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Candles are a great and quick gift to pick up.� It’s something most people don’t buy for themselves [...]
Eugene Pandala Hafeez Contractor Peter Davidson Lab Architecture Studio
Friday, December 31, 2010
Only 2 Days left!
You’ve got two days left to “wrap up” your Christmas shopping so I thought I’d give you a few last minute ideas.� Here are some suggestions that should be quick and easy if you’re the last minute type:
�
Candles are a great and quick gift to pick up.� It’s something most people don’t buy for themselves [...]
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Candles are a great and quick gift to pick up.� It’s something most people don’t buy for themselves [...]
Exterior Lighting: Take the Drama Outside (8 photos)
I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The oceanside city lends itself to outdoor entertaining pretty much year-round. One of the most essential elements to outdoor night time entertaining albeit it in Florida or Fort Knox is proper lighting.From pendants to spotlights, from track...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/houzz/~3/E6tMc8EQsmY/
Vintage Modern: Featuring Heirlooms and Found Items (11 photos)
To pull off a vintage modern style, you will need to visit your attic or the storage unit full of grandma's heirlooms you didn't know what to do withbut couldn't get rid of. The beauty of vintage modern is that it allows you to reflect your history and the things you love while living in an updated,...
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/houzz/~3/W3E5frupS5s/
William McDonough Pierre de Meuron Adolfo Moran Dimitris Potiropoulos
Floating in Space
Happy Monday! I spent my entire weekend away from home with my wonderful husband of 11 years! We had a wonderful time, but I didn't have much time to post today. So, I'm borrowing this dizzy inspiration from someone else. It takes me back to my childhood and how much I loved mobiles. Maybe, adults would benefit from having beautiful mobiles around, to remind us to let loose and have more whimsey in our lives. What do you think?
Source: http://carolinaeclectic.blogspot.com/2010/12/floating-in-space.html
Craig W. Hartman Gregory Henriquez Thomas Herzog Jacques Herzog see: Herzog & de Meuron
Remaking The Boat Shower, Take Two
First we had to remove the mirror, towel bars, soap dishes, teak racks, and whatever items were attached to the walls, and remove the sink, which slides out from behind the head and has a diverter in the faucet for the shower hose. The plumbing lines to the sink had to be capped off so we could use the fresh water system until the project was completed. Then the original wall covering could be removed. The old material was actually quite easy to remove with a heat gun and a wide scraper. With a few passes of the heat gun and the scraper behind the panel, as soon as the old adhesive warmed up a bit, the panel pulled loose. It was a bit tedious but the panels came off in large pieces with minimum effort and since the old adhesive that held them up was pretty thin, there was only a little sanding 
needed to get the plywood behind it ready for the new panels. Once the old panels were off and the plywood sanded, we used a two part penetrating epoxy to further seal the walls against water intrusion. The underlayment plywood was in excellent condition and there was no signs of water leaking into it at any point. This was probably because none of the past owners had ever installed a shower on the boat in either head. With the walls now sealed, it was time for the next step.
Since there are no square corners on a boat, simply measuring an area and cutting the panels to fit would not quite work for us. So it was necessary to make templates for the three areas we would be covering with the panels. We needed something that would allow us to work in the small space and still be rigid enough to maintain its shape and size when we transferred the shape to the FRP panels. After a little thought and a walk through the local hardware store, we settled on using underlayment for Laminate Flooring. It is very inexpensive, comes in 48 inch rolls and has just the rigidity needed. By cutting sections just slightly larger than the area we needed to make the template for, the material was taped to the longest straight run on the wall area we were making the template for. Then the material was marked off with a felt pen and cut to size with a pair of scissors. Once cut to size, the templates were placed back on the walls to be sure the fit was right. 
Next the templates were transferred over to the panels, placing them in reverse on the back of the panels and marking the panels with a felt marker. The panels were cut with our Ryobi battery operated circular saw and a saber saw, both with fine blades for cutting plastic. The circular saw made all of the straight cuts and the saber saw did all of the irregular cuts. Once the panel was cut it was held up on the wall and dry fitted. They usually needed a little adjustment depending on how complicated the pattern was. We had also purchased the inside and outside corner mouldings for the panels so they were also cut to size. Placement of the mouldings need to be considered, since they fit behind the panels, you have to determine when the moulding needs to go on in relation to the panel already up and the next one to go up. Once all of the pieces of the puzzle were cut and their fit confirmed, it was time to attach them to the wall. There are a few options to glue the FRP panels to the walls, and we chose the Liquid Nails specifically for these panels. 
