Tuesday, December 25, 2018

The Song "Known" by @taurenwells and Merry Christmas






Merry Christmas

I have been listening to @taurenwells song "Known" this morning, what a voice and a great talent.
The chorus begins:

"I'm fully known and loved by You
You won't let go no matter what I do
And it's not one or the other
It's hard truth and ridiculous Grace
To be know, fully known and loved by You
I'm fully known and loved by You"

You are seen, you are of great value, nothing changes that, you are fully known and loved by God.  There are no exceptions.  He is for everyone.  Two dear friends passed this week, Pastor John and our dear neighbor and friend Ms. Shari, they both went home to the Lord.  I think they would both want you to know that you can have peace in life and assurance for your future.  That there is grace enough for everyone.  That we can always start again and we can surrender to His kindness.

From my family to you and yours,   

 Merry Christmas



"And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.'"
Luke 2:10-11


"For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He gave up His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16


xRie




Photo: Sarah Kjp 
Location: Stowe, Vermont


Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Welcome to the Beautiful World of Designer Suzanne Kasler





December is wearing its lovely winter colors, the perfect backdrop for Christmas decorations, family feasts and thoughtful gift-giving.  A season where we carefully layer in some of our most favorite beautiful things, we want our homes to be just right.  We tuck in a banquette under a window for a quiet breakfast with the morning sunrise, or a raucous board game with the kids.  New fluffy white towels and fragrant soap for the guest bathroom, a basket of Paperwhites in the entry ... nothing is overlooked. Paying close attention to design, details, and how to live beautifully in a home is how I would describe the work of designer Suzanne Kasler.  I am taken with and inspired by the lifestyle she creates for her clients, the passion she has for houses, the deep desire to design a home where family memories begin, the process of creating that she learned from her beloved war hero father, "For designers the process of creating a home can be described just that simply.  We envision it in our minds.  And we stay the course."   Her new book Suzanne Kasler Sophisticated Simplicity is a personal tome from an award-winning designer sharing her approach to the art of the home, and would be a wonderful hostess gift for your next holiday dinner party, or a "Merry Christmas to me."  She has collaborated and designed home furniture and decor with Ballard Designs making "How do I find that look?" just a click away.  It's a beautiful book... I hope you order it.







"We took a more traditionally English approach in the library.  The creamy/taupe-y palette provides a wonderful stage for their red and blue Oriental carpet, horse sculpture, pheasant, and the oil painting of English spaniels over the classic, neo-Georgian mantel.  These references seemed absolutely right in this more casual, cozy room, and so appropriate to Richmond's English heritage."







"This custom-colored, hand-painted silk wall covering from deGournay repeats the blue-gray tones that echo throughout the house.  That touch of pink beaded trim on the drapery picks up the pink flowers in the wall covering."







"One of the challenges in a historic house has to do with proportions.  Your tendency is always to scale pieces down because the rooms are smaller than today's and the ceilings are usually lower.  But by building up the scale, and even sometimes going overscale, you can bring great energy to a room that would otherwise look to traditional."







"The kitchen is modern and tailored, with a sleek central island, open shelves above the counters, and gray-painted contemporary cabinets below.  It flows into the main, two-story room, and also to a fabulous pantry where we continued the open shelves.  All of the lower cabinets are stock cabinetry.  Painting them gave them a special, custom look.  We used the open shelving because of the window placement, and allowed the dishes and glassware to become part of the overall composition."







"Four sets of black-painted doors punctuate the flow on the ground level.  This pair opens onto a dining room done in champagne tones.  The deGournay wall covering at Bergdorf Goodman inspired her chinoiserie wall treatment.  The antique table was hers.  With chairs in linen velvet, corded in purple, and sisal on the floor, the room is effervescent, but in a muted, timeless way. "







"The minute you walk into this house, it's all about style.  This entry is my ideal of sophisticated simplicity.  Everything is painted high-gloss white, with the front door accentuated in a lacquered Farrow & Ball black.  The marble floor is a bold, Chanel-inspired riff on a traditional entry hall patterns.  For a note of sophisticated whimsy, we hung a Murano chandelier.  Standing proudly against one wall is a nineteenth-century Italian walnut commode."















