Monthly Archives: March 2014

Unique Hardwood Flooring – Mirth Studio

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Colorful, Decorative Wood Tiles

Mirth Studio produces colorful, patterned hardwood tiles for flooring, walls and backslashes. The 12 x 12 inch tiles can be inlay-ed into an existing floor or installed together to create a unique, decorative feature. Easy to install and fully customizable, you have the look of tile but the warmth of wood. They can be installed over most subflooring – wood and concrete. Great alternative to traditional wood floors! Here are just a few examples of their collection>

 Mirth Studio gives back….for every order they donate to The National Forest Foundation to plant a tree in the US!

http://www.mirthstudio.com/

 

Salmon Smoked & Succulent!

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Salmon

So before you discount this recipe because it sounds complicated, I guarantee you it is not. Everytime I make this I swear I’m going to double the amount I prepare so I can have some in the fridge for a salad or snack the next day. The fish is succulent, sweet and spicey with a wonderful smoke to it. Here I served it with roasted organic carrots and onions. spicey green beans and a saffron rice with curried lentils. Hmm, yum!

Here’s the recipe:

Spice Rub for the Salmon:

1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar, lightly packed
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon coarsely ground black peppercorns
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest (1 lemons)

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon coriander

1 tablespoon fresh thyme

2 pounds King salmon fillets, skin on, cut in serving pieces
3 cups wood chips such as oak, hickory, or mesquite
2 large, flat disposable foil pans

Fresh Dill Sauce:
¼  cup mayonnaise
¼  cup sour cream
¼  cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon room temp cream cheese

2 scallions chopped
¼  cup minced fresh dill
¼  cup minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ c chopped cucumber

Directions:

The night before serving, combine the ingredients for the spice rub. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down on a large flat ceramic or glass dish and spread the mixture on the top of the salmon. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

At least 1 1/2 hours before you plan to cook the salmon, soak the wood chips in water.

Grill:

If you are using a gas grill put your drained wood chips either in a small smoker box or an aluminum foil tin and place them at one end of the grill. On the other end of the barbecue place another foil pan with 1 cup of water under the grates you will use for the salmon. This will collect any drippings avoiding flare ups. You don’t want flare ups with wood chips close by even though they are soaked with water. Just a word of caution.

Scrape the spice rub mixture off the salmon and re-season with coarse ground pepper and salt. Brush the skin side of the salmon lightly with olive oil and place the skin-side down on the opposite side of the grill away from the wood chips but directly over the foil pan. Put the lid on the grill, making sure the top and bottom vents are open. Smoke the salmon for 10 – 15 minutes or just until the fish is firm but still slightly springy to the touch.

 
Transfer the salmon to a clean platter and immediately cover tightly with aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

The fish is so tasty on it’s own but if you are someone that needs a sauce, this one is light and compliments the smoke really well.

 

Dill Sauce:

Place the mayonnaise, sour cream, yogurt, cream cheese, scallions, dill, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Puree for a few seconds, until well mixed. Add the cucumber and puree for another few seconds, until combined. Pour into a container and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to develop.

Drought Resistance Landscape

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Dark mulch in this landscape adds contrast while providing soil moisture retention,  of particular  importance to California this year considering our drought conditions. So how do you enjoy a beautiful visual landscape with a limited water allotment?  California has always been in the forefront of sustainable planting. Now more so than ever landscape designers and professionals are implementing a “xeriscape” approach to their designs.  This landscape philosophy was originally created in 1981 by the Denver water company integrating seven principals into the design and  approach to water conservation in a garden habitat. Further explanation of these concepts is available in the following link.

 

SF Flower & Garden Show

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"Slow Flowers: Four Seasons of Locally Grown Bouquets from the Garden, Meadow and Farm" (St. Lynn's; $16.95). Outdoor living expert Debra Prinzing challenges herself to 52 weeks worth of locally foraged and sourced flowers and foliage in this set out to disprove the notion that one must purchase imported and expensive blooms in order to create alluring bouquets when she came up with this follow up title to her first book, “The 50-Mile Bouquet: Seasonal, Local, and Sustainable Flowers” (St. Lynn's; 2012) is a . In this diminutive hardback, Prinzing challenges herself to 52 weeks worth of locally foraged and sourced flowers and foliage. Photo: St. Lynn's

This year’s San Francisco Flower and Garden Show will feature edible gardens, sustainable plantings for drought conditions and educational presentations emphasizing California grown flowers. The 3rd largest Flower & Garden Show in the nation, the show features 16 different gardens creatively designed with ornamental edibles, drought resistant plants, outdoor dining scapes as well as the fantasy creation, “Jules Verne’s Volcania.”

