tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42763106026997417762024-03-05T03:30:43.177-08:00DESIGN-BUILD-LIVEAll about home. Principal designer and owner of HERMOGENO DESIGNS, Mark Hermogeno shares everything from interior design tips and ideas to recipes.HERMOGENO DESIGNShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01126396637805599144noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276310602699741776.post-48382351665165922402012-05-03T14:47:00.000-07:002012-05-03T14:47:15.229-07:00INTERIOR IDEAS: Quick & Easy Changes To Welcome Spring and Summer.<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Spring is here and Summer is in queue.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The flowers are blooming, the air is abit warmer and the sun is shining brightly. As you fling open those drapes to welcome in the light, you turn around and find......</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the living room needs the Easter Bunny to deliver alittle bit of something to spruce it up. For the last few months we've all probably have stared at the same ole rooms more than any other time of the year. Just like the new season, we all feel like it's time for a change. Some folks can greet Spring with a brand new interior. But now-a-days, fully redecorating even just the living room with a new sofa, rug, lamps and art just doesn't seem economically feasible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">So how do we give our spaces new life without replacing everything?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">You don't need huge changes to create a completely new feeling or look. Here are some simple changes that can create small or big impact, depending on what you are hoping to acheive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Make an inexpensive sofa look custom by recovering the seat cushions and/or pillows. In this home we turned a pre-fabricated sofa into a custom piece by doing just that. The wall sconces were a find on the internet and a bench was turned into a coffee table.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pops of color always brings a room to life. In this living room, the main base color was a yellow-beige. The dark wood is a great balance but its the red that adds that bit of spark. By simply adding in elements of fire in pillows, drapes and even candles, this neutral room is now ready for a fun time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Along with color, patterns can add alot to a room. In this guest bedroom, the client's wanted to play with that, on a limited budgeted. Our solution, was to paint the room a strong orange using their existing bedding as inspiration. The art work compliments the new color scheme and makes the room a forever spring/summer space. The clients can also tone down the feel by replacing the bedding with more neutral pieces.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sprucing up this breakfast nook was fast and easy. The built-in banquette, table, chairs and flooring were all existing. Taking inspiration from the artwork, we found some inexpensive blue fabric to make a cushion for the banquettes and to simply recover the chair seats. Throw pillows from a home store and a $60 pendant found on the internet rounds out the group. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we first saw this guest bedroom the walls were stark white, the bed was on the right hand wall and it was poorly lit. The clients had some various drapery they had stored away in the house that we found and used as the starting off point for the newly designed room. We picked up a "bed-in-a-bag" at a home store along with the table lamps and the pendant. We stole one of the nightstands that was being unused in another room and paired it with the bed and the existing nightstand. Wanting color, the clients said yes to the bright yellow. Now the room is a balanced and functional room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hopefully we've given you some ideas on how to spruce up your home without breaking the bank. Paint is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to transform a room, but sometimes fabric or even a lamp or two can do the job too. So how will you tackle your next project on a budget?</span></div>
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<br /></div>HERMOGENO DESIGNShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01126396637805599144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276310602699741776.post-66247902140436682062012-04-10T05:53:00.000-07:002012-04-10T05:53:34.630-07:00PROJECTS: Edwardian Kitchen & Bath Remodel<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> How can we fit a kitchen, add a second bathroom and a laundry area, keep access to a back door (per code) and make the design blend with the rest of an Edwardian flat all in a space less than 300 square feet? That was the challenge when tackling this project in a turn of the century home in San Francisco.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The city by the Bay, mostly built after the great quake of 1905, is known for small spaces built vertically with many residences occupying entire floors better known as flats. These homes typically contain small rooms all connected to long narrow hallways, that makes modern living, and remodeling, a daunting task.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The solution in this flat was to convert an existing dining room into a new kitchen, change the old cramped kitchen (that was once a mudroom) into a small bathroom with a laundry area and a small hallway that connects a set of back stairs to the main hallway of the home. With some thinking, HERMOGENO DESIGNS came up with a space plan that checked off every one of these requirements and gave the clients a few extras.