The NEW House and Home Magazine hits the newstands

The new issue of House & Home came out recently and as usual I relished all the goodies inside. This is their trend issue plus they've listed the Irish Hot 100 and insight from a core of great interior bloggers. Top trends House & Home sees for 2010?
1. Cool duck egg blue is the IN colour.
2. Upcyling is on the rise and should continue to be - but then I've always loved giving old furniture a lift.
3. An exhibition on the Irish tenor John McCormack, on display through the end of the month in the National Musuem Collins Barricks in Dublin. Looks great but unfortunately, I'm not going to make it.
4. The Irish Georgian Society is much admired - they offer lectures on a range of subjects related to conserving old homes - www.igs.ie.
5. The elephant is going to be hot for 2010 (even though dogs and birds are also an emerging trend)- it symbolises strength, prosperity, wisdom and longevity and I have to agree with H&H - what better symbol for 2010!
6. The home baking trend continues....yipee! I do love to get busy in my kitchen on the weekend and must remember to pick up the new Rachel Allen cookbook.
7. Get organized - ah yes, the annual resolution to get everything in tip top shape. H&H recommends the Elfa storage system available at Howards Storage World - http://www.hsw.ie/ - have to say this IS a fantastic storage system and if I have my way we'll be converting the en-suite in our master bedroom into a walk-in closet (because a family of 3 just does not need 4 bathrooms in a house - ridiculous!) and if I have no where to store my clothes properly - a walk-in closet would be an absolute dream.
8. Build Your Own Home - the one area of the housing market that hasn't been hit too badly. Well that is encouraging and best of luck to everyone that ventures down that road.
9. Try your hand at more creative projects - top on H&H's list - a screen printing fabric course a the Old Rectory in Co. Wicklow http://www.theoldrectory.ie/ - now that does sound like something I'd love to do!
10. Plan a holiday in Ireland this year - I couldn't agree more - now that I'm out on the road in my new job every day - there are loads of great hotels, b&b's dotted throughout the country that would make for a wonderful getaway, even if it is quite nearby to where you live. H&H recommends Grove House in Schull - http://www.grovehouseschull.com/.

Okay so there we go for trend predictions and ideas for 2010. This house in the issue totally inspired me - in the article titled Light Fantastic (Words and Photographs by Barbara Egan)- I think you can see why - this kitchen is just a dream to me. Nothing makes me happier than a sunny morning with the light streaming in my kitchen windows - I can look out into the garden and putter about cooking up breakfast and then cleaning. In the summer months when it's warm, I often sit outside and have my breakfast and relish the air and warmth of the sun. This house is a 1930's semi-detached in Dublin and was transformed by it's owner Susan Barnes to bring in as much light as possible. Plus it has wonderful clean modern furniture an I just love that garden house at the end of the garden - the perfect modern day folly.

This image opened the story on The Irish Bloggers Guide to Interiors (sorry I could not find a photo credit) but just love the table setting - great mix of china and glasses, the simple linen cloth and those fantastic black hanging lamps. So who is the H&H panel of bloggers? Well, they've rounded up 5 great Irish bloggers to inspire us all for our interiors this year.

Zita Spring of Homebug http://www.homebug.net/ has thankfully returned from her hiatus and is back blogging again. My dear friend Lorna Sixsmith of Garrendenny Lane Interiors Blog www.garrendennylane.ie/blog is thankfully in the mix. Dara Flynn of Padcandy - http://padcandy.blogspot.com/. Blanaid Hennessy of http://www.blanaid.com/ and last but not least Melanie King of Design Heaven http://designheaven.wordpress.com/. Together they share 25 tips for home decorating - my favourite tip is Number 8 - "Make the most of what you've got is one of the defining (and refreshing) interiors trends leading us into 2010" - I totally agree - my husband and I aren't planning on buying any major things for our house this year -just improving on what we have - maybe a fresh lick of paint, refinishing the kitchen cupboards, building in new storage - but we have everything we need.

Irish Hot 100

Before this post gets too long I just wanted to mention the Irish Hot 100 piece also in the issue - I was delighted to find at Number 12 - Environment Furniture - I featured their showroom back in Maison & Chateau a few months back.

At Number 34 is my buddy Lorna again! She got a lot of coverage in this issue which I'm delighted for her.

And at Number 37 is Mabel & Violet, http://www.mabelandviolet.com/ another great blog and online store which I wrote up for an issue of Your Home Today for The Limerick Leader.

Congratulations to everyone and I'm delighted to know about the other 97 Hot Irish People, Products, Places etc. - lots of fodder for my blog!

