Splendid Sass

Saturday, July 9, 2011

HOUSE BEAUTIFUL KITCHEN OF THE MONTH

This stunning kitchen is the August House Beautiful Kitchen of the Month. Owner Summer Thornton designed this 105 square foot room.

The counter-to-ceiling cabinets were painted with black lacquer, and the countertops are Carrara marble. The mirror adds so much light to this kitchen, and it showcases the china and other pieces on the open shelves. The lamp and the faucet are perfect.

ENJOY!

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

IF YOU MISSED

Mixed Berry Cobbler

Vermont Lakefront Design

Sophie Conran ~ Design in West Sussex

Design in Tarzana, California

Ramsign Giveaway

House Beautiful August 2011

MIXED BERRY COBBLER

Serve topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.

8 servings

Ingredients

Filling

1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
7 cups (1 3/4-2 pounds) mixed fresh berries (use no more than 1 1/2 cups strawberries; halved if large)

Dough

1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour plus more for surface
1/4 cup sugar plus more for sprinkling
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into ½" cubes
1/2 cup chilled whole milk plus more for brushing
Vanilla ice cream

Preparation

Filling

Position a rack in middle of oven and preheat to 400°. Whisk sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl. Add berries to bowl and toss to coat. Transfer berry mixture to a 2-quart baking dish about 2" deep. Set aside to macerate while making dough.

Dough

Whisk 1 1/3 cups flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Add butter; using fingertips, rub in butter until coarse meal forms. Add 1/2 cup milk and stir just until dough forms. Gather dough into a ball and transfer to a lightly floured surface. Gently knead 5 or 6 times, then pat or roll dough into a 9x6" rectangle. Cut dough in half lengthwise, then crosswise 3 times, forming 8 rectangles. Arrange biscuits 1/2" apart over fruit. Brush tops lightly with milk and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake until fruit is bubbling and biscuits are just cooked through and golden all over, about 35 minutes. Let cool at least 30 minutes; serve with vanilla ice cream. DO AHEAD: Cobbler can be made up to 3 hours ahead. Rewarm at 350° if desired.

See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo

Recipe by Melissa Roberts

Photograph by Hirsheimer & Hamilton

July 2011 Bon Appetit

Friday, July 8, 2011

VERMONT LAKEFRONT DESIGN

I have had ONE crazy and busy week! I can't wait to sit down and see what I have missed.

***

Liz and Ed Flynn knew that they had found the perfect lakefront property when they drove into a plot of land with a run down camp sitting on it. The rest is history.

The couple hired architects Steven and Judith Selin to build a home on the one acre, 75 foot wide lot. Using as much as they could from the old house, reclaimed wood, and furnishings that were family pieces, the Flynns built a sustainable home. The couple hired local cabinetmakers and contractors, made the dining table from repurposed wood, and used oil instead of polyurethane on the hardwood floors.

The family have no Wi-Fi or televisions, but there are board games from the original home and a VCR for watching Disney movies. Now that is a step back in time! ENJOY!

To read more about this home, pick up your copy of the July issue of Country Living.

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

IF YOU MISSED

Sophie Conran ~ Design in West Sussex

Design in Tarzana, California

Ramsign Giveaway

Thursday, July 7, 2011

SOPHIE CONRAN ~ DESIGN IN WEST SUSSEX

Interior designer Sophie Conran is no stranger to the world of design. The daughter of Sir Terrance, she is known internationally for her knowledge of design. Her emporium in Notting Hill, Wong Singh Jones, was her first business, and she has since designed homeware for Country Road. In 2006, Conran designed her award-winning tableware for Portmeirion. She has also been asked to design cutlery for Arthur Price, wallpaper for Arthouse, lighting for John Lewis, and Crystal for Royal Worcester.

Conran owns a flat in London which is furnished with modern decor. When she found this country home, she planned to use an eclectic mix of furnishings. Because Conran is a former antiques buyer for The Conran Shop, she knows where to shop for the more traditional furnishing. She also raided her mother's and brother's attics.

In addition to the many pieces purchased by Conran, the new home has two large Terrence Conran sofas, a grand piano, a chest of drawers. Her kitchen table was a wedding present from her father.

Her personality and training show through in this beautiful home. ENJOY!

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE!

IF YOU MISSED
Design in Tarzana, California
Ramsign Giveaway

House and Garden UK July 2011

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

DESIGN IN TARZANA, CALIFORNIA

When Jenni Glancy found this 1906 hacienda, she drove home and told her husband they were moving to Tarzana, California, which is 22 miles from Los Angeles. He agreed, and the rest is history!

Always interested in antiques and older objects, Jenni found much of what decorates her home in thrift shops. She just has an eye for beautiful things that no longer have a home, and runs a business selling her finds.

The brick and window corridor, the multi-colored kitchen, and the wall of shelving were things that Jenni loved just the way they were, so she painted and decorated the home as is with her collection of finds. ENJOY!

To read more about this home, pick up your copy of the July issue of Country Living.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway here!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

RAMSIGN GIVEAWAY!

The generous people at Ramsign, a small Danish company that specializes in manufacturing and selling of classic enamel signs (house signs and house numbers) based upon original designs and techniques, are being kind enough to offer one lucky reader a lovely number sign with up to 5 numbers. To see the selection of number signs visit here.

To enter, be a Splendid Sass follower, and visit Ramsign to choose the style of the number sign you would choose. Then come back and leave a comment letting me know your favorite. For more entries, like me on facebook, or tweet about the giveaway. You will also get an extra entry for blogging about the giveaway. Be sure to leave a message for each entry. Be certain that I can reach you by email.

The winner will be randomly drawn on July 19, 2011 at midnight, and the winner will be announced the following day. GOOD LUCK!

See you soon,

Teresa

xoxo

ERIK KARLSEN ~ DESIGN IN ESSEX

Interior designer Erik Karlsen, founder of Jane Churchill fabric and wallpaper brand, which is now a part of Colefax and Fowler design, renovated and built on to this 1900 home in Essex. The country home exhibits Karlsn's taste in the past and present.

Karlsen worked with hard wood floors, folding floor-to-ceiling doors and windows, and french doors, turning this Georgian-style home into a beautiful and hospitable home. Karlsen wanted to stay true to the original home, but opened the areas up, adding to the home.

Something I found interesting was Karlsen's technique of using a red base coat under the blue-green paint he used for the walls, giving the walls warmth. ENJOY!