Still a bit sleepy :-)
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Happy Stats
My happy stats for the past week:
- Was pleasantly surprised by the color of the red clay after firing
- Got a leather hide from a deer at a bargain price (I think), the start for a fantasy costume.
- Spend time with friends, surprised one with breakfast, met another for lunch.
- Had a nice day at keltfest, enjoying the sun and keltic music.
- Was only pestered by a headache for 1 day.
- Set up a to do list for the house and looks forward to do some painting.
Friday, 14 May 2010
Interior design
We're thinking of moving house. But first we need to get this house in good order to get a better price, basically a fresh coat of paint on the older parts, since we done up the kitchen and bathroom only 2 years ago, the rest was done about 10 years ago after buying the place.
Kitchen was functional, but very out of date, horrible 70's green and orange tiles, we had repainted it years ago to at least not get a headache everytime you'd walk in there.
The bathroom was "lovely" 70's green and dark brown, but at least no orange and functional, so we lived with it. The lay-out of the kitchen, scullery and bathroom was awkward. Entrance to the scullery was through the bathroom. Bathroom had a door or a window in each wall, leaving no corner free for a proper sized shower. There was no heating in the bathroom, so we used a small electric heater, which is not very efficient. There was lots of worktop in the kitchen but hardly any between sink and hob, where you need it. There was only a small under counter fridge and storage space was ok, but could be more efficient. Having designed kitchens since 1997 it should be easy you think, but it wasn't. I think there is nothing harder than designing your own house, you are too involved in a way. But after lots of months of sketching a final design was there. We considered moving the kitchen to have a better view of the garden, but that left only a dark and strange place for the bathroom. We considered adding a bit to the house, but than hardly any garden was left to look at. In the end we kept the outside doors and windows were they are, only replaced them to be double glazed and made the back-door turn outwards, something which is not common in Belgium and not handy at all, I think. We moved two internal doors, so there was not too much structural work involved. We replaced the plastic ceilings by plasterboard.
We installed central heating, such a comfort. Now we had a nice warm bathroom with a good sized shower 90/120cm, a view to the garden and a very functional kitchen and scullery. The bathroom has a little fan which automatically switches on when there is too much humidity. The shower a recess for shampoo's and gels, there used to be a door, so when blocking this opening we kept the recess. Just behind the door from kitchen into the scullery is a pantry, which is just great for extra storage. The kitchen is compact but still easy to work in with 2 people. The hob is placed diagonally from the sink which works very well, rinse food, chop it, turn around into the pan. The fridge is diagonal to the other side from the sink, making the clockwise work triangle in the kitchen complete. The island is very sociable and has a great view to the terrace, which is nice when chopping vegetables and preparing. Lots of people want a hob in the island, but you don't spend that much time staring at your pots that you need a view there. And a hood or fan in the middle of the room is usually a pain too. The end of the island is rounded, maximizing worktop space without feeling blocked off, makes it flow. It also provided a place for the cats food. All in all, very practical, lost of storage, warmth and comfort. So here's the finished project:
Kitchen was functional, but very out of date, horrible 70's green and orange tiles, we had repainted it years ago to at least not get a headache everytime you'd walk in there.
The bathroom was "lovely" 70's green and dark brown, but at least no orange and functional, so we lived with it. The lay-out of the kitchen, scullery and bathroom was awkward. Entrance to the scullery was through the bathroom. Bathroom had a door or a window in each wall, leaving no corner free for a proper sized shower. There was no heating in the bathroom, so we used a small electric heater, which is not very efficient. There was lots of worktop in the kitchen but hardly any between sink and hob, where you need it. There was only a small under counter fridge and storage space was ok, but could be more efficient. Having designed kitchens since 1997 it should be easy you think, but it wasn't. I think there is nothing harder than designing your own house, you are too involved in a way. But after lots of months of sketching a final design was there. We considered moving the kitchen to have a better view of the garden, but that left only a dark and strange place for the bathroom. We considered adding a bit to the house, but than hardly any garden was left to look at. In the end we kept the outside doors and windows were they are, only replaced them to be double glazed and made the back-door turn outwards, something which is not common in Belgium and not handy at all, I think. We moved two internal doors, so there was not too much structural work involved. We replaced the plastic ceilings by plasterboard.
We installed central heating, such a comfort. Now we had a nice warm bathroom with a good sized shower 90/120cm, a view to the garden and a very functional kitchen and scullery. The bathroom has a little fan which automatically switches on when there is too much humidity. The shower a recess for shampoo's and gels, there used to be a door, so when blocking this opening we kept the recess. Just behind the door from kitchen into the scullery is a pantry, which is just great for extra storage. The kitchen is compact but still easy to work in with 2 people. The hob is placed diagonally from the sink which works very well, rinse food, chop it, turn around into the pan. The fridge is diagonal to the other side from the sink, making the clockwise work triangle in the kitchen complete. The island is very sociable and has a great view to the terrace, which is nice when chopping vegetables and preparing. Lots of people want a hob in the island, but you don't spend that much time staring at your pots that you need a view there. And a hood or fan in the middle of the room is usually a pain too. The end of the island is rounded, maximizing worktop space without feeling blocked off, makes it flow. It also provided a place for the cats food. All in all, very practical, lost of storage, warmth and comfort. So here's the finished project:
If you are in need of some interior advice, feel free to contact me.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Apple and left-over-Biscuits Cake
Ingredients: 4 eggs, 250gr soft butter, 250gr flour, 250gr sugar, (so far the traditional "quarte-quarts"- 4 quarters, easy to remember recipe ;-) vanilla sugar, 2-3 apples and left over biscuits.
(or as original: add 250gr grated carrots and 250gr broken ginger biscuits)
Since I had only 150gr of butter in the house I adjusted it to suit.
Start with buttering and than coating your tin with flour and put it in the fridge, this helps to get it out easier after baking. Mix the sugar and the butter till creamy.
Eet smakleijk!
Bon apetit!
Enjoy!
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Happy Stats
Here I follow in the footsteps of some of the bloggers I follow, Artmind, Huismus and I'm sure there are others too, by looking back at this week and noting my happy moments. Something which also is advised by Cynthia Morris, a creative coach, I met her last year (or is it 2 already ?) on a creativity day near Antwerp. I had a great chat with her and found her stories and talk very inspiring. In her last newsletter she writes: "... celebration is vital to the creative process, and people often overlook or even avoid this step. Why would anyone avoid celebrating? It isn’t just fun; it’s empowering." So I will from now on look back at the end of each week, celebrate my happy moments and share these with you.
- Nice walk in the orchard with my family, enjoying the last sweet apple blossom.
- Found another shop who will sell my bowls (and maybe later jewelry too :-) MIX-Art
- Working on new design for ceramic ornament and lights in the garden.
- Found and bought a great but small antique cupboard.
- Planned a day to do a pit-fire with fellow-ceramists.
- Got some fresh eggs from this lovely lady:
Monday, 3 May 2010
Monday Mood
Other highlight of the weekend was yesterdays fair: Marché Bricolé in Bruges, which went really well. Al in all I'm in a very happy sunny mood despite the weather.
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