Interior Design

Above: You will find a link at the end of this post to see more of this lovely home by designer Melanie Turner I hope you enjoy this week's Tuesdays mix a couple of easy recipes including how to make coconut whipped cream which has got to be healthier than dairy and it tastes delicious. Also a recipe for 15 minute mint thins, (vegan and 'no bake'), now that's what I like! I have also included a couple of DIY ideas for the home and a glimpse of a designer's makeover. Many of the ideas I come across are from very creative bloggers, so I do encourage you to look around their blogs if you are hopping over for a recipe or tip. Above: Ebay don't just sell things, they also have tips and recipes including this one for  Coconut Whipped Cream  published by leealicious. This is definitely a healthy alternative to whipped cream or butter cream icing Above: I love a recipe that requires no baking, only 3 ingredients and is vegan to boot, although these are not gluten free ...

If you follow my blog, you will know I love blue and white interiors and when you see today's feature home, it is obvious interior designer Kate Marker is also a fan of blue. Kate has used a combination of varying shades of blue and elegant furniture to decorate the rooms of a beautiful Chicago home. Using deep, bold blues in the dining room (above), and in contrast soft, relaxing shades of powder blue in the family room, designer  Kate Marker has achieved an overall look of elegance in this beautiful home. Images -  Stoffer Photography If you would like to see more of Kate Marker's interiors, please visit her Houzz site (link above) or her website Kate Marker Interiors , where you can shop for some of the items seen, including the striking Seren boxes and Poppy side table seen in the last image. I hope everyone had a lovely weekend and a great week ahead.

Above: A pergola can make a huge impact on an entrance way - Landscape  Designers   AHBL  Above -  Designers AHBL I'm sorry I have been absent this week, the next few weeks I am under a little pressure with one of my sons getting married as I have been asked to act as the florist and decorator.  I also have another exciting piece of news, I have just purchased a new house, in fact, it is so new it was literally a concrete pad when I first viewed it a couple of weeks ago. Now the framing is up and the roof is due on shortly I have had to make a few quick decisions about colours. While searching for ideas I came across some pretty homes with plenty of curb appeal, in fact, one belongs to Gwyneth Paltrow. My house won't have a grand look, it is a single level home but there is a lot you can do to add street appeal as you can see from the following images... Above: I do like the slate colour tiles on this roof -   Highland Homes Inc Above: These pots add some l...

Hi everyone, recently I mentioned that I was attempting a cake for my son's wedding, last week I made a trial, naked cake and thought I would share the recipe, some images of my cake and a few great video instructions I discovered. I have to admit, I am no pastry chef and I knew it was going to be a bit "hit and miss" but for a first attempt I was really pleased. Thankfully I have a reprieve as my sons partner's boss, is a pastry chef and she is now going to make the wedding cake as a present for them. My recipe is simple and although the cake might look impressive using my foolproof chocolate cake recipe you can't go wrong. Naked Wedding Cake Instructions: You will find my chocolate cake recipe below: Ingredients: 1 cup caster sugar (extra fine granulated) 2 eggs 1 cup of plain yogurt or milk (I like to use half and half as all yogurt makes the cake a little heavy) 3/4 cup cocoa 200gms soft butter 2 teaspoons baking soda 1 and a half teaspoons vanilla essence 1/4...

While looking for this weeks 'Spaces to Love', I came across a traditional Cape Cod home with an interior that was a little bit different, and it wasn't just one space I fell in love with it was the entire house. When I discovered this pretty Cape Cod style home, it was the image above that caught my eye, a little traditional (fireplace and table) and a little contemporary (chairs, mirror and lighting). In fact, the entire house is a mix of traditional and contemporary pieces, it is not your typical Cape Cod look and that's why I love it so much. Kate Marker is the genius behind these gorgeous spaces and working with a predominantly white colour palette on the downstairs walls she has created spaces that not only work but are fresh and modern. Using older pieces such as the painted bobbin chair and antique table and mixing them with nearby contemporary pieces such as the ghost chairs and block of wood as a side table, she has created a unique look for this lovely home. ...