Family Room Styles

Yellow glazed walls brighten the double parlor, where columns define the two seating areas. An impressive collection of antiques and fabrics in a rainbow of colors keep this living room from feeling too stale.

Feature a classic design in a fresh way with the added dimension of an accent wall. Fiery orange gives this living room an autumn glow, while highlighting the rich upholstery and regal details.

For this old-world library, Minton let his choice of Persian rugs drive the warm color palette of reds, golds, and greens. Here, the blend of patterns and wood-paneled walls create an environment that seems destined for relaxing with a scotch or glass of wine.

Spice up an all-white den with tangerine accents. A Moroccan floor cushion and cozy throw blanket become statement pieces in this simple, symmetrical living room.

Clean, modern lines and exotic accessories give this living room a Bali-inspired, open-air vibe.

Create a serene atmosphere with muted hues. Here, celery green walls and natural fabrics set the stage while pale yellow lends a pop of color without disrupting the relaxed mood. via

Window Box Designs

Tricked out for the season in combustible colors and riffed with references of a late-autumn harvest, this exuberant full-sun window box celebrates all that we love about fall-like the vivid colors and leafy textures. While it may require some boldness and a passion for abundance to pull off a planting like this, it was actually very easy-we found all the plants and supplies at our local home-improvement store's garden center.

Modern Window Box


Gleaming white 'Lumina' (large) and 'Snowball' (small) pumpkins spiked with shiny tufts of black-as-night mondo grass is a simple full shade combination that's all-hallows spooky but oh-so chic. In and around, we tucked fat clusters of blood-orange berries, which drip from branches of bittersweet vine (sold in bunches at florists). You can up the spook factor by hiding strands of mini lights between pumpkins.

Simple window box


They're beautiful, they're affordable, and they're low-maintenance; nothing says fast and easy fall gardening like a fully fitted window box. These easy-to-assemble mini gardens also have the advantage of short-term commitment. Planting this fabulous full-sun arrangement is as easy as putting together simple flowers for a dinner party.

Elegant Window Box


We love the luxe, posh look of this full-sun box with its classic pairing of mums and ornamental cabbages. Keeping it from veering into cliche territory are the unusual cascading mums. To get the look, pack a window box with deep smoky purple ornamental cabbages and sparkling white ornamental kales, then intersperse them with rich magenta pompom chrysanthemums trained into a graceful cascade. Ice-tipped trailing ivy adds shimmer in the late afternoon light.

Tropical Window Box


Who says fall has to be all about brown, orange, and yellow? Adorn your cottage with deep purple, warm red, and bright pink for a hot, vibrant look from the last of summer's tropical plants as temperatures cool. These tropical foliage plants (grown as annuals) take bright, indirect light to filtered shade and look smashing right up until frost.

Cheerful Window Box


Bright and lively colors combine to add a hint of happiness to any home in this cheery window box. Forget serious planning and strict styling, and opt for whatever plants bring a smile to your face when you go shopping. These plants prefer strong indirect light or light shade. via

Dining Room Styles

Energizing Palette


Designer Troy Beasley adds vibrant pops of red, orange and blue to this streamlined, contemporary dining room. Neutral gray walls allow the colorful accents to shine. LOVE the color pop!!! Works well with any neutral basics.

Tonal Stripes


Designer Genevieve Gorder creates a bright backdrop with a creamy tone-on-tone paint treatment. A modern, oversized drum pendant and traditional table and chairs painted charcoal gray give this dining room a modern twist.

Warm and Family Friendly


Designer Angelo Surmelis creates a warm and inviting space for entertaining with a soft yellow paint color on both the walls and ceiling. Enlarged black-and-white family photos add graphic punch while a dark-stained table and upholstered chairs create an elegant and comfortable place to linger over a home-cooked meal.

Designer Troy Beasley opts for a pair of oversized, modern pendants to illuminate this lofty dining room filled with soft grays, warm tans and a fresh pop of pear green.

A Taste for the Exotic


Designer Angelo Surmelis brings Indian flair to this space with the addition of intricately carved and painted wood panels. He adds interest to the tabletop by layering plates, napkins and chargers in varying colors and patterns.

