Fresh and Springy . . . Florals, Interior, Fashion, Food . . .

Hi

I love forsythia.  I remember growing up in Connecticut and having our entire driveway flanked with these sunny, fresh blossoms.  It was always a sure sign Spring was on the way.  I used these blossoms just a few days ago in my Philly install and was reminded just how much I love Springy Yellows and Delicate Greens.

Perfect for centerpieces - tall and vibrant, but delicate.

Caldwell Snyder Gallery - San Francisco

What else do I love ? - Yellow doors.

Yellow is the accent color at my house . . .

photos by mekenzie loli

I am a vintage lover.  Always shopping at 1st Dibs for something unique.

Rugs available from ABC Home (here)

Vintage 1970's Leon Rosen Swivel Chair (pair) $4,800 (here)

Manola Blahnik Yellow Strappy Sandal Size 37 $200 (here) 

Mary Didoardo Oil on Panel 2014 $700 (here)

What else do I love? - lemons. 

A bowl full in a room, when my fabulous cleaning family finishes on Fridays and it's all lemony, mixed in my water, and in these two recipes, two of my favorites.

ARUGULA SALAD WITH LEMON VINAIGRETTE

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 c white or red wine vinegar
• 1/4 c olive oil
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice
•  fresh cracked pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine vinegar, olive oil & lemon juice.
2. Shake well!
3. Top with fresh cracked pepper

Lemon CheesecaKe Mousse

INGREDIENTS

Crust:

3/4 cup crushed graham crackers (6 full sheets)

2 Tbsp granulated sugar

3 Tbsp salted butter, melted

Mousse:

2 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 Tbsp water

1 1/2 tsp unflavored gelatin powder

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1 cup powdered sugar, divided

Yellow food coloring

12 oz cream cheese, softened

1 jar lemon curd

Sweetened whipped cram, lemon wedges

Blueberries and mint for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. In a mixing bowl whisk together graham cracker crumbs and sugar.  Pour in butter and stir until evenly moistened.  Divide mixture among 8-10 dessert cups and lightly press into an even layer, set aside
2. Pour lemon juice and water into a small bowl.  Sprinkle gelatin evenly over top, let rest 5 minutes.  Meanwhile, whip heavy cram in a medium mixing bowl until soft peaks form.  add in 1/3 cups of powdered sugar, tint with yellow food coloring if desired and whip until stiff (but not lumpy) peaks form (shake cream from beaters, no need to clean).  In a separate large mixing bowl whip cream cheese until smooth and fluffy.  Mix lemon curd and remaining 2/3 cups powdered sugar into cram cheese mixture.
3.   Heat rested gelatin mixture in the microwave on high power for 30 seconds.  Whisk for 1 minute to thoroughly dissolve gelatin, then let cool 3 mins (no longer or it may stat to set then you could end up with lumps in the mousse).  While mixing cream cheese mixture with hand mixer, slowly pour in gelatin mixture then blend until thoroughly combined.  Gently fold 1/3 of the whipped cream mixture into the cream cheese mixture to lighten, then add remaining whipped cream and gently fold in until combined.  Spoon or pipe mixture into dessert cups over graham cracker layer.  Cover and refrigerate 2 hours (or up to 1 day ahead if desired) to set. 
4.  Garnish as desired and serve cold.  

What else do I love?  Spring green.

I was thrilled to see a room I recently finished on the this month's cover of QC Magazine (here).  I love this space for two reasons, it's casual and deliberate in it's color palate.  I chose white and grey but popped it with a fresh, tall palm an this gorgeous piece from Shain Gallery by artist Saliha Staib  This space screams fresh to me an you almost feel like you are on vacation when the light is streaming in.  

Green does that.  It's natural, it goes with anything. 

With a few doses of fresh green mixed with whites it always feels like Spring.

I have always loved green and I love vintage . . . on this early, Sunny Sunday morning I am playing on the laptop looking for various things and got side tracked over to 1st Dibs, look at these fun pieces!

