At the end of last year, we decided it was time to begin the process of replacing some of our existing flooring. Our house had six different types of flooring including carpet, engineered and oak hardwoods, travertine, tile and bamboo, and none of them are necessarily reflective of our style. Upon reflection, I am grateful […]

I’ve read somewhere that in designing your home, the master bedroom sets the tone for your whole house and therefore is a good place to get started. For me, the “catalyst room” has always been the dining room. It’s a room synonymous with hospitality, and becomes the ambassador of your style to your invited guests. […]

The origins of patîsserie are arguably not in France, but from the ancient Mesopotamian civilization of the Assyrian Empire circa 800 B.C. I count this dessert among my most favorites to both make and enjoy, these cookies and pots de crème being the others. Phyllo (meaning leaf) is a super thin pastry, sold in the […]

On this especially cold Valentine’s Day weekend, there’s nowhere I’d rather be than together in our little château. On the menu for our celebration tonight is Ligurian Focaccia, my favorite pasta dish, Bucatini with Pomodoro Sauce, and a great bottle of Champagne. Here are some moments from around our house this Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day […]

A few years ago, after watching the Barefoot Contessa pull a jar of 25-year-old homemade vanilla extract out of her incredible pantry, I was inspired to make my own. According to Ina, as her supply runs low, she just keeps topping off the jar with more vodka and the vanilla beans keep replenishing her supply. […]

This year at our little château, we have embraced a simpler aesthetic for Christmas décor. While decorating for Christmas is fun, I never enjoy spending hours packing away lots of holiday stuff. So this year when I unpacked it all, I edited my collection down to just a few favorite, sentimental items that bring us […]

The Dala Horse is a centuries-old Swedish symbol originating the the Dalarna region, once characterized by small villages surrounded by forests. As horses were highly prized and respected, small hand-carved horses were given to children as gifts. The earliest Dala horses were said to be plain, but as their popularity spread among the regions, people […]

Annually, Neiman Marcus puts out its Christmas Book with gift ideas and it infamously includes a collection of ‘Fantasy Gifts’ for the person who has everything. When I was younger, I thumbed through the pages of this catalogue with great interest and marveled at the creativity of its offerings, like an ‘ice house’ complete with […]

When you’re really craving chocolate, nothing less than a decadent flourless chocolate cake will do. But it’s so rich you don’t need much, which is why I make this chocolate torte recipe in mini cupcake tins lined with parchment cupcake wrappers. The whipped cream frosting piped on top balances the dense chocolate for a perfect […]

For my beverage of choice, there are a few key points to remember for maximum enjoyment. Read on for my Champagne etiquette tips. How to Chill Too warm a bottle (above 57ºF) can create excess foam, which also makes the bottle harder to open. Too cold a temperature (below 42ºF) reduces the bubbles, masks the […]

On a beautiful fall weekend, Nathan and I drove down to Kentucky to visit the Maker’s Mark Distillery. A few years ago, Nathan signed up for the Maker’s Mark Ambassador program. As a part of that membership, his name was added to a barrel of bourbon and with that, the five-to-seven-year time clock for the […]

Before a killing frost, these two flowers thrive in a cool season garden and are among the last standing when the rest of the more showy blooms have faded. Traditionally “filler” flower types, Queen Anne’s lace and euphorbia are easily grown from seed and are just as beautiful on their own, especially planted or gathered […]