Bedroom Design: Decorating with Checks in a Bedroom

Post by Tracy Kaler.

If you associate check patterns with country, you’d be correct, but that’s not the only decorating style where they can be used successfully. Checks come in all sizes and colors, and depending on their application and the other elements in the room, they might pull together a modern, traditional, or eclectic design.

I’m a fan of checks when paired with other patterns, or if they’re bold and really make a statement. Let’s take a peek at some checks in bedrooms. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised how chic checks can be!

Alabama Lake Home

This Alabama bedroom is delightful, isn’t it? The gingham check on the window valances and footstools offers the right amount of structure. This room shows us how to mix the modern and traditional. I adore everything about this tailored bedroom.

Cotswold Manor House

Sweet and delicate, this Cotswold Manor juvenile bedroom feels feminine with its pink, white, and beige color scheme. The check complements the floral perfectly.

Tori Murphy Living Inspiration

An impressive example of a modern country bedroom, this room has only the bare essentials, yet there’s something incredibly soothing about it. The large check on the bed covering looks terrific with the muted chevron on the accent pillows.

In The Country

A check area rug isn’t the most obvious choice for a floor covering, but I believe it helps complete this bedroom. The red lacquered door and the quilt at the foot of the bed help tie everything together.

Cranleigh: Modern Country Home

Another modern country home boasts a charming boy’s room with a check on the walls. The wall covering creates an ideal backdrop for the simple furnishings and accessories.

Shooting Star Bedroom

Can’t find the check? This cozy bedroom has subtle check patterns in the shams and the textured matelassé coverlet. The faux rabbit, timber stools and artwork above the bed add surprise to what would otherwise be a pretty dull space. I think of this room as funky yet rustic.

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Breakfast in Bed – Chocolate Waffles

Chocolate Waffles 6

Post by Alison Hein.

Go dust off your waffle iron and whip up some morning magic! These lightly sweet, chocolatey treats take only a little effort, and are sure to delight both young and not so young. A touch of cocoa powder in the batter is enough to provide a hint of decadence – great for brunch or special occasions.

Make sure your waffle iron is well-heated before you begin. Each waffle will take about 5 minutes to cook. If you’re planning a big breakfast shindig, preheat your oven to low and then turn it off. Pile each waffle onto an ovenproof plate as they finish, cover them with a light tea towel, and keep them warm until you’re done cooking.

No need to waffle on this one – all it takes is a little alchemy to produce a bewitching breakfast in bed.

Chocolate Waffles 3

Ingredients

2 cups flour
¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1½ cups milk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ cup vegetable oil
½ cup sour cream
Cooking spray

Chocolate Waffles 4

Preparation

Combine flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking powder and salt in large bowl. In separate bowl, add milk, eggs and vanilla and beat until frothy. Pour oil into liquid mixture and stir well. Using a wooden spoon or hand mixer, gradually add liquid mixture to dry ingredients until batter is smooth. Stir in sour cream.

Chocolate Waffles 5

Spray waffle iron with cooking spray and heat to high. Pour ½ cup to ¾ cup batter into center of iron, making sure you have enough batter to evenly spread across the surface of your waffle iron. Cook until waffle is deep brown and crisp, and pulls away easily from iron, about 5 minutes. Serve warm with melted butter and maple syrup or chocolate sauce. Top with fruit, if you like.

Makes 4 to 5 waffles.

Chocolate Waffles 9

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Movies in Bed: Star Wars: The Force Awakens

star-wars-the-force-awakens-quad-poster

Post by Mark T. Locker.

Guess what’s out on video?!? Or, I guess in this decade I should say: guess what’s now available from iTunes?!? That’s right! The newest Star Wars movie, the one intended to get the bad taste of The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones out of our collective mouths. Seeing as the big-screen release grossed over 2 billion dollars (!) I’d say that it was successful.

I’m inclined to agree. If there is a chance you actually haven’t seen The Force Awakens and you enjoyed the original trilogy, there is no good reason not to watch the movie. It honors the spirit of the original without relying too heavily on them to carry it forward. One of the biggest complaints against George Lucas is that in his later work he let CGIs do all the heavy lifting, even egregiously adding computer-generated parts into the original movies, something nobody was asking for and few likely approved of. J.J. Abrams went back to the series’ roots, insisting on building sets for everything, including the massive Millennium Falcon. Despite the improvements in CGI technology, nothing can beat the real thing.

