Stylish Spaces Blog

Gardenbites for Urbanites!

2010-05-14T16:21:00Z

Step into your own Garden of Eden a beautiful, yet sustainable paradise filled with organic fruit and vegetables. Urban Plantations brings a new twist to the home veggie garden by artfully placing food plants in your yard and incorporating them into your outdoor living space. With custom made raised garden beds built using sustainable forestry products and using renewable resources such as straw mulches, city dwellers can lower their carbon foot print while taking “eating locally” to new heights.

Urban Plantations offers custom-made, sustainable garden beds bursting with organic veggies that you can grow, admire, and eat yourself (and let’s not forget their home orchard care, garden coaching, and garden rescue services). Come find out how you can gorgeously incorporate food plants into your outdoor living space while taking eating locally and seasonally to a whole new level.

In partnership with Urban Plantations, the Expo is serving up free 30-minute garden design consultations to help you revamp and revive your little slice of nature!

Call 888-970-3976 or email to make a consultation appointment!

Asian/Tahitian Fusion Landscape

2010-05-12T16:00:00Z

Hear that sound? It's the siren call of the South Pacific as it swirls into Stylish Spaces! When you arrive at the Expo, you'll come face to face with a Tahitian/Asian fusion landscape by Designs by Shellene with plants that require low to moderate moisture, this garden respects water restrictions while looking oh-so-lush (thanks to carefully-chosen exotic decor elements). Gleaming copper panels submerged in sparkling water complete the effect.

Designs by Shellene has been creating arresting landscapes in San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County and parts of Arizona for over 10 years. Principal landscape designer Shellene Mueller uses her unparalelled vision and expert plant knowledge to curate outdoor spaces that sing.

Designs by Shellene Her garden design at Stylish Spaces will prove that you can address watering challenges with stunning tropical flair. So come check out this unique work of living art, enjoy a free landscaping design consultation with Shellene, and get your Polynesian on!

Call 888-970-3976 or email to make a consultation appointment!

Interior Design Vignettes

2010-05-10T21:41:00Z

Forget spying on the neighbors…Stylish Spaces is your ticket to shameless design snooping. Now's your chance to peek in on six gorgeous rooms created by San Diego's top interior design experts. Look, touch and feel - it's all there to inspire you and show you what's possible in your home.

Our design vignettes will give you an intimate look at a Seaside Sanctuary - a modern seaside bedroom, Bachelor's Boudoir - an urban bachelor pad, No Limits in Space - a functional but modern space, Hardly Working - a quirky office, Organic Modern - a room inspired by wild mushrooms.

Each vignette will feature low odor/zero VOC Enso paint from Dunn-Edwards Paints, official paint sponsor of Stylish Spaces 2010's Interior Design Vignettes. Enso paint is part of Dunn-Edwards' ongoing commitment to developing high-performance products that have our planet's health in mind.

And when you're done exploring, let's talk about you and your living space: take advantage of a complimentary 30-minute design consultation from interior designers and Dunn-Edwards color consultants. What could be sweeter?

Call today to make a reservation, 888-970-3976!

Win $2500.00 in Prizes!

2010-05-07T21:32:00Z

Click on the image to join KSON's Loyal Listeners Club and enter to win!

Inspired Outdoor Dining with Barbeques Galore

2010-05-06T19:18:00Z

Can you char like a champ? How’s your smoke, sear and sizzle? If you want to do more outdoor entertaining this summer, Barbeques Galore has the tools and the know-how to help you do it. Stop by their booth at Stylish Spaces and explore a griller’s paradise of the newest BBQs and mouthwatering food demos (you’ll even pick up some little-known techniques for seriously succulent meat). You can also get the scoop on their Outdoor Cooking School – a program designed to teach you how to take your favorite “indoor recipes” and cook them outside. Stop by to see how a little barbecue savvy can transform your next dinner party.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

2010-05-05T18:17:00Z

1. Fruity Margaritas 2. Fiesta Candles 3. Margarita Glasses 4. Tablescape 5. Guacamole
6. Le Creuset Baker 7. Margaritaville 8. Tacos 9. Lime Margaritas

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Check out our last sneak peak recipe from Executive Chef, Deborah Schneiders cookbook, Amor y Tacos!

Guacamole con Frutas

(Guacamole with Fruit)

Serves 6. Fruited guacamoles are all the rage in Mexico, and some of the more commonversions also include shrimp, chorizo or bacon, strong cheeses, tequilas andsmoky mezcals, and unusual herbs such as epazote or licorice-flavored hoja santa.Try this surprisingly addictive version, laced with mango, crunchy-tart pomegranateseeds, and tequila, and see if it doesn’t turn your idea of guacamole on its head.

