home exterior: November 2011

Have you started Christmas decorating?

I haven't even started decorating for Christmas yet! I usually have everything up by the Sunday after Thanksgiving! This photo is from last year...or was it the year before that? I hope to at least start this weekend! Have you started yet?
I've been so busy job searching. I've had one great phone interview with HP today and tomorrow I have a phone interview with Google!!!! Google!!! Yes

Beauty on Monday

Another beautiful morning has risen above the horizon, mild air caressing the bare trees, nothing pointing to a soon arriving winter. I am walking with just jeans and a sweater, a jacket is not needed.

Yet, yesterday was the beginning of the Advent time, the four weeks before Christmas, and I have began to decorate with greenery. The holidays are coming, trees are sold at every corner and since the day after Thanksgiving the shops are filled with everything for a festive time.

Our home at the holiday season 2011

There are dreidels and chocolate filled coins, St. Clauses and reindeers, angels and menorahs. Candles and greenery, stars and more stars blinking everywhere.
All sitting peacefully side by side.

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How I wish that the spirit of love and tolerance would spread across the borders, to people who believe burning pipelines, blowing up cars and killing others will bring good change to their world. How much I hope for peace, something I, unfortunately, have too often reason to believe will not happen soon.
How can this small blog spread any goodwill and hope at times (like all others), filled with horror as soon as I look a little further then my backyard?
I feel strongly over the years since I have began writing this blog, how quickly kindness spreads when we are open minded towards others, enjoying their point of view, tolerate the ideas we do not share and stay positive and supportive.
It is wonderful to get to know so many people all over the world, at the same time knowing many more are out there reading this, without leaving a trace. Can goodwill and change come through a small blog, dedicated to beauty, art and the philosophy of life?

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I hope my words will make others see for a moment what I see, let them feel how wonder- filled and precious life is and how much love between people can help along our hope for peaceful side by side living.
Getting to know people with different believes and values, being open minded towards their dreams and hopes can bring us closer. Small steps do wonders and just trying to come closer to your odd neighbor or the strange co-worker can make a difference.

Can you imagine?

Our school, like many others, has an annual holiday drive to help children in need to receive a gift for the holidays. My children pick usually more then one of those wish cards from a tree in the school lobby. They feel compassion and hope our gifts will spread more then something material, but love towards someone we do not know, hoping that these children will grow up knowing of love in a world where desperation could rule instead.

Let us stick together, all of us writing beautiful blogs, spreading compassion, tolerance and love towards others. Let us begin at home and let it grow into the world.
Let us share more then the beauty of material things, but kindness and goodwill among each other!
Holding one other hand and a chain begins.....

I am wishing you all the beginning of a lovely and peaceful holiday time.

All images as indicated and my own, bumper sticker via google image.

Show and Tell Friday!

Welcome to Show and Tell Friday and Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a great one!!!
I made Weight Watcher's lemon pie so that's what I decided to share today! I thought it was really good. My daughter, Lauren, wasn't so fond of it. She said it was a little "too mushy"...maybe I've been dieting too long...I could have eaten the whole thing! Just don't make the same mistake I made and

Thanksgiving 2011

I am so thankful for all what this year has given us.
My heart is filled with Thanksgiving.

My wishes for all of you is that you may feel the same!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Wednesday!

Hi everyone! As you can see I still have roses growing in my garden! Even my Eden rose has buds! I'm hoping they bloom before the weather gets too cold.
I thought I would give you an update on my job search. I've sent out over 30 resumes and I've only received two responses. One was from a temp agency which I don't want to do yet. I will consider temping if I don't have a job by February.

Tea pot

Today is a gray, rainy day. What better way to lighten the mood but with a cup of golden tea, a touch of milk and a home baked cupcake? Made by my girl last night!
The tea pot was a special Marshall's score last week! Barbara Barry's Top Note Design for Wedgewood! YES!
I am sure some of you know the thrill...
But as any tea lover will agree with me: No teapot is really good unless it pours smoothly, without dripping and sputtering! This one is excellent, reminding me a little bit of the genie lamp from Thousand And One Night, which of course gives me an reading ideas for some long winter nights!

But I am sure this one will serve us longer than that...

Good night!

Book via amazon.com and teapot image my own.

