Uncategorized

main pic

/ , / 18 comments

Colour Your Life

Right now life is throwing up hurdles, but there is no better way to bounce back than surrounding ourselves with dazzling colours and dynamic patterns to make our home a happier place.
collage colour
1. Paul Smith
Paul Smith
5.ROMO set 4
Romo
Lotimena.com set 4
Lotimena.com
3 Lotimena.com set 2
Lotimena.com
2. Stella Mc Cartney set 2
Stella McCartney
no4
RolandKlein_1908
Chez Moi in Provence

Colour has a huge impact on our emotions, our physical and spiritual well being.  Our colour choice in clothes, as well as in our home, define who we are, offering a playful form of self expression.  Bold and vivacious, or understated and demure, colour and texture can create an evocative atmosphere that has the power to soothe our mood or uplift our spirits.


IMG_2460
Jane Wachman
For the last few years neutral colours have dominated the colour palettes.  Good news now, as vivid colours are back on-trend.  Grey has given way to a rainbow generation.  Of course, white, neutral, and soft pastels are still around, but we now dare to mix them with bold primaries, offering endless possibilities.
Untitled-45
The WARM TONES
warm tones 1 collage 2
suggest this going across, in between the two sets of 6 pictures
roland collage 1. 2. jpg

Red, Yellow, Orange, Hot Pink and Mauve, are often frightening colours to use. They are associated with sun-drenched hues, fire, exotic spices … They evoke energy.

YELLOW
RED HOT
collage red hot

Red is the colour of blood and fire.  It represents passion, lust, and desire.

It is associated with:

Lipstick
Wine
Tomatoes
Roses
The red carpet


And also:

“ In the Red “
“ Seeing Red
“ Painting the town Red “
“ Red herring “
” Red flag “

Diana Vreeland, The Grande Dame of Fashion, at home HAND WRITTEN SINGLE PIC ACCROSS
Vreeland in her Park Avenue apartment in 1979. The designer, Billy Baldwin, was given the brief to create ‘a garden in hell’
Untitled-46666
HOT SPICES

Cayenne, Turmeric, Saffron, Cinnamon, Ginger, Paprika …

collage spices

If you are nervous about these colours, try using small accents first, such as a cushion, a throw or a rug.  A splash of strong colour will warm up a room, exude rich opulence and create drama.

Untitled-4555
YELLOW
ABOVE
yelow 2
IN BETWEEN
Van Gogh room in Arles
yellow collage
BELOW Claude Monet’s kitchen in Geverny
Claude Monet’s kitchen in Geverny

YELLOW, the colour of sunshine, symbolises hope, energy and happiness


Think:

“ Yellow ribbons “
“ Mellow Yellow “
“ Les Gilets Jaunes “  have been front page news in France in recent                          
months (not so happy)

Lemon, Grapefruit, Bananas, Sun Flowers, Daffodils, Mimosa, Lichen, Mustard …

istockphoto-1124310599-612x612
Untitled-4CCCC
MAUVE
IMG_5831
purple 5
purple 4
line
purple 1
line
purple 3
purple 2
The COLD TONES
BLUE
blue
Yves Klein Blue painting
BLUE represents the sky and the sea. It is associated with peace and tranquillity. Therefore it’s especially suitable for rooms to relax in. Cool arctic blue offers a simple, understated feel, while rich tones of inky indigo and cobalt create a dramatic ambience.
blue 1
in between the other pics , and say “ The Simple Life
The Simple Life
blue 2 collage
But, blue can be easily warmed up, mixed with warm materials – a wooden floor, a brick wall, a velvet sofa or a leather chair.
unnamed-1
Because it visually enlarges a space, it is often especially recommended for small spaces, like bathrooms, kitchen, loos, attics …
unnamed
For drama, use a warm colour as contrast – burgundy, red, shocking pink, orange, sharp green, yellow, turquoise, or soft pastels.
BLUE associations: See my BLUE post
line 2
GREEN
green 2. lotimena.com
Lotimena.com
IMG_2524
Untitled-46666
green 2,.
Untitled-40000
green 1
green 2..
green 3
Untitled-46666
IMG_0184
Untitled-43
green 5
large chez moi in provence
Chez moi in Provence
GREEN radiates life, nature, renewal, and energy. Unrivalled by any other colour, it inspires a vigorous environment that encourages a feeling of tranquillity and serenity.
Green is understood to be the most restful and relaxing of all colours.
Blame the climate crisis or the carbon footprint, but Green has been a hot topic recently, and fashion is always a reflexion of what’s going on in the world, be it politics, art, culture or commerce, and interior design trends often follow fashion trends. Green is cool.
Untitled-46666
Different shades of Green:
large pic
Untitled-40000
Emerald, Sea Green, Forest, Apple, Olive, Lime, Mint, Chartreuse …
Meanings associated with GREEN