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Comparing the before and after plans above you can see just how HD gave the clients what they wanted and needed. The surprise came in the form of an eat-in area in the kitchen as well as creative wine storage. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out the before photos below to see what HD began with.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdylOqxc_rDeZhp8LM4BtyKpyXKL1YFEE6S1AWrM1ba1yQ95Y4Hm9icds3Xcg8LdajpFdWtwHeZNOafgUA-vcwwcpIcne-SfyadFH_XOCYZO2WjBZu-Hhm8YI_NuIdjIU2tU5eQekDNis/s1600/Winston_Before9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdylOqxc_rDeZhp8LM4BtyKpyXKL1YFEE6S1AWrM1ba1yQ95Y4Hm9icds3Xcg8LdajpFdWtwHeZNOafgUA-vcwwcpIcne-SfyadFH_XOCYZO2WjBZu-Hhm8YI_NuIdjIU2tU5eQekDNis/s320/Winston_Before9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BEFORE: A corner of the former dining room housed a wet bar to be replaced by cabinetry and the refrigerator.</span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IdnQNxQDBteaaCcvxjUmWZdhrgmO5ovUdfe08wrNh993Y40UISJNeBw2ycmePaE9bAYFWMejv94ufBZzm6duyMOzFXtl9McdJ7hXQyZXTuxB977Sx9ZsbSblOD9nHLuCf0smHQGo598/s1600/DSC04617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_IdnQNxQDBteaaCcvxjUmWZdhrgmO5ovUdfe08wrNh993Y40UISJNeBw2ycmePaE9bAYFWMejv94ufBZzm6duyMOzFXtl9McdJ7hXQyZXTuxB977Sx9ZsbSblOD9nHLuCf0smHQGo598/s320/DSC04617.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfreHWgw8Ylp7lGNM4tQ0T5pKMPDb0YlN3onFoh2-cIz4Gmykf6M4Odr6mdORoN0h4V1mx0VbJkkWDezltxi3e0AY6a_Cnsl8bWn6caW_mbSXp2e2h3WHR9GbhAJEWEZUSscx_kiTEJ0/s1600/DSC04607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPfreHWgw8Ylp7lGNM4tQ0T5pKMPDb0YlN3onFoh2-cIz4Gmykf6M4Odr6mdORoN0h4V1mx0VbJkkWDezltxi3e0AY6a_Cnsl8bWn6caW_mbSXp2e2h3WHR9GbhAJEWEZUSscx_kiTEJ0/s320/DSC04607.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AFTER: The eat-in area includes built-in seating and clever wine storage that made use of every bit of space.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhsGeclSc7KJXZSWnnCtHrRpbnFfoixZgT_WJWNx04qxey5f7-rGjRQWaB6BIBps-85pOs-ODHrwkLz6dfbvBm1nHuT10J5uoCVmiX0_-0K2LL0B3P_C6u2q4j_yFYQQyquEL-6J4EHc/s1600/DSC04619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhsGeclSc7KJXZSWnnCtHrRpbnFfoixZgT_WJWNx04qxey5f7-rGjRQWaB6BIBps-85pOs-ODHrwkLz6dfbvBm1nHuT10J5uoCVmiX0_-0K2LL0B3P_C6u2q4j_yFYQQyquEL-6J4EHc/s320/DSC04619.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">AFTER: What was once part of the kitchen is now a space saving bathroom with a shower stall and laundry area to the left.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thoughtful use of space is key when remodeling a relatively small area when you have a big list of wants. Who knows, what you want and what you're limited to can sometimes be the same thing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div>HERMOGENO DESIGNShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01126396637805599144noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276310602699741776.post-13825549887232050302012-04-04T06:58:00.000-07:002012-04-04T06:58:27.992-07:00INTERIOR IDEAS. Grey Scale. The New Neutral.<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beige. Off-white. Tan.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For years and years, these colors were the go-to's when trying to decorate a room with minimal or no color at all. Just like the names of the colors, they have become bland in today's world. As times and styles evolve, so does the need to find alternatives to these shades of brown. White can be too stark and cold. Black is just too, well black. So what is the alternative? If we mix these two colors together we get the perfect neutral: grey.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From transitional to modern. From heather grey to steel grey. From tile to drapes. Check out how HERMOGENO DESIGNS uses this new neutral.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQ27DikbR_qlvC2JnOLGl5vKzJZ53pNf43XGEj7QUhD9vo-jf7rOaHKHBRDI6Bv8QvvMD1F7MRKk1RHgI2XPxQwPl7FddMBMdZqy83OEh3cFYXnI8HOBtnX8lI_Z6UU3TvN8vBehgElY/s1600/Reddy_Dining_Room_32-289x441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQ27DikbR_qlvC2JnOLGl5vKzJZ53pNf43XGEj7QUhD9vo-jf7rOaHKHBRDI6Bv8QvvMD1F7MRKk1RHgI2XPxQwPl7FddMBMdZqy83OEh3cFYXnI8HOBtnX8lI_Z6UU3TvN8vBehgElY/s320/Reddy_Dining_Room_32-289x441.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Subtle and sophisticated, this dining room takes grey in a light approach. The light grey wall color, that has a beige undertone, pulls out the silvery greys in the drapery, the upholstered ceiling and the place settings. Even the mirrors have a silvery grey look.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLWwYI4AVDqqM6OUMrfFAqRQpzz-HKBLIPBg7JROJff-E5rABCRL1-f9Ul6W5WDkSK7CXTcYzwbbku9ukh3poHIvtpVVCppmFwZDXbfuV9J1WnGedfrNzRaJ5ZCmPSKkxyx4cLAj4n7o/s1600/Hwang+Full+Bath+Completed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLWwYI4AVDqqM6OUMrfFAqRQpzz-HKBLIPBg7JROJff-E5rABCRL1-f9Ul6W5WDkSK7CXTcYzwbbku9ukh3poHIvtpVVCppmFwZDXbfuV9J1WnGedfrNzRaJ5ZCmPSKkxyx4cLAj4n7o/s320/Hwang+Full+Bath+Completed.jpg" width="153" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This modern bathroom's color scheme of grey and white is exactly what the clients were looking for. Clean and simple lines of the vanity and the subway tile tub surround all in grey balance with the stark white floor tile and Caesarstone countertop. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yK-_0ReY_TY37tJxZCXZdTBtfFWzwvLOsIGeKmdVl9ylQtmPhlrxPLIrrBEFSNduNzCIF3KKmmCBLCcIWz0CYkckVFVvO-XMFW5py7ygUaCwitRFKe9mcIn090tdKXDkyeMdOWvPaDg/s1600/IMG_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yK-_0ReY_TY37tJxZCXZdTBtfFWzwvLOsIGeKmdVl9ylQtmPhlrxPLIrrBEFSNduNzCIF3KKmmCBLCcIWz0CYkckVFVvO-XMFW5py7ygUaCwitRFKe9mcIn090tdKXDkyeMdOWvPaDg/s320/IMG_0059.