Dining on my mind

Now that we are a family of five, I need a dining table that will fit our space a little better. Our current dining table is not using the space as efficiently as we need. These dining and kitchen spaces really struck my fancy!

I love the natural wood, the warm colors, the sparkle of the ceramics

I love the muted tones; the rustic, curated look

I love the light and airy feel

I love the warmth, the combination of wood tones and painted pieces, the gorgeous roman shade

I love the rich colors and pops of red, the warm glowing wood tones

I love the combination of french country with a homey 1920s feeling. Looks very useful and approachable

This is pretty much the exact table I want for the dining room, although I would love a trestle style.

Chipotle Mexican Chocolate Brownies with Toasted Pepitas

I have finally gotten my new brownie recipe right and couldn't wait to share it!

1 cup softened unsalted butter,divided
1 round (3.1 oz) Ibarra Mexican Chocolate, broken into pieces
1 square (1 oz) unsweetened chocolate
2 Tbs. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground chipotle
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs, room temperature
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup toasted pepitas, chopped*

*for those who may not know, pepitas are green pumpkin seeds. I buy mine raw. I oil a baking sheet very lightly with olive oil, spread the seeds and toss them a bit so they are very lightly oiled, sprinkle with salt and lightly toast them in the toaster oven. Then I pop them in the food processor and pulse them until they have a chopped texture.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt 1/2 cup of the butter and the chocolates in a small saucepan over low heat. Incorporate the cinnamon and chipotle. Set aside to cool.

Mix remaining 1/2 cup of butter, sugar and vanilla on a medium speed for a couple minutes until creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, fully incorporating each egg before adding the next. Scrape the bowl.

Mix in the cooled chocolate mixture until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Scrape the bowl.

Add remaining ingredients and mix on low until well-blended, about 30 seconds.

Pour into a greased and floured 13x9x2 baking pan. Bake for about 45 mins. Cool in pan on a wire rack and cut.

Checkmate

I have decided I want to paint the ceiling of my kitchen in a checkerboard pattern. I'm planning to use shades of gray so it won't be Tim Burton-y in there. Why is it that as soon as I start making progress on one project, I already have three or four new ones in mind?

Awesomeness

This is definitely one of the coolest home design items I have seen in a long time.

Ceiling treatment for the wall

I have FINALLY come up with a design element I want in my bathroom: a wainscot made from tin ceiling tiles. It will be awesome!

Ragtime

Michealangelo Pistoletto – Venus of the Rags

I really need a new rug for the kitchen. Buying a new rug is definitely not in the budget. Being a seamstress, I have tons of fabric scraps, and being a mom of boys, I have plenty of clothes that are too worn out to donate... so, I think I'll be making my own rag rug! This seems like an especially good way to use old sheets. Also, one made of old towels would be great for a bath mat!

Bathrooms... again