Get out of town: Washington, DC

This afternoon Alex and I are headed out of town ourselves...to DC to visit some of our dearest friends. So, I thought it only appropriate to feature our capital city in today's post. We arrive this evening just in time for dinner in the city, tomorrow we'll be visiting the monuments, and on Sunday and Monday, lots and lots of museums! Happy weekend to all of you; I know ours will be!

Painting of the week: Margie Stewart's 'Daffodils'

Margie Stewart, 'Daffodils', 30" x 40", Oil on canvas, $4500.

What feels more like spring has sprung than when the daffodils begin to bloom? This piece of Margie Stewart's is one of the newest paintings in our inventory at the gallery and we couldn't be happier to have it hanging on the wall. If you are in the neighborhood, come by to get a sneak peek at all of Margie Stewart's new paintings; they will have you longing for summer!

Designers we love: Robert Brown Interior Design

All images courtesy of Robert Brown Interior Design.

One of our all-time favorite local designers is Bob Brown. He and his team design some of the most gorgeous homes in Atlanta for some of Atlanta's most particular clients. Above I have included a few of my favorite images from throughout his career. Here is a little more history on Bob and his firm:

Brown is the owner and principle of Robert Brown Interior Design. After nearly two decades in the fashion industry, where he was vice-president of design and marketing for Hartwell Industries, Brown launched his career in interior design. He is a graduate of the University of Georgia.

Brown has completed projects in California, Florida, North Carolina, Colorado, Washington, as well as in his native Georgia. His projects include private residences, show houses, historic homes, and multi-family dwellings. He has also designed country clubs and commercial interiors. Additionally, he has completed a large motor yacht and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Buckhead-Atlanta. Brown has recently announced the launch of a furniture collection for Holland and Company/ MacRae.

A recipient of over 20 American Society of Interior Design (ASID) “Design in Excellence" awards, he has served as a board member of the Georgia chapter and been awarded the President's award. Brown serves as a board member of Atlanta's DIFFA chapter and has chaired the Dining by Design gala with Margaret Russell of ELLE DECOR. He is also the recipient of the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center's”2006 Southeastern Residential Designer of the Year”. He advises a national fabric firm on trends and forecasting.

Brown's work has appeared in many interior design magazines including SOUTHERN ACCENTS, TRADITIONAL HOME, VERANDA, BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, ATLANTA, ATLANTA HOMES AND LIFESTYLES, TO THE TRADE, RANCH AND COAST, and soon will be seen in FLORIDA DESIGN. Several of his designs are included in the new book, Beautiful Interiors.

If you would like to learn more about Robert Brown Interior Design or contact them to inquire about their design services, please click here.

Tasty Tuesdays: Black Bean and Chicken Chilaquiles

Courtesy of Cooking Light Magazine.

Last night I made this delicious and easy Mexican treat that is a staple in our house! I originally got the idea for making this casserole when we used to head up Buford Highway (Atlanta's very own international mecca) on Sunday mornings for Mexican breakfast. This is a mainstay that many Mexican families make with leftover meat, tortillas, cheese, and beans. For this version, I often just find whatever cheese, tortillas, and leftover meat I have in the fridge. It's easy and quick...try it, you won't be disappointed!

Ingredients:

Cooking spray

1 cup thinly sliced onion

5 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

1 (7 3/4-ounce) can salsa de chile fresco (such as El Pato)

15 (6-inch) corn tortillas, cut into 1-inch strips

1 cup shredded queso blanco (about 4 ounces)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450°.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion; sauté 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add chicken; cook 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl; stir in beans. Add broth and salsa to pan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Place half of tortilla strips in bottom of an 11 x 7-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Layer half of chicken mixture over tortillas; top with remaining tortillas and chicken mixture. Pour broth mixture evenly over chicken mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until tortillas are lightly browned and cheese is melted.

Note:

A traditional Mexican breakfast favorite, chilaquiles (chee-lah-KEE-lays) is a sauté of day-old tortilla strips, fresh tomato sauce, cream, and cheese. This hearty version is baked. Refrigerate leftover chilaquiles in individual containers with tight-fitting lids. To reheat, drizzle with a tablespoon of water, and microwave just until thoroughly heated.

Julianna Grimes Bottcher, Cooking Light

NOVEMBER 2006

Get out of town: Lake Rabun

Courtesy of Southern Living.

Courtesy of Lake Rabun Hotel.

Ok, ok, so we can't go too far this weekend because we have to be back Sunday night for the season premiere of Mad Men!!! But, that means an hour-and-a-half drive to the North Georgia Mountains would be just fine. Alas, Lake Rabun is the perfect weekend getaway. It is quietly pristine and untouched at this lovely mountain lake. If you live in Atlanta and have not been; this spring is the time to go!