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grey was a great way to balance the dark, wenge like cabinets and coordinate with the blue glass mosaic backsplash. The floor tile, the same that is used throughout most Apple stores (a nod to the client's countless years as a computer engineer) have a concrete quality while the speckled grey Caesarstone countertops help integrate the stainless steel appliances together to create a harmonious balance. The grey walls and ceiling round out the look.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IE6DnIkQBN0_7GXRjIpC5MjQ5RBF-l8GXzJuMHBcAK1daadI8xP_XiAnu9vOvvozg-5SzPED4M2ufB-TlxuQ6-Z9YZgi4RefOB0l4BwgfayBKgYF_wZXUoB0y1oIkb1DAmENYrix_xc/s1600/Farr+Living+Room+A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-IE6DnIkQBN0_7GXRjIpC5MjQ5RBF-l8GXzJuMHBcAK1daadI8xP_XiAnu9vOvvozg-5SzPED4M2ufB-TlxuQ6-Z9YZgi4RefOB0l4BwgfayBKgYF_wZXUoB0y1oIkb1DAmENYrix_xc/s320/Farr+Living+Room+A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the living room of this bachelor pad, dark grey walls and mosaic tile on the fireplace surround coordinates with the ale inspired drapery and throw pillows, brown tweed sectional sofa fabric and the heavy wood furniture to create an intimate space.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Showing you just a few ways HERMOGENO DESIGNS has used grey, don't be afraid to try it out in your home. Where will you start first?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div>HERMOGENO DESIGNShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01126396637805599144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276310602699741776.post-54184895164024994672011-05-16T20:32:00.000-07:002011-05-16T20:32:24.916-07:00INSPIRING INTERESTS: Design and Art Happenings & Events You Should Check Out<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As Spring has sprung and Summer is just around the corner, we are all looking for great inspiring events to attend. Here are some wonderful design and art events in California, and beyond in some cases, that you may not want to miss. Some are ongoing and some begin this week, May 16, 2011.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>San Francisco Decorator Showcase House</u></strong> @ 2950 Vallejo Street in San Francisco. Runs until May 30, 2011. "The San Francisco Decorator Showcase is widely considered to be the West Coast's premiere design showhouse event, renowned for featuring the work of the region's top interior and landscape designers." Visit </span><a href="http://www.decoratorshowcase.org/showcase/home.htm"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.decoratorshowcase.org/showcase/home.htm</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Kips Bay Decorator Show House</u></strong> @ 163 E. 63rd Street in New York City. Runs until May 26, 2011. "<span style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;">Year after year, the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club Decorator Show House consistently attracts renowned interior designers . Each designer has the opportunity to transform a space according to his or her own vision and unbridled creatively. The results are innovative, inspiring, luxurious designs that set trends and are remembered for years to come." Visit <a href="http://www.kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org/index.htm">www.kipsbaydecoratorshowhouse.org/index.htm</a> for more information.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>Rodarte: States of Matter</u></strong> @ Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles at The Pacific Design Center. Runs until June 5, 2011. The exhibit presents recent work in fashion and costume design by Kate and Laura Mulleavy or Rodarte. Visit <a href="http://www.pacificdesigncenter.com/#/programs-events/">www.pacificdesigncenter.com/#/programs-events/</a> for more information.</span><br />
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</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Seeing Gertrude Stein: Five Stories</u></strong> @ The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. Runs until September 6, 2011. "Comprising numerous formal portraits, photographs of her at home, clothing, domestic objects from her life with her longtime partner Alice B. Toklas, rare film footage, books, theater posters and more, the show explores what co-curator Wanda M. Corn calls "the complexity of Gertrude Stein as a personage."" Visit </span><a href="http://www.thecjm.org/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.thecjm.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information.</span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Balenciaga and Spain</u></strong> @ The De Young Museum in San Francisco. Runs until July 4, 2011. The exhibit "examines the profound and enduring influence of Spain on the work of haute couture master Cristóbal Balenciaga. The impact of Spanish culture, history, and traditions is explored through the recurring themes in Balenciaga’s oeuvre and organized in the exhibition in six sections: Spanish Art, Regional Dress, the Spanish Court, Religious Life and Ceremony, the Bullfight, and Dance." Visit <a href="http://www.deyoung.famsf.org/">http://www.deyoung.famsf.org/</a> f</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">or more information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Elizabeth Taylor in Iran: Photographs by Firooz Zahedi</u></strong> @ Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Runs until June 12, 2011. "Though Zahedi was to photograph Taylor many times in the years following their Iran trip, none are as personal, candid, or creative as these unique images." Visit </span><a href="http://www.lacma.org/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.lacma.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Supercars: When Too Much Is Almost Enough</u></strong> @ The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. Runs until October 16, 2011. View a history of the supercar from beginning to today. Visit </span><a href="http://www.petersen.org/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.petersen.