interior design

August 30, 2017 By Melinda 9 Comments

Apple Crisp And A Hello To Autumn

I am truly honored to be taking part in the “Tastes of the Season” series with some of my talented and inspirational blogging friends. We will be sharing some of our favorite seasonal recipes over the coming months. Each feature in the series will focus on a different recipe theme. Today, we are all sharing a favorite apple recipe. Let’s get started!

Doesn’t apple picking seem to always make its way onto your autumn “to-do list”? It usually falls somewhere in between hay rides, pumpkin picking, and bonfires. I know it does on mine!

Once autumn makes its entrance, apple picking is one of my favorite activities to do with our family. We have been embarking on this little “field trip” since our first child was born almost 14 years ago. I still look forward to this time of year and making our way out to the same orchard year after year filling our bags to the rim with fresh apples.

Now, what to do with all of those apples once we get them home always seems to be another story. There are only so many apples you can eat in a day!

When my husband and I were married in 2000 and I became a “Real McCoy”, one of my bridal shower gifts was the McCoy family cookbook. It may not look like much, but what it holds inside those now worn pages are family recipes passed down from generation to generation.

One of those recipes is Grandma Louise’s apple crisp. I love it because it is a family recipe that has been made throughout past autumn days. Another reason I enjoy it is that it only requires ingredients that I always seem to have on hand. Always a winner in my book!

I always feel a sense of joy when I see our children eating this special dish. Knowing that generations before gathered around the table at this same time of year and enjoyed the same dish is a special connection to the past. I hope you and your family enjoy it as well.

Grandma Louise’s Apple Crisp

Ingredients (8×8″ pan)

4 cups of sliced apples
1/4 cup water
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/3 cup butter

Method

Slice apples into 8×8″ pan.

In a small bowl mix the water, cinnamon, and salt together and pour over the apples.

In a separate bowl work together the sugar, flour, and butter until crumbly. Spread the crumb mixture over top the apples evenly.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Tip: Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!

Please be sure to visit my amazing friends, who are also joining me on this tour, for more autumn inspiration and delicious apple recipes.

{MORE APPLE TREATS FROM THE TASTE OF THE SEASONS SERIES}

Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls by Ella Claire | Rustic Apple Cranberry Pie by Anderson and Grant |

Apple-Cranberry Slab Pie by Inspired by Charm | Apple Donuts by A Burst of Beautiful |

Caramel Apple Tart by Julie Blanner

Easy Apple Dumplings by Craftberry Bush | Apple Crisp by House 214 Design |

Apple Cider Scones by Everyday Occasions | Apple Fritter Skillet Bake by Nest of Posies |

Rustic Apple Tarte Tatin by Maison de Pax

Paleo Apple Crisp by Nesting with Grace | Crock Pot Applesauce by My Sweet Savannah |

Gluten Free Apple Crisp by City Farmhouse |

Baked Breakfast Apples with Oatmeal by French Country Cottage |

Apple Blossom with Salted Caramel Sauce by Nina Hendrick Design

No Churn Apple Pie Ice Cream by Boxwood Avenue | Bird’s Nest Apple Pie by Zevy Joy |

Apple Upside Down Spice Cake by Love Grows Wild

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June 9, 2016 By Melinda 2 Comments

A Room That Works

As a child, my parents would take my sisters, brother, and myself on vacations to different parts of the country and overseas where my father was originally from. We would visit friends and family, experience different cultures, and take in famous landmarks and homes. On a visit to Ashville, North Carolina, The Biltmore Estate was on the top of the list of places to visit. I found this 250 room French Renaissance chateau built in 1895 fascinating.

What I remember enjoying most about these grand homes wasn’t the exquisite furniture, the fine linens, or even the four acres of floor space as seen in The Biltmore Estate. It was the informal spaces that I couldn’t get enough of. It was the places where the work was done to keep these homes running on a day to day basis. The basement kitchens, utilitarian spaces, and the servant quarters are what I loved. The elements that made up those spaces have had a huge influence on the decorating elements that I place in my own home. These spaces fit perfectly within how I want my home to feel which is simple, timeless, and welcoming.

When I am presented with a design decision for myself or a client, I look at it as an opportunity to create a feeling in a home. It doesn’t matter if the decision involves picking out a new canister for coffee or choosing countertops for a kitchen remodel, they are all moments to tell your story.

When it was time to choose a new light fixture for my laundry room, I applied how I want my home to feel, simple, timeless, and welcoming, and began my search. I finally came across this schoolhouse type fixture from Barn Light Electric.

This style of lighting was first found hanging from classroom, library, and courthouse ceilings in the 1920s. It earned the reputation as a practical choice in these settings and one that would help accomplish everyday jobs. The history, along with the look, allows it to fall into the classic, timeless, and welcoming feelings.

Lastly, I always seek a piece that I feel is real and that was the last box to check off on my list of requirements. This Barn Light Electric fixture is hand-crafted and made in America. I don’t think it gets much more real than that.

