Archive for Design
OH! Christmas Trees!!!
Posted by: | CommentsYes, friends there will be a Christmas tree at the Sherwood’s Lake Gaston home this Christmas! Some of our friends were beginning to worry there would not be any sign of holiday cheer at our house by the time our family arrives. Have no fear, we once again have a “live” Christmas tree. Here is the story…
Being in the retail and design business we are often very busy at this time of year. As our business and children were growing up and time was at a premium, Aaron and Jake began to question “if” and what kind of tree we would have. Traditionally it was always a live tree, sometimes collected from a local tree farm or the local Jaycee’s lot. In 2002, having waited until the last minute, I rushed to Wildwood Nursery in search of a live tree. They were too large, too tall or too expensive, so I had to re-group. Wondering through the nursery I spotted a Pom Pom Topiary Juniper. It was not very big but had a very interesting shape. Could I make this work as a Christmas tree? I am always up for a challenge! My youngest son, Jake, at that time, always arrived home for Christmas late in the night from NJ. I had promised him a real tree! So, he first laid eyes on this tree while everyone else was sleeping. In the morning he said, “Mom, what have you done? You decorated a “broccoli” tree for Christmas! Thus the saga of the potted Christmas trees began. Here is the pictorial version of the saga from 2002 to today, http://bit.ly/vFOmDz.
So this past weekend once again we set out on the quest for a tree. Again Wildwood Nursery was able to oblige. We found a beautiful potted ‘Carolina Sapphire’ Cypress tree about 5’ tall. This type of Cypress is a very airy looking tree with aromatic, pale blue-grey foliage. Because the foliage is so wispy, developing a decorating scheme took some thought.
I began with the lights placed close to the trunk. Tulle mesh ribbon in three colors, white, red and turquoise, and lime stretchy ribbon was added for the garland. Last but certainly not least, an assortment of light weight glass ornaments created the finishing touch!
Yes, we do have a tree and a few other Christmas baubles and bangles.
Thank you for reading this story! It helped me remember how precious these holiday memories will always be in our lives with the people we love.
Enjoy your holidays wherever you may be. Make some memories!
Merry Christmas!
Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberry Sauce Recipe
Posted by: | CommentsIn the process of using this recipe for the wedding cake I calculated how many cups of cheesecake batter there are in one recipe.
Each recipe make 2 1/2 cups. In a 9″ springform pan this makes a 2″ high cake including crust.
To adjust height of cake add more batter and increase cooking time.
You can calculate the different amount of batter needed for various size pans by using a ratio.
9″ pan -2 1/2 cups
8″ pan-2 1/4 cups
6″pan-1 3/4 cups
These amounts are rounded up to make it easy to measure.
There are three key elements to making a perfect cheesecake:
1. Spray the springform pan very well with Baker’s Joy so cake slides easily off of bottom of pan
2. Use low heat, 300 degrees, to prevent the top from browning.
3. Cool gradually as suggested in recipe
Good luck with this!
Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberry Sauce
Adapted from Cooking Light, May, 2006
Approximately 16 serving with sauce
CRUST:
1/4 cup sugar
8 graham cracker rectangles
Dash of salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons of butter or canola oil
Cooking spray w/flour (such as Baker’s Joy)
CHEESECAKE:
1 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 (8-ounce) blocks 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (4 ounces) regular cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash of salt
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon of grated lemon jest
4 large eggs
2 egg whites
SAUCE:
4 cups sliced strawberries (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 cup strawberries, cut in half
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon water
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Preheat oven to 350°.
To prepare cheesecake crust, place 1/4 cup sugar, graham crackers, cinnamon and dash salt in a food
processor; process until mixture resembles sand. With the processor on, add 2
tablespoons melted butter through food chute, processing until blended. Generously coat pan with cooking spray with flour. Firmly press mixture into bottom and slightly up sides of a 9-inch springform pan.
Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes until just golden brown; cool completely on a wire rack.
Reduce oven to 300°.
To prepare cheesecake, combine 1 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons cornstarch, and a dash of
salt in a large bowl. Add softened cheeses; beat with a mixer at medium-high speed
until smooth. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add vanilla, 1 teaspoon juice and lemon zest;
beat just until combined. Add eggs and egg whites, 1 at a time, beating after each addition
just until incorporated.