“Green fingers“
“Green pastures“
“The grass is Greener“
“Green Revolution”
“Green room”

“Green with Envy”

“Green Parties”

“Green Card”

“Green Salad”

 

PASTELS
See my post La Vie en Rose
pastels 1
colours
Molly Goddard
Pastel hues embody serenity, restful and a calming haven
COLOUR COMBINATIONS
IMG_6910
Andy Warhol
Opposites attract one another. But keep a palette of no more than four colours in a room, and make sure that one of them is white, neutral, or black, which will provide a balance to the others. Also remember, it is easier to associate a warm colour to a cold one than two hot colours.
Here are some of my favourites colour combinations:
Yellow/ Turquoise
Untitled-4CCCC
1
3
istockphoto-1124310599-612x612
2Valentino
Valentino
colours
Green/ Blue
Untitled-46666
contrast 1
Mixing Green, Blue and Turquoise together represent nature, calm, and tranquillity.
Pink/Red/ Yellow
YELLOW
colour
Chez moi in Provence
Dare to mix Red, Orange, Yellow, or Hot Pink together to bring drama to a room.
contrast collage
Pairing Pink to Terracotta and Brown adds strength.
Pink with soft Grey, Silver and White becomes dusty and romantic.
Blue / Red/ Yellow
Untitled-4CCCC
colour rooms
Valentino
line
valentino
Pink / Red
Untitled-466667
Zandra Rhodes at home LARGE
Zandra Rhodes at home
Givenchy
Givenchy
Untitled-45
CIMG3239
Untitled-45
I love Pink and Red together. It has an exotic feel.
Navy Blue and White create a nautical palette, associated with holidays by the sea and sailing.
But the list is endless. There are no rules. Try various combinations. Be daring and the end result might surprise you.
Untitled-46666
Untitled-45
PANTONE
PANTNE I suggest putting the text on the sidE
What is Pantone?
PANTONE is the worldwide leader for the supply of colours, for selecting, presenting, specifying, and communicating colours.
PANTONE is the most widely used system for colour communication in the arts industry, as well as fashion, textiles, architecture and interior design.
Whether you are a designer, a manufacturer, a consultant, or simply a client, PANTONE can be used to communicate precise colour to any corner of the world.
Happy Decorating!
istockphoto-1124310599-612x612
main pic -'MY DESK'

/ , / 0 comments

HOW TO STYLE YOUR HOME/OFFICE

ABOVE IMAGE: MY DESK
How can you transform your HOME/OFFICE into a space that encourages productivity, imagination and satisfaction during this time of social distancing?
line 2
At the start of the pandemic, we all grappled with a new working home reality. But working from home doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style or comfort. More than ever it is important to find positivity and happiness in daily life.
A study by John Lewis found more than 57% of us expect to work from home in the future, with 48% doing so for two or three days a week, and 13% five days a week. Therefore the need to make your workspace both comfortable and stylish is a “Must”.
The right pieces of furniture are essential. Now is the time to invest in big and small pieces that will make your HOME/OFFICE productive, as well as enjoyable.
Here are some of my finds:
1. DESKS
From old kitchen tables to the designer creations, there are multitudes of possibilities.
tables
tabkles 2
2. CHAIRS
Finding an office chair that doesn’t take up half the room and upset your decor is almost impossible. Office chairs were generally designed for comfort and support, and disregarded style. But there are modern chairs that are both comfortable and chic.
chairs no2
The Back Shop in London has a large selection of contemporary designs which suit people with back problems … or to avoid getting them.
cahirs 101png
chair roland
You shouldn’t be sitting all day in front of the screen. How about the luxury of a lounge chair for your twenty minutes coffee break?
LOUNGE CHAIR
3. BOOK SHELVES
The bookshelf was once a place to store your treasured volumes. Today, the trend has been reversed, partly fuelled by people working from home. Books can be tools of their trade.
And having Zoom calls with colleagues or clients, mean more people are now keen to create the right impression, and therefore have to pay special attention to their background.
bookshelves
4. LIGHT
No one will argue with the importance of having the right light to protect one’s vision, but also to create the right ambiance. Because you are working doesn’t mean the environment has to be bleak and depressing. Good lighting will help.
lamps 5
5. SPACE
Like me, there are people who do not want or can’t, store paperwork, files, plans, sketches … on their computer/laptop/phone. Some space has to be found.
Use your imagination to utilize all the space you have.
roland 2
6. TV SCREENS
Video conferencing system to include computer, webcam, microphone and display screens.
TV SCREEN
7. PLANTS
Think Green. Bring the outside in with a few plants to create a more relaxed and friendly atmosphere. As well as looking good, plants are proven to reduce stress and make the air in your space a lot cleaner.
PLANTS
Untitled-46666
8. MOOD BOARDS and PHOTOS
Depending on your job, a mood board can help your creativity. And a collage of friends and family photographs will certainly bring warm and happy memories of times before the pandemic.
moodboards
istockphoto-1124310599-612x612
IMG_1879

