My 5 favorite things this week. A modern beach house + my 1 pot chili recipe + how to give your home a flash makeover.
A Contemporary Beach House. - Image from The Design Files / Architect, Madeleine Blanchfield.
Today we take a look at a gorgeous beach house on the Coast of Australia. The material palette of this home is stunning. The house was designed by architect Madeleine Blanchfield, for her parents, who were seeking a strong connection to the outdoors. Hence, the fully retractable doors with operable timber screens. It was originally intended to be a beach house but the design was so successful they moved in full-time. It’s an open flow floor plan that gives off a feeling of relaxation and a sense of community. All the materials have a clean aesthetic which lends to the landscape around it.
I love the large use of glass and the woods that bring a natural element to the home.
Madeleine devised a ‘simple and unassuming’ home using her signature stylish flair. ‘We chose to expose the structural system and referred to the simple post and beam type of system that is common in beach houses, with a little more detail and finesse,’ she says. Clean, simple, understated.
We love this one!
My Favorite Chopper
Ok, I cannot tell you how much I LOVE this little chopper! If you love to cook you know that chopping takes time and I don’t know about you but I don’t always have the time! It chops all my onions, celery, carrots and garlic, you can even make pico directly in it. She is a powerful little thing. It also comes with a lid for storage. I bought them for my daughters this year for Christmas and if you spend any time in the kitchen you should do yourself a solid and grab one too! It’s under $20. You can get yours here.
Recipe of the Week:
One Pot Red Lentil Chili
I love this recipe for it’s smoky flavor and not too hot heat. But, I also LOVE it because it’s a one pot recipe from things you probably already have in your pantry. It takes less than one hour to make and you can edit as you see fit. You can add beef or chicken or leave it as is in its vegan glory. If you don’t edit the recipe its V, GF + DF to start with. I usually don’t do all the fancy steps and just throw it all in the pot to simmer. Oh man, your house is about to smell good! I like to create a small topping bar with things such as cheese, sour cream, jalapeños, and rice or quinoa for under the chili or Fritos for on top, it’s also great with a large wedge of cornbread topped with honey! I hope you enjoy it as much as we do! You’re gonna wanna print this one! You can find the recipe here and adapt it to meet your families needs.
Styling Tip:
How to give your home a flash makeover without spending too much.
If you feel like you want to spruce up your living environment here are a few fast and low cost ways to do that in one day.
You probably already have some great items but they have been stuck in one spot for way to long.
Re-arrange your furniture. Think outside the box and move pieces into different rooms and swap out items. Vintage dressers can look great in the entry…
Bring the outdoors inside with plants. They offer texture and green life.
Set up an entry moment. A bench or console, some hooks and baskets, fresh flowers, framed art or a mirror welcomes you and your guests warmly.
Gather up your accessories and re accessorize your space, you’d be surprised what just moving accessories around can do!
Swap out pillows and throws for new life to any room. Fill baskets with extra blankets and pillows. Stack books in two’s or three’s and top it with a plant or ornamental object and you’re golden!
Product of the Week:
I love containers, like A LOT! I’m not sure why but containers really get me excited to organize. If you can’t get excited to organize maybe you should take a little trip to The Container Store, or you can also just call me! Typically in the pantry we go for water hyacinth baskets mostly because they are sturdy, give a softer look and the label tags work SO well. But, these gorgeous pantry baskets from The Container Store are giving us all the feels this week. They are also reinforced and so darn gorgeous! I am excited to use them on an upcoming project! You can get yours here.
Loved having you here! Have a super week and I look forward to sharing with you again next week…
