Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Cooking A Strip Fillet Roast

Now that the cold New England season is upon us, I love to roll up my sleeves, go through my cookbooks or search for new recipes to try.  I picked up this 2 lb petite loin select strip fillet roast at the grocery store then searched for a marinade and cooking instructions.  It was a hit and now I would like to share the recipe and roasting instructions with you.  READ MORE



New England Fine Living's Web site http://www.newenglandfineliving.com and this blog was created by Linda Calder, The Fine Living Muse, as a Girl's Guide to Decorating in Style, Entertaining in Style, and Living in Style.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

A pink and green preppy tropical theme party

When I was asked to pull together a bright pink and green party for one of my regular client's, that usually likes toned down muted and natural colors,  I was thrilled!  I will show you a few of the photos below and then I posted a bunch more on our web site.  I would love to know what you think!



How about a key lime cupcake in a margarita glass?  I placed them in bright green tissue paper so that they can be transferred to the dessert plate easily then the glass can be filled with the margarita I made up for them.  


To see many more photos of this in home tropical preppy party  which also has the margarita recipe .... READ MORE


New England Fine Living's Web site http://www.newenglandfineliving.com and this blog was created by Linda Calder, The Fine Living Muse, as a Girl's Guide to Decorating in Style, Entertaining in Style, and Living in Style.

A Patron Margarita Recipe For A Tropical Party


When asked to make the margaritas for a client's party, I knew just which margarita recipe I wanted to use. There are so many versions out there and some use a sweet pre-mix. Yuck!  Not in our household!!!!!  One of my favorite margaritas was sipped near the ocean during a fantastic trip to St. John with my guy and we have been spoiled ever since. I will soon be posting the party pictures this margarita went along with, but for the recipe, just click the link and you will be whisked away to my web site where you will find more information. READ MORE 



New England Fine Living's Web site http://www.newenglandfineliving.com and this blog was created by Linda Calder, The Fine Living Muse, as a Girl's Guide to Decorating in Style, Entertaining in Style, and Living in Style.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Fried Cauliflower Recipe


I have to admit, I was never one for cauliflower, but recently I made mashed cauliflower for dinner and loved it and this past week, my daughter made some fried cauliflower from a recipe my mother had found.   I was surprised how fast this tasty treat came together and was enjoyed by all.  Read more - Recipe

New England Fine Living's Web site http://www.newenglandfineliving.com and this blog was created by Linda Calder, The Fine Living Muse, as a Girl's Guide to Decorating in Style, Entertaining in Style, and Living in Style.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

A country home with a touch of coastal style

Well, we are finally coming to the end of this home makeover for our client and I am thrilled with how it all came out. This was a major project of all new furniture (custom and semi-custom), paint colors, accessories, window treatments, area rugs, art, etc.  The works!

I apologize for the grainy photos, but I forgot my camera and had to use my phone. 


I love the placemats and napkins my client has set on the tables!  Just the right touch!










New England Fine Living's Web site http://www.newenglandfineliving.com and this blog was created by Linda Calder, The Fine Living Muse, as a Girl's Guide to Decorating in Style, Entertaining in Style, and Living in Style.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Hollywood Glam Masquerade Ball, 2013


I know I will be adding to this post, but if I did not get some of the pictures loaded, I know time would take a hold of me and you would not see these until next year.  

This is a masquerade ball I produced, for the public, with another decorator as a way to showcase our businesses, and it was a blast!  For months we were buying, creating, and scheming the design and look of the event and venue.  Below, are just some of the pictures.  




First, maybe I should tell you how we came up with our ideas.  While we chatting over a glass of wine, we thought it would be fun to have a story to follow.  I  already knew I wanted to create a "Hollywood Glam" theme.  I also thought it would be fun to involve Lillian Bond, a 1920's actress.  I have used her photo before on my blog and I think she is stunning.  So long story short.... we concocted the idea that Lillian, from the grave, wanted to host a party and hired us to plan and initiate it for her.  She was the Ghostess and we were the Hostesses.  It was also where "DUG" her proposed.  


Dug, (get it... dug?) has ring box and ring in hand while Lillian's first husband, well part of him, is by her feet.  These two were the hit of the party.  Everyone kept getting on the stage with them and had their photos taken with them


Here I am on the right with Dug and  Liz Taylor (Hollywood themed party remember :-)   )



The entry hall before all the guests arrived.  


Guests enjoying the cocktail reception and appetizers while the live band played in the ballroom

 


 The creation of my paper poms.  I have not made these since I was a child. I used to make them with my grandmother out of tissues from her tissue box, then again, I made them for a float for our town parade.  We had to make hundreds of them in red, white, and blue.  I created a "how .to" video, but that too will take forever to post now that we are so busy.







Here is the finished product.  We found glass cylinders at the start of this project and went from there to create a centerpiece.  While I made the poms, Laura strung Swarovski crystals and a spider to hang from the pom.  The final touch was adding small LED lights we found at a craft store to the centerpiece.  We tucked one under crumpled up opalescent tissue paper, and one inside of the top of the pom.



Placed in the entry hall, this dessert station  was also used for the appetizers when guests first arrived. :Laura painstakingly searched the woods for just the right branches, and set them in pots with bricks then expandable foam.  Smaller uns of hickory branches were added for depth and dimension.  During the night, our lighting company had this vignette enveloped in an eerie red glow. The "red glow" photos following does not do it justice.









We knew a candy buffet was a must, so deciding on a black, acid green, and silver theme, the hunt was on!  


Coming up with names for all of the candy was fun, we had ourselves in stitches laughing at some of the things we came up with.  And no, I cannot share them with you since some were not very lady like :-).  










New England Fine Living's Web site http://www.newenglandfineliving.com and this blog was created by Linda Calder, The Fine Living Muse, as a Girl's Guide to Decorating in Style, Entertaining in Style, and Living in Style.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Moving from a 1920 Mansion to an eight year old home.

I am so envious of those who have time to post almost everyday, but alas, my schedule has been so full with design and party jobs (which is a great thing!), that I have not had the time to blog, but I hope to make a few posts, in a row, of what I have been up to.

Below is just one of many rooms I am working on for a family in Boxford, MA.  Coming from a mini 1920's mansion, that was full of antiques and dark colors, this family moved into an 8 year old contemporary cape and had me change all of the colors to light, airy, and cheery colors.  We also started from scratch when it came to the furniture, so I got busy drawing, designing, shopping, and finding fabrics.

Here is a pretty cool photo of the house they moved from. Not sure who took the photo since it was sent to me when I first started working with my clients. For several months we met here while we designed their new home.

Just to show you the interior of the old home.  Dark Wood, Colors, and Antiques.  
Now check out the difference of their new home!




The old lights.  Great and functional, but not for the style we were going with. 












New England Fine Living's Web site http://www.newenglandfineliving.com and this blog was created by Linda Calder, The Fine Living Muse, as a Girl's Guide to Decorating in Style, Entertaining in Style, and Living in Style.