Winter 2009 Issue of Munster Interiors

There is always a big lag time between when you write or produce a piece to when it is actually published so I was delighted when the new issue of Munster Interiors came out as it featured a piece about this lovely residence called Castle Yard in Co. Wicklow. Located only about 10 miles from the picturesque Wicklow Gap, it is set in idyllic horse country and in fact it is a renovated stable block that was originally built in the 1800's.

With it's own horse, Caesar, fully ensconced!

You enter the house into this cosy library/sitting room.

In the kitchens the ceilings are low and there are beautiful big fireplaces in all the main rooms. It's been beautifully renovated and it is a really spacious residence - totally 4750 square feet.

This detail was a particular favourite of mine. I'm just giving you a little teaser of some of the images but do go and pick up the issue to see the whole story.

The master suite (above and below left) and the guest room suite (below right) have toile curtains and wallpaper giving them a great cosiness and warmth.

Also in this issue is a great piece by my friend and fellow blogger, Lorna Sixsmith of Garrendenny Lane Interiors called Dazzling Designs. She showcases some of her favourite fabrics and wallpapers and there's a wonderful selection to choose from. Do check out her blog and online store as well!http://www.gdlaneinteriors.ie/blog/

Wonderful Creations for Weddings (and other occasions)

As many of you know, since moving to Ireland (three years ago in July), I've been writing for many publications and newspapers. I even have been writing wedding supplements which has been so interesting looking at how things have evolved in the ten years since I got married. Anyway, one of the talented people I ran across in these endeavors was Couture Milliner Linda McKay. I found her creations particularly marvelous especially because of their wonderful colours and pizazz.

Many of them have a wonderful old-fashioned charm to them. But they certainly aren't' boring. They are great eye-catching pieces to wear as the guest to a wedding or even as a bride.

If you are really into hats - Linda offers one or two day workshops in her studio down in Tullogher, Co. Kilkenny. According to Linda these can be very therapeutic especially if a group of girl-friends get together to attend - having a good chat while learning how to make a hat specially made for you and enjoying good simple food - well, it can do wonders!

Linda trained in Australia for four years and then worked with Neil Grigg, one of Australia's top fashion milliners.


I have to say, this would be my absolute favourite - bold and brash and fun - now I need to be invited to the right occasion!

To see more of her designs go to Linda's website - http://www.lindamckay.ie - you'll find her contact details there as well. By the way, she also sells a selection of pieces in the shop Joli, on Little Catherine Street in Limerick City.

A Few Tummy Friendly Ideas

These days it's on the weekends that I really get to cook as during my normal Monday to Friday schedule either my husband cooks or I conjure up something simple when I get home. So, leafing through my reliable stack of tear sheets this weekend - I pulled together a few things that looked really appetizing and good comfort food for January. Above is a pot of minestrone - it has Italian roots and everyone makes their own rendition - this one was featured in Martha Stewart Living magazine (and photographed by Robert Duscalfani). Basically it's loaded with lots of good nourishing goodies - beans, veggies, prosciutto and simmered away until it's just right. It's a complete meal in itself and served up with some thick slices of brown bread or a white crusty peasant bread it will keep you going all day long.

The next is a seafood chowder that was in the Georgina Campbell newsletter I received the other day - here is the link for the recipe. It sounds delicious.

http://http//www.ireland-guide.com/recipes/greencastle_chowder.8300.html

The next dish is called Pastitsio was featured in House Beautiful magazine (photos by James Baigrie) - recipe by Ina Garten a.ka. The Barefoot Contessa. You may have seen her show on the Food Network - I actually watched a few over the weekend and was very inspired - always good to get a few new ideas. Anyway, Pastitsio is like a Greek Lasagna made with ground beef and lamb, pasta and a Greek yoghurt bechamel sauce on top.

Finally, also from Martha Stewart Living magazine, I came across this Polenta Quick Bread with Lemon and Thyme. It looks delicious and I think would also make a great accompaniment to soup - it's got lemon zest and pine nuts in it as well which is an unusual combination of flavours.

By the way, if you do want any of these recipes - I do have them, so email me and I can get them to you. Happy Cooking!

Ideas for Embellishing Your Interiors

Sometimes it takes more than a coat of paint to give a room a special look or to enhance it in a truly unique way. I know that even thought we did a lot of work on our house and it did make a huge difference but regardless, it still remains a "cookie-cutter" house - just like the semi-attached next door with little to give it any real personality that may come with an older house. I do think though, if you challenge yourself to "think outside the box" a bit - you may find that just by adding some embelishments such as decorative moldings, trims and details - a plain old box of a space can suddenly come alive.