Each day features a theme:

Wednesday – Florist Demonstrations

Thursday – Meet the Flower Farmers

Friday – Succulents in Centerpiece Design

Saturday – Botanical Couture Authors

Sunday – DIY Bouquet Designs

Early Bird tickets are on sale now @ $15.00. Coupons are also available @ http://www.proflowers.com/.

San Mateo Event Center

March 19 – 23

http://www.sfgardenshow.com

 

 

 

 

 

Renters Design Dream!

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HBX-SELF-ADHESIVE-TILE

This is a great idea for a temporary facelift or a renter wanting a commitment free improvement to their new surroundings. These grout-less tiles and designs produced by Marine Wall Tiles are marine grade plywood suited for moist conditions. The company states that they resist delaminating, warping and mold. The magnets on each corner of the tile attach to a corresponding steel sticker for installation and pattern design.

Customizable with a color combination choice from their Pantone, the tiles are built to last and suitable for both residential and commerical projects.

Screen shot 2014-03-18 at 1.44.44 PM

 

http://moonishco.com/

Market Trends 2013 -2014

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Chart

Not surprising the housing market in the Bay Area can be overwhelming if you are a buyer.  The chart above reflects the average days on the market for a single family home in the past calendar year. Even though these are averages, with the majority of sales completed short of a month, if you aren’t on top of the market and know what you are competing with you might have to make 3 or 4 offers on homes before you are successful. For instance, are you competing with cash buyers or buyers that have a large down payment. Are your competitors closing quickly or are they offering incentives to the seller? It doesn’t take but a few losses to figure out what it will take to be successful.

Also of note, the Sale Price to List Price ratio reflects that the average home price sold during the last year was at least 6.5% above the listed price. Coincidentally March of 2013 and March 2014 are almost exactly the same at 10.5% and 10% overages respectfully. What I did find encouraging is that the average overages, 10%,  weren’t astronomical. That amount is still within a conservative margin for lenders to value appreciation especially when the media is reporting housing price sales are up  35% from last year.

Just a note of caution. The past correction in the Housing Market started with a drop in the stock market yielding loss of income by market investors. Constricted home budgets then caused mortgage delinquencies which resulted in many foreclosures. In effect glutting the housing market with more supply than demand. When this happens home prices fall. Does history repeat itself?  For now we have low inventory, a bevy of buyers and the result is an increase in home sale prices. Great for Sellers, it’s a Sellers’ Market….but remember in a blink of an eye….the tables can turn and then it’s a Buyers’ Market.

Classic Gardens Reinvented

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In contrast from my previous post where we featured the serenity created by a smaller urban garden, the principals of  Classic gardens have their origin in Ancient history epitomized in French formality.  Originally associated with vast, estate acreage they were defined by clean geometry, symmetry, balanced proportions and crisp lines. Not unlike the principals of the smaller yards. Featured here are selections I thought epitomized the classic designs of the past adapted for our American home sites. Whether you use traditional or sustainable plantings, ornate stone walls or rustic fences the visual success and enjoyment of a yard is all found in the symmetry and fluidity of the design. The Greeks used a measurement called “the Golden Triangle” to create a unique proportion in the designs and architecture of both their gardens and buildings. The Golden Triangle whose numeric value is called “phi”, named for the Greek sculptor Phidias produces a taller triangle and thought to be more elegant and architecturally more appealing to the eye. This method of design is still transforming our landscaping of today.

 

Serene Small Spaces

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Garden terraces in urban areas can be transformed into relaxing and  soothing  sanctuaries for escape and deprogramming in our hectic, internet connected life. Even in a small area two separate seating areas have been created in this invitingly private retreat. A wisteria draped pergola frames a reclaimed wood deck featuring a Jacques Pergay sofa. The river rock pebbles create a cool contrast to the wood and an additional element to the yard providing an idyllic hideaway.

What I enjoyed about this small garden terrace was the contrast of the 18th Century ornate interior juxtaposed with the rustic wood furniture. Although the chairs are not as comfortable looking as a wonderful cushioned chaise, the colors do present a nice visual and a serene area for escape.