Hello Monday, Plus a Delightful Autumn Inspired Recipe

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  I had a wonderful time celebrating my birthday all weekend and now I’m a little fatigued…

Lunch in Gordes, Luberon, France

Now that autumn is around the corner, I’m searching for new recipes that are fall-inspired.  This is delicious and won’t disappoint!

Pasta with Cauliflower, Burrata, and Thyme

spaghetti with cauliflower, burrata and thyme

  • 1 cup (250ml) single (pouring) cream
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 1 cup (80g) finely grated parmesan, plus extra, to serve
  • sea salt and cracked black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 25g unsalted butter, chopped
  • 1.2kg cauliflower, trimmed and cut into small florets
  • 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon thyme leaves
  • 400g spaghetti
  • 2 x 200g burrata (see tip), torn
  • 8 white anchovy fillets, chopped (optional)

A Beautiful Mix: Modern Meets Traditional Design

Blending styles is one of my favourite things to do when I design for clients.  I love incorporating contrasting styles into a multi-layered, juxtaposed aesthetic that is fresh.  Knowing how to do this is successfully is especially helpful when partners have contrasting tastes.  I find it always gets the most ecstatic reactions!

a real mix of styles...
What are your thoughts on mixing styles?  Is it something you have done in your home?
xx,

B
If you would like help in creating a home you love, please contact me at Brenda@atelierdhautedesign.com
photos via here.

Beautiful Inspiration: DIY White and Gold Bowls, Plus 2 More

Lately, I have been experimenting with gold spray paint.  After spotting this pretty DIY for gold and white bowls, I had to share.

diy gold and white bowls92
diy gold and white bowls5a
diy gold and white bowls6
I love the texture of the bowls.  They’re perfecting for organzing small items such as jewels, hair accessories for my daughter, plus you can use any colours you like

diy gold and white bowls7
Other DIY ideas

{ gold and flower }
Tutorial via here.

Love the gold and white trend? Then you'll want to make a set of mini gold dipped porcelain spoons. (Click through for video tutorial)
Tutorial via here

xx,

B

If you would like help in creating a home you love, please contact me at Brenda@atelierdhautedesign.com

Chantal Thomass Fall/Winter 2014

Chantal Thomass Lingerie Fall Winter 2014 Lookbook
If you’ve been reading the blog for awhile, you know that I’m quite smitten with lingerie, especially French labels such as Chantal Thomass.  I love her playful, feminine styles that exude that joie de vivre.

Chantal Thomass Lingerie Fall Winter 2014 Lookbook
Chantal Thomass Lingerie Fall Winter 2014 Lookbook

This collection is inpsired by the 1920’s, feminine and seductive with an Art Deco flair.

Chantal Thomass Lingerie Fall Winter 2014 Lookbook
Chantal Thomass Lingerie Fall Winter 2014 Lookbook
Chantal Thomass Lingerie Fall Winter 2014 Lookbook
I’m especially taken with the two sheer styles above and the one below.
Chantal Thomass Lingerie Fall Winter 2014 Lookbook
Chantal Thomass Lingerie Fall Winter 2014 Lookbook
Chantal Thomass Lingerie Fall Winter 2014 Lookbook
xx,

B

If you would like help in creating a home you love, please contact me at Brenda@atelierdhautedesign.com

A Peak into the Stylish New Office of Jenna Lyon

Jenna Lyons’s Desk in the J. Crew Offices
While perusing through Vanity Fair’s website, they gave us a glimpse of the new office of Jenna Lyon’s, J Crew’s President and Executive Creative Director.  A little bit mid-century modern, a touch of bohemian, and 100% the style of Lyon.

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I love seeing the messiness of creative minds at work.  The desk in Lyons’s office is a marble Eero Saarinen Tulip Dining Table and the chairs are Eames Aluminum Management Chairs.  Art in the background is from Portuguese beach by artist Christian Chaize.

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I love that Lyon has touches of her family in her office.  I’m sure she works long hours and her son’s Robot Camp art makes her feel at home. 

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The mood board is pinned with fabrics and photo inspiration.
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I love the elephant shirt… elephants are one of my favourite animals.
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What I love most are the Mid-Century pieces in the second photo and the lucite and Bent Wood chairs above (far left and center).
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J Crew always has a fabulous costume jewelry selection.  

xx,

B
If you would like help in creating a home you love, please contact me at Brenda@atelierdhautedesign.com

Bonjour Monday, Plus 5 Unconventional Beauty Ingredients


I hope you had a wonderful weekend!  Ours was full of relaxation and repose..
Today, I’m sharing some of my favourite unconventional beauty ingredients.  While there are many, maaany recipes and ingredients circulating, these are some of my personal favourites.