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Art in the Streets</u></strong> @ Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles. Runs until August 8, 2011. "<em>Art in the Streets</em> is the first major U.S. museum survey of graffiti and street art.". Visit </span><a href="http://www.moca.org/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.moca.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>San Francisco International Arts Festival</u></strong> @ various locations throughout San Francisco. Runs May 18 to June 5. More than 40 performances presented by 23 arts organizations. Visit </span><a href="http://www.sfiaf.org/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.sfiaf.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>artMRKT</u></strong> @ The San Francisco Design Center Concourse Exhibition Center. Runs May 19 to 22. A selection of highly relevant and engaging art programs. Visit </span><a href="http://www.art-mrkt.com/sf"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.art-mrkt.com/sf</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>SF Fine Art Fair</u></strong> @ Fort Mason in San Francisco. Runs May 19 to 22. One of the top new fairs in America for museum quality post-war and contemporary art. Visit </span><a href="http://www.sffineart.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.sffineart.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Marin Living: Home Tours</u></strong> @ various homes throughout Marin County. May 21, 2011. An exclusive opportunity to see some of Marin County's most cutting-edge residential projects from the inside out. Visit </span><a href="http://www.aiasf.org/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.aiasf.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>Arroyo Terrace Walking Tours</u></strong> @ various homes in Pasadena. May 21, June 18 & July 16, 2011. Enjoy a guided walk around the historic Arroyo Terrace neighborhood, a National Register historic district that is home to 9 Greene & Greene houses as well as the works of other noted architects such as Myron Hunt, Edwin Bergstrom, Elmer Grey, and D. M. Renton. Among these are the personal residences of Myron Hunt and of Charles Greene, who added to his house over a number of years as his design ideas evolved. The tour will also visit to the elegant gates of Westmoreland Place. Visit <a href="http://gamblehouse.org/tours/walking.html">http://gamblehouse.org/tours/walking.html</a> for more information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>The Steins Collection</u></strong> @ SF Museum of Modern Art. May 21 to September 6, 2011. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American expatriates in bohemian Paris when the 20th century was young, the Steins — writer Gertrude, her brothers Leo and Michael, and Michael's wife, Sarah — were among the first to recognize the talents of avant-garde painters like Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Through their friendship and patronage, they helped spark an artistic revolution. Visit <a href="http://www.sfmoma.org/exhibitions/410">www.sfmoma.org/exhibitions/410</a> for more information.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>The Caltech Architectural Tour Service</u></strong> @ California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. May 26 & June 23, 2011. <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Caltech </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Architectural Tour Service (CATS), a special service of the Caltech </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Women’s Club</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, is pleased to announce architectural tours of the campus. Visit <a href="http://www.its.caltech.edu/~archtour/Site/Welcome.html">www.its.caltech.edu/~archtour/Site/Welcome.html</a> for more information.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>Glass Show</u></strong> @ Public Glass in San Francisco. Running May 28 to TBD. Featuring the works of Anne Hughes, Eric White, Herb Dang, Kelly Burlingham, Linda Bassett, Rene Hendrix, Renee Henderson, Robin Humphreys, Sarah Cadwalleder and Terri Ow-Wing. Visit <a href="http://www.propellance.com/musings/2011/4/20/upcoming-glass-show.html">www.propellance.com/musings/2011/4/20/upcoming-glass-show.html</a> for more information.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Modern Fever</u></strong> @ San Francisco Design Center Galleria, Suite 442. May 31, 2011. Jeff Greenwald, travel speaker, author, and performer will speak at Modern Fever on May 31st at 5:15 PM and you are invited! One Bay Area traveler described Jeff as “the best travel speaker she has ever heard, bar none.” Visit <a href="http://www.sfdesigncenter.com/events/events.html">www.sfdesigncenter.com/events/events.html</a> for more information.</span><br />
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<div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>New Park Design in Los Angeles; Part 1 Exhibition</u></strong> @ WUHO in Los Angeles. June 2 to July 8, 2011. This exhibition will survey six major parks that are currently being designed, that are in construction, or have been completed recently. Visit </span><a href="http://www.laforum.org/content/exhibitions/new-park-design-in-los-angeles"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.laforum.org/content/exhibitions/new-park-design-in-los-angeles</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for more information.</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><u>Picasso: Masterpieces from the Museo National Picasso, Paris</u></strong> @ The De Young Museum in San Francisco. Runs June 11 to October 9, 2011. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The de Young hosts an extraordinary exhibition of more than 100 masterpieces by Spanish artist Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) from the permanent collection of Paris’s world-renowned Musée National Picasso. Visit <a href="http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/picasso-masterpieces-mus-e-national-picasso-paris">http://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/picasso-masterpieces-mus-e-national-picasso-paris</a> for more information.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Know Your Architectural Styles Walking Tour</u></strong> @ various locations in New York City. June 18, 2011. <span style="color: black;">Don't ever confuse Doric, Ionic and Corinthian again! </span><span style="color: black;">Visit New York's famed Financial District and have fun reviewing historic architectural style. Visit <a href="http://www.architecturaltraveler.com/default.html">www.architecturaltraveler.com/default.html</a> for more information.</span></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><u>Dwell on Design</u></strong> @ The Los Angeles Convention Center. June 24 to 26. From home tours to exhibits to educational seminars for both design professionals and consumers, attend this event centered around modern design. Visit </span><a href="http://dod.dwell.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://dod.dwell.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"># for more information.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whether you are in Northern California or Los Angeles, we've got you covered. We hope that these events inspire you just as they will inspire us.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We'll be adding more and updating this list in the near future. Stay tuned.</span></div></div><div align="left"><br />
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</div>HERMOGENO DESIGNShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01126396637805599144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276310602699741776.post-19384179615060211592011-03-25T18:53:00.000-07:002011-03-25T18:53:40.449-07:00PRODUCT PICKS: Artemide Lighting Inc; Continuing Italy's History of Progressive Design<div style="text-align: center;">C<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ulturally beginning back in the 9th Century BC and flourishing historically, militarily, architecturally and artistically in 5th Century BC with the rise of the Roman Empire, Italy has, throughout time, set high standards for the Western civilized world. Today, traveling thoughout the country, one will see examples of eduring Italian craftsmanship, artistry and design innovation, in different medias, that span over 2,000 years of history including: </span></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Roman Aqueducts of Segovia built in 312 BC. </span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Colosseum in Rome built in the First Century AD. </span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Leaning Tower of Pisa completed in 1372. </span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The painting entitled The Mona Lisa painted by renowned renaissance man Leonardo Da Vinci circa 1519. </span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">St. Peter's Basilica completed in 1626 in Vatican City. </span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mix of Baroque and Italian Rococo interior design at the Palace of Caserta built completed in 1780.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In Florence one can visit the corporate office for luxury brand Gucci that was established in 1921. </span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The corporate offices of Ferrari S.p.A., founded in 1929, located in Maranello.</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The legacy does not stop there. As part of the modern contribution to the history of Italian innovative design and quality craftsmanship is Artemide Lighting (<a href="http://www.artemide.net/">http://www.artemide.net/</a>) based in Pregnana Milanese, a suburb of Milan. Since 1958, this award winning company has set the pace for modern lighting design and has grown into an international powerhouse with 16 subsidiaries and affiliated companies, 35 exclusive distributors and production centers in Italy, France, Germany, the USA, Hungary and the Czech Republic. So innovative and important contributions to design, pieces have been included in permanent museum collections at Musée des Arts Décoratifs de Montreal, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, The Museum of Modern Art in New York and The Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna in Rome.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Artemide's most iconic and famous designs are the Tizio table lamp designed by Richard Sapper in 1972 and the Tolomeo table lamp designed by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina in 1986 (both pictured below). </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CwP0ShPvAJOiBh7VPFkvmXxAKRiqs0ceuZCGRWdgZYiaidRq_n4Q64ATNuJuZCSmCri8CdDVD7L2qWa8NyMZqf9Z9O9xuPre_Xj8R7kSExsNsA7bFM85eVk8MXOWWtpvoTI7zdFl148/s1600/Tizio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CwP0ShPvAJOiBh7VPFkvmXxAKRiqs0ceuZCGRWdgZYiaidRq_n4Q64ATNuJuZCSmCri8CdDVD7L2qWa8NyMZqf9Z9O9xuPre_Xj8R7kSExsNsA7bFM85eVk8MXOWWtpvoTI7zdFl148/s200/Tizio.jpg" width="196" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzqZLfyRsToiqnwova64jlTIlE5gndcieIpxUmifuiWnCUHisSq32rnSAEilOPBfqrskcRvaHn6F2KAlMCM8ADZ6QVN8EibONNAGTLVD18ntVJ4jcAG3Vt0lFLu6v9mkT0c22hUH3tOQ/s1600/Tolomeo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzqZLfyRsToiqnwova64jlTIlE5gndcieIpxUmifuiWnCUHisSq32rnSAEilOPBfqrskcRvaHn6F2KAlMCM8ADZ6QVN8EibONNAGTLVD18ntVJ4jcAG3Vt0lFLu6v9mkT0c22hUH3tOQ/s200/Tolomeo.jpg" width="196" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CwP0ShPvAJOiBh7VPFkvmXxAKRiqs0ceuZCGRWdgZYiaidRq_n4Q64ATNuJuZCSmCri8CdDVD7L2qWa8NyMZqf9Z9O9xuPre_Xj8R7kSExsNsA7bFM85eVk8MXOWWtpvoTI7zdFl148/s1600/Tizio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As time marches forward, so does Artemide. The company continues to develop new pieces that are forward thinking in aesthetic design. Like these new designs:</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnnShT7taqUpnBnPSxnI7o-FcalFg4ICbd52WNW8g1fFnJoOyIdTKL5yIHLZUxXgberYiJD593zmmGhlfgpLF2aqgzerK7INl0BApxhIa0Aj0dnL9Zbb7nwkggtM0aVTvCdDcelja7fw/s200/Artemide+Cosmic+Leaf+Ceiling.jpg" width="196" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cosmic Leaf Suspended Ceiling designed by Ross Lovegrove in chrome steel & light grey brushed aluminum.