Sarah Walker The Curated House, Author at The Curated House

The Ultimate In Upcycling: Sacred Spaces

If you check out the intro to my interior design website, you’ll learn a bit about my design philosophy. I believe our homes should speak to us; invite us to connect, unwind, relax and even dream. A haven where we can regroup and rebuild and recalibrate, our homes should be sacred spaces.

In writing yesterday’s post, I decided to just use Google as a quick way to find the link to my previous post titled “The Ultimate In Upcycling.” To my pleasant surprise, right below my post in Google’s search results was a post by the same name with the subtitle “Homes in Converted Churches” from the trailblazing design blog Apartment Therapy. I’ve promised to share any inspiration and found beauty I stumble upon in my everyday life, and this definitely counts!

The home above, originally a sandstone church built in 1877, was transformed into a modern residence in 1977 after 100 years of serving as a house of worship. Images via Desire to Inspire.

This next one is my favourite. An 1870 Gothic church in Utrecht was converted in 2009 by Zecc Architects into this modern minimalist’s dream.

And if like me, you are mesmerized by soaring windows that flood a interior with natural light, then you will fall in love with this next space – a real modern, eclectic mix. Images from HomedIt.

I love the punctuations of pink throughout the space that create a continuous, warm and decidedly feminine rhythm throughout this stunning home.

What kind of space makes you feel safe and able to unwind, relax and dream? Is it an interior space or perhaps an inspiring spot you’ve found in nature? Would love to hear about your own sacred spaces!

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 12th, 2012|2 Comments

For the Detailistas – Industrial Modern

This follow up is for all you Detailistas! Remember those jaw-dropping upcycled silk sari rugs I featured a few weeks ago? Well, many of you noticed the cool light fixtures and furnishings as well. Always happy to oblige, today I’m dishing the deets on the other furnishings that caught your attention.

First the lights. These “Workshop Cage Lamps” from ELTE are inspired by the wire cages that were once used to protect the light bulbs in workshops and factories back in the time of The Industrial Revolution. These cage lights are shown paired with ELTE‘s Edison 40W bulb – a classic filament style bulb also entirely reminiscent of a bygone era. In a time when compact flourescents and LED’s are dominating the market, I find it fascinating to see this return to the origins of the filament light bulb, first brought to life by Edison in 1879.

The chair from this grouping is a perfect example of hand-hewn nods at history. The distressed leather, panelled aluminum back and exposed screws and nail heads all speak to human crafstmanship paired with the powering of machine-driven manufacturing. The aesthetic is reminiscent of the first airplanes from the turn of the century, also crafted in sections with panels of aluminum.

The desk – a combination of a Light Burnt Oak top with sawhorse-style steel legs – brings to mind a time when people worked hard to create and innovate using their hands while harnessing the newfound power and strength of what machines could produce.

Check out similar details in this vintage style trunk, also from ELTE.

One of my favourite design colleagues recently asked me why I think there has been such a strong resurgence of the Industrial Modern look in Interior Design in the last 2-3 years. While I am not an expert on social psychology, I would hazard a guess that it is a combination of two things:

ONE, our desire to feel connected to history in an era where change is coming at us faster than ever before. We live in what has been heralded as the Digital Revolution, and just like the Industrial Revolution, it marks a major turning point in history. Almost every aspect of our daily lives is affected in some way. Think about the way you work, plan, communicate, shop, research and create! Virtually nothing has been left unchanged. In harkening back to another era of rapid change and innovation, we remind ourselves that our ancestors survived that life-altering pace of change, and we will too.

TWO, there is visual evidence with most of these “Industrial Modern” products that human hands were involved in their making. Wood is generally raw and often reclaimed. Exposed nail heads and grommets and signs of hand hammering are all essential to the aesthetic. In a time when more and more of our daily products are made exclusively by machines and are increasingly disposable, I think we want to remember our humanity and our ability to handcraft timeless, lasting quality.

Is the Industrial Modern look leaving you inspired? If you’re looking to inject your interior with some Industrial flair, ELTE has an entire department dedicated to this aesthetic. Be sure to go and check it out and let me know what you think!

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 11th, 2012|0 Comments

What’s For Dinner? Bacon Wrapped Haddock

I have to take a moment to officially thank Jamie Oliver. He has managed to add fish to our roster of regular family meals in a way I never thought possible! With a husband who likes-but-doesn’t-love fish and a son who mostly turns his nose up at it, I never thought the fruits of the sea would be frequently seen at our table. How did it happen? Magic! (aka BACON) We stumbled upon this recipe in a Jamie Oliver cookbook loaned to us by the loveliest of foodie friends, and bippity-boppity-BACON, fish became a family favourite!

The honest to goodness truth here is that the fish is just a “carrier.” Like a dealer bringing you the “good stuff,” the mild and meaty haddock simply acts as a delivery method for the rich and smoky flavour of the bacon and the aromatic goodness of the rosemary.

We love this served with steamed French green beans or asparagus. Simple, balanced and so yummy! It’s so easy to make that – after watching me make it a couple of times – my husband has added it to his roster of meals he’ll make when I’m too tired to cook. Talk about winning!

THE INGREDIENTS:

4 x 200g haddock fillets, cut 2.5cm thick, skinned and pinboned

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary, leaves picked and very finely chopped

2 Tbsp olive oil

sea salt + freshly ground black pepper

16 slices of smoked streaky bacon or pancetta, cut in half

THE METHOD:

Preheat your oven to 400ºF. Season your cutting board by pouring olive oil over it and rubbing in the salt, pepper and finely chopped rosemary. Dredge your beautiful haddock filets in this mixture and set aside. Lay your halved bacon or pancetta slices in rows of 4-6, slightly overlapped. Place a haddock filet on top and wrap the bacon around it.

Lightly heat a large ovenproof frying pan and lay your Bacon Wrapped Haddock, prettiest side facing up, in the pan. Fry for a minute, then transfer to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in your preheated oven for 10 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fish, until the bacon is crisp and golden.

Enjoy!

By Sarah Walker The Curated House|July 10th, 2012|0 Comments