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The Chill Pill … Just What the Doctor Ordered

spring cocktail

It’s the weekend, and we’re ready for some R & R … so what better a time to whip up a new cocktail? I found this recipe on Pinterest, and it does not disappoint! Of course, it took me down a rabbit hole on Pinterest, and I discovered that the recipe is from a mixologist at Deep Dive in Seattle. This bar looks right up our alley for a special date night — but, until we can actually get to Seattle, I’m just going to give it a try at home. ?

The key is making the Pineapple Shrub. I had never tried this before, but it’s sooo easy! It’s an extra step for sure — in fact, you have to let the pineapple sit overnight in sugar, Then you drain the solid pieces of pineapple with a colander or cheese cloth, and mix the reserved pineapple-infused syrup with champagne vinegar. It makes plenty, so you can store some in the fridge.

The recipe calls for Yellow Chartreuse, which we have used before. But, it was years ago so I didn’t have any in our little bar. And let me tell you, I called several local liquor stores to see if I could track some down, but no luck. I guess there’s a shortage in Oregon. Who knew?!? Anyhoo, our friends at Newport Market in Bend suggested we give this brand a try as an alternative. (As a bonus, it’s made in our hometown, Portland, Oregon!) We don’t know any differently since we’ve never tried this recipe before using the Yellow Chartreuse, but it worked beautifully. It’s so refreshing and unique! What a great cocktail to serve friends this weekend ?

CLOUZ HOUZ TIP: Don’t skip the grated nutmeg on top … it really adds a fun kick to the flavor. Trust us!

bar in kitchen


THE CHILL PILL

 

2 OZ. VODKA

1/2 OZ PINEAPPLE SHRUB

1/2 OZ FRESH LEMON JUICE

1/4 OZ YELLOW CHARTREUSE

1/8 OZ SIMPLE SYRUP (1:1)

1 FRESH EGG WHITE (PASTEURIZED IF YOU PREFER)

Combine the egg white, simple syrup, lemon juice, and pineapple shrub in a shaker and shake, without ice, until frothy. Add the vodka and Chartreuse and shake again with ice to chill, then double-strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a spray of Angostura bitters from an atomizer (or drip the bitters on the drink’s surface), and add fresh-grated nutmeg.

PINEAPPLE SHRUB: Peel, core, and cube a fresh pineapple (I bought pre-cut pineapple chunks) and add it to a large container along with 1 quart (32 oz.) of raw sugar. Stir to coat the pineapple with the sugar and cover the container; let the mixture rest at room temperature for 24 hours. Use a cheesecloth-lined strainer to strain out the solids, and mix 16 oz. of Champagne vinegar with the reserved syrup.


We served ours in a coupe glass with a sprig of mint, and it looked fancy and professional with the frothy top and sprinkles of nutmeg. Maybe we should take up mixology?! ?

Cheers to the sunshine and gorgeous weather this weekend. Let us know if you give this one a shot.

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Seems crazy for me to say this because I love summer... but I think I’m starting to crave fall.🤎

The sweaters, a fire going, slower mornings, being a little more cocooned at home. Maybe that’s what has me thinking about how much the smallest things in a home can change the way a day feels.

Not the big renovation decisions. The mug you always reach for. A lamp that makes the room feel extra ozy at night. The old chair in the corner that somehow gets better every time someone sits in it..

None of it has to be important (or expensive) to make everyday life feel a little more special. I think you just have to notice what does.

Videography: @bozemanmediadesign 

But before I get ahead of myself... are we ready for fall yet?
I can usually tell within the first few minutes of meeting someone what kind of client they’re going to be. Not because of their style. Not because of the size of their house. It’s in the way they talk about their home. Sometimes they’ll apologize for it before we even walk in. “I know it’s kind of all over the place,” or, “We’ve lived with this for years.” And almost every time, I find myself thinking the same thing:
Your home isn’t the problem. It’s just waiting for someone to make a few confident decisions.

I think people assume interior design is about having better taste than everyone else. It isn’t. It’s pattern recognition. After twenty years of walking through homes, I don’t see a room the same way most people do anymore. I’m noticing what your eye keeps getting stuck on. Where the proportions feel off. Why one side of the room feels heavier than the other. Which thing is quietly throwing everything else out of balance.

Those aren’t things most homeowners should have to know. That’s what we’re here for. And honestly, that’s one of my favorite parts of this job. If you’ve ever hesitated to reach out or don’t know where to start with your project... message me, I’d love to chat!
There you have it... the den, for now.

I always say the best rooms aren’t the ones that feel perfect-they’re the ones that make you want to stay awhile.

This room has become exactly that. Morning coffee, evening happy hour, football games, reading, hanging with family... it’s already getting lived in the way we hoped it would.

Those are always my favorite projects.

Tell me your favorite part of this room!
Comment ‘EDIT’ and we’ll send it straight to your inbox when it goes live this evening.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the difference between something that’s simply trending... and something that actually changes the way a home feels.
This month I keep coming back to vintage textiles over oversized artwork.

Bathrooms that feel more like living rooms than bathrooms. Why I think plug-in sconces are one of the most underrated design tricks. Cherry red (in the smallest doses❤️). And why I’ll almost always tell a client to invest in a beautiful faucet before a trendy finish somewhere else.

These are the conversations we’ve been having in the studio. The screenshots I’ve been saving. The products sitting in my cart. The little ideas that slowly find their way into client projects and eventually into our own home.

I’ll dive much deeper into all of it in today’s edition of Between the Layers, along with my favorite sources, products, and the “why” behind each one.

I hope you’ll join me!