delights I decided it was a perfect time to make them...


{via Flickr}

The recipe is super simple
1 package Oreo's divided
8 oz. cream cheese {softened}
White Chocolate Bark coating

Visit Bakerella for all the details.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Chicken? Again?

I have a weird thing about chicken...I really am rather grossed out by it tend cut off all the parts that are "suspect".  Like that long white stuff, or the other gross things that are in/on a chicken breast.  So now you know something strange about me.

I am on a quest for good chicken recipes.  I have been making a very tasty breaded chicken, I can do chicken and rice, I even ventured into stuffed chicken breasts and brussel sprouts after reading this post...but every time I tell my husband we are having chicken for dinner...I get the "oh" response....meaning....is there anything else!

So I need some good recipes.  Anyone have anything to share?  Don't be chicken! Please share!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

haute halloween

{Rosanna Inc.}

I love this website! They have such beautiful and fun items. I am still in love with this that I have blogged about, and maybe one day I will get it! I am excited about the black ceramic items, I already have the small cake plate and the black teapot. I would love the medium size black cake plate to do a little mix and matching with my martha cake stands. I have the round set and the square set. I love cake stands!

So how cute would these cake stands be with some cupcakes decorated with candy corn or halloween candies? So fun!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

banana bread

yum. My grandma has the.best.ever. banana bread recipe. It just wrong how good it is.

I cannot eat a banana if it has even one dark spot on it...in fact I like them when they were green 10 minutes ago and now yellow. Anybody else?

I have been planning on making banana bread with my rejected banana's for about 2 weeks now. Chris asked me last night if I was going to let them turn completely black. um, yes actually. ;)

Now I was not really waiting for that, but today was the day I decided to finally do it. With the kitchen full of dirty dishes, china, pots, pans...etc...it was the perfect day! Prep batter...bake for 50 min and clean the kitchen in the meantime.

It smells. to. die. for. (will update with pic)

Did anyone ever get the banana bread toast from Cyrano's? Wow. that is some good toast.

Ok..I am rambling. must need more coffee.

One last note. I am in love with this batter bowl from Crate and Barrel (Thanks Jami!)
was not on the registry, but boy and I glad she veered. I use it for practically everything! love.












{Crate and Barrel}

no that is NOT my kitchen. heh. pancakes look good ;)

Monday, July 13, 2009

1 month ago

It was our wedding day. At this time we were downtown taking pictures. Time was flying by, as it normally does on wedding day.

I love my china. Even though I did not get all of it, I plan to collect it over the years.

In honor of that fabulous day, today {and every 13th} we will eat off of our china...whether the meal be filet mignon or chinese takeout. Tonight we will be having filet.

{Dinner Plate, Vera Wang Lace}


Why the china? Well...Chris claims that we will never use it. So I simply have to prove him wrong. He does not think I can keep it up more than 2 months. We shall see.

{salad plate, detail}



An no celebration would be complete without dessert...I made one. giant. cupcake.

I am not pleased with the final result. My mom is super talented when it comes to baking and decorating cakes. She is simply phenomenal. She has her own buttercream recipe that is so
heavenly.

I have learned some of her tricks over the years...but today nothing was working. I tried to fashion an icing bag from some parchment paper...ugh. It was just a disaster. I really wanted it to look pretty. oh well.

Chris will honestly be happy with the trimmings and some ice cream. As long as it tastes good, he does not care much about how a cake looks.

{giant cupcake pan}



{assembled cupcake and trimmings}

Friday, July 10, 2009

Omaha Steaks

Chris and I received a gift card at a shower for Omaha Steaks. So during my wedding registry exchange adventure today {which Macy's was RUDE, Crate and Barrel was sooooo nice} I thankfully remembered the gc we had and went to Omaha Steaks across from CB. Not really sure if there are any more in STL but I digress. The point is that I found a coupon is the value saver or whatever it is called {yes, I am finally starting to use coupons!} that seemed like a really good deal!

The coupon I had was for $39.99 and came with an additional 6 free burgers! The very nice sales lady also offered me a 3 additional items {from a list} for $19.99.

The gc was for $50 so decided it was worth getting some extra stuff. So I selected:
Mediterranean Chicken Breasts
Polynesian Pork Chops
Garlic Mashed Potatoes

For lunch today I had a gourmet frank and it was quite good! We are definitely stocked in the meat department for a while....we might need to have a party and grill out.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

La Patisserie

love.love.love.so want.

if I had a gc I would buy all three. These have been on my wish list for a while. They would be perfect with everything else I have! AND they are not cake plates! :)
Related Posts with Thumbnails