My sincere congratulations to  
Designer Suzanne Kasler on her beautiful new book.  
 My sincere thanks to:  
Lizzy Hyland of Jill Cohen Associates for the opportunity.  
As well as Rizzoli New York.  
It has been my pleasure.  
I wish you all the best of everything.
~Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas~

x Rie






























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Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Comfort and Joy: Farm House Living and Beautiful Linens






Comfort and Joy
...

There is something absolutely beautiful about snow gently falling, simple but stylish living that captures an easy, yet beautiful lifestyle.  One where there is a sense of comfort, with linens, candles, homemade food and gifts.   Angie Wendricks of Country Road Living  perfectly captures the inspirational farmhouse living she and her husband, Alex designed for themselves in Indiana.   For a Christmas giveaway Angie recently teamed up with Hale Mercantile Co. for one of their 100% luxury linen Basix quilts that are spun, woven, sewn, and 'tufted' by hand in Europe, that require only a simple warm wash and medium tumble dry and best of all no ironing!  I was happily surprised to find that I won!  My Basix Ayrton/Sable quilt arrived this weekend and it is beautiful and truly of the highest quality.  Their quilts are made to be casual not formal so they are not the traditional sizing; one size fits all and can be used for cozy nights on the couch or laid across the bed...their tag line is Easy care... easy living.  Many thanks to Angie for all of her beautiful inspiration and for hosting the giveaway and to Hale Mercantile Co., for a beautiful quilt.   .... "O Tidings of Comfort and Joy".






















...


Please see Angie's Instagram  Country Road Living for more of her beautiful and inspirational photos and Hale Mercantile Co. Linen Merchants for all of their beautiful linens. 





Photo: Abbie Melle




Their Rosa Table Cloth on the cover of House and Garden. Photo: Sarah K Maloney





Photo: Abbie Melle



Photo: Abbie Melle









Country Road Living Photos by Permission

Sunday, December 2, 2018

Country Life British Edition - Pitshill House England & Sharon Santoni's Pain Perdu Recipe for a Decadent Breakfast or Brunch




On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me ....   Pain Perdu.   This Holiday Season I want to incorporate timeless traditions that the whole family can help with during the celebrations, from setting the table to choosing the place for the decorations on the tree.  I don't want Christmas to be a budget-buster, but instead a time of attention to details, of simple joys, Bing Crosby singing "Silent Night", hot chocolate, baskets of thoughtful gifts gathered for the neighbors full of artisan cheese, honey, Anjour pears and specialty teas... of laughter and giving.  Since we had the luxury of December 1st on a Saturday, I made Sharon Santoni's of My French Country Home Pain Perdu recipe.  It's delicious and decadent; for brunch it's wonderful served with hot chocolate.

While I was waiting for the toast to cook in warm foaming butter, I enjoyed the article from Country Life on the restoration of 18th-century Pitshill House and Gardens in West Sussex, England.  Interior design by Edward Bulmer and photography by Paul Highnam.   Enjoy!











My French Country Home
~Pain Perdu - French Toast~

2 - cups (1/2 liter) of milk
2 eggs
1/4 cup (50g) of sugar 
1/2 cup (100g) butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 thick slices of bread or sliced in half croissants
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Powder (icing) sugar









Lay bread in a shallow dish.
In a bowl whisk well the eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla 
Pour over sliced bread, wait a few minutes while liquid is soaking.
Heat butter in a wide skillet until it begins to foam
Gently lift, let drain if necessary, and lay in pan.
Check for the under-side to be golden brown and a little dark on the edges flip
and sprinkle cooked side with cinnamon and nutmeg.
When golden on the other side remove to a serving platter
and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.
Just before serving dust with powder sugar (icing sugar)

Serve with warm syrup and fresh berries

Enjoy!

















































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