Shiny
November 17, 2013
Sometimes you just need a little shine on your shoes to get you off on the right foot. And, it doesn’t get any shinier than this… a classic lace up oxford in patent leather by Gucci. They make me smile just looking at them. I think I’d need two pair cuz I’d wear them every day… with some beat up jeans and a black turtleneck or crew. The simplequietmodern anchor to my seasonal uniform.
photo: BergdorfGoodman
Eat Up
November 14, 2013
A hearty comforting hash of potatoes, baby Portobellos, onions and green pepper is just the ticket for these cooler ( OK…COLD ) days that are now upon us. Easily prepared in advance, the ingredients can be combined and tossed together with a final salt & pepper adjustment. I like this by itself for lunch or topped with poached eggs for dinner, but it’s also great used as an omelet filling or as a side to roast pork or chicken. You can add some Brussels Sprouts or Winter squash to the mix or glam it up with a crumble of goat cheese and a sprinkle of herbs…but for now, let’s keep it simple.
Red. Most definitely red.
November 11, 2013
What other choice is there? When Santa is done with his marathon trip around the globe on Christmas Eve, he should be coming home to this…the Ch 410 Heritage Lounge Chair and Ottoman designed by Fritz Henningsen. And, in red mohair velvet from Donghia with walnut legs, this early Danish Modern design from 1930 will have Santa relaxing stylishly well into 2030. Maybe you need to add this to your Christmas wish list. Have you been this good?
chair photos: Hive
They Just Make Good Scents
November 8, 2013
A cracking fire, a fresh-cut tree or a festive blend of citrus and spices…all aromas we remember from season to season and crave as the holidays grow closer. You can help things along early as I do and burn one of these a few minutes in the morning and again for a few when returning at the end of the day…starting now. The Fireside Candle from Bath and Body Works is a favorite…warm and smoky without smelling like the living room is in flames or the Heath Ceramics Red Suede candle cup scented with evergreens. Their fragrances will not only relax you but quietly kick-start your Christmas spirit.
candle cup photo: Heath
http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/product/index.jsp?productId=24386456&cp=12586994.12936192.4147333
http://www.heathceramics.com/catalog/product/view/id/1308/s/classic-holiday-candle/category/3/
Love it…Hate it
October 30, 2013
I fall into the “hate it” group when it comes to Halloween. Don’t ask me why…just do. Maybe it’s the cheezy costumes and ” dressing up” that I find unappealing. The treats? Now, that’s another thing completely. Who doesn’t love an annual dose of candy corn or better yet something homemade,… without a trace of orange or black…like these Butterscotch Crunch bars. A quick mix of a few ingredients you most likely have on hand , ten minutes in the oven and your are done. Fair warning: make two batches
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The simple recipe can be found here. I added a sprinkle of kosher salt over top as they were cooling which seemed to round out the rich sweetness. http://www.cbc.ca/bestrecipes/2012/04/butterscotch-crunch-bars.html
Like a deep cleansing breath…
October 27, 2013
…the guest room. Isn’t that what it should be? A place to relax…regroup…recharge. If you are daunted by the idea of pulling together a space to house holiday visitors…well, relax. Take a simplequietmodern cue from the room illustrated. Simple furnishings…intentionally spare…warm relaxed color. A bed, a chair and side table are all the basics you’ll need and a weekend project provides a fresh coat of paint. Add a luxurious natural linen bed cover and pillowcases and, well, you are pretty much done. It’s important to remember that when keeping things this simple each piece needs to be the best it can be…make the investment in good linens and make the furniture selections something you would use or sit on yourself everyday. Now, while you’re waiting for those guests to arrive, take it for a test run … you know, just to exhale and celebrate a job well done.
From the top:
Photo via http://remash.tumblr.com/
Donghia Textiles Mummy’s Cloth, 100% linen weave
Another weekend adventure might produce a vintage Robsjohn-Gibbings walnut end table…which will be a stunner after a bit of finish attention. Nicely proportioned to use as a night table and easily moved for double duty next to a chair.
Knit One
October 24, 2013
The Brioche scarf…pure simple, pure quiet, pure modern. Start one now for yourself and there will still be time to make a couple more before the holidays…for those extra special gifts. Knit up in their new line weight merino wool yarn from Purl Soho you are sure to find something you’ll love from the selection of pale to dark neutrals, pastels or brights. If you can’t make up your mind you cannot go wrong with the Oyster Gray or Toasted Charcoal. Laura’s pattern is posted on their site as well so there is no excuse to delay…they’ve got you covered with everything you need to get started.
photos courtesy of Purl Soho
http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2013/10/20/lauras-loop-brioche-scarf.html
“You like pie?”
September 27, 2013
“I like pie”. * Who’s going to argue with the President on this point? Pie is good…simple as that. And, what better way to usher in Fall than with an apple pie… in this case, Sour Cream Apple Pie.
I adapted the recipe found here:http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/posie_gets_cozy/2008/10/sour-cream-appl.html using a mix of Granny Smith and Gala Apples. This pie was even better on the second day at room temperature.
* Barrack Obama
To Carry You Through
September 9, 2013
A little something to carry you through the week and a little larger something to help you make a quick get-a-way come the weekend. Monday through Friday you’ve got the Everlane Mens Tote…cotton canvas and leather…with just the right amount of space for your tablet or laptop and a handful of daily essentials. Come Thursday night you’ll be packing up the Everlane Weekender with an extra pair of jeans, a sweater and a few extras to get you through a weekend escape. It’s not too early in the season to be thinking about gettin’ out of Dodge is it?
https://www.everlane.com/collections/mens-tote-collection/products/classic-tote-black
Back to school…
September 3, 2013
back to work or just getting back to it. It’s September. Get up early…when everything is just quieter and the earliest morning sun seems to shed a new type of light on everything…and sneak off to your favorite corner to size up the coming season. A sort of meditation on your upcoming projects and projects still waiting to spring off the starting blocks. Whether they be an interior focus, some gardening attention, the tackling of a new skill set or honing an existing one, each can benefit from a few uninterrupted moments of relaxation and free thought. Before the activities and responsibilities of the day take over, pick your spot , take a deep cleansing breath and see what new inspiration surfaces. And don’t forget, we still have 3 weeks of Summer to enjoy before the chill of Fall is actually upon us.
simplequietmodern 