Bake at 300° for 1 to 1 ½ hours or until center of cheesecake barely moves when pan is touched. (Oven temperatures vary. Cooking time may need to be adjusted). Turn oven off. Cool cheesecake in closed oven 30 minutes. Remove cheesecake from oven. Run a knife around outside edge. Cool on a wire rack. Gradual cooling is important to prevent cracks in the cheesecake. Cover and refrigerate. Can be frozen up to 3 months in tightly sealed aluminum foil and a zip lock bag.
To prepare strawberry sauce, reserve 1 cup strawberries, cut in half. Combine 4 cups sliced strawberries, 1/2 cup water, and 2 tablespoons sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Strain mixture through a sieve into a bowl, pressing lightly with a spatula; discard solids. Return mixture to pan. Combine 1 tablespoon water and 2 teaspoons cornstarch in a small bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add cornstarch mixture to pan. Bring to a boil; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Transfer mixture to a bowl; cool to room temperature. Stir in 2 teaspoons lemon juice. Embellish top of cheesecake with strawberries, cut in half. Spoon 1/2 of strawberry sauce on top. When serving, drizzle each slice with a little of reserved sauce.
Slipping and sliding into the New Year!
Posted by: | CommentsTime flies when you are having such a good time! Just a little over a week ago we were slipping and sliding into Atlanta to attend the January market.
We started our first day at market with a “man on the street” interview with Susan Dickenson, retail editor for Home Accents Today magazine.
She grabbed several retailers to get a sense of the retail climate and their market plans. Thanks Susan for including us in your daily market issue. Read our comments and those of other retailers: http://bit.ly/gbW9Kq
At this market we plan our showroom strategy for the New Year. Color is an important element in our showroom so we always reference the Pantone Color of the Year. The color for 2011 is Honeysuckle, a bright, saturated pink.
As we purchase for spring and summer we select items that coordinate with this year’s new color. This really helps us focus on accessories and gifts that are color forward. If you are interested in learning more about Pantone’s2011 color forecast check out this link: http://bit.ly/eu2SLd
Another big purchase category on our list is Holiday. The January market introduces the new looks for 2011. We develop a plan for how many trees, what themes and what colors we will use. Purchasing in January guarantees we will be able to receive our selections by late summer and avoid sold out items. The use of large ornaments and objects on trees with a focus on one prominent color is one new emerging trend.
This market also is our source for our summer fashion accessories, apparel and shoes. Here is a sneak peak of some of the new looks!
To cap off our shopping frenzy we taste and select new gourmet food items. This is good and bad. Great to find new product but hard to go through the many food displays and be selective with what you sample.
Market is an exhilarating experience! New products, new colors, new styles always start the design juices flowing. Tired bodies, tired minds and achy feet must be worth it because we keep going back.

Glad we didn't have to push this load through market. Four women just don't know how to travel "light"!
You can experience a little of our market experience through our blogs and Facebook posts without the physical and mental strain.
Did you see the “Honeysuckle” color keep poping up in these pictures?
Tell us your favorites of our new products to arrive over the next few months!
Lake Gaston Girls at Work in Dallas: Part Two
Posted by: | CommentsMoving on to Install Day 2 we concentrated on the guest bedroom/home office in the MBR wing of the house. Our previous post told you a little about our client and the house. If you missed the first day’s events check out our blog: ”This is What the Lake Gaston Girls Do in Dallas.” With the master bedroom basically complete we focused on to the guest bedroom/home office. This space is to function both as the small, comfortable private retreat/computer space for the owners and transform into a well- appointed guest room when needed.
In this space we dealt with the window that grew (mentioned in our last post)! Autumn, very skillfully, stretched the window treatment by adding a panel to the rear to make it 5″ wider. The treatment is a “faux” (or fixed) roman shade. We embellished the bottom with trim and hand-made buttons by NC potter, Courtney Tomchik.
With the use of a Murphy bed this space can switch easily into a place for guests. This was the room I stayed in during our visit. I actually slept with Mr. Murphy…the bed that is!
