SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT TILE!

Hello!How are you?

We’re really busy in this period, cause in spring we’re moving, we’ll change home!! (tough we’ll still remain in the same town)
It was a bit unexpected (so exciting!) but we found a tiny apartement in the town center, it has to be renovated, but, hey!this is my job, so i’ll work hard and i think in the end it will become a beautiful home!

So, the past few day we looked around for materials, tiles, parquet, and so on.. i still have a bit of confusion because of the huge quantity and variety of the materials we’ve seen, but today i would like to submit to you some of our possible choices:

Kitchen: i was thinking of a square tile, 40×40 cm, to enlarge optically the room. I like the warm tones, like sand for the floor and chocolate (maybe only a stripe between kitchen cabinets)
The kitchen will be two-coloured, in white and laminated wood, and i’ll insert a warm colour, like orange or red. (elegant but energetic)

Bathroom: we were thinking of a modern bathroom, in the shades of grey, a kind of “architectural shower” and suspended bathroom fixture.

Our future bathroom isn’t obviously this big, but i like the colour combination: maybe the floor will be “more grey”, to obtein a neutral effect, which can be personalized with all colours, warm or cold, according to the seasons. (i think that customize the bathroom with towels, rugs, curtains means more fun and brings freshness to the room.)

Bedrooms: I’m totally a “parquet effect” lover, so i’ve no doubt in our choice.
Also in the bedroom is important to have a cozy atmosphere, it’s a private space and it has to fit you perfectly.

I prefere modern and bright-coloured furniture, with a large upholstered bed. To make contrast, the parquet of the master bedroom will be in dark wood.

In the end, for the small bedroom ,i was thinking to a brighter effect, with oak wood or similar, but for now i’ve not really planned it.

Hmm.. we still have so much work to do, but i think that our starting selection is quite good. (hoping to show you soon the good result, with the shots of our new home!)

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SHOWCOOKING CON .. SIMONE RUGIATI!

Sabato 19 Ottobre nel nostro centro arredamento si è svolto un piccolo evento con Simone Rugiati (amanti di “Food Maniac” riunitevi!) che ha organizzato una breve dimostrazione culinaria!

Devo ammettere che, per una appassionata di cucina come me, vedere un cuoco con la C maiuscola all’opera così da vicino è stato davvero istruttivo, peccato non aver potuto prendere appunti!

TARTARE DI MANZO AI FUNGHI ED EMULSIONE D’OLIO CON TARTUFI

Personalmente non sono un’amante sfegatata della carne a crudo, ma la presentazione è stata ottima! La carne è stata lasciata volutamente a cubettini, e non pressata, di modo che la carne non diventi poltiglia.

RISOTTO ALLA ZUCCA CON TALEGGIO E FUNGHI

L’odore è stato da subito molto promettente! La zucca è stata tagliata a pezzettini ed aggiunta al risotto, mentre la mantecatura con burro e taleggio è stata lenta e, ovviamente, fuori dal fuoco.

Per finire, un secondo piatto:

SPEZZATINO D’AGNELLO CON PATATE, CIPOLLE E SABA

Per chi non lo sapesse, la saba è un condimento utilizzato in Emilia- Romagna (anche se non nella mia zona) ed è uno sciroppo d’uva, in sostanza. Ovviamente è possibile sostituire la carne d’agnello con carne di maiale o manzo, se preferite. Le patate sono state prima lessate e poi aggiunte per ultime in padella con la carne (sbriciolandole con le mani, molto rustiche)

BELLEZZE D’ITALIA: FIRENZE

Hello there! Today i’ll show you a collection of my shots taken in Florence during the years: I’m in love with Florence, so characteristic and full of historical monuments. And of course, a healthy and tasty cooking!

It’s quite easy to visit Florence in a couple of days, if you’re never been there.Main monuments and churches are concentrated in the city center, and of course you can always take as landmark the river Arno, wich divide Florence into two parts.

One of my favourite church ever is Santa Maria Novella, the cathedral of Florence (1296-1436): a huge monument ver well known because of the Brunelleschi Dome, and the Giotto Bell Tower. In front of the church we can see the “Battistero of San Giovanni”, covered with white and green Marble like the cathedral.