The Liquid Nails adhesive was removed from the can and smeared on the plywood with a putty knife and then spread out over the area with a notched trowel like those used to apply adhesive for ceramic wall tile. The notches apply just the right amount of adhesive as long as the entire surface is covered, being careful to not leave any bare spots. The adhesive requires that the material be set into it within 45 minutes or before the adhesive begins to skin over. With this in mind, we did each of the three sections, one at a time. In addition to the adhesive, all corners were thoroughly caulked with 3M 4200 to insure water would not leak into the corners. With good coverage with the adhesive and the panels in place, it 
was necessary to place braces made from 1?x2? strips between the panels and the opposite wall, to hold the panels tight into the adhesive until it had time to dry. This was due to the rigidity of the panels and the tendency to pull away where the walls were bowed, or the panels were.
All items attached to walls where sealed with caulking so that even the screw holes could not leak. We added a shower curtain slide system on the ceiling that would allow the shower curtain to slide easily but would keep it close to the walls. This gave us maximum space with the shower curtain in place and left a feeling of openness to the shower. Towel rings, teak racks, the mirror and a shower caddy for soap, shampoo, wash cloths, etc. all went in strategic locations. Everything worked out just as we planned and the shower turned out to be all we had hoped for. While we had the sink removed we used to opportunity to paint areas that were hard to get 
to like the inside of the hull behind the sink. We also painted the area under the head where the new thru-hull had been installed before we launched. Once the project was completed and we had our first shower of the season on board, we were very pleased with our modifications. And the entire shower proved to be very water tight as we had hoped. Now for the next project.
Source: http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/2010/05/remaking-boat-shower-take-two.html
Thomas Herzog Jacques Herzog see: Herzog & de Meuron H. R. Hiegel Steven Holl
A look at some California Mansions
Nobody loves the “A look at some Mansions” series more than HOTR reader Nick. He gave me a list of homes in the state of California that he would like to see posted up on HOTR and so here they are. Thanks Nick! Home #1 – Pictures #1,2 – This home is located in Yorba [...]
Source: http://homesoftherich.net/2010/12/a-look-at-some-california-mansions.html
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wreaths for Charity
Two recent charity events had designers and stars alike creating wreaths to be auctioned off in support of charity groups such as the Children’s Action Network and DIFFA. �The wreath above was designed by Kelly Wearstler for the Children’s Action Network for their 3rd Annual Holiday Party held in Los Angeles. �The wreaths below were [...]
Real Estate Stalking: Austin
Yesterday morning, Mark and I said "Let's go to Austin!" Without any prior preparation we took off. It was a great time and I came back with treats. I happened upon this Artful cottage. when I took a wrong turn. (Sometimes mistakes are wonderful, eh?)
I only saw the exterior, but I knew the interior would have to be just as fantastic and it is. Hooray! Look at this place. At less than 1000sqft. its tiny, but who wouldn't be willing to make the sacrifice? Of course, the price tag is for you to make a decision about. Sorry, I can't help you there:(
Whoever photographed this house, I would like to say, bravo! These shots are amazing. I'm imagining framing the photo above and hanging it as art. Love it. (P.S. if you're wondering why I didn't take photos myself as I usually do. We left so suddenly, I didn't get to pack up my camera. I felt naked all day)
How many fantastic parties, could happen out here, I wonder?
The second treat is this little yellow house. Another mini house with lots of personality. I don't think this photo shows it so well, but the pretty color scheme really pops. Especially, that fantastic red door. I love driving around Austin neighborhoods because the houses are so unique and imaginative. I always feel inspired when I return home.
Another thing I love about the little yellow house is that it faces Sparky Park. I had never heard of it until yesterday, but I'm smitten with it now. It was built by converting a former substation into a piece of public art. I recommend stopping by if you are in the neighborhood.
Source: http://carolinaeclectic.blogspot.com/2010/11/real-estate-stalking-austin.html
An Old House with a Fresh New Look
When I saw this house, which is listed on the JJ Locations website as a place production companies can rent to film in, I was surprised to learn that it's in Greater London. It may be an old, four-story Georgian home, but it has a fresh and light feeling to it.
The Swedish Gustavian furniture gives it a romantic look, despite all of the stark white, don't you think? This is beautiful to me, so I'm linking up to Melissa's Beautiful Life party.I'm also joining Hooked on Fridays, the blog party that celebrates the things that make us happy. This house is what I'm hooked on today. Visit Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is sharing!