It is amazing how easily it converts! What a great solution for a multi-use space. Below are pictures in this order: the closed Murphy bed with four sets of bookcases, the Murphy bed frame behind the two center bookcases, and the Murphy bed ready to bed down guests. The bookshelves in this Murphy unit are crying for accessories. That will have to happen on our next visit!

MURPHY BED IS CONCEALED BY THE TWO CENTER BOOKCASES. THE TWO CENTER SECTIONS SWING OPEN TO EACH SIDE TO REVEAL THE BED FRAME. DRAWERS IN THE OUTSIDE SECTIONS STORE BED LINENS AND GUEST SUPPLIES.
To complete the space we added two very comfy Four Season swivel-glider slipcovered chairs! The slipcovers make the seating very pet friendly for the two dogs, Q-ee and Lew-ee! A small, mobile laptop desk, flat screen TV and small shelf for the receiver complete the owner’s retreat.
The owner’s comment: ”I love this space! I’m not sure I want to share it with guests!
Hope you like this space! Tell us what you think!
More areas of the Dallas project to be revealed in our next post.
Mary
“Working with you to create your lifestyle at Lake Gaston and beyond.”
This is What the Lake Gaston Girls Do in Dallas!
Posted by: | CommentsThis job is so much fun! Autumn and I recently traveled to Dallas, TX. completing the first phase of a third project for this client. Overall, everything went very well. For our client the most important part of this first phase was the master bedroom and guest bedroom/home office. This new home was precipitated by the decision to move the owner’s mother and special needs sister under one roof. It was selected because it was all on one level and could accommodate the extended family in a separate wing. As a model, used by the builder for a sales office, the before pictures reflect that usage.
The house is a wonderful structure filled with many windows, high ceilings and interesting arches. Our job was to blend and re-purpose existing accessories and furniture, add window treatments to allow view and privacy and create a comfortable and safe environment for all. Here are pictures of the master bedroom suite. (Please excuse the photography the very high ceilings and wonderful windows challenged this amateur photographer.)

MASTER BEDDING COMPLETE WITH CUSTOM DESIGNED CANVAS HEADBOARD, DECORATIVE PILLOWS, AND A COMFY THROW FOR Q-EE, THE ROYAL PUPPY

CARVED WOOD CHEST FORMERLY USED IN THE DINING ROOM. RE-PURPOSED FOR THE MASTER BEDROOM TV CONSOLE AND CLOTHES STORAGE
The logistics of such a project are a real challenge. They involve a lot of planning and even more communicating to make sure everything arrives on time and in good shape. (We actually contracted with two different delivery services to make it all happen.) There were a few snags. The drapery hardware, shipped direct to the client, was incorrect and incomplete. A local drapery installer we hired (thanks Larry, great job!), was able to find parts but those parts meant a trip into Dallas (about 35 miles). The second obstacle was a window in the Guest Bedroom/Home Office that had grown by 5” in width because of a framed interior shutter installed by the contractor — after we had measured. With Autumn’s creative talent and the use of the client’s sewing machine the window treatment was modified to work.
The only other limitation was the lack time. We worked non-stop for 2 ½ days and completed most of this phase of the project.
The client is thrilled!
Our next post in this series will show the Guest Bedroom/Home Office area.
Please comment and let us know what you think!
Thanks!
Mary
“Working with you to create at yourlife at Lake Gaston and beyond!
How are Lake Gaston and Dallas connected?
Posted by: | CommentsMany years ago a client walked into our showroom at Lake Gaston and ordered several decorative pillows for a child’s guest room. They were red, black, yellow and white to go with a Mickey Mouse theme. This one little job has turned into many! Now several houses later, Autumn and I leave on another adventure. We are off to Dallas to help this client and her husband, (now good friends) prepare a new home to accommodate the recent re-location of their extended family. The new property looks fabulous in photos and we are very excited to have the opportunity to make it into a comfortable and safe environment for four adults and three dogs!
Some ask: “How do you approach a long distance project like this? In jest, my answer is: “With a good tape measure, very accurate notes and lots and lots of pictures.” It’s a little too far away to go back to check a measurement!
