RoomPlanners magazine - Mar '10

california casual inside the set of It’s Complicated

croque monsieur and chocolate cake!

MARCH 2010

www.roomplanners.com roomplanners

our favorite!

wine country furniture

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wine country casual

There‟s no question we‟re living more casually these days. Maybe that

explains the continuing popularity of interior design styles inspired by

country homes in Tuscany, Provence and Sonoma.

Inside this issue, we‟ll take a closer look at wine country interiors; those

charming, picturesque rooms that look old but not formal, rustic but not

frumpy… and seem to be as much about a state of mind as a style.

Wine country homes, wherever they‟re

located, share some of the same traits…

gourmet kitchens, dinner tables that stretch

on forever, hefty furniture, comfy sofas and

old-looking materials, just to mention a few.

We‟ll show you our favorite wine country

furniture, inspired by furnishings found in

famous wine growing regions.

We‟ll also take a look inside the set of the

movie, It’s Complicated (Universal Pictures,

2009); a very recent example of a home

inspired by the Italian, French and

California countryside. Writer and director,

Nancy Meyers, is already well-known for

her portrayal of women as strong and independent; she‟s becoming as

well-known for the fabulous interior design ideas she packs into her

leading lady‟s home. The set of her latest movie follows on the heels of

another memorable home in Something’s Gotta Give (Columbia Pictures,

2003). And if the influence of her most recent movie set on interior

design is anything like the last one, it‟s likely to inspire more than a few

home makeovers!

Enjoy!

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on the cover

Tuscano, by Kincaid Furniture,

features a handsome wood finish and hefty details ideal for a Tuscan-inspired home. The collection in-

cludes dining room, living room

and bedroom options. Kincaid

Furniture has specialized in manu-

facturing solid wood furniture since

1946. www.kincaidfurniture.com

Loreen Epp President, RoomPlanners Inc.

All written information herein is copyright ©2010 Room Planners Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copy-right may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from Room Planners Inc..

www.roomplanners.com

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style, aligned with the trend not just to cook more, but to cook well.

With more of us eating at home; it‟s also the perfect style for entertaining; con-juring up images of long dinner tables and even longer

meal times with favorite friends and favorite wine!

But wine country style is also the perfect solution for

today‟s more casual life-style. It‟s an appealing alter-native to traditional style. Historic-looking without being stuffy or formal, it draws on earliest furniture ideas, prior to the 18th cen-tury fancy for dressy ele-gance and perfect etiquette.

Wine country furniture can bring warmth and history to

Granted, interior design styles inspired by houses near vineyards are nothing new. Tuscany and Provence alone have inspired more

home makeovers the past decade than just about any other style.

But there‟s a reason why wine country interiors are

still so popular. This is the quintessential cooking

wine country style

our top tips

plaster walls, or matte paint color washes

overhead ceiling beams

grainy, low-sheen woods inspired by wine barrels

old, sturdy-looking furniture; stretchers between chair and table legs, turned legs, nail studs, ladder-back or high-backed chairs

old-looking fabrics—slightly worn-looking leather, chenille or jacquards

tapestries or oil paint-ings of the European countryside

wrought iron accents— chandeliers, candle sticks, curtain rods or glass & iron vases

faded oriental rugs or straw mats

gourmet-style kitchens with cooking utensils in open view

topiaries, sunflowers, chunky candlesticks, arborvitaes, classical vases, wire urns

wine country our favorite

the colors of wine country décor...

any interior, even without a stone house in Provence, a villa in Tuscany or a Spanish ranch in Sonoma.

Despite slight regional differences, wine country

styles share a common warmth, oldness and sturdy construction.

So here they are… our

favorite wine country collections, along with a few ideas on how to bring a wine country room together.

Behr 240 F-4

Behr 270F-4

Behr 360 E-3

Behr 740C-1

Behr 150F-6

Behr 260 D-5

Behr 360 D-4

Behr 770C-3

Behr 200F-4

Behr 180D-6

Behr 310D-5

Behr 780A-1

Is there such a thing as a wine

country color palette? We think so! These earthy colors conjure up images of old stone

furniture

Wine country furniture can be

intoxicating with its worn antique qualities and comfortable, casual air.