Source: http://beachcottagelove.blogspot.com/2009/08/old-house-with-fresh-new-look.html
Erick van Egeraat Eric Corey Freed Tony Fretton Robert Gallant
Cozy Cottage Bedroom for Fall
When I saw this cozy bedroom posted at Danish Dessert recently, it looked like the perfect spot to snuggle into on a crisp fall day. It also reminded me of one of my favorite movie houses (and bedrooms). Are you thinking what I'm thinking?
It looks like it could've been inspired by Iris's bedroom in one of my favorite "house movies," The Holiday. Iron bed, painted nightstand, beamed ceilings. It has the same warm and welcoming vibe, don't you think? (If you loved Kate Winslet's cottage in The Holiday as much as I did, click here for more photos.)I'm hooked on these cozy cottage bedrooms. Head to Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is sharing--and to join the Treasure Hunt to win an Amazon gift certificate! I'm also joining the Beautiful Life party over at The Inspired Room.
Source: http://beachcottagelove.blogspot.com/2009/09/cozy-cottage-bedroom-for-fall.html
Thomas Herzog Jacques Herzog see: Herzog & de Meuron H. R. Hiegel Steven Holl
Cooking Aboard ? Tips Tricks and Recipes by Susan
You would think after living aboard for 18 years, I would know all of the tricks to cooking aboard. I only know what worked for us, and maybe some of my ideas and tips will work for you, too.
We started out on a 40 foot sailboat with a large galley and a lot of storage. Whether you are planning for a long trip of many months or a week on the river or bay, you will need to buy provisions for the boat. We have done both kinds of trips.
For long trips, I cram every space available with items of food. After our first trip through the Bahamas, I realized we didn?t eat any differently, really, than we did at home. Those cans of asparagus wound up being taken to a potluck in Exuma Land and Sea Park after being in a locker for 6 months. I would like to tell you that we ate healthy every day ? beans, rice, fresh greens ? but we didn?t. I have a spouse who eats only potatoes, meats/fish and a few isolated vegetables. We ate healthier than we would have at home without access to processed foods, but still pretty much ate the same. I say all of that to say, don?t stock up on things you think you might eat. It is a waste of money and space. Unless you plan on overhauling your diet ? many of us probably should ? buy what you know you will eat.
The next consideration is storage of the food. You do not want to bring cardboard on to your boat. It may look innocent enough now, but critters lay their eggs in cardboard and in no time, you will have them on board. You should also bring items such as soda and beer on board separately after you have isolated it from the cardboard case boxes and looked around each six-pack for critters hiding between the cans. It is easier to do that than chasing them around the boat at 3 a.m. (Do I sound like I?m speaking from personal experience? I am!)
A second and more important factor is that you will need to dispose of that cardboard at some point when it may not convenient. Do it at the dock when you can take it to the recycling center. If you need directions off of the box, cut off just that small section, and put the contents and the little piece of cardboard in a sealable plastic bag or plastic jar with a lid. (If using a jar, place a bay leaf in the jar and plastic wrap around the top of the jar to seal it and keep out bugs.)
With regard to cans, mark what they contain with a permanent marker on the top of the can, and then stack them neatly in crates or cupboards. You will be able to see what they are from the top, and, if the label comes off for whatever reason, you won?t have to guess what is inside.
Those green bags for storing veggies and fruit really do work, either in the fridge or somewhere cool on the boat. They increase the life of the food three- or four-fold. Hanging bags for breads, snacks and cookies are also very handy to keep that delicate stuff from getting flattened when your boat is heeling or rolling. When you put meat in the freezer, wrap portions separately in plastic wrap first, then put like meats in a large resealable bag to help keep them from getting freezer burnt. Layer your freezer with what you plan to use first on the top.
Now comes the cooking part. Unless you have a ton of storage, and endless amounts of power, you will want to leave those crock pots, bread makers, blenders, etc., in your storage locker or give them to friends. They take up a bunch of room and use more power than you will likely want to spare. Substitute them with a pressure cooker, some good bread pans and a small hand operated chopper.
One of my favorite cooking tools aboard is the grill mounted to the stern rail. There isn?t one piece of meat that doesn?t taste better cooked on the grill. It is also handy for grilling veggies. On hot days when you don?t want to heat up the boat, put your whole dinner in some lightly greased foil with some liquid, fold it up and grill it on the lowest setting. Usually, I separate the meat from the veggies. Use herbs, butter, cooking wine - whatever will enhance the foods? flavor.