We have done many long distance projects with no major problems and only a couple of minor ones. There will always be small obstacles like drilling into steel re-enforced concrete to install draperies at a hurricane-proof Gulf coast project or curtain rods that arrive from the factory incorrectly configured. There have been many broken drill bits and, of course, the closest home improvement store has sometimes been 30 miles away. Because our customers are so loyal and so much fun, the only real challenge is overcoming the stumbling blocks, adjusting to the unexpected and having a “can do” attitude.
Our “very” big bag is packed, just coming in under the weight limit. Whew! It is chock full of fabric samples and pillows to help set the stage for this new project.
Look for future posts about the “Mary and Autumn Do Dallas” project. While we are away come meet our newest part of the team, Traci Watson. Hope she has what it takes to keep Paul in line! Don’t forget to ask Paul for his “custom gift wrap”.
Enjoy this beautiful fall weather at Lake Gaston and beyond.
Mary
AND THE LAKE GASTON WINNERS ARE…
Posted by: | CommentsWe are pleased to announce the winners of our giveaways during our recent After Hours WINOS event, Memorial Day weekend. Three of the four winners were men. That is quit a switch from our pool of women dominated shoppers. So does this tell us something…do we have to serve them wine or beer to get them in the door? You decide.
We appreciate the MEN and women who took time out of the busy and beautiful holiday weekend to spend some time with us. We are truly the “winner” because of your continued support of our business. It is nice to be right there with the following individuals in the “Winner’s Circle”.
Peter Varney from Charlotte, NC Winner of a Wine Basket Carrier from Acacia Home and Garden
Kevin Byerly from Charlotte, NC Winner of a Wine Basket Carrier from Acacia Home and Garden
Joann Robertson from Greenville, NC Winner of W.I.N.O.S. Cook with Wine cookbook
Rob O’Neill from Rocky Mount, NC Winner of a bottle of Rosemont Winery Kilravock Red Wine
Thanks once again to WINOS Creator Bonnie Jesseph, Acacia Home and Garden WINOS Furniture Marketing Director Diane Christensen, Rosemont Winery Vintner, Justin Rose for attending the event and all the cast of back- scene individuals who made this a fabulous day!
If you missed this event make sure we have your email address so you can join us next time.
Here are a few pictures of the party:
The use of technology in all aspects of life has mushroomed exponentially. I jumped on the “tech” wagon in the field of design years ago when AutoCAD was the first design software available. We started using a simple version of this software for space planning and drawing floor plans. No more drawing board and tracing paper for me! Fast forward about 25 years and I am truly amazed and shocked about how I have embraced all of this. This leads to the right brain-left brain thoughts. You probably already know what side of your brain controls your personality. If you would like to take a quick right brain–left brain quiz check out this site.
http://www.intelliscript.net/test_area/questionnaire/questionnaire.cgi
Now I know why technology and design work for me. I am almost exactly 50% right and left brained. So here is how I have recently used both sides of my brain.
We are working with a young American couple who reside in Singapore. They have a house at Lake Gaston to be able to spend a month each year with all their US family and friends. We are working together to prepare their family cottage for the summer months. We have been communicating by e-mail with collage boards and photographs of products. I found my right side of the brain wanting the emotional energy of a face to face discussion. E-mail is great but I like to develop a relationship with my clients. So with a whole “nest” of design products stashed behind my desk and the help of my very left brained husband, Paul, we set up a Skype video call. First we had to clarify time zones. Singapore is exactly 12 hours ahead of us. Then schedule the appointment. For the sake of the client, I chose the 9 PM time slot so she could be fresh at 9 AM, her time.
WOW! Was I ever amazed at how great this can work! Not only did the client and I start building a more personal relationship but I realized how truly global our world has become. It was a little awkward trying to get the best light on samples and remembering to look at the webcam. Otherwise I entered the zone of creative thinking pulling together samples of cabinet styles, finishes, countertops materials and tile to illustrate to my client the concept I had in my right brain. The best part is she got it! She now sees the finish elements for the space that I envision. Both of us are feeling so much more comfortable with the direction of the project and communicating on the same page (or screen, so to speak).
Here is a collage board and floor plan for this project. Hopefully we will be able to show you the finished space prior to their arrival in July. Yikes! I better get busy.
Not here at Lake Gaston, not a problem. Technology can easily bridge the gap. Let’s build a relationship to work together to create your lifestyle.
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