RoomRecipes » Top Recipes

Keep Me Iced…

Krista Watterworth — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:21:14 +0000

We all know those famous words from J. Lo herself “think you gotta keep me iced? You don’t….If I wanna floss, I got my own.” It’s true, “my love don’t cost a thing”. BUT… for some girls – you know the type – really expensive furniture, home accessories and art are as important as Carrie Bradshaw’s engagement “closet” (which you can now download to your IPOD or IPHONE).

Inspirational things in the more traditional style come from LA’s finest Suzanne Rheinstein in her Holly Hock shop. I’m not sure what the big deal is except that she brought a touch of the Northeast to LA LA Land. For less than five grand (yes, $5,000) you can have the most amazing shell encrusted candlestick holder. I love interiors, but I think I’d prefer a Chanel bag because I think I could make this:

Chandeliers are my downfall. It’s okay to be honest about your weak spot. It makes you more likable! Now this makes me swoon, so do all Marjorie Skouras’ chandeliers for that matter.

Mask Despair

Krista Watterworth — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 22:24:01 +0000

My mom came to visit and we did Mario Badescu facials and watched Mama Mia! to get our minds off the financial tailspin of our economy. Then I was reading the February issue of Martha Stewart Living and I found that Martha herself uses the very same products. So I fancied myself a Type-A-Personality-International-Home-Entertaining-Style-Guru-To-The-Masses for just a split second, which I thoroughly enjoyed…

But we laughed, we cried (yes, even Meryl can pull off a fab performance in a kitschy movie-musical with style, panache and emotionality) and we ate lots of ice cream. The recipe for success? Get your boyfriend, brother, manny or some sort of male counterpart to join in the fun. My husband’s participation made it triple the hoot!

A bit scary, I know…

Your Recipe for Success

Krista Watterworth — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:19:41 +0000

My husband says that there are three elements to his Recipe for Success:

1. A deep stretch in the shower every morning (sans leg warmers)

2. His daily flossing session

3. Facial moisturizer (non-fragrant is the key here)

Seems simple, but it works for him (and Olivia certainly seems happy as pie). These three tasks make him feel good about life. They give him a spring in his step every day.

Our conversation got me thinking: if I could sum up my Recipe for Success into three key elements, what would they be? At first I thought: Love like crazy, Laugh loudly once a day, and Healthy living. That’s more a list of goals than a recipe for success. But close…

Then my daily routine came to mind: Kiss & hug my baby boy Griffon over a great cup o’ hearty Joe, clear my desk by noon, and watch one of my favorite shows (Ugly Betty, The Office, Lost, 24, or just about anything on HGTV).

I realized that I have to re-evaluate what “Recipe for Success” really means. So, to help me in my cause please share YOUR Recipe for Success… without judgment and without self editing… and pass it on to me. I’d love to hear them!

At the end of every month, we’ll have a winner: The Recipe for Success of the Month. All RR Members will vote on the Best Of… so share!

Sensual Moroccan Bedroom

Krista Watterworth — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:40:19 +0000

Big style in a smalls space! Sanubar needed a new look for her bedroom. It wasn’t a reflection of her bohemian style. So here’s my Room Recipe for her space….

Bedding:

2 turquoise print euro shams
2 solid pumpkin standard shams
2 solid chocolate throw pillows
1 pumpkin and/or wine print blanket
1 cream duvet
1 sheet set chocolate
A dash of sassy

Furniture:
2 large cantelevered shelves espresso
1 or 2 dresser(s) espresso
1 trunk or bench espresso
2 cantilevered cubes in espresso
1 rattan chaise espresso (optional)

Flooring:
2 seagrass rugs 4×6
1 seagrass rug 5×7

Accessories:
2 hanging 16”-24“ star lamps
6 large pillar candles pumpkin
20 resin squares 12” sq. ea. chocolate
6 ceramic vases 6” – 12” wine or pumpkin
6 brown 8×10 photo frames cream matting

Window Treatments:
Peach or cream velvet or cotton drapery
Matchstick or bamboo blinds

Before my recipe for success!

Safari Dream Suite

Krista Watterworth — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:31:07 +0000

My Design: African Inspired Master Bedroom

David and Michelle bought a spacious 4-bedroom house in New York. They loved their over-sized master suite, but had no time to decorate it. David dreamt of giving Michelle a luxurious, sophisticated master bedroom retreat that resembled their South African honeymoon suite. With a budget of $6000, I had the perfect Room Recipe!

SERVES 2 COMFORTABLY

2 zebra print throw pillows
2 upholstered zebra print chairs
2 sets of chianti silk dupioni drapes
1 large cherry ultra suede ottoman
1 large antique travel trunk
Collection of African baskets
1 black leather reading chair
1 large espresso finish bookcase
4 sets of 108” white window sheers
1 dark wood contemporary canopy bed
Set of crisp white cotton bedding
2 travel tray side tables
1 large natural fiber area rug

1. I like to create my Room Recipe from a place, object, color, or fond memory that inspires the homeowner.

2. The sheers on the bed conjure a feeling of intimate enclosure, and replicate mosquito netting used in African countries.

3. Dupioni silk drapery is an elegant contrast to the natural elements in the space like the leather chair and sea grass border area rug.

4. A sitting area is essential in a large master suite. It gives the couple a quiet place to read and share at the end of a long day.

Is wallpaper really the anti-christ?

Krista Watterworth — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 01:54:01 +0000

I’ve been living in apartments for many years — I guess you could call me a serial renter. I lived in South Beach (Miami) for six years and been a New York City girl since 2000. When I lived in SoBe I moved once a year just because I wanted a new apartment to decorate!

So… wallpaper hasn’t been in my style wheelhouse. Once I break-up with whatever apartment I’m living with, wallpaper is too much work to remove. A good girl doesn’t leave her baggage prominently displayed for the next unlucky renter. (Are we still talking about wallpaper here?)

I’m still a renter and even though I’ve gotten more bold with my design choices I never do anything that would be too difficult to undo. So I guess you can say, I have wallpaper envy. One of my favorites? Cole & Son’s birch tree wallpaper. It’s old news, I know, but I can’t get it out of my mind! I have a bit of a tree fetish in general.

As a result, I’ve secretly fallen in love with modern stencils and wall decals. Here are some of my favorites:

www.whatisblik.com; www.sprouthome.com; www.wallwords.com; www.stencil1.com