*2 ripe Hass avocados
*1 tablespoon fresh-squeezed lime
*juice (about 1 lime)
*1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt
*1⁄4 cup finely diced white onion
*1⁄4 cup chopped cilantro
*1 serrano chile, minced (optional)
*2 tablespoons cored and seeded
*Roma tomato, diced
*2 tablespoons peeled ripe mango, cutinto small dice
*1 teaspoon blanco tequila
*1 teaspoon lime juice
*1 tablespoon goat cheese, crumbled
*1 tablespoon pomegranate seeds
*Garnish: cilantro sprig, fresh tostadas(page 85), lime wedges

1. Split, pit, and mash the avocado flesh with the lime juice and salt, using a potatomasher, fork, or a whisk in an up and down motion—never a blender or food processor.Stir in the onion, cilantro, serrano, and tomato. Place in a serving dish.

2. Toss the mango with the tequila and lime juice.

3. Arrange the mango, goat cheese, and pomegranate seed in neat rows on top of themashed avocado. Set a cilantro sprig on top and serve with fresh tostadas and limes.

At the table, stir the ingredients into the guacamole and enjoy.

Variation: If fresh pomegranates are not available, substitute toasted pine nuts.

Stylish Summer Eats with Sur la Table!

2010-05-03T21:54:00Z

Too many cooks in the kitchen? Impossible, we say! Help us prove the saying wrong by stopping by the Sur La Table exhibit at Stylish Spaces. You’ll feast your eyes on the latest and greatest cooking gadgets to hit the market, fromtasty summer grilling tools (guaranteed to make you want to fire up the BBQ) to the Scan Pan, the world’s first BPA-free, and environmentally friendly non-stick cookware. Plus, sample "Eating Local" recipes using produce from a Community Supported Agriculture program – and find out how to get this kind of freshness in your very own kitchen.

Sur la Table's slogan is “the art and soul of cooking”, so you KNOW this is going to be good! It’s pure inspiration for foodies of all kinds – whether you like to make it, or just to wolf it down.

Pad Your Bookshelf With Prizes From the Stylish Spaces Expo

2010-04-26T22:03:00Z

Craving a Stylish weekend destination? The latte, lunch + shopping circuit has served you well, but there’s a new kid in town, San Diego. It’s the Stylish Spaces Expo, and it’s your chance to soak up all the home and garden inspiration you can handle – packed into one vibrant, fresh-as-can-be event.

What’s that you say? You’re already planning to go? Smart girl! But not so fast: have you reserved your ticket yet? If not, now’s your chance to win some tony treats we’ve picked especially for you. When you buy your ticket online , you’re automatically entered to win two prizes we think will be right down your alley:

A subscription to San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyle magazine
A copy of Amor y Tacos: Modern Mexican Tacos, Margaritas, and Antojitos (the new cookbook from Executive Chef Deborah Schneider, owner of SOL Cocina, Newport Beach)

Click here to buy your ticket now and try your luck.

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Here is another sneak peak into Amor y Tacos!

Panuchos

con Queso y Flor de Calabasa

(Corn Empanadas with Cheese and Zucchini Flowers)

Makes 12 panuchos. Half-moon-shaped panuchos are a variation on a Yucatecanrecipe made from fresh corn masa dough, stuffed with a delicious filling of gooeycheese and delicate zucchini flowers, fried until crisp, and served topped with blackbeans, crema, and salsa. (In the Yucatán, the beans are frequently on the inside.) Thefilling used here is typically Mexican, but you might come up with your own, less traditionalvariations. Lard is often used for frying panuchos, but vegetable oil or shorteningor a combination, may be substituted here. For a leaner version, cook them ona lightly oiled griddle; they will become more like traditional quesadillas.

*Spicy masa (recipe follows)
*4 ounces crumbled cotixa cheese(divided use)
*16 large zucchini flowers (see note)
*5 ounces shredded Oaxaca or Jackcheese
*1⁄4 cup epazote leaves, finely shredded
*4 green onions, slicedFresh lard*, vegetable shortening, oroil, for fryingBlack beans (page 140)
*1⁄2 cup crema fresca or sour creamPico de gallo (page 128)
*Sliced pickled jalapenos
*1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce

(optional)1. Form the masa into 12 equal pieces, each about the size of a golf ball, cover, and setaside. Measure out . cup of the cotixa cheese and set it aside for finishing the dish.

2. Rinse the zucchini flowers quickly in a bowl of cold water, drain, and pat dry with aclean towel. Roughly chop the flowers into .-inch pieces.