I love the idea of mixing patterns in the dinnerware.

Entertaining/Layered Mocha

Layered Mocha


Sip hot chocolate through layers of hot espresso and thick, cold cream in this deconstructed mocha.It's based on the classic bicerin (beech-e-reen), from Caffè al Bicerin in Turin, Italy, and it fits right into our coffee-loving culture here in the western United States. Prep and Cook Time: about 30 minutes. Notes: Serve in heatproof glasses to see the layers. Stir in more sugar to taste.

Delicious, this works for gathering around the fireplace or as an after dinner drink instead of desert!
Ingredients


1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup chopped semisweet chocolate
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, divided, plus more to taste
1 cup hot brewed espresso
1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
Preparation

1. Place cream in a bowl and chill until very cold, about 15 minutes. Fill 4 heatproof glasses (6 to 8 oz. each) with boiling water.

2. In a small saucepan over high heat, bring 3/4 cup water to a boil. Reduce heat to low and whisk in chopped chocolate until smoothly blended. Add 1 tbsp. sugar. Stir over medium-low heat until mixture thickens slightly and coats spoon in a thin layer, 3 to 5 minutes. Cover and keep hot.

3. Whip cream with 1 tbsp. sugar until thick, but before peaks form (cream should still be pourable). Mix remaining 1/2 tbsp. sugar with hot espresso.

4. Drain water from glasses. Pour one-quarter of hot chocolate into a glass. Hold a spoon, concave side down, at about a 45° angle so tip of spoon touches inside of glass, slightly above chocolate. Very slowly, pour one-quarter of espresso over back of spoon. Repeat for each glass. Spoon thick cream onto espresso, dividing evenly between glasses. Sift a bit of cocoa over cream if you like. Serve immediately.

Renew What You Already Own

Reimagine what you already have


For Kelly LaPlante, a leading Los Angeles-based interior designer, author, television host, and new mother, green design isn't just about choosing fabrics and furniture made from sustainable materials.
She prefers to help her clients find new use―and often unexpected new love―for things they already own. "There's nothing more green than keeping what you have," she says.

Her own Venice loft is proof that hand-me-downs and thrift-store finds can rise to stylish new purpose.

Refinish


The dining table was brown and had belonged to a client. “They were going to throw it away,” says LaPlante, who saw potential in its curves.
After being revived with a punch of bold red low-VOC paint (try shiny-finish Sophia by Bungaloo, mybungaloo.com), it’s the star of her dining area.

Reveal


Rather than adding new floor covering, LaPlante stripped decades of paint from her loft's concrete floor. "The patina that had developed from all those years is beautiful," she says. "We just had the floor buffed and called it a day."
Strategically placed area rugs keep rooms cozy.

Refresh


LaPlante's partner Mike Rader relaxes on a used sofa in the living area. She paid just $200 for it, had the cushions steam-cleaned (about $30), and repainted the trim a glossy white.

Rethink


LaPlante often rethinks definition to find the perfect fit for objects. Here, she uses an outdoor garden stool as an indoor side table.

Remix


Kelly encourages making your own eclectic dish set with mismatched cups and plates―with styles from all different time periods―from secondhand stores.

"They don't have to go together, they just have to look interesting together," she says.

Retreat


Potted plants serve double-duty here as a privacy screen from neighbors (while still allowing a city view) and as natural air-filters.

Hope this gave you ideas on renewing your own design by looking around your home for what you already own.

Entertaining/Easy Appetisers

Quick Cheese Fondue

Heat oven to 500°. Put a 1/2-lb. piece of slightly oozy brie cheese in a 2- to 3-cup shallow baking dish and bake until melted, 4 to 5 minutes.

Grind black pepper on top. Set dish on a heatproof surface and serve with toasted baguette slices, walnut bread, or sliced apples and pears.

Sausage Mushroom Caps

Rinse 24 medium-size button or cremini mushrooms (about 1 lb. total). Trim stems; save for another use.

Mix 1/3 lb. seasoned bulk pork sausage with 3 tbsp. seasoned dried bread crumbs. Mound sausage mixture in mushrooms, then set, filled side up, in a rimmed 10- by 15-in. baking pan.