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyptdGMOQ4h-D1dWr8UaFE1ZVz7XWZ7om9vECn8IeWt1awYtW6MxVWMFJi4gwpoh8G-srowOegdhnDt-IN3Vzs-U_CNbl-mDDLuGYQpoeOcQW27NjzF9fB_4nZsTze2OZMpvZkuKXBdU/s200/Artemide+Cadmo+Floor.jpg" width="196" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cadmo Floor Lamp designed by Karim Rashid in aluminum available in 3 different colors and wall fixture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://www.artemide.us/Products/Artemide_inc/Egle_Table/main.jpg" width="196" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Egle Table Lamp designed by Michel Boucquillon. Aluminum LED table lamp.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" r6="true" src="http://www.artemide.us/Products/Artemide_inc/Soffione_Wall_Ceiling/main.jpg" width="196" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soffione Wall/Ceiling Fixture designed by Michele De Lucchi in white handblown glass.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> As a leader in the lighting industry, Artemide directly addresses the concern about the environment by using technology. Over the last 10 years, all industries throughout the world have made the protection of the planet a top priority with energy consumption one of the most discussed areas. The most recent major development relates to an item that we come into contact everyday, the lightbuld. In 2007 George W Bush's signed the Energy Independence and Security Act, which phases out the use of traditional, incandescent light bulbs between 40 watts and 150 watts over a two-year period. California enacted this law on January 1, 2011. The rest of the country will start this program in 2012 with many other countries following suit. Artemide's response was almost immideate. Within 2 and a half years, the company turned to LED technology as a new alternative to traditional bulbs. New and existing lines, like the Tizio and Tolomeo collections, are designed and manufactured in both LED or standard incandscent versions. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">For thousands of years, Italy has made great impressions on the material world by creating amazing works of art, timeless and grand architecture and innovative goods all with a consistant level of craftsmanship. Artemide Lighting continues this legacy in a truly progressive way. So the next time you are in the market to purchase modern lighting, turn to Artemide Lighting because you can not go wrong with Italian design. </span></div>HERMOGENO DESIGNShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01126396637805599144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276310602699741776.post-83939410312826115802011-02-21T19:30:00.000-08:002011-02-21T19:30:43.428-08:00CULINARY CREATIONS: Potato Clam Chowder<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those who don't know, I love to cook. Growing up, the men were usually the ones slaving away over a hot stove, grilling choice cuts of meat and whipping up delicious desserts. It all started with my Grandpa Pete, my dad's father, who, after immigrating to the United States from the Philippines, was a cook in the army and a chef for Will Rogers. I remember as a kid, excited to head to my grandparent's house for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I learned to love our native food but also appreciated a well cooked steak. As time went on my father did much the same in our house. We, including my mom, became spoiled when it came to meals. But after watching two generations of men create memorable meals, I learned how to experiment with cooking. Now I am not a chef my any means, but I seem to get alot of requests from friends and family for my recipes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This is the first of many recipes I will be sharing.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><u><strong>POTATO CLAM CHOWDER</strong></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This recipe will serve 2 to 4 people.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">INGREDIENTS</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 6.5 oz canned chopped clams separated from the juice. Reserve juice*</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">2 lbs of freshly shucked clams</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 8 oz clam juice</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">3 Large russet potatoes cubed into 2" pieces </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1/3 lbs baby carrots whole</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">4 large stalks of celery, cleaned and sliced into 1" pieces</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 8 oz can corn, drained</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 large garlic clove, minced </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">2 sprigs of fresh dill, minced</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 tablespoon of unsalted butter</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">2 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 small yellow onion, minced</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 