/ , / 0 comments

BOOK SHELVES

Few of us have the luxury of a library in our homes. But books are important and, whether you read them or not, they are an attractive feature in any room.
Recently, watching news programmes on TV, I noticed lots of the interviewees are Zoomed in front of their bookshelves. Many of these people are journalists and books are tools of their trade. They don’t have the time nor the inclination to worry about how the books look on the shelf. But, very often, what sorry sights they are!
It is said “one should not judge a book by its cover”. But that shouldn’t stop one from displaying them in an attractive fashion.
istockphoto-1124310599-612x612
unnamed (3)
The bookshelf was once a place to store your treasured volumes. Today, the trend has been reversed, partly fuelled by people working from home.
But more people, realising their bookshelves will come under intense scrutiny on video calls, are now keen to impress their colleagues or clients with a tasteful and interesting background.
I read that some charity bookshops have noticed customers are buying books with the intention of displaying according to the colour of the spines. Books with strong block colours seem to be “on trend“ at the moment. The Orange Penguin Classics are popular because clients think they will fit into, and enhance, their home decor.
IMG_1505 (2)
Untitled-466667
Some chose natural colours, or uniform height to achieve not just as being well-read, but also to create a fashionable impression.
Untitled-Artwork (58)
As we all spend more time at home, it is important to feel comfortable with your surroundings. But, since your home might also be your office, and having Zoom calls with colleagues or clients, it is important, more than ever, to create the right impression.
Untitled-46666
unnamed
Untitled-Artwork (55)
Untitled-Artwork (56)
IMG_1588
Untitled-Artwork (57)
_methode_sundaytimes_prod_web_bin_af976138-05af-11eb-910e-49261a8ea333
‘TV star Ben Fogle was mocked for his bookshelves, arranged by colour’
unnamed (2)
istockphoto-1124310599-612x612
Screenshot 2020-04-04 at 18.26.31

/ , / 0 comments

Dinner Parties – The Gifts

dinner parties – the gifts 

That classic question –

“Do you want me to bring anything?”

Here are some suggestions that might trigger your imagination, without breaking the bank.

1. the presents

2. the wrapping

unnamed 5 1

 “It’s better to give than to receive.” I say, it should give pleasure to the recipient and the giver in equal measure. 

Unless it’s 3 dozen roses, a small bunch of flowers bought at the petrol station or a bottle of plonk won’t do.

 The Bloomsbury etiquette suggests:

Handmade gift from a french market,
Failing that a Cezanne,
Your manners,
A dazzling wit,
Your latest manuscript,
A thick skin (for criticism of your work)
Gossips, plenty of it.

Well, we live in different time. I say, it’s not about how much you spend – an inexpensive present beautifully wrapped shows that you care and made an effort.

“Think inside the box”

Here are some of my suggestions, for gifts I like to give… or to receive.

BeFunky Collage 2
BeFunky Collage1 1

1. Bring back memories of holidays in the sun 2. One can never have too much good Olive Oil 3. Homemade jam is obvious – Lemon Preserve is zingy 4. Designer bottles by Basso & Brookes (www.turningleafwines.co.uk) 5. Cocktails, cocktails… cocktails set (www.tigerstores.co.uk) 6. Your very own Champagne, print your own label and stick it on the bottle 7. A very special key 8. Save the host the hassle of having to look for a vase 10. Chocolates are yummy, but Marrons Glaces are much more indulgent (www.fortnumandmason.com) 11. Let them eat cake 12. Apples from your orchard, or plums, or cherries…Metal basket (www.johnlewis.com)

  all wrapped up

1.  No need to buy expensive paper, newspaper will do, if you wrap it again in cellophane paper, to give it a touch of class.

My tip – pick a page of the newspaper relating to the recipient’s interest- art, sport, fashion…

2. Brown packing paper can be given a makeover with colourful ribbons in velvet or satin. Foliage, a few sprigs of greenery, anything nice from the garden, will enhance the must ordinary brown parcel. Tie it with garden twine for a rural look.