In my pile of inspirational stories that I pull from the numerous magazines I like to drool over - I found this beautiful article that I had torn out of Martha Stewart Living. Photographed by Maura McEvoy - the team of stylists at Martha have done an exceptionally good job giving us plenty of ideas for our own homes. I love how even a box has been given a look to mimic Wedgewood jasperware and has also been used on the two plaques above the side table to give the wall a true focal point.

And this is a great idea for hiding the dark interior of a fireplace during the summer months. This chimney board has been decorated with medallions.

My husband would keel over in shock if I managed to make my office look as orderly as this one (although I have made a bit of progress over the weekend). It's actually a tad over the top for my taste but I do like the colours and am inspired by it's ordered appearance.

I'd say this is my favourite detail - all the various storage boxes trimmed out with lovely leaf designs.

I also love this idea for over a bed but what I really love is those wide boards on the walls - it gives the room a rustic feel but painted white it feels cosier and more cottage inspired than log-cabin.

Even the bookcases have been given a little extra detail.

Here a valance has an oak leaf motif - finishing off the window and giving the roller shade a place to hide - notice that the bottom of the shade even has a lattice strip that works well with the valance.

My husband and I have already discussed that our sitting room could use a medallion on the ceiling around the chandelier fixture and I think some nice molding would really accent the room well. But now I think when we finally get that kitchen cupboard made - a few decorative embellishments on the cabinet doors could really change the character of the whole space.

What do you think? Do you like adding decorative and architectural detail? Or do you think the simpler the better?

Dreaming of Italian Cuisine

Above: Ricotta Gnocchi with Leeks and Fava Beans.
I was sorting through some of my piles of "inspirations" (magazine articles that I tear out to save for future) and came across this wonderful article I pulled of Bon Appetit magazine back in May 2005. As I think I've mentioned before, back in 1989/1990 when I spent my junior year of college studying in Florence, Italy I fell completely in love with the country, it's food and it's culture. Unfortunately I have yet to return but I feel a trip coming sometime soon as I'd love to introduce both my husband and daughter to this wonderful land.

Anyway, the article is all about cooking from the markets of Italy - specifically in Florence, Rome and Venice - and all about the kind of dishes you can conjure up from all these fantastic fresh ingredients.

I've always wanted to make Gnocchi and the Ricotta gnocchi, well almost dumplings look fabulous -and hearty and filling for chilly winter evenings. The roasted radicchio would make a wonderful side dish for any roast you are making too.

I may never have considered Beet Ravioli with Poppy Seed Butter (above) but it sure does look pretty. Crumble a little goat cheese over it before you serve it and to me that sounds like pure heaven.

These are fried artichokes.

And this is called Insalata Di Puntarelle ( which is the inner hearts of cicoria catalogna, a type of chicory) and apparently a real springtime treat in Rome.

I haven't eaten veal in years but this Veal roasted with Shallots, Fennel and Vin Santo looks absolutely fabulous.

And this simple side dish of Braised Baby Onions with Orange Juice and Balsamic Vinegar looks wonderful too - I love the lettuce bowl it's served in.

Of course, those of you who know me, know I love risotto and have finally mastered several versions but this springtime rendition with baby asparagus and peas looks perfect.

Are you a fan of Italian food? Do you love cooking with fresh ingredients? If so, where do you go to pick up the best of local produce?

Escape to Ibiza

A friend of mine flew off to Lanzarote on Saturday for a little warm weather getaway and I can tell you with the freezing temperatures and snow here in Ireland, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't envious of her. However, missing my New England winter weather - I am kind of loving the frozen landscape in Nenagh and we even had snow and all the neighbours were out enjoying it for a few moments. But thinking of the warmer climates, I found this story on a house on Ibiza and it certainly appeals to me - especially the pool and the sun.

The house (featured in the Winter issue of Image Interiors and photographed by Peter Cook and styled by Hazel Pfeifer) bases it's design around traditional Ibizan architecture and has a strong modern design throughout.

Thanks to the appealing warm weather - many of the spaces revolve around the outdoors with wonderful open air rooms that are incorporated into the deck that surrounds the house.

The views are spectacular and I'd love to get a group of my friends and family together for a long open air dinner.

Or go for a dip in this pool with the sun blazing overhead - then I'm not sure if I would return to Ireland!

Inside the spaces have a clean modern aesthetic which is ideal for a holiday home in a this kind of climate.

You can just feel the coolness all around.

And plenty of open spaces and views add to the relaxing atmosphere.

I feel my stress level has dropped already.