 


Aspirin

  • Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory when taken internally and applied topically.  It helps to reduce redness and calm inflamed skin conditions such as rosacea and acne.  Mix 4-6 crushed aspirin and water to form a paste (1 tablespoon per 3 aspirin).  You can also add lemon juice, warm honey, or tea tree oil. Cleanse your face and apply this pack all over the face, especially on the acne prone area.  Allow to dry and Remove the mask with a warm, wet washcloth dipped in baking soda.
  • Cleanses clogged skin pores, thus reducing the probability of acne formation.
  • Removes dead skin cells from skin.
  • Reduces skin discoloration due to ageing and sun damage.
  • Reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines due to its anti-inflammatory properties.
  • Reduces puffiness on face and puffy eyes.

Rosebud Salve

  • Doubles as a moisturizing night cream. This use is best suited for dry, sensitive, and mature skin.
  •  Is an excellent cuticle treatment that instantly moisturizes and smooths dry skin. Soak your hands in hot water then gently pat dry, but do not dry completely.
  • Deeply moisturizes dry and patches of skin, such as the knees, elbows, and heels. This is because it contains emollients and essential oils.
  • Light balm that doubles as a frizz tamer. It can also be used as an eyebrow gel to keep the brows in place. To use it as an eyebrow gel, dab the balm over the brows in the hair’s natural direction of growth. It also adds a light sheen the brows, giving them a healthy and youthful appearance.
  • It can help give your skin a dewy look. Most include shimmers that provide an artificial looking glow to the skin.

Coconut Oil

  • I love, love, love this stuff!  It has so many wonderful uses that it deserves it’s own post.
  • Before washing your face, gently rub downward over eyelashes to remove eye makeup. Tip: Leaving a little oil on the base of your eyelashes can help them grow.
  • Heat up about 4 to 5 tablespoons (depending on the length of your hair) of coconut oil in the microwave, and once cooled, apply it to your hair as you would any hair mask. Wear a shower cap while you sleep.  Wash hair and style as usual.
  • Apply as a face and body moisturizer.  It helps to remove dead skin cells and leaves you with glowing skin.  It can be used a facial moisturizer or eye and lip cream before bedtime. Mix equal parts coconut oil and body lotion will create an ultra-hydrating cream before bed and after a bath/shower. You can also add essential oils or keep it natural.
  • Oil pulling works as an all-natural mouthwash. Right when you wake up in the morning, drink a glass of big water. Then, put a spoonful of coconut oil or sesame oil in your mouth and swish it around for 5 to 20 minutes (20 is recommended, but I usually do about 15). Don’t eat anything before—you want the oil to literally pull the toxins from your body before you’ve put anything else in your mouth. While swishing, aim to have the oil hit every area of your mouth evenly. Try not to swallow the oil while swishing because then the toxins will just go right back into your system.

Baking Soda

  • Make a pimple disappear quickly by dabbing with a mixture of water and baking soda.
  • To get the softness back, make a pack of baking soda and warm water. It will help exfoliate the dead skin cells around the hands and nails.
  • As a substitute when you run out of your deodorant. All you need to do is mix about a pinch of baking soda with a tablespoon of water.
  • Mix baking soda and baby oil to bath to help moisturize skin.

Fresh Fruit

  • Mix three tablespoons of fresh orange juice three teaspoon and one tablespoon of yoghurt. The citrus property of orange juice will give a glow, cleanse, and lighten skin as well as help reduce dark spots and blemishes to improve the complexion. The citric nature of the fruit acts as a natural toner and and improves the skin texture resulting in tighter skin. The yoghurt maintains the moisture level.
  • Mix and pulp of fresh berries together. The mixture will be quite watery due to the high water content in each fruit. You can use ground oats to thicken the mixture and provide granules for a scrubbing action. Apply onto a thoroughly washed face and keep for 20 minutes. Blueberries are packed with antioxidants that rejuvenate the skin internally. Vitamin C is a major component in strawberries and plays a key role in the production of collagen, the amino acid responsible for promoting skin elasticity. Watermelon is rich in vitamins A, B and C and keeps skin hydrated and radiant. Together, these fruits will repair the damage and wear-and-tear your skin undergoes and result in a fresh complexion.
  • Fresh fruit is always best consumed but applying it to your skin is said to be beneficial also.
What are some of your favourite beauty ingredients?
xx,

B

Via here, here, and here.

This Week’s Musings and Thoughts for the Weekend

I hope you had a wonderful week and an even better weekend planned!  I have a few projects to catch up on but I plan to spend time with family and friends having fun.  These are the last weeks of summer and I hope to make the best of them.

At the boutiques:

http://bit.ly/1yEp7He, another beautiful one here http://bit.ly/1yEqju7

Falling for ~ Gallery Walls:

gallery wall | lonny.com


Late summer afternoons at the wineries:

Flower markets:

Love this video of Audrey… Recently watched Funny Face on the large hill at our local art museum’s movie night.

