The Beginnings of Holiday Decor

This season has brought around a new found desire to decorate for the holidays. With our very own apartment that is finally feeling like a real home, it's so exciting! There are so many beautiful options out there and I am looking forward to incorporating these great ideas into our home. 

 

We started with a few things such as our first Christmas Tree and this gorgeous bay leaf wreath from the San Francisco Flower Mart!

Our first Christmas Tree

Bay Leaf Wreath

I am loving this idea from Apartment Therapy! Painted branch with little birdies...

I want to have a birthday/holiday party just so that I can incorporate this idea into my decor!

How gorgeous is this arrangement with candles, branches and succulents? I'm loving it!

Anyone else incorporating some great new ideas into their holiday decor?

Thanksgiving Dining Rooms

These dining rooms speak Thanksgiving to us! What beautiful table settings. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday.

Images compliments of Eddie Ross, Elle Decor,House  Beautiful

Apple Pie Recipe

For the past three years, I have made an apple pie for dessert for Thanksgiving. Although I am a learning cook/baker, my pies have always turned out surprisingly delicious and I hope this year will be no different.  Last year, I bought the pie crust...this year I bought a pie dish from World Market for $9.99 and am excited to try my hand at the crust. Wish me luck!

Traditional Apple Pie

Prep Time:

20 min

Inactive Prep Time:

--

Cook Time:

50 min

Level:

Intermediate

Serves:

6 servings

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup shortening (recommended: Crisco)
• Ice water
• Filling, recipe follows
• Serving suggestion: warm with vanilla ice-cream

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a medium-mixing bowl cut the shortening and salt into the flour by hand or with a pastry blenderhands until it's the texture of cornmeal. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of ice water over the mixture and mix just until the dough is moistened. Repeat by adding 6 to 8 tablespoons water (one at a time) until all thedough is just moist. Take care not to over mix.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Divide the dough in half and roll into a ball. Roll 1 ball into a circle to fit a 9 to 10-inch pie plate. To transfer the pastry to the pie plate, wrap it around a rolling pin and ease it into the pie plate. Be careful not to stretch the pastry. Trim it even with the edges of the pie plate. Add the apple filling into the pastry lined pie plate. Make sure they are laying flat. Cut butter into small pieces and put on top of the filling.

Roll the remaining pastry into a 12-inch circle. Place on top of the filling. Trim off 1-inch beyond the edge of the pie plate. Crimp the edges as desired. Cut slits to allow steam to escape when baking. Sprinkle a little sugar and cinnamon over the pie.

Cover the edges with foil to prevent over browning. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes, or until it is golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

Filling:

• 1/2 cup to 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 6 to 7 cups apples cut into thin slices (recommended: Green Golden and Jonathans)
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons butter

In a medium bowl combine the apples, with the brown and white sugar. Add flour, cinnamon and continue mixing until they are well coated.

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

*Images compliments of Food Network, Green Giant, World Market

**There is also an amazing recipe for Apple Peach Pie over at Green Giant Fresh that looks absolutely delicious. 

Pretty Hanging Lights

There is something so magical about outdoor hanging lights. I was scrolling through my inspiration files and realized that I really love the look! It's delicate and inviting and I'm thinking I might need to incorporate it somehow into our holiday, or everyday decor. What do you think? Any great advice you can give me as to what works best? I love the twinkly effect it gives everything.

How gorgeous is this? I wish I had a backyard with a big tree to wrap lights around...

I know this one isn't hanging lights but it's adorable and romantic!

Even this one strip is beautiful with the lanterns on the floor.

*If you see an image that is yours, let me know! I was bad about saving them from where they are from, and I want to give credit!*

Thanksgiving Cooking

Tis the season for cooking!!!!!!!! Have a great weekend.

Images compliments of: William Sonoma

Sneak Preview: Martha Angus One King's Lane Tastemaker Sale

I promised last week that I would give you all a sneak preview of what I've been working on for the past few weeks! It's been a crazy whirlwind of fabulous items and lots of hard work but it's going to be amazing! The One King's Lane Tastemaker Sales are a great place to pick up designer selected furniture and accessories at hugely discounted prices. 

Martha Angus, who I am lucky enough to work for, is doing a Tastemaker Sale on December 4 so mark your calendars!! We can't wait and I wanted to share with you a few action shots and some previews of items to get everyone just as excited as we are. 

Our amazing intern Ezequiel has been such a great help and he took the action shots during our very own photo shoot!

Action Shot - Neoclassical Long Case Clock

Action Shot - Antique Bas Relief

Action Shot - Caned Settee with Turquoise Cushion 

Many of Martha's items are gorgeous finds that were purchased from the Paris Flea Markets, Designer Fabric Pillows and amazing artwork!

For Sale! Pair of Bergeres newly upholstered  in a navy blue Manuel Canovas Fabric

For Sale! Pair of hand printed linen/cotton blue dot pillows

For Sale! Custom black and white outdoor planter

For Sale! Original painting of red coat - perfect for a gallery wall!

For Sale! Pair of vintage white lamps with turquoise paper shades

For Sale! Pair of navy blue pillows with turquoise pom trim

For sale! Handpainted DeGournay wallpaper panel in gold frame

*It's hard to choose, but this is one of our top favorites, it's gorgeous!*

Look for more updates on the sale and other fun posts at Martha Angus Interior Design Facebook page!! Don't forget to like us!

Wallpaper Personality

Wall paper is such a wonderful design tool. It adds life, movement and personality to a room. The first image is so soft and light in feel it is like a Japanese apple tree in blossom. It gives this foyer a soft welcoming feel, where the rest of the images are full of life and energy. We think that the last images are very whimsical and fun with the palm trees, shell mirror and bamboo tables.

Images compliments: Elle Decor, House Beautiful

Harry Potter Midnight Premiere

Totally off the subject of interior design, fashion or even recipes, comes my extreme excitement for the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows midnight premiere that my boyfriend and I are going to on Thursday night. For those of you who are not Harry Potter fans, I am sorry, please disregard this post and come back tomorrow for some great design inspiration. Today however, I cannot contain it any longer and I am bursting at the seams for Thursday night to arrive! For the last 10 years of my life, I have been inside the world of Harry Potter (when new books would come out, awaiting the release of the next movie)...well this is almost the last hurrah for all the Harry Potter fans of the world. The first part (of a two part) of seven movies will be coming out in theaters on November 19th and I will be there eagerly awaiting (maybe even dressed up as one of the characters...I don't know, we'll have to wait and see).


Similar to the popularity of twilight (I love both, and they both seem to be incredibly popular) whenever I read the books or watch the movies, I forget all about what is going on in my life...good/bad, I forget it all as I become immersed into the lives of the characters, the plot and the adventure they are embarking on. It will be interesting to see how they depict the last story of Harry Potter (and hopefully the previews haven't given it all away).


So, with all of this being said about my excitement, I leave you with one of the official Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows trailer and you'll know where to find me late night on Thursday!

Designer Love: M. Design Interiors

One King's Lane Tastemaker Sale recently featured an amazing designer. I've seen her work around the internets and I am blown away every time! Her name is Molly Luetkemeyer and she founded M. Design Interiors in 2001. Her online portfolio is filled with gorgeous, glamorous Interiors that I am love love loving. 

Here are some of my favorites! *it was really hard to choose*

How can we not love this? There is a Westy puppy in the Kitchen!