How to Customize Concrete Countertops

I blogged a few months ago about casting your own concrete sink. Here's another customization for you DIY concrete countertops: throw a handful of colored glass fragments, semi-precious stones, or metal shavings into the mix. The aggregates will be revealed upon grinding and polishing, much like terrazzo floors. Find more concrete tips on the Concrete Network.

Inspiration: Kips Bay Decorator Show House Slide Show

These images are from the Kips Bay Decorator Show House slide show. Whew. That's a mouthful.

I'm not 100% sure what KBDSH is. To be honest, I was too distracted by the slide show to finish the article. But from what I gleaned, it's, "the interior design world's yearly coming out party."

If you have a better attention span than me (i.e. over 6 seconds), you can read more here. Or if you just like pictures, you can open the slide show from the same page.


Via Apartment Therapy.

Shameless Plea: Save "How I Met Your Mother"

I ran across an entry on Modern Cottage asking us to go watch "How I Met Your Mother" on CBS Mondays at 7 pm Central time. I want to echo this plea. I love TV and I'll admit it. I watch a lot as I work in the kitchen or on the computer, and "How I Met Your Mother" is by far my favorite sit-com.

I'm so shocked to hear that CBS is considering canceling it. So please, please, tune in and give it a chance. I will attest that this show has some of the best, funniest writing on TV and a wonderful cast. You don't need to catch up on the plot, you can jump right in or read a little back story here.

So CBS, if you're reading. Please don't take this gem off the air.

Dollhouse Murders

Growing up, The Dollhouse Murders was one of my favorite novels. If you missed it, it was the story of a dollhouse that mysteriously acted out murders. That was fiction, but it turns out that a woman named Frances Glessner Lee (1878-1962) actually built 18 minature crime scene dioramas for student analysis.

Though barred from attending medical school because she was a woman, Lee dedicated her life to the science of crime detection. Combine that with a love of dollhouses, and voila.

The dioramas are collected in the book, The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. Maybe I'm a little morbid, but this sounds really cool.

Via Apartment Therapy.

DIY: Greek Yogurt

Traditional Greek yogurt is thicker and has more taste than what we're used to here. If you are cooking Mediterranean cuisine, it's always better to use traditional style yogurt. Unfortunately it's hard to come by in most grocery stores.

Fortunately, The Kitchen has some tips for straining the excess water out of regular, plain-old, easy-to-find yogurt. Hooray.

Triple Word Score: Scrabble Sofas

Leave messages for your house-mates on your slightly uncomfortable-looking, but probably fun Scrabble Sofas.

If you like the pillows, I believe you could do a DIY version using iron-ons and some inexpensive pillows.

Via my friend Pablo via Geekologie.

Blogging Bon Appetit's May Issue

ARTICLES:
"Bon Appetit's" May issue is a travel special edition. It covers where to eat in places like France, Spain, Italy, and Austria and some local recipes for each region. Though not listed on the cover, there is a great article and accompanying recipes from Istanbul. I have to divulge, that I am extremely partial to Turkey and wax poetic on the topic whenever I get the chance. My husband is an Istanbul native and my mother-in-law is the most amazing Turkish cook.

Luckily for everyone, May's Turkish recipes are already available on the site. My personal favorite is Mucver, or zucchini patties, pictured above. If you have the chance to go to Istanbul, do not miss out. It's an amazing place. If you can't head to Turkey, I have a few restaurant suggestions:

Dallas:
Sevan (this is not a Turksih restaurant, but serves a very closely related cuisine)
2221 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206

(214) 821-0601

Cafe Izmir (again, not actually a Turkish restaurant, but it serves many Turkish dishes)
3711 Greenville Ave
Dallas, TX 75206
(214) 826-7788

New York:
Turkish Kitchen
386 3rd Ave
New York, NY 10016
(212) 679-1810

BOOK REVIEWS:
Page 38's book reviews offer two selections that caught my interest. The first is "Off Duty: The World's Greatest Chef's Cook at Home." I have always wondered what famous chefs cook for themselves and their families after a long week at the restaurant. This book offers an answer. Featured chefs include, Thomas Keller, Charlie Trotter and Alan Ducasse. I found some additional details listed under "Good Reads" on Eddybles.

The second is "Harumi's Japanese Cooking," by Harumi Kurihara, the Japanese Martha Stewart. I found some additional information on the book at Trends in Japan. Harumi offers tips on easy Japanese home cooking, including sushi.

PRODUCTS:
Morphe sugar bowl and milk jug
in stainless steel.
$95 for the set.










The Josephine carafe and glass.
$210 for the set.

Horse Sense: Room Inspiration

Yesterday, I somehow stumbled across a Decor8 post from last month containing this amazing room photo. Of course, I'm partial because there's a photo of a horse. But I love the rest of the room too. I love the way this room has depth and pattern but allows the horse photo to function as almost the sole focal point.

I believe I recognize the stools from West Elm. My question is, where are designers finding the incredible equine art?

