Summer Relaxation

Imagine a relaxing Saturday lounging outdoors on a beautiful deck with your friends and family, and the cool breeze compliments the sun perfectly. Well, following last weeks blog about creating your own personal home bar, we thought we would give you a fun summer cocktail that would be perfect to try out for this scenario! The recipe will serve you and three of your friends and only take five minutes to prepare. Hope you enjoy making this refreshing cocktail out of your new bar!

The Garden Kitchen Sink Gimlet

Serves 4 Cocktails and ONLY take 5 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups mint leaves

¹⁄₂ cup blackberries, plus more for garnish

2 cucumbers, sliced into thin rounds

8 oz. gin

7 oz. fresh lime juice

2 oz. creme de cassis

Instructions:

Muddle mint, blackberries, and cucumbers in a cocktail shaker; add gin, lime juice, cassis, and ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice and garnish with blackberries and mint.



Have a great day! 

Bring the Entertainment to You!

       It is time to explore the fun, entertaining space that can be created with a home bar.  One of my own favorite outcomes of an at home bar is creating your home as the Friday night destination spot for your friends and family! Plus you can stock all the items you’ll actually use. One of the most important things to keep in mind as you envision this space is to have fun with it, it’s a bar after all! Here are some quick tips to imagine this space in your home:

Purpose
So yes, you’ll be entertaining, but imagine just how you would like that to be in your home and the amenities that you require to enhance your lifestyle.  If you’d also like to have a space to prepare coffee and espresso beverages with a dedicated coffee bar or to blend a your favorite beverage with a blender, do it!  Pinpointing functionality is the key to creating a space that will enhance your lifestyle, and hey, our motto is ‘Design to suit your lifestyle’ for a reason!

Storage Area
Whether you are creating your home bar with a bar cart, credenza, or dedicated built-in cabinetry, be sure to give yourself enough storage for all utensils and small appliances you may require.  This allows you to focus on creating a stylized focal point out of the items you would like to display, whether it’s bottle collection, stylized glasses, or other decorative items.

Details, Details, Details This cannot be stressed enough, creating a polished look from head to toe comes from attention to detail and the touches that create intention and harmony. Texture, pattern, and color are just a jump off points, but imagining the mood or theme you would like your space to have can help you consider just how those details will complement your space!

Don’t Forget Your Lighting!
From illuminating your display or having just the right angle to enhance a metallic or textured backsplash, your total look comes together with your lighting!  It creates interest, enhances your aesthetic, and can further convey your style and theme for the space.

Via MyDomaine

Via Veranda

Via ML Interior Designs

Via House of Turquoise 

And here is a transitional Butler's Pantry that I just loved bringing to life!

Don't be afraid to get creative with your home and make it the center of attention for entertaining!

Have a great day,

Trending report from High Point

Since it's only early July,  I don't think it's too late to share what was trending in High Point this past spring.

Navy Blue

Navy Blue was definitely the hottest and most consistent color seen throughout. Considered a neutral  navy blue pairs beautifully with so many colors such as crisp whites, greens, orange and so many more.

Bill Sorrell, the style director at Thibaut created this beautiful display from their Bridgehampton collection of wall papers.  Just stunning!

From the Bridgehampton Collection, Thibaut

Each flower is uniquely created using different papers in the navy color ways. I was amazed at the intricacy of the pistils  

Dramatic and Elegant Anna French wall coverings and fabrics from Thibaut

Anna French

Geodes

Geodes, a stone which has a cavity and is lined with crystals. Used primarily in light fixtures as well as accessories. The light fixtures below are craftily created by 

Geometrics

Geometrics were abundant throughout High Point from lighting to furniture to accessories it was everywhere.

Via Sealamat

Via Thibaut

Deep Seating and Customization

This is exactly what I needed at the end of two days in High Point, a very comfortable deep sofa. I could have stayed there the rest of the afternoon. Because we all seem to be working from home more often than not, furniture is being built for multiple purposes. Deep seating to accommodate laptops, wider arm, extra pillows, the list goes on.   This sofa in particular from  Four Hands is framed in solid wood with wider arm rest for drinks or i-phones.

Its called customization for your needs.  I love it! It's no longer one size fits all, it's all about the client.

Via Four Hands

Visit us on Pinterest to see so much more.

Enjoy

Challenged by Make-A-Wish

Challenged by an adventure,  Rich (my husband) & I made a commitment to Make a Wish . Our commitment began as a personal challenge to an adventure, a 28.3 mile hike in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains. After several months of training and lots of miles under our belts, t's hard to believe that it has been a month since our hike.  Our hike, a mental, emotional a physical experience we will always treasure with a reminder that no matter how hard you train, there will always be a surprise.

It's Showtime!

With much anticipation, the big weekend finally arrived. Our weekend began with a pep rally and a group dinner, a reminder to our group of 120 hikers as to WHY we were all there. Our special reminder came in the form of Henry, his story and HIS wish. At that moment we decided to dedicate our hike to Henry and his family.

Saturday, May 21st 2016

Our day began with a meeting in the hotel lobby ready for our 4 am departure to our destination. With head lights in place, sleepy yet anxious  we began out trek. Hiking at a steady pace with our group of six and our much younger cohorts, we watched every step around the slippery rocks and crossed each creek carefully as we maintained a brisk pace in the dark.

 We reached our 10.7 mile check point as the sun started peeking through the trees. After several hours of hiking and eating as we hiked, we realized our next check point was at 22 miles. Realizing this would be the toughest part of our hike we pushed through. 

An absolutely beautiful hike

The last 6 plus miles of the walk were the most demanding both physically and emotionally. Physically from the standpoint that Rosa's left knee was hurting with every step, emotionally because the end was near but it was taking twice as long due to her injury.

Those feelings all vanished as we heard the clapping and cheering from the volunteers and staff of Make a Wish at the finish line. After the celebratory pictures and high fives an ice cold beer awaited us.

Our journey this day is complete, but Make a Wish journey of granting wishes to children with life altering conditions continues thanks to your donations.

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!

Rosa and Rich

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