Photo: Accents Provence, by

Drexel Heritage

wine cellars and Renaissance

frescos painted on plaster walls. Use any of these warm, European-inspired hues in a

dry, matte finish. Better yet,

color wash them, using a rag to apply a lighter version of the color over a solid first coat.

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A classic, with sturdy-looking

and comfortable details.. some quite eclectic! Also, check out the company‟s Sonoma Ridge

dining room.

www.thomasville.com


regal colors.

At Home in Tuscany by Drexel Heritage

Hills of Tuscany by Thomasville Furniture

Inspired by Frances Mayes‟s

much-loved book and the movie by the same name, this charming collections offers a real taste of Italy.

www.drexelheritage.com

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Inspired by the Italian

Renaissance itself, this hand-some collection features a

lighter finish, warm bronze hardware, handsome details

and plenty of solid wood.

www.kincaidfurniture.com

Tuscano by Kincaid Furniture

Cimmaron by Lexington Furniture

This handsome collection

features traditional English details, but we think the hand-hewn turnings, wrought metal and craftsmanship more than

qualify it for wine country style.

www.lexington.com

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colors.

This is continental styling at

its finest, but scaled for homes anywhere. The practical, well-detailed collection is reminis-cent of French, Italian, Eng-

lish and Spanish antiques.

www.drexelheritage.com

European Retreat by Drexel Heritage

Washed woods (far right) are

pure Provence, while leather, leg stretchers and nail studs (below) are more Tuscan. Also check out the company‟s

Waverly Place, Bordeaux and Beladora dining collections

www.hookerfurniture.com

Wynterhall Vineyard by Hooker Furniture

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or is it?


Above. Meryl Streep stands in

front of her character’s Santa

Barbara home, a charming Spanish

-style ranch with terracotta-tile roof.

Bottom: A view of one of several

outdoor areas.

Top of page. Streep having dinner

with friends in her informal dining

room.

The set of Nancy Meyer‟s It’s Complicated showed us

an easy, breezy California design style that‟s so casually chic that few of us who saw the movie didn‟t

picture our life in a similar home... or even contem-plate heading to California to bathe in such subtle sophistication.

So what is this California design aesthetic Meyers shares in her movies, and does the character Jane‟s (Meryl Streep) Spanish ranch in Santa Barbara offer any clues to creating the look?

For the film, Meyers wanted a “Belgian look” and “a quiet palette with natural linen”. The home‟s setting is certainly serene,

with even Streep‟s ex-

inside an idyllic california home

it’s

husband Jake (Alex Bald-win) commenting on how „quiet it is here‟.

In a nutshell, Streep‟s home is sophisticated without being fancy. Terracotta accents seem inspired by the rooftops of

Santa Barbara. Antiques mix with high-end furnish-ings. Linen pillows and cashmere throws are tossed over French chairs and slip-covered sofas. A gourmet influence (Streep loves to cook and owns a bakery) is seen in open shelves, bunches of uten-sils, stacks of table linens

and a charming kitchen.

Streep‟s house is as much a character in the movie as

she is…. not just because more than half of the movie takes place there,

but because each room reflects a casual, personal approach to furnishings.

This kind of California

casual is hardly a new con-

cept, first coined as an apparel style in the 1970s to describe an anything goes

approach to getting dressed in the morning. But, of course, no fashion-able Californian would be caught dead wearing just anything… there‟s loads of

style under such a carefree spirit.

Unlike the movie‟s plot, a California casual look isn’t

complicated, but it does

take a little design savvy. So let‟s take a closer look at how the set design team pulled off one of the most exciting movie homes we‟ve seen in quite a while.

complicated

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Below, Tribeca, American Drew


1. A skirted counter has French

country charm.

2. Herb-filled pots sit under the

large window.

3. Painted wood cabinets are casual and keep the kitchen light

& airy.

4. Caned-front cabinets under

the sink recall French chairs.

5. Matchstick blinds add a natural, organic quality.

6. A small counter lamp adds

charm at night.

7. Open shelves keep dishes

visible and accessible.