tablespoon of all purpose flour</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">2 cups of whole milk AND</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 cup of heavy cream** </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">1 pinch of cayenne pepper OR dried red pepper flakes (optional)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> salt and pepper to taste</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*Substitute canned clams with 2 lbs freshly shucked clams and increase the clam juice to 12 oz</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">**Substitute the whole milk and cream with 3 cups of 2% or 1% milk</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">RECIPE</span></div><ul><li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Heat a large pot, nothing smaller than a 5 quart, over medium-high heat</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add the butter and olive oil.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Once the butter has melted and the two have combined, add in the onions and garlic. Cook until the onions turn translucent.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add in a pinch of both salt and pepper.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add the potatoes and cook until they are almost soft. Don't overcook them.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add in the carrots and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add celery and cook until they become soft.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Slowly add in the flour, about half a teaspoon at a time. Make sure to incorporate the flour with the rest of the ingredients and eliminating any chunks of lumps of flour. </span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add in the clams and cook for about 5-7 minutes.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add about half a teaspoon each of salt and pepper to taste.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add in the reserved clam juice from the can and the additional 8 oz. Bring to a simmer.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add in the milk and heavy cream. Bring to a full boil.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add in a pinch each of salt, ground black pepper and cayenne pepper. Stir.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add in most of the minced dill. Reserve some for garnish. </span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Add in corn</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Lower the burner to low heat and cover.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Slowly cook for 45 minutes to an hour. Checking every 10 to 15 minutes.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The longer it sits the better so you can actually leave it on the stove longer.</span></div></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Ladle into soup bowls and garnish with the reserved dill.</span></div></li>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vPa5zXE5DIojESLDc6-kbOFfl5Tnrk5DST1JPTVZisog_2C0E5KmYp0_YOV_j-PFOCx0DrrpTChZLPtPPAkpT3xU2RDxmjAtLgJSMlMDD8CuB5yVsgEhQ9HvOaYpJ50oKp_oqTTmgyg/s1600/Chowder2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vPa5zXE5DIojESLDc6-kbOFfl5Tnrk5DST1JPTVZisog_2C0E5KmYp0_YOV_j-PFOCx0DrrpTChZLPtPPAkpT3xU2RDxmjAtLgJSMlMDD8CuB5yVsgEhQ9HvOaYpJ50oKp_oqTTmgyg/s320/Chowder2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong><em>ENJOY!</em></strong></span></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"></div><div align="center" style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
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</div>HERMOGENO DESIGNShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01126396637805599144noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4276310602699741776.post-84638873406589846012011-02-01T22:35:00.000-08:002011-02-02T06:09:29.884-08:00INTERIOR IDEAS. Penny Pinching is a Good Thing: Inexpensive Ways to Fill Your Home<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Craigslist. Ebay. Antique Stores. Sidewalks.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">From the internet to street corners, it's not very hard to find bargains. But I'm not talking about airfares or designer bags. Instead I am referring to chairs, floor lamps and yes even crystal glasses, all at rock bottom prices or better yet, many people's favorite word, FREE. In today's economic climate we are all finding ways to save or stretch a buck. We buy combo meals because it's cheaper than buying each item individually. We go to Happy Hour for cheaper drinks. But our homes are the places we try to save the most: Lowering the utility bills by turning off electronics when we leave the house, saving water by sweeping the driveway or switching to mobile service only and ditching the landline. </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">What happens when you want that floor lamp you saw on DWR's website or a new coffee table and you just paid PG&E, AT&T and other acronyms you write a check to every month? The first place you should hit, and we all know this, is Craigslist (<a href="http://www.craigslist.com/">http://www.craigslist.com/</a>). You never know what you'll find. If you dig long enough you'll find some great pieces and my partner and I can attest to that. Our best find was the Artemide Mega Tolomeo floor lamp (sold at DWR for upwards of $775 <a href="http://www.dwr.com/product/tolomeo-mega.do?keyword=tolomeo+mega&sortby=ourPicks">http://www.dwr.com/product/tolomeo-mega.do?keyword=tolomeo+mega&sortby=ourPicks</a>) we randomly found one day a few blocks from our place. The seller had just gotten it, didn't like it (God knows why) and didn't want to go through the hassel of returning it. Instead he posted it on CL and we ran right over. Why? He was selling it for $100. SCORE! It was in great condition and looked great in our living room (pictured). Of course there is the ever popular Ebay where we found the Kartell white ghost chair that we won for $200, there was no tax and shipping was included (DWR sells the chair for $410). </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDNB4aS2udW0nFVI437zX6v0WsXAiwz7v-LvG3KmY1zfx8kjhtOgUETcfZrBkTRqC7948IB9nAs6b8VHqLuIvu40cM9qLPYtpAbQIw7-Il9V9MSY7oFTVQ55PhJdU_m6j59ksu6mzsFY/s1600/n1184296088_30081400_781.