Painting of the week: Sarah Hinckley "summer of my blue"

Sarah Hinckley, "summer of my blue", 15" x 10" watercolor on fabriano, $1150.

All of this springtime weather certainly has us in the mood for the change of seasons. Doesn't this beautiful watercolor by gallery artist Sarah Hinckley remind you of the bright sunshine after the rain?

Designers we love: Courtney Giles

All images courtesy of Courtney Giles.

This afternoon I wanted to highlight one of my favorite designers as well as one of my greatest friends, Courtney Giles. Just one look at her fabulous rooms will make you swoon! She was recently been featured in House Beautiful's "The Next Wave" and she certainly is making some waves of her own. Here is a little information about Courtney from her website:

Courtney Giles Interiors is a full-service, high end residential design firm. Courtney works closely with her clients to create clean, classic, and comfortable settings. While carefully editing each space, she incorporates the stylistic preferences and personalities of her clients. Whether traditional, glamorous, or contemporary, Courtney creates enticing rooms her clients want to spend time in.

A native of Alabama, Courtney, Allied Member of ASID, attained her design degree from Auburn University where she is a board member of the Interior Design program. A semester spent in Europe inspired her love of Classical Art and Architecture. After graduation, she moved to Atlanta where she spent eight years working with Carter Kay Interiors. During her tenure with Carter Kay, she had the opportunity to work on several large scale and budget projects. Many of those projects involved working closely with well known architects from the beginning to end of the project.

Courtney was recently selected as part of House Beautiful's "Next Wave". In January 2011, Giles was selected by Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles as part of their "10 Under 40 - Atlanta's New Tastemakers". Her own townhouse was featured on the September 2007 cover of Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles, and she has been featured on various blogs including: Peak of Chic, Habitually Chic, Things That Inspire, La Dolce Vita, and Style Court. Courtney has worked on projects throughout the Southeast, Colorado, Manhattan, and as far afield as the Netherlands.

If you are interested in hiring Courtney for help with your interior design, please contact her here.

Tasty Tuesdays: Penne alla Vodka

Courtesy of williams-sonoma.com.

It's been another great week for cooking at my household. Yesterday I made these delicious chocolate chocolate chip muffins and later this week, I'll be cooking this fabulous Penne with Vodka Sauce. This is a perfect weeknight meal: quick, easy and scrumptious! And, if you are lucky like me, you can pick up the fresh pasta at your local Italian market, like Toscano and Sons which is located right across the parking lot from Emily Amy Gallery!

From williams-sonoma.com:

For a new spin on classic vodka sauce, add a splash of brandy or Cognac to the 1/3 cup vodka. Simply substitute 2 Tbs. brandy or Cognac for the 2 Tbs. vodka.

Ingredients:

4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup tomato paste

1/3 cup plus 2 Tbs. vodka

2 Tbs. slivered fresh basil

Pinch of red pepper flakes

1 tsp. plus 2 Tbs. salt

1 lb. penne or other tubular pasta

1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Directions:

Make the sauce

Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. In a large fry pan over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the cream. In a small bowl, dissolve the tomato paste in the vodka. Stir into the cream mixture. Add the basil and red pepper flakes. Season with the 1 tsp. salt. Cook until most of the alcohol has evaporated and the sauce is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes.

Cook the pasta

Meanwhile, add the 2 Tbs. salt and the pasta to the boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until al dente, according to the package instructions. Drain, reserving about 1/2 cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the sauce and warm briefly over low heat to blend the flavors. Add the cheese and toss to combine. Add as much of the reserved cooking water as needed to loosen the sauce and serve. Serves 4.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Food Made Fast Series, Pasta, by Julia della Croce (Oxmoor House, 2006).

Museum Mondays: Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO

All images courtesy of the Clyfford Still Museum.

I've been wishing for awhile now that I could jet off to Denver, CO to visit the newly opened Clyfford Still Museum to see both the fabulous building designed by Brad Cloepfil and Allied Works Architecture as well as the paintings housed inside. Here is a little sneak peek if you don't have the time or money for an art trip these days, and who does?!? Enjoy!

The Mission of the Clyfford Still Museum is to advance the understanding and appreciation of Clyfford Still's art and legacy through the presentation, research, interpretation, preservation, and stewardship of its unique collections.

