I Know I Promised Saladino, but Another Necessary Detour...

Last week, I made a trip to Cleveland to see Ina Garten speak.  She was just as charming and informative there as she is on her Food Network show,  Barefoot Contessa.  When I returned home, I stumbled upon the very Martha Stewart Living issue I tried to find for my previous post on Ina (12.8.12), but I never looked in the February/March issue until March.  Since Ina spoke so fondly of Martha and since her talk is fresh in my mind, the following images seem to be appropriate now.  I promise, promise Saladino will be next (unless I have to write about Savannah first - am leaving for house and garden tours there tomorrow).

Here it is - Martha and Ina twenty years ago.  At this time, I followed Martha faithfully, but had never heard of Ina till this issue.

I loved Ina's stove (my own Viking stove was acquired shortly after this article appeared) and her seemingly easy way of entertaining.  She and Martha seem to be having such a nice time serving ribollita.

Martha and another (really great-looking) guest at Ina's for Sunday brunch - one of her favorite times to entertain.

I remember seeing this room and wanting to know so much more about this unknown person, Ina Garten.  Residents of the Hamptons, like Martha, of course knew her from Barefoot Contessa, once her gourmet food shop, but in 1993 I knew nothing about her.

I knew I loved her tablescapes from the first time I saw this article and still love them today.

Remember, this article is 20 years before her barn, but her table then looked as  inviting as it does today.  Beyond is a glimpse of her kitchen, pre-barn, where appetizers are arranged.

The appetizers served with Ina flair, uncomplicated and relaxed.

Close up of  appetizers.  Olives are still one of Ina's favorite appetizer choices.

Ribollita, below, is the star of the brunch with marinated eggplant as a co-star.

More brunch selections - shaved fennel, roasted beets, marinated artichokes and baby carrots on a radicchio.  On the right, Pecorino San Bernardo.

As the caption explains below, Ina was all about people and fun, and she still is.  Martha once said that when you hear Ina giggle, you know the fun is starting.  (Her ribollita looks so good.)

Frank Newbold was Ina's business partner then.

And still is today.

Martha and other guests at Ina's table in 1993.

Coffee-flavored semifreddo with hazelnut biscotti.

And lastly, because it is almost spring (somewhere - hopefully in Savannah) and because the magnolia blossoms are so beautiful, I leave you with this image from the same issue of Martha Stewart Living.

Please do not be disappointed this post is un-Saladino.  He is on the agenda.  By the by, if interested, Ina's recipes for this brunch are given in the magazine and probably online.

Off to pack.  I leave the house tomorrow at 7:30 AM.

Till next time-

b

Do Neutrals Ever Qualify as Warm and Cozy?
Does Dan Carithers Quaify as Warm and Cozy?

A resounding yes and yes on both counts - as we'll see in today's blog.  So far the elements of cozy have included fireplaces, libraries and books, touches of red, wallpaper, tapestries, antiques, plants, beams and stonework, leather furnishings, a smallish size. A home need not have all of these elements to be cozy, yet even with all his use of neutrals, Dan Carithers's home and design definitely remain cozy and warm.  See if you agree.

Today, readers still bemoan the loss of Southern Accents.  I never subscribed to it, but checked it out in bookstores, and purchased it when homes like the Carithers's one appeared.

Even though this issue is sixteen years old, Carithers's home is timely, beautiful, warm, cozy - and neutral.  The following images of his foyer contain glimpses through to the living room.
                       
                                                                           
                         

Glimpse of the living room fireplace from foyer.

The living room's slipcovered daybed could be in today's homes, and its height provides "a bit of privacy for seated guests by blocking part of the view from passersby."  Brilliant.

The study with its books, antique map of Paris and statue of St. Joseph.  The use of vintage religious statues is a technique often used by designers like John Saladino today.

The family room with its fireplace and beams.  Love the paisley throw hung casually on the railing.

I, of course, love the kitchen - the antique settle-like chair, the copper, the beams, the island and two of the Carithers's children actually cooking (I think).  The kitchen is a new addition to the back of the house.

                                             
Kitchen's breakfast room with collection of Staffordshire.                  

 
Dining room's three styles of chairs, trompe l'oeil medallions on the wall, and French doors leading to the garden.                                                                      

Cozy bedroom with toile wallpaper and shutters.  I love, love shutters.

 
Pink bedroom overlooks the garden off the dining room.                                              

Dan and Nancy Carithers.  "I like houses that look like they grew up out of the ground instead of being placed on it," says Dan.  My husband would have agreed whole-heartedly.  It took him months to place our house just right.  Sadly, too many builders ignore this step.

Don't you love white painted brick?  Last post's home showed stone with white shingles.  This home with painted brick and clapboards is equally charming.  It's perfect.

So far in the Carithers's house, we've seen two fireplaces, antiques, beams, wallpaper, shutters, brick work and a study with its books.  What could it possibly be missing?  That touch of red perhaps, but Dan takes care of that at Christmas as seen in the following issue of Southern Accents.

Red on the outside...

With Dan bringing it inside.

Just the right touches.

In all the right places.

And now to some favorite images of Carithers's work gleaned from Pinterest.  (Hope you will forgive me if I've stepped on any copyright toes by repeating your images here.)

Another view of the Carithers home.

And its beautiful garden.

A very neutral and welcoming Carithers living room.

And lastly, true to my blog's name, are two Carithers kitchens that I have loved.  The beams, the oriental rugs with their reds, the leather and checked chairs, the plants, the antiques - all warmly speak to me.

Another view of same kitchen.  Such great storage - something my own kitchen lacks.

And lastly, his kitchen from Kiawah island.  More grays than neutrals, but don't you love it?  The beams, the stove's hood, the furnishings, the books - all so good.

So, my friends and readers, even when neutral, isn't Carithers's work the warmest and coziest?  Guess you know my opinion.

Still cold in my area, so I am still not finished with warm and cozy.  Do you think of John Saladino's work as warm and cozy?  You will after my next post.

Till then,

b