3. Mix the remaining cotixa cheese, the Oaxaca cheese, epazote, and green onions.Toss the mixture with the zucchini blossoms.

4. Line a tortilla press with plastic squares (squares cut from clean, unused plasticgrocery bags work well). Gently press out a masa ball to about 3. inches in diameter.Leave the masa on the plastic. Place a heaping tablespoon of filling on one side ofthe masa circle. Use the plastic to fold the masa circle in half, and gently press downall over the panucho, lightly compressing the cheese and completely sealing edges

*Fresh lard is sometimes available at Mexican supermarkets with delis, where it is a by-product of carnitas. It is semiliquidand has a wonderful “roast pork” flavor. White lard may be substituted

A Deeper Shade of Green!

2010-04-22T00:23:00Z

The French gave us their toast, their fries, and Amélie. They’re also the inspiration behind The French Garden Shoppe , San Diego’s oldest home and garden furnishings store - so needless to say, we’re big fans.

Shop owner Eugene Farley is an expert at turning small city spaces into gracious living environments, and now he’s bringing his mastery to the Stylish Spaces Expo . Eugene has put together three urban micro spaces designed for ultimate interaction and enjoyment:

Indoor Garden: an outdoor garden you can enjoy inside

European Rustic: a timeless, traditional European garden, adapted to flourish in an urban environment

Micro Green: an enchanting outdoor space that’s easy on the eyes and on the planet

Using budget-friendly finds and durable, sustainable materials, Eugene shows us how we can live better and more beautifully at home in the city. Life is a big deal, and it doesn’t have to be limited by the space we’re in.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-01T17:48:00Z

1. Peeps 2. Felt Baskets 3. Spring Cupcakes 4. Finger Puppets 5. Tulips
6. Striped Eggs 7. Easter Nest 8. Flower Ice 9. Easter Table

Easter Brunch Recipe

Coconut-Lemon Angel Cake

Resplendent with sparkling lemon curd, topped with a soft and whippy buttercream.

Does heaven sewit's clouds of coconuts and stream a lemon sunshine? After enjoying this light, simple dessert, you'll hope for such a truth as that. Utterly and divinely springalicious.

When making the curd, remember to save your egg yolks. You'll need them for the coconut frosting!

Zest & Juice of 4 lemons

2T. water

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

Put zest, juice,butter and sugar in the top of a double broiler (or bowl over simmering water.) Stir constantly while the butter melts and the sugar dissolves.In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs until well blended. Pour a tiny bit of the hot lemon mixture into the eggs, then pour the egg mixture into the lemon mixture and stir constantly until the curd is thick (about 10minutes). Remove from the heat. Allow to cool before serving. Will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Fluffy Coconut Frosting

(if you are averse to uncooked egg whites, just whip up a half pint of heavy whipping cream.Once fluffy, add 1/2 c. powdered sugar, 1/2 c. of finely shredded coconut and 1/2 tsp. of coconut extract, then spread on cake as outlined in the instructions.)

4 Tbsp. butter

1/2 c. powdered sugar

2 egg whites

2/3 c. finely shredded coconut

Cream the butter. Slowly add half of the sugar and all of the coconut, then set aside. Beat the egg whites until very foamy, slowly add the remaining sugar and continue to beat until stiff. Combine the two mixtures and blend. Add more sugar to thicken the frosting, if desired.

Assembling the Cake

Slice a store-bought or homemade angel food cake through the center and gently remove the top half of the cake. Spread a generous layer of lemon curd across the middle of the cake. Replace top half of cake, the heap the coconut frosting atop.Decorate with lemon slices then drizzle lemon curd over the top of the cake. Serve accompanied with warm lemon curd.

Source: Cheeky Kitchen

Paint for Charity

2010-03-30T20:26:00Z

Attendees at Stylish Spaces are invited to pick up a paint brush and find their inner Picasso at the Dunn-Edwards Interactive Greener by Design™ Display and Paint for Charity. At the end of Stylish Spaces, Dunn-Edwards will donate the finished paint-by-numbers mural to the YWCA of San Diego County, a non-profit organization with programs and services for San Diego’s women and children who are survivors of domestic violence and homelessness, including Becky’s House®.

A Tasty Treat

2010-03-26T19:00:00Z

From yachts in the Greek islands to some of the finest restaurants in Southern California, and most recently to SOL Cocina in Newport Beach, Certified Executive Chef, Deborah Schneider, has over twenty-eight years experience in professional cooking. She is an accomplished author & 2009 James Beard Award nominee. Her 3^rd and current cookbook Amor y Tacos (due Spring 2010) will explore the wild new wave of Mexican cooking and drinks.