Room by Taylor Howes.

Serveware as Art

I love this serving bowl from Iggloo. It's modern. It's functional. I love that it has its own wooden platform and matching spoon. But how often do I host a dinner party where I could showcase something like this?

So I wonder how else could I use it. Perhaps as a simple display piece? But, for me, what makes a design is the combination of beauty and function.

The piece has a 5" diameter. I can picture it in a spa setting filled with bath salt. Or even on a bathroom shelf filled with rolled hand towels.

It might also work as a bowl for keys and mail on an entry table.

Large Ball Serving Bowl, £11.00.

Via Crib Candy.

Entryway Minimalism

Here's an answer for a tight entry-hall or a door that opens directly into a living area without any transition. It's a plain, magnetic knob. You simply stick your keys to it.

I love the look, but I've got a car key, two alarm remotes, two house keys, plus a computer key. How will this work for my bulky key chain?

Sleek? Yes. But better suited for those with fewer locks.

Magnetic Knob, $22 for 2. Via BLTD.

Making an Entrance (and an Exit)

Coming home can be frustrating. You’ve got your keys, your mail, your purse, a computer bag, maybe some groceries.

Most of us aren’t blessed with a palatial grand entryway. Where do you put all this stuff? You're lucky if you have even a coat closet in urban homes. Here are a few ideas for organizing even the smallest entryway:

The OTA Message Center. Via Apartment Therapy.

Art with hooks from Fluffy Co. Shown here, Lemon Bicycle. Via Design Sponge.

Kitchen Stickers

A functional way to dress up a dated kitchen? Yneko has designed stickers for your utensil drawer, refrigerator and cleaning-supply cabinet.

Via Design Spotter.

JC Penney Surprises

JC Penney is having a home sale with up to 60% off some lovely, classic pieces. I honestly didn't expect to find much, but Penney's has taken a page from Target's book and updated their wares. I wasn't impressed by their upholstery, but their wood furniture is quite nice.

See more of my Penney's picks at Shak In Style.

Sanders Cove Buffet and Hutch, now $749.

Uptown Bedroom by Studio, $999 for the 5-piece King set.

Crochet Coral Reef

The Institute For Figuring is creating a crochet model of a coral reef. The photos are amazing.

It's so interesting to watch the emergence of new uses for what I grew up thinking were old crafts like crochet, needlepoint, and knitting. All I ever learned to make with yarn was a lopsided scarf.

Via Bluelines.

Karmasheetra

Just in case the pictures in the book weren't self-explanatory: Karmasheetra.

Via the AdverLab.

CB's New Catalog: One of these pages is not like the others...

I received the new Crate and Barrel catalog this weekend and began to flip through casually, seeing exactly what I'd expected: classic, simple furniture in outdoorsy neutrals.

Then I got to page 142 and saw this room-scape.

Wow. What a shock.

The styling is nothing like that in the rest of the catalog. The black/white contrast, the antiqued Hollywood-ish mirrors, the swirl plate, the Brocade-esque chandelier, that giant vase??

To be honest, I'm not too fond of most of these pieces, especially not together. The chair isn't my taste at all, and it's sweet floral print feels out of place with these harded-edged pieces. The lamp reminds me of the 80s in a bad way and the glassware is just a little too boring.

But, I am ignoring all of that because I am madly, madly in love with that fabulous black cabinet.

The Francesca, as she is called, is a modern, black transformation of the traditionally ornate French bombe. The hard edge of the black finish has been smoothed by the romantic lines and the deep, almost waxy finish. The interiors of the drawers are lined with a subtle English wallpaper, which is the sort of detail that is too often neglected by big-box stores.

All and all, I hope to see more pieces like the Francesca appearing this year. Any thoughts on the rest of CB's page 142?

Francesca Cabinet, $999.

Cuckoo Clock Print

A simple cuckoo clock print from Etsy. I love cuckoo clocks. They a whimsical, over-wrought quality that adds tons of personality to a room. This is an inexpensive way to get one with out having to dust all those intricate carvings.

$20 on etsy.

The Good Egg

If you happen to hunt for eggs this weekend, The Good Egg will give you plenty of ideas for what to do with what you find.

Of all my cookbooks, this one changed my outlook on food the most. I had no idea how many amazing ways there are to enjoy an egg. I can't remember why I picked it up, but I went from eating the occasional egg in a breakfast taco into a 6-month egg odyssey.

My personal favorite: Eggs scrambled with chopped bacon and basil baked atop a hollowed-out half French loaf and topped with Parmesan and thinly slice tomato. A perfect dinner for a spring evening.

Teapots and Chains

Design*Sponge found this amazing series of connected tableware called "Lucky Charms." It was designed by the Dutch group, Demakersvan. Other cool items from the group include this Lace fence.

For the Sophisticated Street Punk

Brass knuckles that double as a wine opener. Throw a punch then spike the punch. Couldn't resist.

Via Productdose.