| June 2009 |
The Design Diva Dishes!
Design Trends and Lifestyle Tips |
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Dear ,
Happy June everybody! I am so happy to finally have the sun shining so brightly outside! I have been brushing up on my carpentry skills lately since there appeared to be an impending need for an ARK, but thankfully the need, along with the rain, has dissipated...
Since we are heading into the summer season, this month's E-zine will be all about the outdoors. We will offer ideas for decorating the outdoors, share the newest trends in outdoor decorating, and educate on ways to be eco-friendly when designing outdoor spaces. Our color of the month is Gold, representing all the golden sunshine we will enjoy in the coming months. Since Dads love to grill, I thought I would share an unusual but delicious barbequed chicken recipe in honor of Father's Day. It is sure to become a favorite of Dad and everyone else in the family.
Have an awesome month, and please feel free to contact me at senisblychic4u@aol.com with any questions or comments.
Barbara Green |
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Outdoor Decorating |
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Outdoor decorating is the fastest growing segment of decorating dollars. But before you spend a penny, put pencil to paper and assess your wants and needs. Do you need a play area for children, or are yours grown and on their own? Do you want a water feature (pool, spa, pond, or fountain) or will that involve too much maintenence for your lifestyle? Do you plan on entertaining or is your backyard more for solitary enjoyment? Once you know what your goals are, it is easier to make a plan.
Your next step is to divide the backyard into separate zones, much like a home is divided into rooms. Depending on what your needs assessment revealed, you might plan for a living room, a dining room, a play room, or a kitchen. Outdoor living rooms now feature sofas, loveseats, area rugs, fireplaces, lamps, artwork, and accessories just like inside. If you miss the days of drive-in movies, you can revisit those memories with the 12 x 7 inflatable home theater , pictured below, and invite the whole neighborhood over for movie night under the stars.
There are lots of options available for furnishing your outdoor living and dining areas. You have your choice of traditional, modern, or transitional styles made from a wide range of materials. The redwood sets of my childhood have been replaced by teak and cedar. Natural wicker has been replaced by all-weather vinyl wicker. Still available are aluminum and wrought iron, but now they come in unique designs and finishes. Gorgeous high end pieces, shown below, combine stone, marble, and slate with exotic, weather resistant woods.
Whether decorating your living or dining areas, remember to include fabrics to soften the hard surfaces. Hang weather resistant drapes around your deck, pergola, or terrace. Use brightly colored cushions for your seating, and add fun patterns or rich textures on throw pillows for more style.
If you still have young children at home, you probably want to have a play structure in the backyard to encourage them to stay active and away from the TV. If you have a large tree you can really develop their sense of adventure with their very own treehouse.
The final outdoor room, the outdoor kitchen, will be addressed in the trend report, as that is the hottest (no pun intended) area of the backyard. |
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Trend Report |
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The fastest growing trend in home improvement is the building of outdoor kitchens. The kitchen has always been considered the heart of the home, and now it is the heart of any backyard design. They feature the same amenities as your gourmet indoor kitchen, only specially fabricated to withstand the elements. The centerpiece is always the grill, but additional pieces include prep stations, sinks, warming drawers, refrigerators, beer taps, and wine coolers.
Another "must-have" trend is the outdoor fireplace. This trend started a couple of years ago with a proliferation of metal firepits that were readily available at your big-box stores. The desire for fire has progressed to more sophisticated tastes and more elaborate fireplaces. Large stone fireplaces coordinate well with and balance the heavy look of the outdoor kitchens. On the practical side, the fireplaces extend the season for relaxing outdoors, since the heat given off can keep you comfortable after warm summer nights are a distant memory.
The final trend I will address for outdoor design is the movement away from decks toward an increasing use of stone for architectural interest and spatial definition. More homeowners are investing in stone terraces, retaining walls, and pathways to create distinctive outdoor rooms. Scardaci Construction of Cornelius, NC( scardaciconstruction.com) created a two level entertaining area connected by stone stairs (see photos below) for a home with a sloping lot, thereby making much better use of the backyard. A fountain was incorporated into the corner of the lower level.
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Color of the Month |
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The color of the month is Gold. This has been a very popular color in interior design for several years, often paired with rich reds and warm browns.
According to the trends reported from the 2009 Maison & Objet show in Paris, we can expect to see gold deepened to a spicey mustard shade and paired with plum. In the media room below, you see gold and plum pillows intermingled against a striking teal backdrop. All the colors were taken from the poster on the wall. Please note that teal will be another strong contender in colors for design over the next three years.