Deborah Schneider,will be treating guests to an extraordinary cooking demonstration at Stylish Spaces on March 23rd. She will be sharing some culinary tips and tricks, a delight to be remembered long after the show is done!
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Here's a sneak peak of her Pineapple Serrano Margarita from Amor y Tacos!

Makes 1 margarita. A terrific and unique margarita, sweet and spicy with fragrant pineapple and fiery serrano chiles. Don’t strain this one—pour the crushed fruit and chiles over the ice allowing the flavors to continue to meld. The drink will get spicier toward the end, as the heat from the serrano escalates, but it will be balanced by the bits of pineapple. You’ll eat every bit.

3 chunks ripe, fresh pineapple or canned in juice
2 slices serrano chile
Ice cubes
11⁄2 ounces 100 percent agave blanco tequila
1 ounce fresh-squeezed lime juice
2 ounces simple syrup (page 37)
Garnish: unpeeled pineapple wedge

In a 10-ounce rocks glass, crush the pineapple and chiles together with a muddler. Fill the glass with ice and pour in the tequila, lime juice, and syrup. Stir with a long-handled spoon. Cut a slit in the pineapple wedge and slide it onto the rim of the glass.

Flavoring Syrups, Agave, or Honey

Simple syrup is a bartender’s secret ally, a hint of sweetness that unites and balances the disparate flavors in a cocktail. If you prefer, honey or agavemay be used in place of a sugar syrup. Syrups may be enhanced with many of the same flavors used to infuse tequila (page 26), often with stunning results. I love a syrup made with hot chiles! These infused syrups are terrific in nonalcoholic beverages such as iced tea or juice drinks as well. Syrups, whether flavored or not, and infused honey or agave should always be stored in the refrigerator, covered, where they will keep indefinitely.

"Curiouser and Curiouser!"

2010-03-15T17:28:00Z

1. Frog Seats 2. Chess Topiary 3. Tablescape 4. Cupcakes 5. Mad Hatter
6. Nursery 7. Hatter Cake 8. Cracked Dresser 9. Giant Chess Set

A True Design Star

2010-03-12T18:00:00Z

Jennifer Guerin, color consultant on HGTV’s hit show, Design Star, Season 4, will be a guest speaker at the Stylish Spaces event. Jennifer will be providing guests with her expert knowledge on how to use color to enrich our homes and lives. Her success as a master of color extends through her many venues, including owner of Ox and Olive Painting Co. in San Diego, instructor for the American Clay Company, and color consultant on Bravo Television’s, Alter Ego. In addition, she is one of only 61 certified Color Consultants in the country. If you’ve been longing to bring a bit of color into your life, you won’t want to miss Jennifer Guerin at Stylish Spaces!

A Touch of Class…

2010-03-05T18:42:00Z

Ranch & Coast Magazine, San Diego’s Ultimate Lifestyle Magazine, has become a Stylish Spaces media partner, extending an air of class and taste that perfectly complements our show. Since 1983, Ranch & Coast Magazine has brought the very best of affluent living and society to its readers. This highly-circulated magazine covers the pulse of upscale art and culture, dining, travel and leisure, as well as exceptional highlights for home living. We’re so pleased that Ranch & Coast Magazine is giving our guests a taste of the good life at the Stylish Spaces Expo. Come and take a peek inside this exceptional guide to fine living. You won’t be disappointed!

Beautiful Sustainability!

2010-03-03T17:58:00Z

Landscapes that are beautiful, peaceful and functional take on a whole new meaning when created by Urban Plantations. Owner Karen Contreras has perfected the art of combining visually pleasing landscapes with satisfying usefulness, by seamlessly blending gardens that provide edible components as well as those intended to beautify. Urban Plantations designs healthy, edible landscapes that are appropriate for any location-city, town, or rural community-while teaching and educating about home-grown foods. We’re so pleased to welcome Urban Plantations, and their message of healthy sustainability, to the Stylish Spaces Expo!

Everything Has a Place

2010-03-01T18:25:00Z

Organization… where do we start. Organization is one of the hardest tasks within a household. Just trying to organize my notes for this piece was a daunting task. Sometimes it is so overwhelming due to the fact of “Where do I start, where should everything go, I have so much”, that eventually you end up walking away and leaving for another day. But it does not have to be so trying. It is like when I was a little girl (many years ago) and my mom would help me clean my room. She would show me that it was so simple, “Just start making piles and we will see where it all goes”. She was right, a pile for the bathroom, a pile for the laundry room, a pile for the things that went into my sister’s room. Soon it was clear where everything went and I did not feel so overwhelmed.

