simply stated

how simple and elegant is this house in belgium. it used to be an old mirror factory. love the floor to ceiling shelves. the kitchen shelves hold a beautiful collection of earthenware. i'm sure the owner has so many stories of how they acquired them. feels like this house has a soul.

via the style files.

nesting

january brought a virus that sucked the life out of our entire family. we are all feeling better now and ready to take on the day. when i wasn't wiping the noses of my twin girls or napping to try to catch up with sleep, january was all about nesting in this cold boston weather. trying out new recipes. cleaning with mrs. meyers basil cleaners (want to try the iowa pine scent). organizing and purging. reading magazines and watching entertaining tv (white collar, modern family, and project runway) with lots of blankets over our laps. here are some of the recipes we experimented with that i would make over and over again.

1. lentil sausage soup. we froze the leftovers and it was just as good heated up the next week.

2. pasta with roasted cauliflower, arugula and prosciutto. healthy and cauliflower is in season.

3. moroccan chicken couscous. i doubled the spices because we like a kick.

4. chicken tetrazzini. this takes awhile to make. 1+ hours, but is well worth it because you get so many meals out of it.

5. coconut cupcakes. enough said!!

the lovely stephanie at stephmodo gave me the idea for 1+2. thank you!! she has more recipes to love here.

photo from anthropologie. colossal cables throw.

mom+dad's house

my parents built a new house to look old 20+ years ago in chagrin falls, ohio. my mom has collected antiques before i was ever a thought in their minds. she has a passion for collections, decorating, entertaining, and finding treasures at rummage sales. guess where i get my love for design? we were home for a fun trip at thanksgiving so i took some pictures of their place. i know she would be embarrassed to know i was putting pictures of their house up, but her eye for decorating and placement of things provides me with much inspiration and i'm hoping you can take away an idea or two.

desk looking out to the woods in their family room. antique pond boat. my parents made the lights.

love curling up by this fireplace with a cup of tea and a magazine

my mom's collection of antlers and wooden bowls. my brother made the birch bark stool.

inspiring book shelves with ikea lights.

some of my mom's white ironstone collection.

i want to paint this still life.

2 wing chairs from a house sale. she had slipcovers made for them.

coffee table in the family room. my family has a fondness for andrew wyeth.

newly painted kitchen. just ignore the dirty dishes in the sink.

oil painting above the stove.

my mom and dad. aren't they cute!
light fixture from ikea.

josh by the bar with my mom's collection of antique goblets.

dining room with an old farmhouse table from maine.

betsy dunlap calligraphy

beautiful calligraphy from betsy dunlap. i would love to write love letters with that handwriting. how romantic.