By Sara Duck
We give you the lowdown on two cookbooks that will inspire you to create a fabulous (and healthy) feast!
1. Recipes from an Italian Summer. $45. Visit phaidon.ca
It’s the ultimate Italian summer cookbook, filled with delicioso recipes for picnics, light lunches, entertaining, dessert and everything in between. The book is also beautifully bound with mouth-watering pictures of food mixed in with gorgeous shots of living la dolce vita in Italy.
2. The French Women Don’t Get Fat Cookbook by Mireille Guiliano. $32. Visit chapters.indigo.ca
A collection of delectable, healthy recipes and advice on eating well without gaining weight. Organized around Mireille’s three favorite pastimes — breakfast, lunch and dinner — these recipes emphasize pure flavours, balanced ingredients, and easy cooking methods, all with a certain je ne sais quoi!
July 14, 2010
By Laura Malloy
Kitchens – the heart of the home – a place where food is prepared and eaten, but also where family and friends share life’s triumphs and troubles. Many people dream of a luxurious kitchen makeover, or creating something new altogether. The following books are must-haves for the do-it-yourselfers and remodelling king and queens.
KITCHENS- A DESIGN SOURCE BOOK
By Vinny Lee
Published by Ryland Peters & Small, 2005 – $25.95
Kitchens is a design source book for anyone planning or dreaming of a kitchen makeover. Gracing these pages are lush photographs of kitchens of every style from traditional, classic and updated country, to modern streamlined and uncluttered. Along with the photos is a myriad of information about lighting, surfaces, appliances, accessories, cabinets, and furniture to create the ultimate kitchen.
TIP If you plan to use your kitchen in different ways, it is best to think of the room divided in sections. Assign an area for cooking and food preparation, another for eating, and a third for sitting and relaxing. Ideally there should be a logical order to the layout so when the food is ready to be eaten, it can be quickly and easily transferred to the table in the eating area. The seating area should be farthest away from the food preparation section, so that when the kitchen work is done, it can be cleared and the lights turned off.
DESIGN IDEAS FOR KITCHENS
By Susan Boyle Hillstrom
Published by Creative Homeowner, 2009 – $24.95
Design Ideas for Kitchens is filled with beautiful images and creative designs to inspire the ultimate kitchen makeover. With countless photos of designer kitchens, this book not only explores many different styles and tastes, but also gives unbiased explanations about numerous products. The kitchen has become the modern-day living room, and with that come important design layouts. Natural light is a key feature to a relaxed and airy kitchen. Design Ideas for Kitchens offers clever ideas to help you bring more light into the kitchen.
TIP Want to heighten visual drama in your kitchen?
Accent lighting: Call attention to an interesting element or focal point in your kitchen, such as a good-looking range hood, a tile mural above the cooktop, or an exposed brick wall.
Trimwork: Ornate detailing works well in traditional rooms; simpler trim is more suitable for casual or contemporary settings.
Pot racks: Hanging in profusion over an island, copper cookware makes a gleaming design statement.
KITCHENS & BATHS FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW
Published by Creative Publishing international, Inc., 2008 – $27.99
Kitchens & Baths is directed at do-it-yourselfers of every level to inspire, inform, and ultimately help readers create their dream kitchens. Tour through more than a hundred kitchens with inspiring ideas and beautiful photos to help you figure out your likes and dislikes. Helpful features include DesignWise (insider tricks from professional kitchen planners), DollarWise (money-saving ideas), IdeaWise (clever do-it-yourself projects) and Words to the Wise (a glossary of helpful terms).
TIP Each type of flooring has unique characteristics and installation techniques. Appearance is important, but so is durability, ease-of-care, installation requirements and environmental impact.
• Hardwood floors look and feel warm, are durable and easy to clean.
• Bamboo flooring is durable, attractive and environmentally sound.
• Cork is comfortable to walk on, easy to clean and environmentally friendly.
• Vinyl is inexpensive, easy to clean, durable and available in a wide variety of colours.
LYN PETERSON’S REAL LIFE KITCHENS
By Lyn Peterson
Published by Random House, 2007 – $50.00
Lyn Peterson’s Real Life Kitchens is a refreshing look at kitchen renovations and makeovers. This beautiful book highlights incredible kitchens that are functional, fashionable and fun – after all, people spend a lot of time in the kitchen, whether eating or just chatting. On average, kitchens are about 25 per cent larger than they were just a decade ago, allowing more activities to take place within them. Whether you want a space that opens onto the dining room, or a sectioned-off area, this book will help you plan and choose designs that will suit your space and needs.
TIP No kitchen is complete without the owner’s stamp of style. To establish that vision, first imagine the kind of environment you want to cook and eat in. Are you drawn to the idea of a cozy and comfortable kitchen with soft lighting, or an airy, bright space that’s primarily designed for serious cooking? Do you like to see dishes and glassware on display, or do you want yours concealed behind closed cabinet doors?
April 15, 2010