Mellow yellow

For whatever reason I have lately an infatuation with yellow. I have actually never really liked the color on me or near me. But as many things change in life my love for yellow has emerged. Of course, yellow rooms have been around for the longest time, evoking light and sunshine and warmth. Nancy Lancaster's London yellow drawing room comes to my mind, a classic and often repeated design among the countless admirers.

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A wonderful Lancaster inspired living room

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I have found Jan Showers use of yellow quite admirable. The soft toned yellows feel more relaxing to the eye and less exciting.

These yellows do not scream, but rather create elegant, happy backdrops for our busy lives.

The last one perhaps does not really qualify for a yellow room, but the overall feeling for me is yellow, rather then neutral.

Some Farrow & Ball wallpapers I love:

Farrow & Ball's Brockhampton Star

Farrow & Ball's Ranlagh papers

Farrow & Ball's Vermicelli papers

Have a happy, sunny week!

All images as indicated and via Jan Showers website.

How to Start Your Home Design

Thinking of building a new home? Here are some tips for getting your ideas together for your home design.

Find and purchase your land
Start documenting your ideas to present to Bonin Architects

Why is it important to purchase your land before you start getting too far in the process of the home design? The land will undoubtedly have an impact on the design of the home: its footprint, number of stories, whether or not you can have a walkout basement, orientation, etc. Once you have your land, Bonin Architects will visit the property with you to help site the home within the town Planning Board regulations and the Comprehensive Shoreland Protection Act guidelines.

Then it’s time to start gathering your ideas for your new home. General requirements such as the use of the home (primary residence, vacation, or retirement home), the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the location of your Master Bedroom, the use of outdoor space, and having an eat-in kitchen or separate dining room are some things to start thinking about.

Bonin Architects will work with you during the Schematic Design Phase of the home design to develop the size, footprint and layout of the home. In this phase you will also address any specialty features, rooms, and other priorities you have for the home, including a home theater, office and/or media room, craft room, sun room, porches, decks and basement use. Use your current home as a comparison for what you like and what you do not like about each room, space, and its use.

Working with Bonin Architects for your home design will result in having much more than a home with a standard floor plan – together, we will create a custom home design that matches your philosophy and lifestyle, a reflection of who you are, how you live.

Friday thoughts

This weekend looks simple.
There will be no shopping and no stressful cleaning, I'll take breakfast in bed and give lazy new meaning.
I might take the dog for a walk in the park.
I could lay in bed and read until dark.
I'll write a few mails and chat with my mother.
I'll have tea on the sofa and a walk through the garden.
The sun will shine through all smudgy windows, but
I will relax and put all off for Monday.

V.Z.

Picture via google image. Poem by me.

Show and Tell Friday

Welcome to Show and Tell Friday
It's sort of a sad day for me today. It's my mom's birthday (Nov. 17th)...the first birthday without her! I think about her every day but today even more than usual. I was so lucky to have such a wonderful mother!
This week I'm sharing my Thanksgiving table from a few years ago. I love my little turkey candy dishes that I use to serve soup in. I learned to do

A midweek autumn dinner

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When the days grow short and darkness rises early, I enjoy cooking comfort food.
Last night I prepared acorn squash and bratwurst, Brussels Sprouts and some delicious ice cream afterwards.

It's so easy and makes a satisfying meal. The scent of the baking squash is irresistible. Once the sausages are frying, it becomes enticing...

The dog did not leave my site and waited patiently to get a morsel.
My son explained why he needed definitely a test bite before dinner.
My husband asked at six if dinner was ready....
My daughter volunteered to set the table???
Guys, we never eat before seven?!

Nicely browned, with a hint of butter and brown sugar! Hmmmm!

Alright! Dinner is served!

Top image from Joseph Oregon Fireworks Pottery, bottom google image, inbetween my own.

Fall/Winter patterns

I love the patterns of the seasons.
It gives me another reason to freshen things up around here. At one of my last visits to BoCoCa, a lovely neighborhood in Brooklyn, I found this lovely patterned paper and had an idea how to use it!

The large and not exactly exciting IKEA wall unit, which has served our rambling family dutiful for more then 10 years now, needed a little help. Its still in almost perfect condition.

Sometime last year.