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirDNB4aS2udW0nFVI437zX6v0WsXAiwz7v-LvG3KmY1zfx8kjhtOgUETcfZrBkTRqC7948IB9nAs6b8VHqLuIvu40cM9qLPYtpAbQIw7-Il9V9MSY7oFTVQ55PhJdU_m6j59ksu6mzsFY/s320/n1184296088_30081400_781.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">But if you don't have the patience to sit in front of a computer for hours on end or hate venturing into thrift stores with its mix of used jeans merchandised next to grandma's old sofa with that musty, weird smell that lingers even after you've left the store, there is an alternative: a </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">hotel liquidation center. When hotels, motels and resorts renovate, the existing furniture just can't be sent to landfills. That's a waste. Instead, the pieces are sold to stores who then resell them at great prices. For example to stage a home in Los Angeles last year, we found Hotel Surplus Outlet (</span><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://www.hotelsurplus.com/">http://www.hotelsurplus.com/</a>) that sells furniture from properties like The Peninsula Hotel of Beverly Hills. After finding them online, we ventured out to the San Fernando Valley where we found a huge warehouse of furnishings of all types. With a limited budget, we found it cheaper to purchase pieces from them than trying to rent the furniture. For the living room (pictured below) we were able to find a $200 microfiber sofa, 2 lounge chairs for $80, a wall mirror for $75, a glass and chrome coffee table for $75 and 2 chrome floor lamps for $150. The drapery panels and hardware were picked up from Target for around $45 and the bookcase in the corner was a discard from another client. In total $625 (plus tax) for a new living room.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietIU1a68Zc6wGZFNrJQBlqztRTATi6mnOh7uCkbmdhlScBt3UubGSqPC6QoapnsT53pQ-4GoHl_-T2u7jmVS9NOxJ0Y_Qcun0pxp9FxYyDecpP_pqFMlE1OUfJ1vxlZZ15TL74i3JHvE/s1600/untitled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietIU1a68Zc6wGZFNrJQBlqztRTATi6mnOh7uCkbmdhlScBt3UubGSqPC6QoapnsT53pQ-4GoHl_-T2u7jmVS9NOxJ0Y_Qcun0pxp9FxYyDecpP_pqFMlE1OUfJ1vxlZZ15TL74i3JHvE/s320/untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The outlet came in handy for the dining area also where we found the table for $150 and splurged on 4 chairs for $500. The chandelier was $150 from Lamps Plus (<a href="http://www.lampsplus.com/">http://www.lampsplus.com/</a>) and again the bookcase was a discard from another client. The result wasn't bad at all for $800.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0W8eun_6lBR1PqlsH9ri-ZvO-SE1mnzXP-xyWVqwCvV86Z2tc2V0Z5f_9az-NQaYk3s8W7PMHai5orkWrCpEohNEgSkFIUV52h-mDaPIAii5N25tr3T4U-eQu5R8Lc_-NrD3jwEjzZU/s1600/IMG_0136a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" s5="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0W8eun_6lBR1PqlsH9ri-ZvO-SE1mnzXP-xyWVqwCvV86Z2tc2V0Z5f_9az-NQaYk3s8W7PMHai5orkWrCpEohNEgSkFIUV52h-mDaPIAii5N25tr3T4U-eQu5R8Lc_-NrD3jwEjzZU/s320/IMG_0136a.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking of staging, many staging companies turn their inventory when they need or want to. If you head back to Craigslist in any city, click on "furniture" under "for sale" and type in the word "staging", you'll find these companies. The up side to this is that since the pieces were used for staging, chances are they would be pretty near new condition. You can also visit <a href="http://homestaging.com/">http://homestaging.com/</a> and click "Directory" to find the closest staging company to you.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yet another place to find slightly used furniture are consignment stores, which sells merchandise for people of which the store gets a percentage of each sale. Pieces can include designer and high-end furniture from an estate where a couple is getting divorced or someone who has decided to redecorate their home and doesn't want to use sites like Craigslist. In Chicago, Berry Hill Home Furniture Consignment (<a href="http://www.berryhillhome.com/">http://www.berryhillhome.com/</a>) sells designer sofas for half or more off of retail prices.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you don't have a hotel liquidation place near you or you prefer brand new furniture, then don't discount retailers that have outlet stores like Crate & Barrel (<a href="http://www.crateandbarrel.com/">http://www.crateandbarrel.com/</a>) who has outlets in 8 states and Restoration Hardware that has 11 outlet stores nationwide (<a href="http://www.restorationhardware.com/store-locations/outlets.jsp">http://www.restorationhardware.com/store-locations/outlets.jsp</a>). Just like clothing outlets, these stores have an array of merchandise of outlet only type items or slightly damaged pieces discounted from 20% to 50% or more. Another great tip about retail stores is at the end of year they perform inventory and the less to count the better. So at "end of year sales" or "after Christmas sales", you can pick up furnishings at outlet prices, mostly in the stores but retailers sometimes post them on their sites. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When it all comes down to it, our homes are our castles. But we don't have to spend a king's ransom to furnish them.</span></div>HERMOGENO DESIGNShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01126396637805599144noreply@blogger.com0