thank you...

The official start to Summer, but we must never forget what today is really all about...

"All gave some, some gave all".

Thank you.

food for thought: grilled mediterranean tuna

Dinner plans with the neighbors last Sunday were cancelled, which led to a sudden craving for grilled tuna... so I headed to Sunflower Market, purchased tuna steak and was one happy camper griller.

The original recipe is from Cooking Light January/February 1999, Spiced Tuna with Mediterranean Wine Sauce, an all-time favorite! But I wanted to grill, so I just used the rub and served it with a delightful Mario Batali pasta with cchini and ricotta from Food Network Magazine May 2010.

Mediterranean Tuna Rub

2 tsp. fennel seeds

1 tsp. black peppercorns

1 T olive oil

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. orange zest

2 garlic cloves, crushed

Grind the fennel seeds and peppercorns in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Rub mixture into one side of tuna. Makes enough rub for 4, 5 oz. steaks.

Grill 2-3 minutes, or until desired doneness.

Enjoy!

beachy keen

beachy keen by BELLA BOHO featuring beach dresses

3 1 Phillip Lim beach dress
$375 - shopbird.com

Lanvin ankle cuff sandal
$635 - ssense.com

Rick Owens large tote bag
$975 - ssense.com

Lauren by Ralph Lauren scarve
75 GBP - houseoffraser.co.uk

H M straw hat
4.99 GBP - hm.com

Ray Ban aviator sunglass
impressionen.de

My first time playing with Polyvore...totally hooked!

a perfect pairing: weekend street fair ware

The Spring gloom has rendered my brain useless for creating an "interior style board" since all I want to do is enjoy a sunny day...outside...wandering through a street fair... and this is what I'd wear...

Asos Maxi Dress in Wide Stripe

Piperlime DV by Dolce Vita "Donovan"

Piperlime Fossil Key Per Shopper

I do think I need this outfit, if just for insurance sake ;)

tuesday's treasure: cape town bungalow

Blame it on the rain, but I am finding it difficult to get excited about much of anything today. I'm craving simplicity, tropical simplicity, i.e. relaxed... and this Cape Town bungalow I found at Living Etc., fits the pure and simple relaxed style bill quite nicely.

I'm digging the open kitchen with plenty of storage and ample working space, but I would dig it even more if the cabs were white or light grey.

Fantastic dining area. So loving the art layered over the mirror.

Homeowner/designer, Kate Moffat, chose tinted concrete for the flooring for it's durability. I'm lovin the glossy finish.

This shower is in the master bath, painted in the same dark blue as the exterior. So this is what you see after coming from the light and bright bedroom, wow!

Okay, feeling a little more motivated. Then again, it could be the 3rd cup of joe ;)

fab find: aquasilk, from abc carpet & home

Riding the wave of my current ocean and pool obsession, the Aquasilk Rug Collection from ABC Carpet & Home, seemed like the perfect choice for today's fab find...

I seriously could dive in to these rugs! Using the ABC Color Reform Concept, the rugs which are handcrafted from handspun recycled vintage Indian Sari silk, then over-dyed with the Color Reform application. Freaking gorgeous!

I remember my first time to ABC Carpet & Home, before the creation of Color Reform. ABC is like Disneyland for us interior types, a truly magical experience.

friday musings: daydreaming

After what seems like months of rain, well, a week plus at least, the glorious sun has finally shown his smiling face...for a little while at least. With the wet cloudy days, comes thoughts of escaping to sunnier climates with a different kind of wet... Beach Days Vintage Metal Art Sign

Flickr.com

Puronlain.com
Tikilife.com

Dumbwhitteller.com

The Chairman, one of my favorite leading men, wearing his favorite color, LiveLikeYou.com

International Poster

Aaah, Mr. Grant, another favorite leading man, in Cannes, search.independant.co.uk

Well duh, as if I couldn't include my muse! Ms. Bardot frolicking at Cannes Beach fashioncoup.com

Clearly I need to getaway...

Have a great, even dreamy, weekend!

TC

style board: chic & thrifty

Let's say a I have client who saw this lovely room in Architectural Digest April 2011. And said client is not an antiquaire... and voila, a relatively inexpensive replica room. Well, at least more inexpensive than the stunning room above.

I followed the Art Deco-mod glam style, but trying to find affordable gilded furniture is a bit tough, so I swapped black lacquer for the gilded seating pieces. Both chairs are fantastic, but I would re-upholster the light one with a coral print fabric to go with the fabulous coral velvet. I couldn't find a brass table that I liked, price or style, so I chose the always reliable bamboo bench from Pearl River and decided to re-finish it with gold leaf. As for the columns...still searching.

sofa: DecoDame.com Panache Sofa in black lacquer, sofa fabric: Designers Guild Brera Lino Calico, floor lamp: Lamps Plus, chair #1: Etsy Rediscovered Style, chair & pillow fabric: Mood Fabrics, side table: Grandin Road, bamboo table: Pearl River, gold leaf for bamboo table: Mona Lisa Imitation Gold Leaf Kit, rug: Domestic Modern, chair #2: Etsy Rediscovered Style

bella boho fb page

Hi readers! Tryin to increase my FB followers...click on the "fb" above for this weeks stylish question...

food for thought: truffled oven fries

Originally posted May 12th, but Blogger lost it.

You know something is good when you make them twice in one week... and these babies are good! Enjoyed them Sunday with grilled Dijon chicken tenders and then again on Tuesday with grilled Flatiron steak. The original recipe is from Cooking Light, May 2011, but I tweaked it a bit.
Truffled Oven Fries

1 pound small red potatoes cut into wedges

1/2 T olive oil

1/2 T garlic infused oil

Sea salt

Fresh gound pepper

1 clove crushed garlic

1/2-1 T white truffle oil

2 tsp. fresh thyme

Grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 450°. Toss potatoes with oliveoil, garlic oil, salt and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove potatoes from oven and toss with crushed garlic. Bake for 5 minutes.

Remove potatoes from oven. Place in serving dish, drizzle with truffle oil and sprinkle with thyme and Parmesan. Toss gently to combine.

Enjoy!

(Sorry about aaaaall the space, sometimes Blogger sucks, I'm over trying to edit this post)

tuesday's treasure: worldly style, n.y.c. penthouse, vogue living march/april 2009

I'm off to style a clients living area, it's not in N.Y.C. and it's not a penthouse, but he has gathered many things from his travels. This home is perfect for worldly inspiration...

The patio is absolutely my favorite space. Just stunning!

Gotta run...

fab find: modern chic home

One of my favorite blogs that I follow is Belle Maison, created by the lovely and talented, and oh so stylish, Julie Thigpen... so I am a bit embarrassed by the fact that I just figured out today that Julie also has a fabulous online boutique, Modern Chic Home.

Her goods are just that, modern and chic. I couldn't help but think of a swanky California Ranch home (my dream home) in Palm Springs while perusing her site. Trina Turk Residential pillows and rugs, a beautiful collection of wall coverings, mirrors that make a statement and some seriously fantastic accessories.

I gathered a few of my favorites above, what's on your with list?

friday musings: retro inspiration

I figured I needed to accessorize my Bardot-do with some fabulous retro scarves for my Summer wardrobe...

and a girl can never have too many retro pieces of jewelry ;

scarves: Etsy, Yellow Vintage chunky bracelet: Etsy, Bright Eye Treasures

I hope the sun is shining brightly wherever you are. Have a great weekend!

TC