I have been contemplating painting it, but shy away from the mess, since we use this room constantly. I decided to let it be and just make little improvements....The biggest challenge is not to let it get too messy and filled up. Which, of course, is not easy with an overflowing library.
Before:

And after:

I love these individual cubbies, like in a doll house I can set up little scenes...with things I love!

I have began 'winterizing' our house, cozied up corners, pulled out blankets and pillows.

I brighten dark spots with candles and warm up my husband's reading leather chair with an enormous sheepskin.

Talking of patterns, I found two lovely books at a yard sale on Sunday, they belong right into this post and will give me great more decorating inspirations. They are not new, but that does not matter...timeless design always fits in.

My daughter is a little under the weather today, we are going to sit down and have lunch, something we never do together during the week, so it's special....but the poor baby just wants tea...

Are you warming up your place? At least in this hemisphere it will be necessary really soon.

And look who walked by today...(You shouldn't be around this time of year....)

It has been a rambling sort of post, with no clear pattern at all. Pictures of all sizes....Forgive me!

Just a little while ago my good friend Patricia from PVE came by for tea and a walk, it's good to have her back.
Why don't you stop by at her blog and say hello?

All images by V.Zlotkowski

Autumn splendor

Going to the Farmer's market, and coming home with an armful of nature's best, is one of the endless joys I get from this season.

Of course, it's the fruits and bountiful vegetables, but the flowers last usually much longer in our family with always hungry teens...
Apples and pears are devoured by the pounds and root vegetables, pumpkins, tubers and greens and end up quickly in stews and salads.
But these sunflowers, grains, eucalyptus and lilies stay on my window sill and remind me to go outside...I yearn for views and walks and the aromas of nature, before she closes shop and all will covered under a cold blanket.

The view from the new shopping mall Ridge Hill, near Hastings-on-Hudson. Looking sharply, you can perhaps see the the gray Palisades above the Hudson in the middle picture.

This year has passed faster then I like to think, another year almost gone, wistfully I sigh!
But is has been filled with wonderful things, I am grateful!
What better way the to look forward to Thanksgiving....

Have a lovely weekend, my friends!

All images byV.Zlotkowski

Best Home Design for Modern Office Design

Best Home Design for Office

Best Home design can be applied both for residential or office, this time I will share you several best home ideas for designing an office. Most of best office design usually used modern architecture and interior design, but actually the most difficult on designing an office is how to choose the best office goods and then combining the goods with the interior theme.

Office environment usually dominated with goods with similar vendor, such as this best home office design with PCs from Mac. People who use PCs may or may not care about the design of their products. Mac users always care. Apple is known for the innovative design of everything it creates from the iPod to the ultra-thin Macbook Air. Not to be outdone by the creators of the products, Mac users challenge themselves to set up their equipment in creative, aesthetically pleasing ways. In other words, Mac users create home and office setups that reflect just how cool they are for using a Mac.

Best Home Design Architecture

Best Home Design

Best Home Design, as you know that this blog is the best place to browse for best home design, best home architecture, best home decoration and best home trends. I really recommend this blog as a source of best home design. On this time, I will share you several best home design with best architecture.

The process of home design architecture requires you to spend enough time and effort to achieve best results. Best Home Design architecture can be a complicated process if you do not know how to deal and handle it. Perhaps you might need professional to help with your home design plans if you are not pretty sure how will you do it in the first place. But even if you hire professionals to aid you in your home design plans you still have to know a few guidelines to achieve the best.

Here are several ideas to achieve best home design

1. Set your budget for the home plans

The first thing that you should consider as you begin the process of home design is by knowing how much you are willing to spend. Your budget will determine the extent and limit of your home design plans.

2. Choose the best home design plans

Home design can give your home a newer and fresher look and if ever you live by the house which design you do not prefer, the need for home remodeling and decorating is absolute. The new home design must be according to what your heart desires that reflects your personality.

3. Think of home design that just need simple remodeling in both present and future needs

Unless you have the capacity to change your home design in a matter of few years, you can have design that will cater only your present needs. But if you can’t do that then you should consider a home design that can satisfy both your present and future needs.

4. Hire best home decorator with professional jobs

Home design planning can be easy if you know specifically what you need and what you want, but putting it in action can be the most critical one. That is why many opt to hire professionals that can help them in achieving best results.