Photocopy some old photographs or old postcards and make a collage.

Buy old stamps in bulk on eBay and stick them on the paper.

3. A single cellophane ribbon can look sad, so pile on multicolour strands for a fiesta look.

4.  Fabric can also be used. A piece of hessian or denim will give your parcel a natural look, while a print can say “look at me.”

unnamed 7
BeFunky Collage 1
BeFunky Collage1

1. For the stamp collector 2. Cellophane paper (www.amazon.co.uk) 3. To the tea addict 7. For the sewing enthusiast 9. Large selection of wrapping papers (www.paperchase.co.uk) 10. Lace rolls (www.tigerstores.co.uk) 11. To the dog lover 12. Inside out – the gift becomes the wrapping

/ / 0 comments

Zandra’s Pea Soup Recipe

fullsizerender-1

Zandra's Pea Soup
Serves 6
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
148 calories
11 g
43 g
4 g
17 g
1 g
293 g
101 g
5 g
0 g
2 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
293g
Servings
6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 148
Calories from Fat 35
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4g
6%
Saturated Fat 1g
5%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 43mg
14%
Sodium 101mg
4%
Total Carbohydrates 11g
4%
Dietary Fiber 3g
12%
Sugars 5g
Protein 17g
Vitamin A
20%
Vitamin C
19%
Calcium
4%
Iron
8%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Does this look wrong?
Ingredients
  1. 1 large pack frozen peas
  2. 2 onions roughly chopped
  3. 2 knorr chicken cubes
  4. 1 small teaspoon fennel seeds
  5. 1 teaspoon cumin (optional)
  6. Ground pepper and 1 small teaspoon sugar
  7. 2 pints of water
Instructions
  1. Put all ingredients together in large pan and bring to boil
  2. Simmer for 10 minutes
  3. In a food processor, blend till soft
  4. Return to pan and add 2 pints of water
  5. Bring to boil and simmer for another 10 minutes
  6. Season to taste
  7. Serve piping hot with dollop of creme fraiche and slightly soft
  8. Blend and taste
beta
calories
148
fat
4g
protein
17g
carbs
11g
more
Chezmoi.style http://www.chezmoi.style/

unnamed-33-717x1024

/ , / 0 comments

Three Rice and Turkey Salad

unnamed-33-717x1024

Three Rice and Turkey Salad
Serves 6
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
409 calories
46 g
26 g
18 g
16 g
3 g
188 g
540 g
4 g
0 g
15 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
188g
Servings
6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 409
Calories from Fat 163
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 18g
28%
Saturated Fat 3g
14%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g
Monounsaturated Fat 12g
Cholesterol 26mg
9%
Sodium 540mg
22%
Total Carbohydrates 46g
15%
Dietary Fiber 4g
15%
Sugars 4g
Protein 16g
Vitamin A
14%
Vitamin C
93%
Calcium
5%
Iron
13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Does this look wrong?
Ingredients
  1. Leftover turkey
  2. 70 ml olive oil
  3. 200g Basmati rice
  4. 50g wild rice
  5. 50g brown rice
  6. 1 red onion finely chopped
  7. 6 spring onions finely chopped
  8. 4 mild red chillies seeded and cut into strips
  9. 1 handful of coriander, chopped
  10. 1 handful of mint, chopped
  11. 1 handful of rocket
  12. Salt and freshly milled black pepper
Dressing
  1. The juice of one lemon
  2. 30ml fish sauce
  3. 30 ml extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
  1. Plunge Basmati rice into a saucepan with 400ml of boiling water.
  2. Reduce heat and simmer for 8 minutes.
  3. Remove from the heat and leave covered for 10 minutes.
  4. Uncover and let it cool.
  5. Place wild and brown rice in a saucepan and cover with 3 times its volume of water.
  6. Simmer for 45 minutes. If the water runs low, top it up with boiling water.
  7. Drain through a sieve and run under cold water.
  8. In a large bowl, toss all the ingredients together, including the turkey pieces and the dressing.
  9. Mix well.
beta
calories
409
fat
18g
protein
16g
carbs
46g
more
Chezmoi.style http://www.chezmoi.style/