Broil 6 to 7 in. from heat until sausage is well browned, about 5 minutes. Lift mushrooms onto a platter, brush with extra-virgin olive oil, and top each with a leaf of flat-leaf parsley.

Cracked Green Olives with Fennel

Drain 10 oz. green olives with pits and discard brine. Using the back of a spoon, press each olive just hard enough to crack it open (leave pits in).
In a small bowl, combine olives, 1 tsp. fennel seeds, 1 piece orange peel (about 1/8 in. wide and 3 in. long), 1/4 cup chopped fresh tarragon, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil.
Turn olives to coat. Serve right away or let marinate, chilled, up to 1 month.

Hasty Hots

Cut 1 slender baguette (1/2 lb.) in half, slice each half lengthwise, and place, cut side up, on a 12- by 15-in. baking sheet. Broil about 3 in. from heat until toasted, 2 to 3 minutes.

Meanwhile, mix 1/2 cup diagonally sliced green onions, 1/2 cup mayonnaise, and 1/2 cup grated or finely shredded parmesan cheese.

Spread mixture on bread. Return to broiler and broil until lightly browned, about 1½ minutes. Let cool about 2 minutes to crisp. Cut each piece in thirds.

Creamy Artichoke Dip

In a food processor, whirl together until blended and artichokes break into small pieces:

1/2 lb. cream cheese 2 oz. thawed frozen artichoke hearts 1/3 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese 1 tbsp. chopped flat-leaf parsley 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice 1/2 tsp. each salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/4 tsp. finely shredded fresh lemon zest 1 small finely chopped garlic clove Makes: 1½ cups 
Time: 15 minutes


I LOVE TO COOK, and I am always looking for new recipes. Especially appetisers. So what does this have to do with interior design? Entertaining!!!! Everyone loves to show off their homes and entertaining is a great way to do it. Serving delicious foods allows your guests to enjoy your cooking talents and the ambiance of the setting you provide. Football season will soon arrive these great appetisers are easy and are finger foods for snacking.

If I get enough positive comments on this article, I will continue to do a few more receipes from time to time. via

Glass Walls

About NanaWall®

Perceiving an unmet need for flexible solutions to large architectural openings, the founders of Nana Wall Systems delivered their first wood-framed, opening glass wall in 1986. Three years later, Nana Wall Systems, Inc. was incorporated, with the mission of finding, creating, and delivering an ever-broadening array of flexible design solutions. In 1996, Nana Wall Systems entered into partnership with Solarlux of Germany, the world leader in operable glass wall technology. Today, with manufacturer's representatives throughout the continent, Nana Wall Systems is the dominant provider of opening glass walls in North America.

A Diverse and Distinguished Clientele.

For nearly twenty years, the NanaWall® — vanishing glass wall system has re-defined interior and exterior space — and the boundary between them—in thousands of commercial and residential buildings throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Nana Wall Systems' architectural customer base includes such esteemed names as HOK, Gensler, WATG, and SOM; projects have ranged from press-boxes and suites at the new Philadelphia Eagles and Seattle Mariners stadiums to luxury pool houses in private residences. NanaWall® vanishing glass walls can be found providing innovative and versatile design solutions for offices such as Starbucks' headquarters; restaurant and resort patio areas (including the Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Spa); community hubs such as the Skirball Cultural Center; as well as a multitude of libraries, car dealerships, and churches.

If you can imagine it, you can create it... with NanaWall®.

At first glance, the NanaWall® looks like a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass windows, but that's where the similarity ends. Each panel is articulated on a hidden overhead track, and the panels themselves can quickly and easily open and stow away out of sight, creating breathtaking open-air vistas. With straight or curved layouts, along with hundreds of colors, finishes, and configurations at your disposal, there are virtually no limits when it comes to designing with the NanaWall®. Folding and individual panel sliding systems are available: among other virtues, folding systems create opening widths of up to 36 feet, while individual panel sliding systems offer a virtually unlimited opening-size.

 Frames are available in aluminum, wood, or aluminum-clad wood. And to make the completion of your project even easier, Nana Wall Systems maintains a complete network of independent, factory-trained installers throughout North America.