White with darker grout lines gives the tile strong definition (I love the airplane hanging from the ceiling).

A more modern take on white tile.

Some interesting tile ideas worth noting….

Varying the tile on the ceiling and the wall makes for a great and different look.

Tiles from Ann Sacks in vibrant color ways give visual interest to a kitchen.

I love a chevron pattern,

a good dose of blue,

and by now you know I love anything old school, like the stoves below that remind me of my childhood.

Nice way to squeeze in an eight burner!!

How do you prefer kitchen tile??

It’s not too late to win the PVE summer giveaway!

Photo Credits: via House Beautiful (1,2,5) Elle Decor (3,8,9) Ann Sacks (4,6,7)

There is something very relaxing and pretty about a white table.

A simple summer table to enjoy friendship and conversation.

Photo Credits; via The City Sage,  via Splendid Willow, via Swedish Blue Designs, via Simply Seleta

I have also been thinking about how great looking copper pots are.

I cook with Le Creuset and usually iron skillets so from a functional perspective I can’t comment, but I have heard great things about them. They are so darn good looking!

I got a copy of Julie and Julia (which I love) in my stocking, and they were Julia Childs choice.

My little guys would love to just bang on any of these.

What do you cook with? Thoughts on copper pots? Have a great weekend & stay warm!

Photo Credits: Point Click Home,  ? from my kitchen file, HousetoHome, Martha Stewart, Smithsonian for Julia Child

While I am glad that we will be using hardwood flooring I can’t help but to love these cool tiles from Ann Sacks that are so easy on the bank at $6/sf. Possibly a little hard on your feet if you cook for long periods of time, but with some rugs and rug pads at your work stations it will work and look great.

We also discussed painting the cabinets or staining them a dark mahogany. Grey kitchens seem to be a new trend to watch for…

When beginning a kitchen starting with a rough layout and keeping your stove, fridge and sink all in a workable path is best. I will be specifying the appliances in the next few weeks. There are also now so many great ways to sneak in storage and convenience into a kitchen.

What is going on in your kitchen? This week I am cooking for a little one’s birthday (tomorrow my big one is 4), Christmas Eve, cookies for Santa and Christmas Day. I will be busy in the kitchen.

Photo Credits: Decorpad, Garden Web, Cote de Texas, Craig Spencer, Suzanne Kasler, House Beautiful, Kitchens Magazine Online

]]> http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/2009/12/21/in-the-kitchen/feed/ 13 http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/2009/08/17/giada/ http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/2009/08/17/giada/#comments Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:00:29 +0000 laura http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/?p=2974 I have become quite the fan of Giada De Laurentiis. Her recipes are easy to follow and delicious. I recently saw her house in Architectural Digest and imagine she enjoys cooking in her indoor and outdoor kitchens and eating outside on her deck. Click here to see the rest of her home. Below is one of my favorite recipes too, it is delicious!

Lemon Spaghetti

Recipe courtesy Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients

1 pound spaghetti
2/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite,

stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk the oil, Parmesan, and lemon juice in a large bowl to blend.

Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

Toss the pasta with the lemon sauce, and the reserved cooking liquid,

adding 1/4 cup at a time as needed to moisten. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with lemon zest and chopped basil.

Do you have a favorite recipe? Please share it with me, I am always looking for new ones. ENJOY!

Check out  Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Photo Credits: Architectural Digest

Architecture by Peter Cohen, AIA/Interior Design by Kevin Fitzsimons and Bonesteel Trout Hall

]]> http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/2009/08/17/giada/feed/ 17 http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/2009/07/09/at-the-sink/ http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/2009/07/09/at-the-sink/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 11:00:37 +0000 laura http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/?p=4019 I spend a fair amount of time at the sink. On a busy cooking day I run the dishwasher twice. I have two little boys who eat a fair amount, and I like to cook so that is a recipe for dishes. Sinks have come a long way in the past few decades. This single basin stainless steel sink by Kohler uses a new technology called SilentShield which is an exclusive sound-absorption system. It reduces disposal noise and vibration from dishes and running water.

This farmhouse sink is made of fireclay, which is softer than most porcelain and is easier on your dishes.

I could use a longer washer for prep and clean up.

Undermount sinks make for an easier cleanup with no edge for food particles to get stuck in.

You don’t need to have granite countertops or a farmhouse sink to mount them underneath. The below one is shown with corian.

The seamless sink also allows for easy cleanup into a disposal. No more unsightly rims.

I love the look of a copper sink as well.

Ann Sacks copper Zeus sink

The Farmhouse Duet Pro-Hammered copper sink by Native Trails is pretty good looking.

Here are a few more options that help make life at the sink a little easier.

Elkay’s sink with a removable cutting board.

The Carafe kitchen faucet by Kohler can be switched to filtered or unfiltered water.

Sprayer and faucet in one by Dornbrecht.

Happy cooking & cleaning!

Photo Credits: Kohler (1), House Beautiful (2,3) Seamless Sink (5), Signature Hardware (6), Ann Sacks (7),

Native Trails (8), Elkay (9), Kohler (10) Dornbrecht (11)

GAS  RANGES/ OVENS

Blue Star Cooking- I LOVE this great looking Double Gas Wall Oven. It’s available in 190 colors.