Following the main streets (called “Corso”) you’ll enter in the hearth of the city: Piazza della Signoria and the “Galleria degli Uffizi” will make you astonished and bring you back in time in the medieval era.

If you follow walking outside the Galleria Degli Uffizi you reach the Arno River and you’ll see the famous “Ponte Vecchio”, where you will find many shops of fine italian gold jewelry. The shops are called “botteghe” and are tiny wooden houses in which there are goldsmith studios. On this bridge you have a wonderful panorama of the buildings all around; on the other side of the River, there are many tiny restaurant with verandas on the river, very romantic…

At the end of “Ponte Vecchio”, you can follow the signs for “Palazzo Pitti”, one of the biggest residence of the Medici Family. If you have time, take a visit of the “Boboli Garden”, and inside the palace there are always art exhibitions.

PLACES THAT I LOVE IN FLORENCE
DANTE ALIGHIERI’S HOUSE (http://www.museocasadidante.it/?site_lang=it)

SAN LORENZO’S MARKET
Returning to the train station, you’ll enjoy the leather market in San Lorenzo, near the Church of San Lorenzo, with the “Princes Dome”. If you stay for lunch, i suggest a “focacceria”, tiny bars in which you can try sandwiches and flat bread with tuscan typical products, served hot. Delicious!

SANTA CROCE SQUARE
This is one of the most lovely corner in the city. This is a meeting point for people, which can watch sometimes some street artists. During summer nights take place musical shows.

Next time we’ll talk about the cooking in Florence, i promise! Cris

SWEET (AND RAINY) MONDAY

Buon inizio settimana! Che ne dite di renderlo un po’ più dolce? Oggi vi propongo un classico delle torte “veloci” e che piacciono davvero a tutti:

TORTA DI RISO SOFFIATO E MARS

INGREDIENTI:

– 1 scatola di riso soffiato “Rice Krispies” (375gr.)
– 8/9 barrette Mars
– 120gr. di burro

N.B.: dose per due tortiere piccole o una tortiera da 30-32 cm.

PREPARAZIONE:

Mettere i Mars e il burro in una pentola alta sul fuoco piccolo al minimo; fare sciogliere bene fino ad ottenere una specie di “nutella”.
Versateci dentro poco a poco, mescolando, l’intera busta di riso soffiato.
Continuare a mescolare, sempre a fuoco minimo, dal basso verso l’alto in modo da amalgamare bene il composto.

Versare ora in una tortiera (rotonda o rettangolare) e con il batticarne battere bene il composto, cominciando dai bordi. Il composto tenderà ad alzarsi nel centro: terminati i bordi, battere nel centro cercando anche di livellare la torta. Non abbiate timore di pressare troppo, più si pressa e più compatta sarà la torta.

Una volta pressata bene mettere in frigo. Toglierla dal frigo circa 15-20 minuti prima di servire.

VARIANTI: per chi non ama particolarmente il caramello, è ottima anche la versione con cioccolato fondente e al latte. Basta sostituire le barrette di Mars con un’eguale dose dei due cioccolati.

Buon Appetito!

ELEMENTI D’ARREDO: BOOKCASES

To create a cozy corner in your home! Seriously, i adore books and i need unlimited space to store them! Nothing’s better than a confortable couch, maybe a quilt in these days, a cup of chocolate and .. a good book!
Today i want to recreate a dreamy atmosphere with a “collage” of my bookcases shots taken in the past years .. Hoping that you’ll be inspired!

Curved walls to create movement in the living or/and separate  rooms;

Contrast between one main colour (White) and warm shades (Brown – Chocolate and Terra di Siena) make the ambience really cozy. Suffused lights and some cushion make the rest.

 

I like the asymmetric spaces in a volume like a bookcase: for the eyes is less boring!

Main color White, combined with Black (or shades of grey) and steel materials/objects is a evergreen. Maybe a little “anonymous”.

Let’s warm the grey thones with some natural wood! It seems already better than before!

And maybe, for the best confort, a spacious bookcase near your king-size round bed!