This kitchen in a remodeled empty nesters’ home in Maplewood has all the best appliances and amenities, but this photo shows the other side of the kitchen. You can see the whimsical chandelier with decorative grapes and leaves, reminiscent of the south of France or Tuscany; an oversize clock that even the most short sighted cook can use to time recipes; granite covering all the counter surfaces, and a display cabinet with a charming pitcher collection. Removing the door at the right entrance and replacing the one on the left with a glass-paned unit has imparted a light, airy feel to this comfortable and cozy space.
Archive for May, 2009
The Other Side of the Kitchen
Blueberry Tart
Put 1 1/4 cup of flour, 4 oz butter, one egg yolk, and a pinch of salt and sugar into a food processor. Pulse quickly, stop, and then pulse again while adding a small glass of water. Now prepare a removable bottomed tart pan by coating the bottom with a little butter and flour. Roll the dough on a flat surface and then place in the pan, forming a crust around the edge. Cover and put in the fridge for an hour to rest. Then prick the piecrust with a fork 6-8 times, and place parchment baking paper in the bottom. Put some weight at the bottom (could be rice or beans) then put into a 375 degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove when the crust is brown. Then crush 1/4 cup of walnuts and mix with 1 egg and 1/4 cup of light cream. Pour on the bottom of the tart and place 1 1/2 pints of blueberries on top. Put back in the oven at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve at room temperature. Whipped or heavy cream accompanies the tart nicely.
The Artist Aubril
Aubril is a French artist who paints watercolor landscapes as well as abstract oils. The landscapes are as delicate and atmospheric as the abstracts are moody and thought provoking. Her series of Venice watercolors capture with great poignancy the decaying beauty of this precarious yet ageless city in a lagoon. Several of my clients are proud owners. Please contact me if you’re interested in seeing more of her work. You’ll find Belle Maison’s complete contact info by clicking Contact Us on the menu bar at the top of this page.
Inside the Sevres Porcelain Works
My sister recently told me about a fascinating destination for Parisian visitors—Sevres. The finest French Porcelain has been hand-made in this Paris suburb for over 270 years.When Louis XV discovered that mistress Madame de Pompadour was a Porcelain devotee he became obsessed and moved the best French craftsmen to Sevres, with the express goal of surpassing the German work of Meissen and Dresden.
In spite of the hiccup caused by the French Revolution, Sevres grew to produce some one of Europe’s most impressive Porcelain. And it’s produced to this day using largely the same techniques. A tour of the factory offers a fascinating glimpse at this ageless craft. To arrange a tour you must contact the factory in advance.
To request further information email the factory: marion.schock@culturegouv.fr; For a comprehensive look at Sevres, the website (in French) is manufacturedesevres.culture.gouv.fr/
Summer in Winter
Now that summer is nearly here I’d like to share one of my secret strategies to make it through the cold, grey winter: my sunroom. When we moved into our West Orange home there was an extra room that originally was an open porch. The previous owners enclosed the space to create a sunroom. I decided to convert it into a winter garden, alive with plants and flowers year round. I found two very comfortable canvass chairs, perfect for reading the papers on Sunday morning. The other furnishings are rustic tables, garden sculptures, trellises and bird feeders, completing the illusion of a warm, green outdoor space in the midst of winter. If, like me, you get depressed during the long winter months, some time in our foret vierge (rain forest) is guaranteed to lift your spirits.
Pear Tart
This recipe is a bit more complex than my past offerings, but for the more ambitions among you the result is a tart that never fails to win acclaim. To create the pastry, put 1 2/3 cup flour, a pinch of salt, a large pinch of sugar, one egg yolk and 1/4 cup of butter into your food processor until it’s lightly mixed. Then add a small glass of water and continue stirring for a few seconds until it’s mixed. Roll the mixture onto a floured surface and then place into a tart pan with a removable bottom. Cover and cool in the fridge for two hours. Next open 3 cans of Bartlett pear halves, drain the liquid and dry the pears on paper towels. Keep on the side. To create the pastry cream you’ll need 2 cups of milk, 1 vanilla bean, 5 egg yolks and 3 1/2 tablespoons of flour. Put the milk and vanilla bean (split the bean) in a pot and bring to a boil. Mix the yolks in a bowl until they’re a pale yellow, then add flour. Remove the vanilla bean and pour the boiling milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the pot and simmer, stirring until the flour is cooked—it should have the consistency of custard. Put in a bowl to cool.
Now lay wax paper at the bottom of the tart pan. Put weights on the bottom, which could be rice or beans so the pastry doesn’t puff up while it cooks (blind bake). Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove the paper and the weights and add 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips cups—I use 60% cocoa. Put it back in the oven so the chocolate melts for 2-3 minutes. Take out and spread the chocolate around. Let it cool. Add the custard on top, then place the half pears on top of the custard. Put back in the oven for 15 minutes until golden on top.
Pears to Look at
In addition to creating pear tarts, I also like to collect pears. On my mantel you’ll find antique pears in wood, alabaster, ceramic, and porcelain, in a variety of colors and sizes. The shape is so expressive and universal, so basic to the natural world.
A Flat Screen That Fits
The flat screen TV revolution has challenged designers to create elegant spaces for these ubiquitous entertainment centers. We completed a project last year that involved an addition to a lovely home in Maplewood. The flat screen in the new family room sits gracefully in the space between sconces. It fits the room perfectly, and the position above the fireplace and below the beamed ceiling creates just the right sense of proportion.
The French Room by Betty Lou Phillips
Betty Lou Phillips is a writer and designer I both admire and with whom I share a strong design kinship. She does an admirable job explaining the key elements of French interior style. Among them are the importance of color, the art of hanging art, and the specific qualities of the French kitchen, bedroom and salon. And there are more than 200 photos that take your breath away.
An Assortment of Lamps
Looking through my lamp collection I assembled this group photo, featuring a variety of styles. We always like to keep lamps in stock because clients want to see them in the flesh rather than catalogs and they usually take a long time to order. So here is a representative sampling of my current stock, guaranteed to fit almost any need. Please let us know if any of them strikes your fancy.