8. A simple iron bar above the

stove stores pans in open view.

9. A butcher-block island adds storage and a cutting block.

10. A marble pastry counter

makes baking easier!

11. Lots of white ceramic pots

are filled with cooking utensils.

12. A small spotlight adds task and accent lighting.

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7.

kitchen the

This open-plan kitchen has plenty of individual style... and not a lot of matching parts.

John Hutman, set designer, called it “makeshift and funky”. Together with set decorator, Beth Rubino, Hutman studied Tuscan, French and California kitchens before designing the set. The lack of upper cabinets

creates a casual, airy feel. Dishes and pots are kept in open view and are easily accessible—ideal for actress Streep who plays a bakery owner and loves to cook. The skirted and cane-front cabinet doors have a French feel. So do all those cooking tools!

But as charming as it looks, the kitchen isn‟t entirely functional, explaining why a kitchen makeover plays a big role in the movie‟s plot.

what we loved

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black floor tile

white marble pastry counter stainless steel

white tile

cane-front cabinets

matchstick blinds

linen curtains

on lower cabinets

wrought iron accents

light wood or painted cabinets

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1. An archway between the

kitchen and dining room

frame the view to both, de-pending on where you stand.

2. The weathered table top

adds a natural, old quality.

3. An oval table feels sociable

and mirrors the curved arch-way above. Pedestal tables (rather than leg tables) let you

squeeze more chairs around!

4. Low-height chairs are just

slightly higher than the table, creating an airy open space.

Armchairs are used all around

the table. No hierarchy here!

5. Tie-on cushions over the caned seats add comfort and

color.

6. Slipcovered bar stools in a

striped yellow fabric look cas-ual and relaxed. Keeping slips

short makes them easy to fit, take on, take off and wash!

7. A counter-height, table-

style island leaves space for tucking stools underneath.

Remember the days when kitchens were hidden from formal dining rooms? Not anymore!

The trend to less casual dining rooms is certainly seen here. Propelled by a love of cooking, eating areas are closely connected to cooking areas, with the kitchen as much of a focal point as the dining room used to be.

Streep‟s dining room sits squarely between the kitchen and living room. There‟s no formal dining room, just bar stools in the kitchen and a semi-formal table in the dining room. Also worthy of note is the lack of formal armchairs on either end of the table,

the simple table runner that replaces a tablecloth and the lack of formal china or a formal china cabinet. Dishes are stored in the kitchen.

dining room the

what we loved

black stain chairs & stools

cane seat chairs

weathered table top

tie-on seat cushions

striped slipcovers table runner

white marble pastry counter


Thomasville, Casula Retreat

living room the

1. A long console table cre-

ates a focal point behind the sofa.

2. Black and white prints are hung in a row to follow the

table lines and create a relaxed horizontal line. 3. Matchstick blinds look casual and breezy.

4. Open shelves are filled

with books, frames and bins.

5. A skirted sofa with a

relaxed fit looks casual.

6. A marble-top table con-

trasts a weathered wood frame.

7. Large stacked, square

baskets create an end table.

8. A large woven area rug adds an organic touch.

9. Four armchairs on elegant

legs contrast the skirted sofa.

10. Leafy linen pillows add a customized look to the sofa.

11. A weathered wood con-

sole table looks like an antique.

what we loved

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Slipcovers add casual ele-gance to Streep‟s living room. But the slips are less the story than how the deep sofa was personalized

with a layer of extra back pillows. Three accent chairs take the place of a loveseat. The television is concealed be-hind a tall, charming ar-moire (not shown) facing the sofa. The room is large enough to float the furni-

ture, and focal points are created on every wall—the fireplace on one wall, the TV armoire on one wall and a long console table behind the sofa. Which-ever way you face, the sight is good! By keeping the largest pieces in similar, neutral

colors, set designer, Rubino, was able to add spot color and eclectic va-riety with the small stuff—pillows, tables and lamps.

cotton slipcovers

accent fabrics

linen sofa pillows marble-top table

wood accent furniture

matchstick blinds

wicker trunks


bedroom the

1. A linen duvet is coordinated

with the straight skirt.