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/nrIJjB_dyP0&source=uds
xx,

B
If you would like help in creating a home you love, please contact me at Brenda@atelierdhautedesign.com

A Beautiful New Boudoir and Office Space, Plus Meyer Lemon Iced Raspberry Yogurt Cake

Last week, Rach Parcell gave us a glimpse into her new boudoir/office space.  Knowing it would be breathtakingly beautiful, I awaited the unveiling on Monday… and it did not disappoint.

dream-closet-space

perfume-holder-tray

center-island-dream-closet

valentino-fashion-book
pink-fringe-chanderlier

valentino-red-bow-heels

I’m particularly smitten with the leopard print rug, pink, white laquer desk, and chair {the fabric gives texture and pairs perfectly with the desk}.

fashion-office-chair
gold-bernhardt-desk

fashion-books-in-office

dream-shoe-closet

closet-bag-storage

Also smitten with her shoe collection, non?

Meyer Lemon Iced Raspberry Yogurt Cake
This recipe is the perfect complement to a late summer soiree or anytime.  I loved the creaminess and blend of lemon & raspberries.

meyer lemon iced raspberry yogurt cake
for the cake:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
3 eggs, separated
2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup plain greek yogurt
1 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen

for the buttercream:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
zest & juice of 2 meyer lemons 
pinch of salt
4 cups powdered sugar
  1. to make the cake, preheat your oven to 320F. grease and line four 6″ cake pans or two 8″ or 9″ cake pans with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. add the egg yolks one at a time, mixing after each addition. 
  3. add the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda and mix until mostly combined. add the yogurt and mix until combined. 
  4. beat the egg whites to medium peaks and fold into the cake batter. fold in the raspberries.
  5. divide the batter evenly between the pans and bake 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. 
  6. let the cakes cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before turning them out onto a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
  7. to make the buttercream, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. add the lemon zest and juice and salt and mix until combined. slowly add the powdered sugar and mix until combined. mix on medium speed for a couple minutes until light and fluffy. if your buttercream is softer than you’d like, you can either add more sugar or chill it for 30 minutes.
  8. to make a four layer cake, slice each cake layer in half. spread with buttercream and top with another cake layer. continue until all layers are used. spread the cake with remaining buttercream. store finished cake in the refrigerator.
makes four 6″ layers (two, two layer 6″ cakes) or two 8″ or 9″ layers

Photos via Pink Peonies, and recipe via here.

xx,

B

If you would like help in creating a home you love, please contact me at Brenda@atelierdhautedesign.com


Beautiful Inspiration: Chanel Collection États Poétiques

Chanel États Poétiques Fall 2014 Makeup Collection
Chanel Collection États Poétiques for Fall 2014 arrived online and in stores this summer.  The poetic autumn palette of perfect opposites: innocent and stormy & passion and emotion, and featuring the newly redesigned eyeliner pen.

Les Beiges / Healthy Glow Sheer Colour SPF 15 Sunscreen – $57.50

  • N°40 (Repromote)

Vitalumiere Aqua / Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Sunscreen SPF 15, $45.00

  • 30 Beige – Sandy Beige (Repromote)

Joues Contraste / Powder Blush, $45.00

  • Innocence – Rosewood

Écriture de Chanel / Automatic Liquid Eyeliner, $35.00

  • Noir – Black
  • Brun – Brown

Le Volume de Chanel / Mascara, $30.00

  • Prune – Purple

Ombre Essentielle / Soft Touch Eyeshadow, $29.50

  • Sensation – Ivory Pink (Limited Edition)
  • Palpitation – Soft Rose (Limited Edition)
  • Admiration – Golden Yellow
  • Exaltation – Bright Pink
  • Hésitation – Pink Plum
  • Pulsion – Deep Plum

Les 4 Ombres / Quadra Eye Shadow, $59.00

  • Mystic Eyes – Deep Brown, Light Pink, Shimmering Grey, Copper Brown (Repromote)

Rouge Coco Shine / Hydrating Sheer Lipshine, $35.00

  • Intime – Soft Pink
  • Viva – Intense Fuchsia (Limited Edition)
  • Confident – Intense Rosewood
  • Aura – Plum

Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimer, $29.50

  • Rose Rêvé – Milky Pink (Limited Edition)
  • Songe – Iridescent Pearl (Limited Edition)

Rouge Coco Baume / Hydrating Conditioning Lip Balm, $35.00

  • Lip Balm (Repromote)

Le Vernis, $27.00

  • Secret – Nude
  • Atmosphère – Iridescent Pearl (Limited Edition)
  • Orage – Grey Blue

I’m particularly smitten with the roses and greys.  Have you picked up anything for the collection?
xx,
B

If you would like help in creating a home you love, please contact me at Brenda@atelierdhautedesign.com

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