kakatie's Profile

I can't stand chili that is to 'soupy', so my favorite trick is to tear up one corn torilla and it to the pot for the last 15 minutes of cooking. It dissolves completely and the cornmeal thickens everything up nicely.

The architect who designed the house on the cover is Tom Kundig... his own book is Tom Kundig:Houses, edited by Dung Ngo. Even though it's technically an architecture book, the interior details are really inspiring, and the photography is beautiful. There's a lot of re-purposing of materials, different approaches to hardware, etc. that encourage me to look at all materials beyond their prescribed function.

Labneh with figs, honey, and chunks of crusty bread... yum! It's one of my go-to appetizers (or after-school snack, or dessert, or breakfast...). I first found it at Agata & Valentina, but Whole Foods usually has it in stock...I believe I saw it at Trader Joes, too. Look near the yogurt.

Ooh, good one!!

I think my apartment building definitely reflects my personality and priorities... it's one of the few places in/around DC that preserves green space instead of being jam-packed with additional apartments. It's a historic landmark, but it's also a fairly bland, brick facade. Charming, but not too specific... which really let me run with whatever interior style I wanted. The best part is that my door opens directly onto the courtyard, as do a few others, making it a very social spot. There are more than a few funny stories about my husband, the extrovert, and wide-open 1st floor windows.

It's true, that sometimes we live in whichever building is convenient at the time, but I do believe that all of my friends in DC, regardless of financial situation, have chosen buildings that are completely appropriate to their personalities. The quirky one lives in a funky old building, the modern design lover chose a glass and steel tower (outside the District b/c of height restrictions, of course), the flaky one (she knows it) lives in a highly inconvenient area... etc, etc.

Wow, you guys are tough. If you read the text, they have done a lot to customize this place... exposing brick, painting (especially in the nursery), complete renovations on kitchen and bath, etc. With pillows from Malaysia, a crib from Ebay, and furniture and art from Eastern Market (a farmers, art, and flea market of sorts for anyone who doesn't know), they seem to be pulling pieces from all over. It's not my style, but I'm not going to rip into anyone for what they love... they were nice enough to share their home with us, after all.

Very thorough documenting, Valerie.

The kitchen is abolutely adorable! But the single wine bottle in the rack looks lonely.

The minimalism is refreshing, and the layout is great.

Seriously... this is a great space. The boat reference is completely appropriate because the only other 200 sq. ft. living space I have ever seen used so efficiently IS a boat. The "theme" is apparent, but I don't think it's overly done... the Jonathan Adler bedding, danish modern chairs, cowhide on the floor, and great round coffee table are not nautical items by any means, and yet they totally create a cohesive design WITH the nautical elements. Though it might not be everyone's personal taste, this home is certainly an inpiration to find one's style and create a home which reflects it.

Very. Very. Cool.