A kitchen renovation in the stunning Big Sur wilderness.…
Egg nog French toast has been a Christmas morning tradition in our home since 1996. It is easy and delicious. The aroma when it is baking will make your mouth water! You may even want to make it a holiday tradition in your home… I use store bought egg nog (usually Trader Joe’s) but I have included the recipe to make your own egg nog if you are so inclined. 🙂 Egg Nog French Toast Egg Nog: 6 fresh eggs…
When we bought The Little Glass House ten years ago, we were excited that it had a home office. It turns out we never used it. The previous owners had two large built in desks that wrapped around the room with small halogen lights over them and a wall of shelves. For years it just became the place where junk accumulated…papers, magazines, extra home accessories, and furniture. I dubbed it the “junk room” and avoided it whenever possible. The funny…
Outdoors The Big Sur House Travel Uncategorized
big sur under siege by fire and visitors
August 30, 2020
UPDATE: On September 11, the Dolan Fire is is 113,486 acres and only 26% contained. 14 firefighters were injured in a burnover incident. Thankfully, the last one will be leaving the hospital this week. The fire has been burning for over 3 weeks with no end in sight at this time. For anyone who loves Big Sur, please consider donating to Big Sur Fire , an all volunteer brigade made up of 22 men and women who do more than…
When we bought the The Big Sur House, the entry gate was flanked by two enormous pine trees, an extremely low metal arch, and a fence that had seen better days. But I loved it’s Big Sur feel. Fast forward a year, and the trees had contracted a disease that is killing pines all over the West. They had to be removed, leaving us with two great big stumps and what seemed like a barren and exposed entrance. When our…
I love when a project comes together to create a beautiful, comfortable, relaxing home. In the case of this 1932 Spanish style home in Santa Barbara, it was myself, Projects, and Grace Design Associates along with talented painters and subcontractors that reimagined this house into a more modern version of itself, all while still retaining it’s old world charm. If you read my post last week, I covered the entry hall, living room, dining room, and kitchen. We’ll continue the…
My most recent project began when I met my clients two years ago. They had recently purchased a 1932 Spanish style home in the historic Mission District in Santa Barbara. I’ll be honest…I was hesitant at first as this style of home seemed a bit outside of my wheelhouse. When I first saw the house, it was currently being used as a rental and had an eclectic traditional style. Additionally, it seemed dark even with the numerous windows and French…
More than ever, our homes have become places of comfort and refuge. With temperatures heating up, we are now turning to our outdoor spaces as an extension of our homes. Today I’m sharing our outdoor living space along with links to some truly inspiring blogger’s gardens. Here at The Big Sur House, we spend most of our time on the front deck (you can find the story on creating the deck here). With the stay at home order still in…
The days, weeks, and months are running together. I can’t believe June is almost here and we are still in lockdown in this part of California. I try not to focus on all the things that I can’t do, but instead on the things I can. While I can’t hike any of the trails or visit the beaches, I can hike our very steep road and enjoy its beautiful vistas. And I’ve enjoyed watching the change of wildflowers with each…
I honestly don’t know where the time has gone. The first month of the pandemic, I was numb and unmotivated. But something kicked in during the month of April (yes, I am a month behind!). After the parks and trails in Big Sur (along with most of California) were closed, I turned my attention to home. Heaven knows that with 3 acres of untamed property, there was plenty to do. I’m still knee deep in poison oak and mud (I…