The Sex and the City Look for Less

The last five blog posts have been centered around creating a unique kitchen that fits perfectly with your style and the style of your home. Well, in our opinion, no one is or ever will be more stylish than the gals and guys of Sex and the City. For six glorious seasons, one great movie and one not-so-great movie (sorry), we watched Carrie trotting through the streets of the BIG Apple in Manolos and couture. Equally fabulous were the homes of these fashion forward characters. Miranda and Carrie lived in quaint, understated style while Samantha and Charlotte took elegance and sophistication to new levels with their over-the-top styles in two very different ways. Sadly, Sex and the City is gone, but it has certainly left a long-lasting impression and the SATC look can be achieved with the right furniture and the perfect lighting and accessories.

Our talented designers can show you some key pieces (see below) that will transform your space in an instant and you don't need to spend Big money to do it. Did you like that? At Weisshouse, you'll often hear our designers say, "First, you have to start with a great rug." The best place to begin when re-designing a space is from the ground up. You may even already own a beautiful wool rug that has colors to pull from when selecting pieces to complement the room. Spaces that work best are those that have an ideal mix of push and pull. A modern, all glass coffee table works well with either lacquered side tables or rustic, vintage tables with clean lines. An antique rug is great under a contemporary sofa with a chaise attached. Mixing more masculine elements with feminine pieces also achieves good balance in a room. In the movie Sex and the City 2, Carrie and Big's kitchen was ultra modern with teak and white lacquered cabinets (like our showroom kitchen), but their table and chairs are classic, vintage Danish Modern. Another useful tip is to invest in items such as sofas and lounge chairs that will last.  We often advise choosing mostly solid colored neutral fabrics for those key pieces. That way, you won't tire of those items and you can update your look with new lamps, art or throw pillows. It's just like the LBD or LBS (little black dress/suit). For your bedroom, also choose muted, relaxing colors that sooth like Carrie and Big did (also SATC 2) in their boudoir. A tufted headboard covered in flax colored linen is the ideal nest for a restful night of sleep. Don't get too fussy with your bedding either. A million pillows are too much work in the morning, especially when you have to hit the snooze button three times because you had too many cosmopolitans the night before. Fresh white linens and a white duvet cover are beautiful when you add an interesting throw or a couple of colorful pillows into the mix. Check out the suggestions below for the perfect Sex and the City look. Stop by Weisshouse and check out the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams sofa from Miranda's apartment on the series!

SATC photo credits above: Mochatini

Saving the Glass for Last

This is the final installment of Weisshouse Kitchens 101. It's week 5 and this week we are discussing our ASPEN kitchen, an all glass dream of a kitchen. ASPEN is beyond jaw dropping. It is the epitome of high style and even higher function. ASPEN is ALL glass or 3mm Carrera marble in white or black behind glass. The interior frame is constructed of aluminum. ASPEN can be any color glass you imagine as it is lacquered on the back. In addition to kitchens, ASPEN is tranquil in a bathroom or closet. Spend an hour or an afternoon exploring ASPEN with a Weisshouse designer this week.

Of course, the final installment calls for the final course....Dessert!

Individual Lemon Pudding Cakes courtesy of Williams Sonoma recipes

For this recipe, the egg whites should be whipped just until they form soft peaks that slump to one side when the beaters are lifted. To make a meringue, the egg whites need to be whipped longer, until they form stiff peaks that will stand upright. The eggs should still appear moist and satiny and not grainy—that is a sign of overwhipping.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
3 eggs, separated
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 large lemons)
1 1/3 cups milk
Directions:
Preheat an oven to 350°F. Place eight 1/2-cup ramekins in a large baking dish and pour in water to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins. In a small bowl, stir together the flour and salt. In a separate nonreactive bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the egg yolks with 3/4 cup of the sugar on medium speed until pale and thick, about 3 minutes. Stir in the flour mixture and beat until very thick, 2 minutes more. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice and milk. Using an electric mixer on high speed, whip the egg whites until foamy. Sprinkle in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and whip until soft peaks form when the beaters are lifted. Using a silicone spatula, stir one-fourth of the egg whites into the lemon mixture. Gently fold in the rest just until no streaks of egg white are visible. Divide the mixture evenly among the ramekins. Bake until the centers are firm to the touch and the edges pull away slightly from the sides of the ramekins, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven but leave the ramekins in the water bath for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the pudding cakes warm or at room temperature straight from the ramekins. Serves 8.

