Patience and Penny Pinching.

So I told you all we have moved into our little house down the way. Part of the reason is to be able to afford a house in the country and we have been looking in the Berkshires for over a year now. I am super excited. I know I am going to want to fix up up right away to the fullest, but the budget is sure not going to allow that. This is why I love An Urban Cottage's blog. The owner has been renovating this little greek revival in Cambridge MA which wasn't so greek or revival till he brought it back to life. It goes to show you that you can make some quick fixes initially in a bad kitchen that can really be transform the space. With a lot of vision and little money, look how gorgeous this space is! The exterior renovation was much more extensive, but what a showstopper.
This is the before (thanks to Vintique Object, another great blog )

And this is the after

Steve painted the tile (yes, you can!) and gave it a clean, white backdrop. He added stock cabinets which he painted out, added some little shelving, butcher block counters, and an antique island. Smart accessories add to a very functional, pleasing space.

Small

Is the new big.

photo credits Martha Stewart Living, Canadian House and Home, Country Living,Domino, Elle Decor

Survival of the Fittest

The Today Show had this segment on surviving the winter this morning. In it they featured one pot meals to warm your heart and keep your belly full. I'm thinking of pulling a Katy Elliot and trying this number below. I say this because Katy is liable to whip a gorgeous looking treat at moment of the day. I love her.







Shrimp and scallop pan roast
Ed Brown
Serves 4

INGREDIENTS


• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 2 strips bacon, minced
• 2 small cloves garlic, peeled, minced
• 2 small fresh shallots, peeled, minced
• 1 tbls. vermouth
• 3/4 cup light fish or chicken stock OR water is OK
• 1 medium potato, washed, diced fine (skin on best!)
• 8 medium shrimp, peeled, deveined and butterflied
• 8 medium sea scallops
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 2 tsps Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp Tabasco sauce
• 1 tsp good brandy
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp rough-chopped tarragon
• 2 tsps rough-chopped flat parsley
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 4 1-inch-thick baguette croutons (toasted crisp)

DIRECTIONS
In a medium saucepan heat oil and bacon on medium heat.

Add shallots and garlic, sweat without color until translucent.

Add vermouth, stock and potatoes; bring to a simmer. Cook 3 minutes until potato is tender.

Add shellfish and half-and-half; keep at gentle simmer for 2-3 minutes until shellfish is just cooked. Add cream, Worcestershire and Tabasco, bring to boil, then simmer 1 minute.

Remove from fire; add brandy, lemon, herbs and season. In a soup bowl place crouton on bottom, ladle shellfish and sauce equally over the bread, serve.

search for more recipes in TODAY's Cooking School

PS. This is not my kitchen.

Kitchen Romans

If you can remember this is my kitchen after our renovation was completed. It started as this. I loved just about everything. Except my windows seen above. If I had a gorgeous garden view and five thousand more dollars in the renovation budget, I totally would have these windows below:








But here in the Historic Hill Section of Scranton, houses are practically right next to you and I really didn't want that view. So we went for a very basic window without a lot of charm. I thought as an affordable solution I would fake a better window one day with a high mounted shade. As a decorator I get to do fabulous roman shades that operate and really dress up windows for clients. But for myself, I knew I would never move them and didn't want the added expense to make them operational. I was inspired by Fly Through Our Window blogger Darby's fixed roman shade project for her house. She basically did it WITHOUT sewing and glue (which is pretty amazing), but I turned over mine to my talented sewer Tiffany to get the job done. I picked up some basic cotton duck in a very chic grey and some white twill tape to inset the trim. And voila! A larger looking, dressed window that makes the kitchen look that much better. Hooray!