2. A wooly upholstered head-

board is paired with linen and

embroidered shams.

3. A chenille or wool blanket

adds texture and color.

4. Matchstick blinds are layered

behind linen drapes hung from

an iron pole.

5. An arched Louis Philippe

mirror in tarnished brass is mar-

ried to a chest of drawers.

6. A narrow wood bench is

practical and interesting.

7. Solid-colored linen on a

Louis XIV chair feels casual.

8. A side table rather than night stand doubles as a writing desk.

9. Linen and embroidered

textures add natural warmth.

10. Semi-gloss bathroom tile is

installed in subway-style pattern.

11. Rustic, terracotta floor tile

leads to the bedroom.

what we loved 1 3

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No two pieces match in Streep‟s bedroom. We‟ve got everything here… a Louis XIV chair, a Louis Philippe mirror, a bench

that looks like an Asian antique, an elegant up-holstered headboard and a rustic dresser.

But despite the eclectic look, a plethora of natural colors and textures hold it

all together.

The bed is the focal point, filled with nubby linens, crisp embroidered cotton, a slipcover-style skirt and a comfy headboard. Over-sized night tables are a hall-mark of Nancy Meyer mov-

ies; they‟re wide enough to double as a table and open underneath to pull up a chair.

The tile-clad hallway that leads to the bedroom intro-duces its color palette; rosy and terracotta hues mixed

with warm neutrals.

carpet

upholstered headboard

linen drapery

matchstick blinds

linen duvet & skirts embroidered shams

wool or chenille throw

terracotta tile

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4 slices bread

Dijon mustard, to taste

2 to 4 thin slices cooked ham

2 slices Gruyere cheese (or grated Gruyere)

2 eggs

2 tbsp (30 mL) milk

1 tbsp (15 mL) butter

Makes 2 servings.

croque monsieur

Wendi Hiebert is a home economist

and food writer, living in Kitchener, Ontario. For more of her recipes,

visit www.CookingQuarters.

wordpress.com


Grease and flour two 9” (23 cm) round baking pans.

Stir together sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Add

eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed of an electric mixer for 2 min-utes. Stir in boiling water. (The batter will be thin.) Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake in a preheated 350F (180C) oven until a wooden pick or cake tester inserted in the centre of both cakes comes out

clean, about 30 - 35 minutes.

chocolate cake 2 cups (500 mL) sugar

1-3/4 cups (425 mL) all-purpose

flour

¾ cup (175 mL) cocoa powder

1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) baking powder

1-1/2 tsp (7 mL) baking soda

1 tsp (5 mL) salt

2 eggs

1 cup (250 mL) milk

½ cup (125 mL) vegetable oil

2 tsp (10 mL) vanilla

1 cup (250 mL) boiling water

Makes 8-10 servings

Spread two slices of bread with mustard. Place one or two slices of ham and a slice of cheese (or 1/3 cup (75 mL) grated cheese) on

each slice of bread. Top with remaining bread. Whisk together eggs and milk in a medium bowl.

Melt butter in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Dip sandwiches into egg

mixture, coating both sides well. Lift out and place in the skillet. Cook each sandwich on both sides until golden brown.

Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove cakes from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with Chocolate Icing.

Chocolate Icing: Melt ½ cup (125 mL) but-ter or margarine. Stir in 2/3 cup (150 mL) cocoa. Alternately add 3 cups (750 mL) icing sugar and 1/3 cup (75 mL) milk, beating with electric mixer

on medium speed until spreading consistency. If needed, add more milk. Stir in 1 tsp (6 ml) vanilla.

Recipe Source: Hershey’s

Great cooking doesn‟t have to be complicated! Here are two easy recipes from It’s Complicated…

Jake (Alex Baldwin) loved the croque monsieur; Adam (Steve Martin) loved the chocolate cake!

and finally; a few It’s Complicated dinner table ideas...

1. Plenty of pillar candles!

2. A shallow casserole bowl

used to pot a favorite plant... the perfect organic centerpiece!

3. Chocolate croissants served

on a glass cake stand… or in a glass trifle bowl!

cooking quarters

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Documents

RoomPlanners magazine - Mar '10