Inspiration: WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH CHICKEN

WHITE BEAN SOUP WITH CHICKEN

there’s something so charming about built in bookshelves. they make the ceiling rise high, add architectural detail, and give the room a break from traditional wall decor. sure, you can buy stand alone a book shelf, but there’s something so lovely about a bookshelf that’s built in as a part of the room. if you’re lucky enough to have built in bookshelves in your space, style them in an inspired way this weekend. here are some built-in’s i’m eying right now (and envying). happy decorating this weekend! – erika

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02.15.18

this week maría blanco made these pretty pastel desktops for us. love these watercolors! there are so many pretty colors to choose from. click through below to download the wallpapers, and you can shop her watercolors here!

02.13.18

there are few color combos as powerful as pink and red and in honor of Valentine’s day i’d like to highlight this saturated duo! it’s a mix i’ve loved for a long time and when i see an image of it i can’t help but be drawn to the bold hues. the shade of the colors can run a wide range, a fuchsia pink to blush or a fire engine red to a more orangey red with blue under tones. we’re in a time when fashion is moving back into bold colors and i hope we start to see more of this combo around. here are some inspiration images i dug up from around the web if you’re looking to give this combo a try! oh, and happy valentine’s day, i hope you wear some pink + red! – joanie

the leather circle bag above is by mansur gavriel, a brand that is continually putting out beautiful and inspiring shapes and colors. they just showed at NY fashion week and the collection was stunning. you can see it here if you’re interested. if you’re in the market for a pink handbag i also love this and this from Clare V.

really into that pink and red jumpsuit in the first above picture. it’s by Staud and available here. i also love that pink jacket, not sure where it’s from but this under $100 faux fur is a pretty option too.

02.13.18

white bean soup with chicken | designlovefest

bri went up to a cabin last weekend and came back raving about this white bean soup she had made and said that i had to make it. so i went immediately to the store and made it that night and she was right. it’s the perfect soup. it’s almost surprising because you look at the ingredient list and it doesn’t jump out to you as anything that extraordinary. the original recipe is found here, from all recipes, but bri adapted it greatly by adding bacon, chicken, chicken stock, garlic croutons and red pepper flakes. much of the country is covered in snow right now and this recipe couldn’t be more perfect for a winter weekend. – joanie

serves 4

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 white onion finely chopped

• 4 strips of bacon

• the meat from one rotisserie chicken

• 2 stalks of celery, chopped

• 2 gloves of garlic, minced

• 2 16 ounces cans of white kidney beans, drained and rinsed

• 32 ounces chicken broth plus 2 cups

• black pepper, salt

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

• 2 cups spinach, washed and chopped

• juice of half a lemon

• fresh parmesan and parsley for garnish

garlic croutons

• 2 garlic cloves

• olive oil

• 5 pieces of sliced baguette

• place the 4 strips of bacon in a deep frying pan and cook until crispy. once they are almost done put the chopped white onion on top of the bacon and cook until the onions are golden brown, about 10-15 minutes. add the garlic and celery and cook for 5 more minutes. remove the bacon (set aside and chopped once it cools) and add the rinsed beans, chicken broth, pepper, thyme and red pepper flakes. bring to a boil and then reduce heat and let simmer for 15 minutes.

• with a slotted spoon, pull out 2 cups of veggie and bean mixture and set aside. blend the rest until creamy with an immersion blender. add the beans and veggies back in along with the chicken and chopped spinach. heat for two more minutes and turn off the heat. add the lemon juice. salt and pepper to taste.

02.09.18

one of my favorite ways to find design inspiration is through other cultures. so much inspiring design comes from japan — wabi sabi, minimalism, and zen to name a few.

shibori, a japanese dyeing technique that produces lovely intricate indigo patterns on fabric is really catching my eye lately. it’s like the classier, darker version of tie-dying, and it dates back to 8th century japan. they fold, twist, and bunch the cloth while dipping it into indigo dye to make these unique patterns. there’s something so interesting about each piece, and it pairs well with bright whites for a bold contrast. i like that each shibori piece is completely one-of-a-kind, and brings this organic, bohemian look to a room. the best part is you can make this look in your home yourself with a little DIY weekend project! – erika