We have always had a microwave on board, but only use it for heating up leftovers (2-3 minutes tops), baked potatoes, quick steaming veggies and that occasional bag of popcorn. After roasting everyone inside the boat while cooking in the oven, we found that many things can be cooked on top of the stove. My more pressing reason for doing that now, since we live on a 34-foot trawler with much less storage space, is that the oven is used for storing roasting pans, muffin tins, etc. and all of the ?stuff? has to go somewhere while I?m cooking in the oven. Many things can be cooked top side. I now make roasts in large pans on top of the stove, putting the burner on the lowest setting possible. Things that need to be baked for 20-30 minutes in the oven can be cooked in a frying pan with a lid for 10-15 minutes on top of the stove. The boats heats up less, you use less fuel/propane and they are done more quickly. Pressure cookers do the same thing a crock pot does much more quickly.
I haven?t tried baking bread on the stove top, so that may be the exception. I know that there are pressure cooker bread recipes, however. On the subject of bread, I acquired a starter years ago and have been baking our bread ever since. This frees you up if you want to be out for long stretches and can?t live without bread. Bread is also the best ice-breaker on the planet. You will make fast friends if you show up at a potluck with fresh baked bread or give a loaf as a thank you.
Jumping back to storage for a minute, you do not need to refrigerate ketchup, mustard, many salad dressings, soy sauce, etc. It takes up too much room in your fridge and really doesn?t need it. Those same sauces are also a nice touch to have to vary the flavor of your meals. There are many marinades on the market that can give you a garlic lime accent, teriyaki and every kind of barbeque sauce imaginable.
Don?t forget treats. Hide something yummy in a cupboard on board to find when the crew needs a morale booster. A bag of snack size candy bars will raise spirits when it has been raining for three days. If the weather is chilly and you purposely want to heat up the boat, stash brownie mix on board so you can bake some while out on the hook. Nothing will cheer up your crew like the smell of brownies baking.
Cooking tips and tricks definitely are needed on a boat. You don?t have the room and power you have in a house, but you can still cook and make enjoyable meals.
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
These muffins are to die for. I don?t know that I?ve ever met anyone that didn?t like them.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, line muffin tin with 12 paper baking cups:
� cup melted butter
1 cup sugar, � white, � brown
Cream butter in sugar in a bowl
Add 1 beaten egg, 2 very ripe bananas and 2 teaspoons of cider vinegar.
Add 1 cup of self-rising flour or 1 cup regular flour and � teaspoon of baking soda and 1/8 teaspoon of salt. I also frequently substitute � cup of white flour for whole wheat, which gives the muffins a nice texture.
Finally, add 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips to the batter.
Pour into mixture into muffin baking cups and bake for 15-20 or until tops begin to brown. Let cool a bit before attempting to pull the paper off of the muffins, if you can stand to wait!The batter is so good, you may not wind up with 12 muffins.
Maryland Crab Soup
1-12 ounce can beef broth
1-8 ounce can tomato sauce
2 cups mixed vegetables and potatoes
8 ounces of crab meat
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 Tablespoons Old Bay or more to taste
Pour a 14 ounce can of beef broth in a large saucepan or use same amount of water and 2 bullion cubes. Add frozen mixed vegetables or chopped fresh. As the veggies start to become tender, add the remaining ingredients. Simmer for another 15 to 20 minutes and serve hot.
This easy recipe can be made with fresh ingredients or with all canned if you haven?t been to a store for awhile. Either way, it will taste great. Serve it with whole grain bread and butter, and it is a complete meal for 2. You will also have a bowl leftover for lunch the next day.
Savory Shrimp
1 pound of peeled and de-veined shrimp
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons key lime juice
2 Tablespoons barbecue sauce
� teaspoon paprika
� teaspoon crushed red pepper
� teaspoon minced garlic
1 bay leaf
1 spring fresh rosemary
Add all ingredients except shrimp to a large saucepan and simmer. When it starts to bubble, add the shrimp and cook until just cooked. These shrimp have a nice kick to them and taste great served over a bed of brown rice with a salad on the side. You should have enough leftover for one portion. I love leftovers. It saves having to cook another entire meal each day. Save the crab soup and shrimp leftovers and flip a coin to see who gets what!
Cooking on a boat does not always have to be like camping out. Enjoy.
Source: http://trawler-beach-house.blogspot.com/2010/07/cooking-aboard-tips-tricks-and-recipes.html
Arthur Orfanos Friedensreich Hundertwasser Arata Isozaki Arne Jacobsen
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