Oh Baby...It's Delancey!

With my pending adventure to the Netherlands and Austria I have been working more hours than I care to admit! So, with one night off I decided to treat myself to dinner at Delancey. For those of you who have not had the pleasure, let me fill you in. After reading numerous reviews of this new restaurant in Ballard with hefty comparisons to Veraci and Serious Pie, I was delighted to try this up and coming pizza hot spot. I was not disappointed, either! The design is...simple. White walls, a nice wooden bar with poured concrete top and an open concept kitchen where the main spectacle is the infamous wood fired oven create a clean, modern space. I loved the lighting which is simple but adds an extra touch of industrial sparkle. If I were to change two things I would a) put some signage on the windows and b) Curtain off the back of the house, especially the dish pit which is in full view from the bar. The pizza was in short...AMAZING! The crust was thin and thick in all the right spots and the house-made pork and fennel sausage was to die for! There is a nice selection of beer and wine as well as some nonalcoholic selections like Reed's Ginger Beer and Mexican Coca Cola. For those of you who can't dine out without a little sweet at the end they have a bittersweet chocolate chip cookie with gray salt that I am savoring every morsel of as I write this. Now, do yourself a favor and take yourself to Italy for some pizza, Naples specifically...and then when you return and find yourself craving those amazing Neapolitan textures and flavors, take yourself to Delancey!

All Hallow's Eve...

For me, October is the kick off to a festive holiday season that ends January 1st. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays to celebrate and always challenges my creative side to come up with something spooky and innovative. I love to dress up in costume but it is equally important to create a spooky scene that invites the trick-or-treaters to come to my door in search of some tasty sweets. Halloween decor at your home can span from very simple to very elaborate as long as it is done right, and not overdone (we have all seen this, right?). I suppose it is fair to say that I don't buy into large inflatable lawn toys, I prefer something more decorative, even if it is simple. I really love the ideas that Martha Stewart has on her site and although some of the pumpkin carving ideas may be a bit elaborate for those who are not crafty. Look at the concept and see if you can recreate the elements in your own way. I like a grouping of pumpkins (always in odd numbers, I like 5-7 in various sizes) carved or not with some extra embellishments. You can find some wonderfully creepy looking gourds at your local nursury and there is nothing more ghoulish than a pile of greenish, bumpy gourds for your porch setting. Martha Stewart has also partnered with a catalog that has some great Halloween decor items: Grandin Road. They also sell the gawdy inflatable items but breeze past those and find some cool decor items for your buffet table! To me, it's all in the small details. Pick up some Spanish Moss on your next hike and add it to your buffet table. Buy some inexpensive Styrofoam skulls and put several of them under a glass cloche jar on your mantle. Cut out black sillouettes of bats and rats and place them on the walls as if they are flying out of someplace or creeping up the stairs...and throw a party for your friends while you hand out candy! You can download some creepy wine labels from Martha Stewart's site and create your own goulish brew for your home bar! Use some black feather boa's as garlands around your home. Regardless of how much work you want to put into it, have fun and take inspiration from the large number of craft and design magazines available. Have a ghoulishly spooky Halloween! Cheers!

Quote for a Lifetime...

One of my favorite quotes from William Morris that still holds true today...think about it next time you are debating on that purchase....it might be $5 or $5000 but do you LOVE it?

"Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful" - W. Morris

It is really that simple. Don't fall for a bargain or buy to "throw away" later. I believe in sustainable design and that entails purchasing quality items that will stand the test of time. You can always embellish with trendy accessories but your basic items should be things you LOVE. Invest in these items and don't settle for less. If you covet an expensive piece, SAVE UP! But only buy what you love, and love what you buy for your home. After all, it is your after work retreat where you live, love and create the life you want!

A Few of My Favorite Things...

These items are from Wisteria.com and I Love them...I own the coffee and side table and covet the bench! For those who have not experienced this site please explore! I am also in love with their Kuba cloth pillows pictured behind the industrial coffee table. Happy shopping!

What is Real Estate Staging???

I felt the need to explain this title to those who are not familiar...a real estate stager is a consultant for those who want to sell their home but may need advice on what to edit or repair for the open house. Sometimes, the owner's have already moved and have a vacant home that needs furnishing so that a prospective buyer can see how the house may be furnished. As a rule, most rooms look smaller without furniture so it is key to have at least a few rooms furnished and photographed for online listing purposes. As a Real Estate Stager, I can rent the buyer furniture and accessories to make their home look beautiful. As a professional Stager I will move the furniture and accessories into the home and place each item in the right place! Most stagers like myself have a background in Interior Design and have an eye for great design solutions. Stagers can also help sellers edit furnishings and accessories and make crucial decisions in terms of what repairs and maintenance need to be completed before the home is listed for sale. These decisions can help the seller in getting the maximum dollar amount for the home and this means the maximum profit! Staging makes a huge difference in how buyers view a home and ultimately, how many offers come through the door. If you have any questions about Real Estate Staging please contact me, I am happy to help you sell your home!

It's Faux...Green?

I must admit I am not a fan of fake plants. I know how hard it is for some to keep a plant alive and the easy solution seems to be a plastic or silk replica but really...really? I remember one of my teacher's in design school saying that Interior Designer's only use plants to cover mistakes in design! So I grew to despise fake ivy above cabinets, hated dusty ficus trees in corners and loathe fake flowers atop tables. Then I started a business in Real Estate Staging! One of the most difficult decisions I had to make when I became a Stager was what to do about the green factor. Houses with plants feel more like home and even I have pots with beautiful succulents that require little water and add life to a room...however, all plants will die in a staging project that lasts for months when no one is around to water and care for it. I had to bite the bullet and admit that there is a time and place for faux greenery (shocking as it might be)! I also intentionally purchased several plants and flowers in the faux catagory for my business...oh, the horror! My advice to you is to use these faux creations with clear reasoning. Are you selling your home and need something low maintenence on the dining room table? Do you kill every real green plant you buy? Do you want something pretty in your powder room that does not require weekly watering or fresh replacements? My first choice would be au natural...try succulents from the Palm Room in Ballard. Go to your local Nursury and talk to an expert about what you want and the type of maintenence it requires. Swansons in Ballard is great for this! Finally, if you must, try to purchase faux greenery from a quality standpoint: if it is cheap it will look cheap. Fidalgo's and Pottery Barn have some great options for faux greenery and flowers but use these sparingly unless you are staging a home for sale. Also, consider a dried arrangement with the addition of live greenery. Going to your local flower market can inspire a whole new creation and utilizing dried elements with your fresh flower selections can save $$$. The final word? Use caution, use sparingly and please don't put fake ivy above your cabinets because there is "nothing else to put there!" and good luck!