Sideboard Project

One of the things I've learned in living with a man is that we aren't going to share the same enthusiasm for all the same things - (i.e. Dallas cowboys game, sideboard for our house).

Charlotte from Studio 123 had shown me a new sideboard they had just gotten in. I fell in love with the size, lines and hardware. Khaner gave me a yeah, it's great response, and sat back down.

In wanting us to both love the piece, we left without purchasing it.

Wednesday I came home to a beautiful surprise - my sideboard had arrived! Needing a little love, we purchased some varnish, Brasso and guiders for the drawers.

Before: in good shape, just needed some gloss and brasso

Hardware -you can see the before and after effect of the Brasso

As you remember from our kitchen cabinet painting, Khaner was mainly in charge of applying varnish :)

World of a difference!

Finished product - I must say, I am rather pleased with how it came together!

Chandelier

Santa came early this year!

I may have been jumping up and down when Khaner told me we needed to go to Charlotte to pick up a Christmas gift - I knew it was the chandelier from my Thanksgiving weekend at home.

It's even lovelier in our house than it was in the store! I am in love :)

Vegetable Tian

One of our best friends Mallory has been in the Dominican Republic serving as a Missionary for the Kids Alive International program.

Her two year commitment has fortunately brought her home for the holidays this year. In preparation of the five of us having dinner, I made a vegetable dish ahead of time to bake off with roast chicken tonight.

Vegetable Tian from Ina Garten:

• Good olive oil
• 2 large yellow onions, cut in half and sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 pound medium round potatoes, unpeeled
• 3/4 pound zucchini
• 1 1/4 pounds medium tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus extra sprigs
• 2 ounces Gruyere cheese, grated (you can also use Swiss if you can't find Gruyere)

1. In saute pan, heat 2 tbsp olive oil and cook onions over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.

2. Transfer to a baking dish and spread evenly along bottom.

3. In the mean time, slice up the squash, zucchini, potatoes and tomatoes in 1/4 inch slices.

4. Arrange and layer the vegetables alternately in the baking dish atop the onions and garlic.

5. Sprinkle gruyere cheese and thyme leaves along top of vegetables.

6. Repeat same set of layering again till dish is filled towards top. (The vegetables are going to shrink significantly in the oven).

7. On last layer add in a few whole Thyme sprigs

7. You can either refrigerate to bake off later or cover in aluminum foil and place in oven at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

8. Remove aluminum foil and thyme springs, sprinkle gruyere on top, and continue to bake for another 35-40  minutes till potatoes are softened.

9. Serve warm.

Dining set

After several weekends of searching, hours of scouring the internet, debating different pieces I saw in Charlotte, Khaner and I bought a dining set. You would have thought we were picking out our unborn child's college rather than a table and chairs.

I still am not sure how Khaner *exactly* feels about the set, but he's a good sport, and I don't think he necessarily hates it. We've considered staining it a darker color in the future.

I saw it at Studio123 and fell in love - we drove around, saw other stores, came back, and Khaner negotiated with Charlotte, my favorite employee over there.

I have to say, I am rather in love with my new table and chairs - it's a French country feel, but practical with two leaves (not shown here).

My good friend Ryan had been along with us looking at houses, as his sweet mom was our realtor. Today he mentioned how much the dining room has changed since he first saw it in the showing. All we need next is a sideboard (max 45 inches long - a daunting task).

More to come! Sofa is being reupholstered and is being finished Friday! :)

Holiday Parties

Khaner and I spent a fun weekend hopping to a few Christmas parties, one for my office, one for Kenan-Flagler and one hosted by some of our friends.

Merry Merry!

Living Room Love

One of the drawbacks of our new house is that it lacks a foyer/entry way, so you walk directly into our living room. Growing up with a front hall/foyer, I am not used to walking directly into rooms from the front door (what if you threw your laundry down to fold, or haven't vacuumed?)

I've learned living in Raleigh for over three years, it's the way most of the older homes have been built.
To that end, I've explained to Khaner we need attractive pieces when guests first walk in.  To add to the great club chairs and ottoman my parents got us for Christmas, we purchased a rug that had gone on sale since I had seen it over Thanksgiving.

The color looks a bit darker than it appeared in the store, but I am very happy with it regardless. One other piece we have in the works is our sofa (pictured below) being re-upholstered and the springs in it being re-tied. If anyone in Raleigh needs a good upholster, the one we went with is fantastic, and significantly cheaper than others I called. I am also sincerely hoping Santa is bringing me a chandelier I spotted in Lake Norman that I immediately fell in love with :)

From den:

Close-up:

More pictures of sofa and *possibly* chandelier to come!

Charlotte weekend

One of our best friends Sarah moved to Charlotte shortly after law school and we have yet to make a weekend of visiting - luckily she often comes to Raleigh :)

Dinner at Wolfgang Puck's restaurant in Phillips Place - so good!

Natalie and I hit the road after work on Friday and enjoyed every minute of the amazing weekend

Can't wait to do it again soon! :)