The story is set some years after Return of the Jedi, and focuses on a disenchanted Stormtrooper named Finn, a junk scavenger named Rey and an adorable but not annoying droid named BB-8 which they turned into the greatest toy ever. The new baddie, Kylo Ren and his pals have a giant laser they want to use to destroy everything. The story is a little too much like the plot of A New Hope but if that’s the worst thing about this movie, then that’s saying a lot. Now that it’s on DVD you will have the luxury of watching it from the comfort of your own bed, and if you fall asleep in your popcorn no one will know but you.

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Bedroom Design: Going Bold on Your Bedroom’s Ceiling

Post by Tracy Kaler.

Since most ceilings get painted white, choosing a bold color probably doesn’t come to mind when it’s time to redecorate. But selecting a red, orange, or blue for your bedroom ceiling can set the mood, add interest, and even pull a mismatched design scheme together. So when the time comes to spec colors, be open-minded and know that white isn’t your only option. Let’s take a look at some beautiful, bright bedrooms with bold colored ceilings.

From the drapes to the bedding, this San Francisco bedroom is beautifully colored, but the hot pink ceiling takes center stage. Storage drawers and shelving keep clutter at bay.

Turquoise blue paint on both the walls and ceiling provides a boost of color in an almost white bedroom. The eclectic furnishings and lighting give the space a boudoir feel.

Green isn’t for everyone, but this bedroom feels happy and summery all year long. This room puts us in touch with nature yet doesn’t have any plants or fresh flowers. The patterned headboard works well with the otherwise neutral bedding and coordinates with the chartreuse ceiling.

A remodeled gender-neutral nursery goes bold on the ceiling with orange, and pulls the color into the furnishings. The designer of this room was a real risk taker, but the outcome is successful.

Coral in the tray ceiling complements the blue walls in this coastal home in Naples, Florida. The colorful print on the bedding and draperies lends itself to the tropical feel of the space.

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Breakfast in Bed – Carrot Soufflé

Carrot Soufflé 13

Post by Alison Hein.

I was in the mood for something different on a recent morning, when I remembered a bunch of lovely organic, spring carrots I had picked up at the market. But carrots for breakfast? How does that work? Eureka! A carrot soufflé!

I decided on the sweet, rather than savory, route for these little treats. A touch of sugar and a sprinkling of aromatic spices creates a pie-like mood, and the lighter than air consistency melts on your tongue. So lovely to look at as well – fresh from the oven, puffed up and golden.

Carrot Soufflé 1

Make no mistake – your soufflés will fall. The trick (and hope) is to get them to the table (or the breakfast tray) before they do so. Carrot purée makes these a little denser than other types of soufflés, so you’ll have to be extra quick.

If you like, remove the sugar and spices and add some fresh thyme instead for a delightful dinner side. Or, do what we did and enjoy a breakfast in bed that’s just the right amount of different.

Ingredients

3 medium carrots
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon flour
½ cup milk
3 tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cloves
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
4 eggs, separated

Carrot Soufflé 3

Equipment

6 4-inch ramekins

Preparation

Peel and chop carrots. Place in small, heavy pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until carrots are completely soft and cooked through, about 20 minutes. Use a food processor hand masher to purée carrots. Set aside and allow to cool.

Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly spray each ramekin with cooking spray.

Carrot Soufflé 8

Melt butter in small heavy saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth, thick paste forms. Whisk in milk and cook until slightly thickened, 3 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Beat in egg yolks one at a time. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Add carrot purée and stir to mix thoroughly.

Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Gently fold egg whites into egg batter. Fill each of the ramekins with batter – they should be about ¾ full. Tap the bottoms of the ramekins lightly on the work surface so batter fills the bottom, then smooth the top with a butter knife or offset spatula.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until soufflés are puffed up and lightly browned. Serve immediately.

Makes 6 servings.

Carrot Soufflé 10

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