Vintage Versace Puffer Coat $8,500 (here)

Dior Green Plaid Shoes $220  (here)

Chanel Vintage Studded Earrings $754.00 (here)

Chandelier $1,950.00 (here)

I can eat avocado's every day, always looking for a way to mix in.  Here's one of my favorites

Green Goddess Spring Socca

INGREDIENTS

1 cup chickpea flour
1/4 tsp fine salt
4 tsp olive oil
1 cup water
1 heaping cup baby greens like arugula, mizuna or microgreens
2 ounces hass avocado, thinly slices
1 batch green goddess dressing

DIRECTIONS

1. Whisk together the chickpea flour, salt, 2 teaspoons olive oil, and water, until no clumps remain.  Allow the socca batter to rest and thicken for at least 30 minutes, and up to 2 hours.  In the meantime, preheat your oven to 450F and place a 10 or 12-inch skillet into the oven.
2. Add one teaspoon oil to the skillet and swirl or brush it around to coat.  Pour the socca batter into the hot skillet (it'll sizzle so be careful).  Transfer the sillet to the oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the socca has set and the top is golden.  For a crispy top, you can bake for 10 minutes, raise the oven heat to a broil, and put the socca in the broiler for the last 2 minutes of cooking.
3. While the socca bakes, top with the greens and avocado slices, then drizzle with the green goddess dressing, serve.

Happy Sunday !

Hot off the Press !

Wow, made the cover !  Thanks so much for such a great image Mekenzie and to QC for the press !  I am one of your biggest fans.  This is such a good issue filled with all sorts of inspiration and talent.  Get you copy today !

Check it out in full (here).  

Install of the Day !

Hi !

Finally.  A while in the making, this new build in downtown Philly was set to install last August.  But the rules are a little different in this big city.  The day had finally arrived.  Morgan, our new assistant, and I flew up this past Sunday so we could meet the delivery truck early Monday morning to get this show on the road !  Keith also drove up with a truck full of custom pieces . . . it was wild.

This client wanted color, lots of it.  Another big request - pattern and the mix of old and new.  She also is a huge wall paper junkie and would have it in every room if we all let her !  A quirky style for sure on this install which made it fun and different.  But there were also a few challenges.

This four story build is narrow, shot gun style.  You entered street side into a dining and kitchen area.  Creating a walkway with a large table was important and my idea was to off set it and place a custom banquet along the wall allowing for a walk through.  Style wise I wanted to keep the entire space feeling as big as possible so we continued the Ben Moore Decorator White everywhere, but used pops of color and wall paper to define certain spaces.  The color inspiration came from the window treatment, one of my first picks.  A large scale floral from Designer's Guild.  I further wanted a papered ceiling over top of the dining area to define that space.   We mixed in a vintage inspired chandelier with the home owners own large mirror but mixed that with modern counter stools near by and of course a big dose of original art  - Mr. Questlove.

Take a look !

I found this gorgeous over dye rug at market last year and it's the yummiest emerald green.  Paired with lavender upholstered chairs with a rich velvet red, purple and lavender pattern on the back.

Simple but large vases using the yellow pop color to finish it off.  I am a big fan of oversized floral arrangements.

As a surprise, we commissioned Lori Love to do a large art piece.   Questlove.  The textures and materials in this mixed media are amazing - all CD's, albums, and tape with a glowing resin mixed in.  Really amazing and a huge hit !

Its a beauty and it was so warm and sunny last Saturday, the perfect day for a shoot.

The kitchen opens right into the space.  All white with copper counter stools.  We couldn't get the drop pendants up during our install, sad to say. . . missing a part.  Huge bummer but when up they will be amazing !

Just past the kitchen you make your way to the stairwell where I put a bit piece of Lindsay Cowles' paper.  It's printed on a grass cloth and has great texture !

Last minute powder room.  My client found this paper at the last minute and we managed to get it up in time !  With the door open it certainly makes you pause to wonder just what it is !

She has a collection of old brass mirrors.  Though it would be fun to mix them all up in the powder room as oppose to one big mirror . . . 

The back family room is big - by city standards.  Casual - artsy.  I brought the Kelly green from the front of the house back to the new Chesterfield tufted velvet sofa.

I had to have this lamp and Windy O'Connor created a custom piece for this project - Love !

I did consider all the colors so they worked with this killer original Warhol.

Love the brightness and whimsy on the first floor and carrying it upstairs was a must.  We started in the eldest daughters room with a Christian La Croix paper and worked off of that.

Isn't this paper the best !

Younger baby sister got a little paper as well.. and a new rocker and rug !

Lastly the master bedroom.  Slightly calmer with a new upholstered bed, side tables and lamps with a splash of color on the floor.

After all this . . . a quite moment on the roof top deck and a cocktail.

all photos by Mekenzie Loli

Big thanks to Morgan for all her hard work on this !

Loving having her working with us. 

- picture taken at Philly's Magic Garden

Philly finally done !  Happy Weekend.