Double Duty
November 17, 2012
Thanksgiving dinner. The plates are barely cleared and the Christmas decorations are already being hung. That said, my suggestion for an effectively decorated Thanksgiving table are well thought out to provide not only the right look but shift into double duty in the following few days. Here I’ve started with a study in brown and white. Shapley Bosc pears with their rusty sueded skins… an assortment of walnuts, hazelnuts and brazil nuts providing their varied shades and texture and oak leaves and pinecones scavenged in the yard round out a simplequietmodern fall story. Perfect whether you’re dining in the afternoon or later into the evening with the addition of some candlelight… a couple of handfuls for a table of four or a couple of arm loads to deck out a larger table for 12 or more…this look is very accommodating. Then as the weekend progresses, the nuts are for snacking when set around in bowls with a conveniently placed nutcracker and the pears can be poached or roasted and served up with gingerbread for an additional sweet treat…while you’re… umm…setting up the tree?
Where are my keys?
November 14, 2012
In this bowl…by the door. A simplequietmodern solution to one of life’s great annoyances. Place this bowl from Manor Fine Wares …cut , hollowed and polished from a large river rock…on your entry table and the mystery is forever solved. And, with plenty of room for your sunglasses as well. Done and done, a two-fer! Or, perhaps it could be put to use in your dressing area as a receptacle for your watch and pocket change. Surely this would be a most welcome gift for someone on your list this Christmas so you might as well order up two.
I don’t love brunch…
November 11, 2012
but I love the idea of serving a modern Salade Lyonnaise for breakfast or even whipping up a batch of pancakes for dinner. Also known as Frisee with lardon and poached egg is where we’re going to start. Frisee, which runs neck and neck with my other green fave~ Arugula~ is the bitter green of choice. For a single serving you’ll need 1/2 bunch of Frisee washed and torn, a slice of hearty artisan bread grilled or toasted and rubbed lightly with a clove of garlic, a slice or two of crisp thick cut bacon ( from the Whole Foods meat counter preferably), a poached egg and a splash of warmed Maple Vinaigrette. To present, plate the grilled bread, top with the frisee that had been tossed with the Maple Vinaigrette, next the poached egg and finish with the placement of your bacon, coarse salt and ground pepper to your taste. Done and done. How easy was that? Add a bowl of clementines or pears and a pot of coffee and you might just want to entertain friends with this, eh?
The Maple Vinaigrette is simple: 2 Tablespoons General Use Olive Oil, 1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar, 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup ( Dark amber Grade B preferred). Whisk it up…that’s it.
White Paper Packages
November 8, 2012
There is nothing like white tissue and jute twine in the simplequietmodern gift wrap arsenal. Half the fun of opening the gift is the accompanying sounds of crisp tissue, crackling cellophane or the snap of a glossy paper. If you start with the basics…a ream of white tissue…a ball of jute cord…and the free bits that Mother Nature herself gifts us…you are ready to settle into your night of distinctive gift wrapping. If there is an item that needs a bit of a special touch or simply needs to be addressed differently you can add a double-faced satin or grosgrain ribbon ( white, charcoal or darkest brown would be the way to go) or a roll of clear cellophane for that icy gloss to your supplies. Best of all, most everything you’ve used is not only cost sensitive, but easily available and reusable or recyclable. It doesn’t get any more simplequietmodern than that.
Hindsight, as they say…
November 5, 2012
is 20/20 vision. If you could see that clearly you would have been gathering up the vintage glass ornaments and trims of years past from your wish list during the seasons where Christmas was the last thing on your mind. Now that the “crunch” is clearly visible , time available to scour the local flea markets and antique shops is narrowing or non-existent. Enter Plan B, like this vintage inspired wreath from Terrain, created from an assortmnent of ornaments that recall your fondest memories of Christmases that have come and gone. Perfect… the look you want…now, and an anchor for all of the new (old) pieces you’ll be scouting out starting in January. Right? Or are we going to go through this again next year?
Feeling a little Hollywood Regency? These bottle brush trees can help you capture that…perfect for that MidCentury Christmas feel. Spot a few around, turn up the Dean Martin Christmas album and transport yourself to 1966. Ahhh, swanky.
Fall Back
November 2, 2012
Now we’re moving into the graying image that is Fall’s second act. Changing intensities of light, neutralized color,texture and material will be peaking my interests and guiding me creatively through the next two months. Turning the clock back an hour seems like a simple action, yet the very next day everything looks different…quiet somehow. A “palate cleanser” perhaps before we gear up for the holidays that lie ahead.
You might try a visit to these links for some additional Autumn inspiration.
Before you decide…
October 30, 2012
what you’ll be serving this with you’ll have pecked away at the whole bowl full. Really, it’s that simple and it’s that good….hot or at room temperature. Toss the cauliflower florets with a drizzle of general use olive oil and a little s & p . Place on a foil lined baking tray and roast at 450 degrees for approximately 25 minutes or until the florets are tender and golden. I usually give them a quick toss about halfway through. That’s it, dig in. If you have an extra five minutes you might try a quick light sauce of butter, garlic and capers…it’s a Martha touch so how bad could it be? And capers? You may never eat cauliflower any other way again. 
On Deck
October 27, 2012
OK…it’s getting cooler, downright chilly some days. I don’t relish the thought of pulling out a winter coat…at least not yet. My favorite fall/winter garment of all time was a Jean-Paul Castelbajac ribbed cashmere sweater layered under a Merino knit vest with a channel quilted woven front. Both pieces were a tonal combination of winter white ( which was a look I had adopted for many winters before I crossed over to the dark side). There was nothing like it…lighter than a coat and warmer than warm…and I wore it …and wore it ….and I wore it. Now I think it might be time to resurrect some incarnation of that sweater for the cooler months ahead. But, darker this time. I was inspired by the this Rick Owens piece that brought to mind my earlier favorite so I set to researching an appropriate fiber, testing a swatch for gauge, weight and texture…and consulted my panel of experts. I think it’s a go… as soon as California Dreamin II is off the sticks.
Really, is this the look
October 24, 2012
you’re going for? Thanksgiving will be here before you know it and you will be entertaining family and friends with 2 bare wires sticking out of your dining room ceiling… still. Pretty. Why is making this decision so hard when there is a simple solution…a George Nelson Bubble Lamp. Classic, simplequietmodern (since it’s introduction in 1947) …and available in enough shapes and sizes to be the perfect lighting selection for a dining room of any size or style direction. Get the scale right and the quiet statement will be deafening. So there you have it, decision made.
http://hivemodern.com/pages/product951/modernica-nelson-bubble-xl-bell
There’s no getting around it
October 21, 2012
The Fall Clean Up. In order to get the maximum beauty and enjoyment from your outdoor environment next year you have to extend a little effort now. Turn that afternoon of raking and picking up fallen twigs and debris into a little creative exercise. If you need to adjust things…remove a tree or overgrown shrub, come up with an effective plan to keep the deer from tearing the place up or plant some new tulip variety to usher in next spring… take the opportunity to make those adjustments or additions now. If everything seems to be in good order why not give some thought to your holiday decorations. A bit of well spent time now will make the whole process much simpler once the holidays kick into gear. Need a little incentive? How about whipping up a sample batch of this Boiled Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail by Lillie at Butter Me Up Brooklyn…just a smart little something to add to the special blend of sights, smells and tastes that are Fall.
http://buttermeupbrooklyn.com/2012/10/boiled-apple-cider-syrup-bourbon-cocktail/#more-4166
simplequietmodern 