According to color psychology expert Dewey Sadka, gold gives you the power to rediscover what gives you pleasure. Use gold in your design and it will ignite your inner fire. It will help open your eyes to exciting people and opportunities and dismiss your undesirable thoughts and situations. |
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Green Design |
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Unless you are using reusable totes, the age old question at the grocery store "Paper or Plastic?" now has a definitive answer: PLASTIC! Each year, Trex uses 1.5 BILLION recycled plastic grocery bags, mixed with wood scraps and sawdust to fabricate their decks and outdoor products. So if a deck is in your outdoor decorating plans, go green with composite decking. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it banishes splinters, requires no staining, won't rot, and is more stable than wood.
If you still desire a deck made of real wood, redwood, cedar, and cypress have an inherent ability to resist rot, so you are less likely to be dependent on chemicals to prevent decay. It is best to use wood from certified sustainable forests, but it may cost about 20% more than non-certified wood. To find wood from certified sustainable forests you can go to the following websites: calredwood.org , realcedar.org , or cypressinfo.org .
A warning to homeowners with decks built before 2003: Prior to the government ban in 2004, pressure treated lumber was treated with CCA, a form of arsenic. For the safety of your family and friends it is recommended the deck be sealed with a waterbased sealer to prevent leaching from the wood into the environment.
When dressing up your outdoor furnishings with pillows and fabrics, consider using the new products available that are manufactured without chemicals and harmful industrial waste. The fabrics below are manufactured and woven from recycled materials and are completely recyclable.
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Quote of the Month |
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A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty. ~Author Unknown |
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Recipe of the Month |
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Don't let the name of this recipe scare you! I guarantee that if you follow the griller's rule of cooking low and slow, you will be amazed at how unbelievably juicey and flavorful this chicken is. After brinining the chicken, be sure to cook it over low heat or the rub will burn and get overly charred. I have made this recipe many times, and the times I rushed it, I regretted it... Try serving this with some fresh corn on the cob for a Father's Day meal Dad is sure to remember.
COKE BRINED CHICKEN
For the Chicken and Brine 1 Chicken, cut up (4 to 6 pounds)
1 liter Coca-Cola
1/2 cup Kosher Salt
For the Rub
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
2 T. Brown Sugar
1 T. Kosher Salt
1 T Garlic Powder
1 T. Ground Black Pepper
1 T. Dry Mustard
1 T. Paprika
Combine the Coca-Cola and Salt in a large resealable plastice bag, stirring to dissolve the salt. Place the chicken in the brine, seal the bag, and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat a gas grill to medium. Combine the rub ingredients in a bowl. Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry with paper towels (discard the brine). Rub the paste over the chicken pieces, then let stand for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, and place chicken pieces, skin side down, on the grill. Cook for 40 to 50 minutes, flipping and rotating chicken pieces every ten minutes. |
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Community Outreach |
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Most people say there are only two things guaranteed in life: death and taxes. Well I would like to submit to you a third guarantee: No matter how bad your life is, there is always someone worse off than you. I believe that it is more important to give than to receive. Additionally, it has been my personal experience that when I give generously, whether it be of time or money, the rewards I get are exponentially greater than anything I might have given. In this spirit, I am going to share with you each month opportunities available for us all to give back, for we are all greatly blessed, even in these times of struggle.
Big Day at the Lake 5
Last year, over 130 little brothers and sisters were able to enjoy a day of fun at the lake. Many of these children were experiencing Lake Norman for the very first time. This year's goal is to have 150 children participate in the magic of this event on July 18th. With the economy as it is, we are behind in raising funds for this worthy cause. Please think about making a donation or becoming a sponsor of this great event. 87% of all money donated goes directly to funding the programs, which is a great testament to how well the Big Brothers/Big Sisters organization is managed. Currently needed are: Corporate Sponsors, Cash Donations, and Boat Owners. Please email me at sensiblychic4u@aol.com if you would like to be a sponsor or make a donation. Boat owners can register at BigDayAtTheLake.com For more information you can call Dave Yochum at 704-895-1335..
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| 15%
off |
Outdoor Decorating Sale!!!
Order any furniture, accessories, lighting, rugs, or drapes for your
outdoor rooms and save 15%. Mention code DDD0609.
Feel free to share this offer with friends, family, or associates.
Not applicable to orders placed before 6/1/09. |
| Offer Expires: June 30, 2009 | |
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Thanks for reading The Design Diva Dishes. I hope you enjoyed this issue and will forward it to your friends using the link below. All past issues of The Design Diva Dishes are now archived and available though a link at my website: sensiblychic.biz Have a great month, and I'll see you again July 1. Call me at: 704-987-0277 or Email me at: sensiblychic4u@aol.com |
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