CCB99BC3-B292-462B-B1B0-2C057CAAC9C9-3

/ , / 0 comments

Ratatouille

CCB99BC3 B292 462B B1B0 2C057CAAC9C9 3

Ratatouille
Serves 4
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
219 calories
26 g
0 g
13 g
5 g
2 g
483 g
151 g
12 g
0 g
9 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
483g
Servings
4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 219
Calories from Fat 110
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 13g
19%
Saturated Fat 2g
9%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 151mg
6%
Total Carbohydrates 26g
9%
Dietary Fiber 10g
38%
Sugars 12g
Protein 5g
Vitamin A
42%
Vitamin C
269%
Calcium
9%
Iron
13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Does this look wrong?
Ingredients
  1. 1 red pepper, de-seeded and cut into 2.5cm squares
  2. 1 yellow pepper, de-seeded and cut into 2.5cm squares
  3. 1 aubergine diced
  4. 2 courgettes diced
  5. 2 large tomatoes, skinned and cut into 4 pieces
  6. 2 medium size onions, peeled and sliced
  7. 50g pitted black olives
  8. 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  9. 2 cloves of garlic chopped in half
  10. 1 bunch of basil torn (but keeping a few leaves for decoration)
  11. 1 bunch of rosemary (rinse in cold water and keep it wet)
  12. Salt and freshly milled black pepper
Instructions
  1. Preheat Oven to 220C/Fan 200/425F/Gas 7
  2. Arrange all the vegetables, olives and basil in a roasting tin. Sprinkle the garlic on top. Drizzle the olive oil and toss, making sure they all have a good coating. Season with salt and pepper. Add the bunch of wet rosemary on top.
  3. Place in the oven and cook for 30 minutes.
  4. Remove from the oven and toss the vegetables. Sprinkle a little extra oil on top, if necessary.
  5. Reduce the heat to 200C/400F/Fan180/Gas 6) and return to the oven for a further 20 minutes.
  6. Serve straight away with boiled rice or couscous to soak up the lovely juices.
Notes
  1. My tip- do not wash the pepper, as it washes away their oil and the flavour. Just wipe them with a dry cloth.
beta
calories
219
fat
13g
protein
5g
carbs
26g
more
Chezmoi.style http://www.chezmoi.style/

unnamed-1

/ , / 0 comments

Bloody Mary Soup

Bloody Mary Soup
Serves 4
It's hot, hot, hot!
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
117 calories
12 g
0 g
4 g
2 g
1 g
282 g
314 g
5 g
0 g
4 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
282g
Servings
4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 117
Calories from Fat 34
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4g
6%
Saturated Fat 1g
3%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 314mg
13%
Total Carbohydrates 12g
4%
Dietary Fiber 3g
11%
Sugars 5g
Protein 2g
Vitamin A
4%
Vitamin C
59%
Calcium
8%
Iron
13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Does this look wrong?
Ingredients
  1. 2  400g cans chopped tomatoes
  2. 1 celery stalk chopped finely
  3. 1 tbsp olive oil
  4. 300ml of water
  5. 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  6. 75ml vodka
  7. Juice of one lemon
  8. 1/2 tbsp celery salt
  9. Salt and freshly milled black pepper
  10. Tabasco to taste
  11. Lemon wedges to decorate (optional)
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the celery for 3-4 minutes until soft. Add the tomatoes, water, Worcestershire sauce, vodka, lemon juice and celery salt.
  2. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. Remove from the heat and add the Tabasco, season with salt and pepper.
  4. Blend everything together until smooth.
  5. Serve and decorate with lemon wedges and a twist of black pepper.
beta
calories
117
fat
4g
protein
2g
carbs
12g
more
Chezmoi.style http://www.chezmoi.style/

Cheers!

unnamed-1

/ , / 0 comments

Tomato and Orange Soup

unnamed-23-2

Tomato and Orange Soup
Serves 2
Couldn’t be simpler
Write a review
Save Recipe
Print
75 calories
17 g
0 g
0 g
2 g
0 g
186 g
90 g
12 g
0 g
0 g
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
186g
Servings
2
Amount Per Serving
Calories 75
Calories from Fat 3
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 0g
1%
Saturated Fat 0g
0%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
0%
Sodium 90mg
4%
Total Carbohydrates 17g
6%
Dietary Fiber 2g
7%
Sugars 12g
Protein 2g
Vitamin A
6%
Vitamin C
72%
Calcium
7%
Iron
11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your Daily Values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Does this look wrong?
Ingredients
  1. 1  can of good quality tomato and basil soup
  2. Juice of ½ orange
  3. Freshly milled black pepper
  4. 1 orange slice or 1 basil leaf for decoration (or both)
Instructions
  1. In a saucepan, warm up the soup according to the instructions on the tin.
  2. Add the orange juice and the black pepper, and cook for another 2 minutes.
  3. Serve in small cups and decorate
  4. For a Supper or Dinner Party, serve on plates with crusty bread on the side
beta
calories
75
fat
0g
protein
2g
carbs
17g
more
Chezmoi.style http://www.chezmoi.style/

1 2 3 4