Cupid Cooks
February 9, 2013
OK, here’s the plan. After a quick trip for a well priced Brut Rose’, start with Gougere, always the perfect accompaniment to a dry sparkling wine. Follow with a dinner of roast cornish game hen, orzo with peas and mint and finish with an Afogatto of coffee ice cream topped with espresso and some toasted almonds ( or, as shown here,with a shard of Brulee Almond Brittle) for dessert. The Gougere can be made the weekend prior and frozen until needed. Roast the game hens while you’re making the orzo over a glass or two of wine. Now, how simple was that? A mid-week celebration that took no more time than a regular weeknight dinner.
https://simplequietmodern.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/inas-gougere.jpg
Chemex…modern then,
February 6, 2013
modern now. The simplequietmodern way to a great cup (or two if you have the time).You love it when they offer you a “pour over” at Starbucks…well, Chemex has been offering that tasty option since it’s introduction in1942.Included in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian, the Chemex Coffee Maker has found its permanent home in the annals of modern and industrial design. Why a Keurig when this can do the trick at a fraction of the price and without the landfill waste that comes along with it… plastic pods, cardboard packaging, etc? So go grab yourself a bag of beans…it might just be time to revisit this timeless symbol of gracious living and brew yourself a cup.
The Homies 2013
February 4, 2013
Apartment Therapy’s 5th Annual Homies…and simplequietmodern has been nominated in the category of “Best Home Design And Inspiration Blog”. It’s pretty exciting. The voting will continue until February 8, 2013. For those of you that follow and have voted…a big Thank You. If you’d like to cast you vote now, please do and feel free to share sqm with your friends and associates. There’s always something new here, and as I like to say…simplequietmodern… read it, learn it, live it
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/best-home-design-inspiration-blog-the-homies-2013-183531#nominate
Listen
February 3, 2013
No matter what this New Year has brought…or the last few years for that matter… there is hope. Financial stress, relationships crumbling, personal losses, natural disasters, stalled projects,workplace rudeness…we have all been there…all been affected. Still, as we assess what this first month of the New Year has (or hasn’t) brought, we can benefit from these simple yet powereful words. And, an early Spring is at hand so things are already looking up.
Thanks to Heather @ Habitualy Chic for providing this photo:http://habituallychic.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2012-11-28T07:00:00-05:00
Rack ’em up…
January 31, 2013
stack ’em up. What a perfect simplequietmodern solution to storing your firewood , keeping it close at hand, and making a major statement in the process. Any room with a fireplace, no matter what style inclination, can benefit from the look of the clean steel frame that will present your timber in a neatly organized vertical “installation”. Designed by Franz Mauer, the stand alone Woodtower not only solves the problem of keeping your split logs conveniently located, but it does so very elegantly.
http://www.connox.com/categories/furniture/wood-storage/raumgestalt-woodtower.html
Pumpkin X 2 Part 2
January 28, 2013
Before you forget you have it, it’s time to put that pumpkin puree that was left over from the earlier soup recipe to good use. We’ve made it through January so why not treat everyone with a batch of these Iced Pumpkin Cookies. A soft drop cookie with no fancy ingredients…you probably have everything you need in the pantry. And, if you leave out the machinery and stir these up by hand, they are not only simple, but quiet as well.
In eight short weeks…Spring
January 25, 2013
It’s not too early to start thinking about getting back outside, spending the warm Spring and Summer months in the yard. In fact, in order to have what you want…when you want it…now is the perfect time to set your plan into motion. Maybe it’s a new piece of furniture or two you’re desiring. Confirming availability, lead times and shipping now can have you ordering things up and having them in your possession at precisely the right time. It’s possible to enjoy a balmy 70 degree day early in April. How nice would it be to have a place to sit, sip and watch the garden you worked so hard putting to bed last fall slowly waking up? And,what a better spot to do it from than this simplequietmodern favorite. The Split Seat Bench from Henrybuilt, in teak , placed in the entry courtyard, on your porch or outdoor dining area could hit just the right simplequietmodern note. If it’s needed inside… at the foot of a bed, in an entrance hall or flanking a dining table…you can select from the extensive wood options, like the quartersawn walnut pictured, to enhance any interior location.
Bowled Over
January 22, 2013
I was recently put to the task of finding for a client something made of wood for the center of their Saarinen dining table. In keeping with the classic mid-century aesthetic of the home I immediately thought of a Dansk bowl or tray of some type because of the classic modern lines that Dansk produced in wood…particulary in the 60’s and 70’s. I thought I knew exactly what I was going to find until I stumbled upon this piece…I had never seen it before. In this beautiful pale finish it would complement the pale wood veneered walls of the dining area as well as the Calacatta marble top on the table, with its pale tan and gray variegation. The softly sculpted sloping shoulder on the thick wall of the bowl created an object that was elevated far above “salad bowl” status while mimicking the shape of the George Nelson Bubble Lamp hanging above it. Even though it was designed and produced to serve up a mean Caesar, I love the way it looks empty.That was simple.
Mother Nature…Modernist
January 19, 2013
A fallen tree, a single river rock worn smooth by the passage of time and rushing water, both modern minimalist inspiration found in nature. A quick walk through the yard or a relaxed meander through the woods or shore can ignite a creative spark that can’t be found sitting at the desk. Muted tones to bright colorations that only she can produce…materials, form and texture that seem impossible get those creative juices flowing. Is it your garden or your interior you need to rework? A room in your garden or a room in your home can both benefit from a leisurely stroll with both eyes wide open. Leave your iPhone behind, open the door, take a deep breath and head out. This exercise is not only simplequietmodern…it’s free. You might be surpised where it takes you.
Visit artist Jaehyo Lee ( work pictured above) here:http://www.leeart.name
This Bryan Nash Gill woodblock print can be found here:http://www.shopterrain.com/art-accents/cookie-woodcut-print/searchString/gill
Pumpkin X 2
January 16, 2013
One pumpkin…two great eats. The first, a savory pumpkin peanut soup, the other a soft pumpkin cookie. Both suitable for the cooler (OK, colder) months, you decide which you make first. The soup I improvised when I had leftover pumpkin after a day of baking. Not quite Indian and not quite Thai, it’s basically a pumpkin vegetable soup with an assortment of spices ( but, nothing too exotic) and peanut that’s a satisfying non-meat meal to come home to after a hard day at work or a harder day of holiday returning. It thickens and tastes even better on the 2nd and 3rd day…you might also serve it up over a bowl of quinoa for that added grain protein. Whip some up on a Sunday afternoon and enjoy it into the week for lunch or a quick supper.
simplequietmodern 
