European Flair For The US Home

  Start the weekend on the right note with a glass of Chardonnay. Recipe: chill and pour!

  Curry Chicken Salad: Two skinless cooked chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces  ¼ cup of raisins  ¾ cup of halved mixed red and white seedless grapes 1 teaspoon of grain old style mustard  1 teaspoon of honey Dijon mustard  1 teaspoon of curry powder  1 teaspoon of olive or rape seed oil  Juice of a small lemon freshly squeezed 2-3 oz of fat free plain yogurt 3 teaspoons of apple cider/white wine or champagne vinegar  Generous pinch of salt  Generous pinch of freshly ground pepper  Mix all together and too with two whole grapes to serve.

A type of armchair was born around 1929, the Comfortable armchair, a French piece, no doubt used in French and English clubs, hence its name, the “Club Armchair”. The rounded shape is the benchmark of club armchairs and a French speciality, Basane (or full-grain sheep’s leather) was its significant feature. Its rounded shape is legendary, changing over time, with new forms appearing, the “Moustache” or “Gendarme’s Cap” for example. Its gentle, wrap-around shape is a sign of absolute comfort. The leather club is still a signature piece in today’s modern home offering comfort and sophistication in any room.

  Nothing says Spring like a floral pattern.  From the Orient, to Europe, to the New World, floral patterns have influenced trends in both fashion and home decor. Bringing the outside in is a phrase we hear frequently in contemporary interior design. Flowers and floral design have served important roles in religious decoration and personal enjoyment throughout the centuries. Today, people continue to include floral arrangements in the furnishings of their homes. Here is a simple way of introducing floral patterns to a space without overpowering it. 

Knitting is the process of creating loops of threads that interlock row by row, through the use of yarn and needles. Knitting dates back to Egypt in 1000-1400 A.D.  As a result of trading with the east it was introduced to Spain and used by the Catholic Church to create liturgical garments. Arab-knit silk pillows were found in Spanish royal tombs in the 11th century. In the 1350’s, several paintings of the Madonna showed her knitting. They were called the Knitting Madonnas. Spreading throughout Europe and later to the colonies, knitting became very popular. Today, simple knit patterns turn up frequently in home decor, from rugs as in this photo, to occasional throws. I think there is a physical pureness to walking barefoot on a knit rug, something akin to walking barefoot on powdery sand. 

  A simple European cheese platter on a weekend afternoon.  Blue Cheese from Cashel, Ireland  Triple Cream Brie de Meaux from France  Smoked Gouda from the Netherlands  In the Tub, La Tur, a creamy soft goat cheese from Italy  Compliment with some dried Michigan Cherries and Apricots.  Enjoy!