Considered one of the most important painters of the 20th century, Clyfford Still (1904-1980) was among the first generation of Abstract Expressionist artists who developed a new and powerful approach to painting in the years immediately following World War II. After the artist's death in 1980, the Clyfford Still Estate was sealed off from public and scholarly view. Still's will stipulated that his estate be given in its entirety to an American city willing to establish a permanent museum dedicated solely to his work, ensuring its survival for exhibition and study. In August 2004, the City of Denver, under the leadership of then Mayor John W. Hickenlooper, was selected by Still's wife, Patricia Still, to receive the substantial Still collection. In 2005, Patricia Still also bequeathed to the city her own estate, which included select paintings by her husband as well as his complete archives. The Still Museum collection, which represents nearly 94 percent of the artist's lifetime output, includes approximately 2,400 works created between 1920 and 1980.

The Clyfford Still Museum is the newest addition to Denver's burgeoning Cultural Arts District and is located adjacent to the Denver Art Museum in the city's Civic Center Cultural Complex. The two-story, 28,500-square-foot building was designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Architecture specifically to display Still's work. The museum broke ground in December 2009 and was completed in November of 2011. The museum allows visitors the unique experience to understand the legacy of Clyfford Still, an artist whose life has been shrouded in mystery and the bulk of whose work has been hidden from public view for over 30 years.

Get Out of Town: Serenbe

All photos courtesy of Serenbe.

Last night as I was lying in bed I thought to myself, "you sure need a vacation." Sometimes as a small business owner it is difficult to get away for a week, a long weekend, or even a few days. So instead of hightailing it to Tahiti, I thought of a respite only an hour or so away from my hometown of Atlanta, Serenbe. We were planning a little weekend getaway soon and I think I know where we'll be heading! How peaceful...

Painting of the week: Bernd Haussmann "untitled"

Bernd Haussmann, untitled p35-06, 22" x 30", Mixed media on paper

After a fabulous weekend in Marblehead, MA with Bernd and his lovely wife, I cannot stop thinking about his work. How beautiful is this work on paper?

Designers We Love: Angie Hranowsky

All images courtesy of Angie Hranowsky.

This is the second of our themed posts that we rolled out this week and we are thrilled to feature one of our favorite designers, Angie Hranowsky, for Wednesday's theme, "Designers We Love." Angie came into the gallery about a year or so ago and we had so much fun meeting her and looking through the bins together. We are always watching what this brilliant young designer is doing and we couldn't be more impressed! Here's a little about Angie, in case you haven't already read up on this rising star:

Named one of the “20 Designers To Watch” by Traditional Home and one of “Five Up and Coming Designers” by Metropolis magazine, Angie Hranowsky is a multidisciplinary designer with a studio based in historic Charleston, South Carolina. She has spent more than a decade creating award-winning identities and print work for an array of regional and national clients. In 2005, Angie launched her interior design firm, reinterpreting her print design sensibility and color acumen for dynamic, three-dimensional spaces – and quickly vaulted onto the national interior design scene. Driven by a passion to engage and nurture each client, Angie crafts beautifully balanced, inviting spaces that are both personal and timeless. Her eclectic aesthetic, bold use of color and relaxed modern style swiftly garnered attention and praise from leading design publications including House Beautiful, Domino, Cookie and Metropolitan Home.

If you are interested in working with Angie or seeing more of her projects, please click here.

Tasty Tuesdays: Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream

Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream

2006, Ellie Krieger, All Rights Reserved

As many of you know, I am a huge cook and this new theme for Tuesday's posts, "Tasty Tuesday" will feature a new recipe from my file every Tuesday. We hope that you enjoy and cook! This is what is for dinner at my house this evening...

Ingredients

Fish:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1 pound white flaky fish fillet, like tilapia or halibut

Chipotle cream:

1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt

2 tablespoons mayonnaise

2 teaspoons chipotle pepper, in adobo sauce

8 (6-inch) corn tortillas

1 1/2 cups shredded green cabbage or lettuce

1/2 cup corn kernels (thawed if frozen)

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

Lime wedges

Directions:

In a small bowl, whisk together the oil, lime juice, salt and pepper. Pour over the fish fillets and let marinate for 20 minutes. Put the yogurt into a strainer lined with apaper towel and place over a bowl to drain and thicken for 20 minutes.

Remove the fish from the marinade and grill on a preheated grill or nonstick grill pan over a medium-high heat until cooked thorough, about 3 minutes per side. Set the fish aside on a plate for 5 minutes.

In a small bowl combine the thickened yogurt, mayonnaise, and chipotle pepper.

Heat the tortillas on the grill or grill pan for 30 seconds on each side.

Flake the fish with a fork. Top each tortilla with 1 tablespoon of the chipotle cream. Top with fish, cabbage, corn and cilantro and serve with lime wedges.

**In related matters, this week we are starting a new plan for the blog: themes! We are thrilled that we will be offering content daily so please check back and FOLLOW US!**