Sharon Patterson

Onegoal we at Rabe and Tigert Designs have is to declutter and organize our client’slives. We want their lives to be simple,clean and productive. One overwhelmingspot in any household is the office. Itis the black hole of your universe. Itsucks every paper, children’s school project, bill, toy, pencil, sticky note,every paperclip you wish you could find, right to the top surface of the desk. But it does not have to be this way; it canbe a workable space. Just imagine thewide vast space you too could have.

Decor Pad

It’s quite easy, first start with organizing piles, figure out what is important and what you do not need. Next you will need something to hold all of these items in. If you do not have a type of filing system I would strongly recommend getting one. You do not have to get the typical old filing cabinet. Today they have modern, fresh filing systems that can go on the wall or they can be disguised as a piece of furniture.

The Estate of Things

Secondly, I would get a wall system that helps organize all the clips, staples and push pins that float around in your pencil holder. The simplest way to do this is to use magnetic spice holders. They have a clear lid so you can see what is in them and it makes an art piece at the same time. Another simple tip and a way to save money are to buy aluminum pots from your local nursery or outdoor garden store. They are modern and heavy enough to hold every pencil right down to your scissors and they look great.

PaperSeed Deviant Art

One last simple task is to wind up the wires that are everywhere from your computer. If you have a cordless mouse and keyboard you are already ahead of the game. If you do have wires to tie up you can use Velcro color strips, this helps wind the cords together as well as color coding which wire goes to which computer piece.

Decorology
There are many other ways to stay organized throughout the entire house or any space. Rabe and Tigert Designs make every space workable. The closet can be a working hub of organization, add a few baskets and buckets to catch all the loose shoes, balls and other cleaning items that usually are thrown on a shelf to turn around and fall down on you.

Decor Pad Decorology

Children’s rooms which can be one of the most trying due to the fact you want it to look fun and cheery but still be workable. This is something we; Rabe and Tigert Designs, specialize in due to the fact we have children or our own. Adding some of the simplest wall shelves and fun boxes for storage can be a great start. Also making it fun for the children to put the toys away is always helpful.

Furniture Store

The living room can also be organized with areas for the cd’s, DVD’s, and pillows that are throughout the room.

Pretty Little Things for Home & Life

Any area in the home can be organized; all you need is a little creativity, some help from a designer to make your space a little more fun (like Rabe and Tigert Designs) and a little time to put it all together.

www.rabetigertdesign.com

Welcome, Designs by Shellene

2010-02-25T20:50:00Z

Landscape Designer, Shellene Mueller, of Designs by Shellene, will be creating a masterful 800 sq. foot entrance landscape at the Stylish Spaces Expo. This award winning landscape designer has created over 500 gardens in the San Diego area and provides stylistic Tuscan, Mediterranean, French Country and Asian-inspired themes, among others. We think you’ll be awed by the intuitive way Designs by Shellene creates lush, visually stunning, beautifully blended landscapes that touch the senses in a powerfully lasting way. Come and see what this San Diego Horticultural Society Best of Show, 2008 winner has in store at the show. www.designsbyshellene.com

A Heavenly Partnership. Welcome, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine!

2010-02-24T18:52:00Z

Stylish Spaces is proud to announce a partnership with the leading authority on San Diego home and garden style, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine. This elite magazine dishes up the very best in home style and interior design, lush garden and landscaping ideas, recipes and more. For over 30 years, San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles has featured the work of highly-sought designers, architects, and gardeners, with home and garden showcases highlighting the best in luxury, affluent living.

San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles Magazine certainly brings a prestigious air-one we’re ecstatic about-to the Stylish Spaces Expo. Only good things come from collaboration like this, so watch for the amazing ways we’re working together to create another outstanding and unforgettable interior design and outdoor living expo.

Welcome Modernism Magazine!

2010-02-18T21:38:00Z

One of the most elegant, savvy and design conscious magazines in print today, has just become a media partner with Stylish Spaces Interior Design & Outdoor Living Expo!

Modernism Magazine is dedicated to the best designers of the 19th century and features the very latest products and interior designs…all with a modern flavor!

A leading source of information, articles and photographic eye-candy formodernist design enthusiasts who crave and enjoy Art Deco, pop and postmodern design. The magazine treats readers to news about museum exhibitions, books and historic preservation, as well as interior design inspiration related to the modernist community. Modernism will be providing their Spring 2010 issue at the Expo for guests to enjoy and devour (the stunning photography alone will draw you in), while inspiring a fresh appreciation of the modernist design culture.