May 19, 2016 By Melinda 3 Comments

My Coffee Corner Feature

I wanted to share a bit of a feature that Our Narratives did on House 214 Design. Enjoy!

Image by: Lori Baskin Photography

MELINDA’S KITCHEN COFFEE CORNER

Tap your inner barista! We asked the mom and interior design aficionado behind House 214 Design to share her easy-to-create coffee space fit for any busy mom… who needs a break.

On designing your home
I want moms to understand that you can design your home on any budget.

What inspires me
My Dutch heritage inspires my design aesthetic. I tend to gravitate toward a European look, in general.

A weakness of mine
I have a passion for older homes. I like to study the ways of living in them during different time periods and learn their stories. Discovering the trends and fads of different cultures and times is fascinating.

My own home
I grew up in a home built in 1931 and our current home was built in 1940. It is important for me to honor our home’s story and take cues from it. I try to marry the old with the new in a way that is consistent and seamless.

My coffee nook was a result of a problem
I needed everything in one spot! I emptied an old crate I was using as a toy bin and stacked coffee cups and saucers on top of one another and then corralled the essentials on top.

Best part about it
It was simple and didn’t cost anything –the best type of project in my mind!

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April 11, 2016 By Melinda 5 Comments

The Always Classic Subway Tile

I had someone ask me recently if I thought subway tile was a trend that would be going out of style soon. The short answer, no and let me share with you why. Subway tile was first introduced in the early 1900’s in the New York City subway system, hence its name. The rectangular and ceramic tile were desirable for both aesthetic and practical reasons. It was durable, stain resistant, sanitary and the light color and high gloss finish was a good choice for the dark subterranean train stations of NYC.

People loved the 3×6 inch tiles and they soon began finding their way in the bathrooms and kitchens of prewar houses.

Image via: White Dove

When we renovated our 1940 home in 2009 I had this tear out in my file (before I used Pinterest) as a source of inspiration.

Image via This Old House

I wanted to cover my entire kitchen and dining area in floor to ceiling subway tile. I was able to accomplish it on one wall, but that was it at that time. It was one of those things that got placed on the back burner that we would hopefully do one day.

So, that one day came when I came across this image from a favorite blogger of mine, Gwen from The Makerista. I have had this project in the back of my head to revisit and am inspired to start planning it once again.

I have followed The Makerista for some time and Gwen’s kitchen renovation is stunning. She has chosen timeless elements for the space, so be sure to visit!

Here are a few other inspiring images of kitchens that have floor to ceiling subway tile.

Image is of Jeanette Whitson’s kitchen from Garden Variety Design. There are so many things that I love about Jeanette’s design style. The old world feeling is timeless and one that I could enjoy for hours on end.

Image via: Mike Hammersmith Inc.

Image via: Domino

Another source of subway tile inspiration are commercial spaces. They feel so nostalgic and welcoming to me when they contain this element.

Image via: Cool Hunting

What are your thoughts on subway tile? Do you have it in your home?
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March 17, 2016 By Melinda 17 Comments

You Belong Here

Do you remember writing out a Christmas list when you were a child? You would write line after line of gift ideas for the big day. Over the course of the holiday, you would receive many gifts from many people. Although those gifts were appreciated, it got to be so much that you couldn’t remember all that you had received and from who. As the years passed and you got older, the amount of ideas on your lists got smaller and you saw more joy in giving rather than receiving. The more we mature the less we need and the more we crave authenticity. This idea applies to the home as well.

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This process does not happen overnight. It is a journey, but one that will have you making a home that has that feeling you crave. It is not about knocking down walls, walking down the home aisle filling your cart with the latest must have, or watching before and after shows that take place in thirty minutes. It is about more than that. It is about making your home extraordinary. Extraordinary for you, for the people who walk through the door, and for your home.

This is about more than making a “pretty” house. Pretty is something that you find only on the surface. There isn’t a deepness to it. Pretty doesn’t give me the feeling that I get when I listen to Expressions by Helen Jane Long (link below). Close your eyes. Listen. What do you feel?

I truly appreciate your feedback and wanted to share just a few of the comments that I have received regarding my recent blog posts. In these posts, I shared my hope to teach you not just what to put in your home, but the how and why behind it. See if you can understand where these readers are coming from.

1. I see so many styles online and feel an affinity towards them, but then I realize they aren’t really my style, they’re just well designed rooms that I appreciate.

2. My goal with our new house is to be intentional with telling our story through decorating…truly making it a home that is US and not just full of pretty things.

3. I often get sucked into the Pinterest blackhole which leads to indecisiveness and me questioning my choices. I want our home to be a reflection of us and not some trendy design blog.

Can you relate to any of these comments? If so, you belong here. You may feel overwhelmed by making decisions for your home and fear you are making and investing in the wrong ones. If so, you belong here. You may feel tired of the endless imagery surrounding you and unsure if what you “like” is right for you and your home. If so, you belong here.

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