Gracious Curves...It Must Be Sidney

Week 4 of Weisshouse Kitchens Ed. is upon us. This week, the lovely and curvacious SIDNEY kitchen is our feature. Words cannot describe the exquisite lines and finishes that SIDNEY consists of. But, since this a blog, I will try my best in words to do only what a photo or the "real thing" can truly accomplish. SIDNEY is available in the following finishes: Italian Walnut, Wenge, Glossy Zebrano Wood and Stainless Steel (stunning). In addition, just like CITY and EXTRA, SIDNEY can also be in any laquer finish whether you choose high gloss or matte! SIDNEY has an extra thick door measuring 1.1" for a substantial, yet, elegant appeal. SIDNEY has no handles and instead, uses a smooth aluminum channel for means of opening doors and drawers. Ask a Weisshouse designer for more information on SIDNEY and feel free to fall in love.

Because SIDNEY is such a show stopper, I have selected a recipe that will really impress guests at your next dinner party almost as much as they'll be impressed by a Weisshouse kitchen. Below you'll find a rich and savory recipe for Seafood Gratin courtesy of 2006, Barefoot Contessa at Home (Ina Garten of The Food Network).

Ingredients
For the sauce:
1 cup seafood stock or clam juice
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons good white wine, such as Chablis, divided
3 tablespoons tomato puree
1/2 teaspoon saffron threads
8 ounces raw shrimp, peeled, deveined, and cut in half crosswise
8 ounces raw halibut, cut into1-inch chunks
8 ounces cooked lobster meat, cut into 1-inch chunks
7 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
3 cups julienned leeks, white and light green parts (2 large)
1 1/2 cups julienned carrots (3 carrots)
1 cup panko (Japanese dried bread crumbs)
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons minced fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves
1 tablespoon minced garlic (2 cloves)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Place 4 individual gratin dishes on sheet pans. (If recipe is doubled serve it in a 14 by 9 1/4-inch oval gratin dish.)
For the sauce:
Combine the stock, cream, 1/2 cup of the wine, the tomato puree, and saffron in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, lower the heat, and add the shrimp. After 3 minutes, use a slotted spoon to remove the shrimp to a bowl. Add the halibut to the stock for 3 minutes, until just cooked through, and remove to the same bowl. Add the cooked lobster to the bowl.
Continue to cook the sauce until reduced by half, about 12 minutes. Mash 1 tablespoon of the butter together with the flour. Whisk the butter mixture into the sauce along with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Simmer, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
Melt 3 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saute pan. Add the leeks and carrots and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until softened. Add the remaining 3 tablespoons of wine, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook for 5 to 10 minutes, until tender. Set aside.
Combine the panko, Parmesan, parsley, tarragon, and garlic. Melt the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and mix it into the crumbs until they're moistened.
Divide the seafood among the 4 gratin dishes. Strew the vegetables on top of each dish. Pour the sauce equally over the seafood and vegetables and spoon the crumbs evenly on top. Bake for 20 minutes, until the top is browned and the sauce is bubbly. Serve hot!

EXTRA, EXTRA Read All About It!

This week, we will be exploring the "EXTRA" kitchen. EXTRA is installed in our showroom window in Wenge and high gloss lacquer in Taupe. This stunning combination works beautifully in our showroom and just happens to be the most popular kitchen style due to it's effortlessly chic integrated handle. The integrated handle is always standard, no handles are used with the EXTRA kitchen. EXTRA is elegant in all white high gloss finish and classic in Wenge as well. All black high gloss is simply jaw dropping. In addition to Wenge, Oak and Teak can also be used. Any high gloss lacquer or matte lacquer can be applied to suit your personal taste and the colors that work best in your home. EXTRA is truly extra amazing with it's 1.1" thick door. Stop in our showroom to explore EXTRA and have a Weisskrispie Treat chocolate bar. We are sure you will love this kitchen and our chocolate. We do.

This week's recipe (the third course) is an apetizer courtesy of Whole Foods Market. Enjoy Buffalo Mozzarella with Balsamic Glazed Plums, Pine Nuts and Mint!

Serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
1 large ball buffalo or cow's milk fresh mozzarella, sliced into 1/4-inch thick rounds 4 ripe plums, pitted and quartered 1 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted 1 splash olive oil Salt and pepper, to taste
Method
Put vinegar in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Adjust heat to low and simmer until it is reduced nearly three-quarters in volume and thickened to a syrup. About 15 minutes. Add plums to syrup turning gently to coat and continue to cook for another 4-7 minutes more. Turn off heat and let cool. Meanwhile assemble mozzarella slices on platter, allowing to overlap slightly and season with salt and pepper to taste. With a fork, remove plums from syrup and place atop cheese, then top with the remaining syrup, pine nuts and mint. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.