Michael Smith put the Blue Star range in a client’s house and said it is

“the best professional stove for a house”.

Bertazonni makes some great looking ones too with matching hoods.

Christopher Peacock has seven feet of cooking surface in his NYC Studio with the Electrolux Icon.

Wolf makes a microwave warming drawer that keeps food warm for thirty minutes.

It doesn’t have a handle though so it could get finger prints on it easily.

SINKS/ FAUCETS

American Standard’s Chandler Sink is made of corian.

It is a completely renewable surface and very low maintenance.

An all purpose work station sink from Julien.

I already touched on the Kholer Karbon faucet in an earlier post but I am stuck on it! 

I also like the Simplice Pull Down faucet. 

Crevasse Prep Sink from Kohler with disposal. Prep looks easier…

COUNTERTOPS

Responsibly harvested wood countertops just keep getting better looking.

I like these from Grothouse Lumber. 

Granite, Marble and Soapstone continue to be favorites

but butcher block is very affordable and user friendly.

REFRIGERATORS

36″ Freezer from Dacor with a wide range of colors to chose from.

As most of you know, I have two precious little boys and I already cook a ton.

I feel like one of these (Electrolux) is in my future…

and possibly this built-incoffee dispenser if I don’t start getting some more sleep…

What do you want in your kitchen? 

Images from House Beautiful and sources where noted.

I am so happy that spring has arrived in Charlotte. It was 75 degrees and sunny both days this weekend, and I spent a fair amount of time outside. I did start my spring cleaning in the kitchen though with a thorough cleanout of the fridge. My husband even said the fridge looks “brand new”. I wiped down the inside and outside of the cabinets and pantry closet. My job for this week is to clean the inside of the oven. I am working on a clean out/clean up at our house.  Everytime I get through part of my spring cleaning list I will write a post and hopefully motivate my readers to do the same. I am a bit of a hippie when it comes to cleaning products. I find bon ami, lemon and vinegar get the job done for about every spot I need.  Mrs. Meyer’s, Seventh Generation and Pure Earth are all at the top of my list as well. Mrs. Meyer’s products in the lavender scent makes the kitchen smell great!

A book I reference frequently is Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook. It has answers to all sorts of questions regarding every area of the home. Here is her check list from that book on Spring Cleaning.

When you kitchen is clean here is a great recipe from Barefoot Contessa 

ROASTED SHRIMP SALAD

Serves 6

2 1/2 pounds (16 to 20 count) shrimp
1 tablespoon good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup good mayonnaise
1 tablespoon orange zest (2 oranges)
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon good white wine vinegar
1/4 cup minced fresh dill
2 tablespoons capers, drained
2 tablespoons small-diced red onion

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Peel and devein the shrimp. Place them on a sheet pan with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and toss together. Spread the shrimp in one layer and roast for 6 to 8 minutes, just until pink and firm and cooked through. Allow to cool for 3 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, make the sauce: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, orange zest, orange juice, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. When the shrimp are cooled, add them to the sauce and toss. Add the dill, capers, and red onion and toss well. The flavors will improve if you allow the salad to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Otherwise, chill and serve at room temperature.

I try my hardest to pull this look off while I clean but the heels make it tough.

Let me know how you are Spring Cleaning!

Photo Credits: House Beautiful, Martha Stewart, Google Images 

After removing the back trim and drawer pulls the dresser was sanded. This is the result two coats of paint later and a faux pattern for the accent. Pretty good looking for $124 start to finish. 

Does your kitchen need an update? Kitchen cabinets often account for a good chunk of a kitchen budget. I would guess your cabinet frames and shelves are okay but take off the doors and strip them down yourself. New paint and handles can do wonders.

This knob is from Restoration Hardware is just $7.

 Ceramic tiles look just like stone for significantly less.

Updating a backsplash doesn’t have to break the bank.

Do you want a lighter looking kitchen but have a black dishwasher? Put a panel on the front of it.

 Do you need more shelving space in your pantry but don’t want to build in new shelving. You can get some good ones from Ikea (now open in Charlotte).

Does this one look a little bare to you? Paint it and mount a fiber board back to it with  faux grasscloth on it. It takes some work but can be done for under $200. 

Paint chairs or recover them in an unexpected color.

If you are not up for a re-upholstery job yourself, these chairs are at Target.

WOW- Fun and $299 for a cute chair. I’ll take it. Maybe I’d darken the feet on the first one myself. 

What do you think?  Let me know how you get crafty on a budget.

* Kitchen Photos from Southern Living

A refined and muted palette make for a lovely dining area with an abundance of natural light.

Robert Stilin is the interior designer that she worked with.

I would love to sit out here and relax on a cool summer evening.

My sister gave me her cookbooks Back to Basics & At Home and panini press for Christmas. Everything made want to run to the kitchen. In my next life I will be a foodie, for now I just try. I missed her book signing near my parents house by two weeks. Too bad she didn’t come to Charlotte! Anyone else a big fan?