DIY Your Own Brunch Party!
Hosting a brunch at home, but not sure where to begin? Here are some brunch ideas to help you organize and host an easy, but impressive late-morning meal. Tips + Tricks: Opt for a Buffet-Style Brunch v. Plated-This will make things easier for you by having all of the food finished and plated beforehand making a delicious insta-worthy spread in no time at all. Set the Table the Night Before-Grab your plates, silverware, serving dishes, crafts, champagne glasses, water glasses, pitchers, and napkins, and set them on the table so you can focus solely on food prep the morning of. Prep as Much Food as you Can Beforehand-Some food will need to be cooked fresh in the morning, but some side dishes can be plated and stored in the fridge overnight so you can quickly grab and place them on the buffet table. If you’re going to need to chop and cut certain foods, do this ahead of time as well. Anything to eliminate prep time the day of will help you remain stress free! Add Flowers-Grad some flowers from the grocery store to display on the table in a vase or jar(s). This easy addition will elevate your tablescape and make you seem like a brunch expert! Some of our Fave Brunch Recipes: BYO Parfait Bar-A build your own yogurt parfait bar is an easy crowd pleaser. Display an arrangement of toppings (granola, honey, chopped fruit, chocolate chips, nuts, etc.) and a large bowl of plain vanilla yogurt. Set aside spoons and cups for guests to make their own parfaits. The bar makes an impressive spread and guests can enjoy their parfaits exactly the way they like them. Mimosa Bar-Brunch wouldn’t be the same without a classic mimosa, but spruce it up by giving your guests options. Offer different types of juice to mix with champagne or ginger ale. Try cranberry, grapefruit, and pineapple. Make sure to also provide ice water and coffee (and all the fixin’s). Pastries-Set out an assortment of pastries, including scones, croissants, and muffins. Opt for miniature sized ones to not overpower the table or your guests’ appetites! For a more intricate option- make fruit + cream cheese breakfast pastries! Check out a recipe for them here. Cinnamon Sugar Pancakes-You’ll need a staple main breakfast dish to go with your sides. Pancakes are a go-to, but can be boring. Elevate your pancake recipe by adding cinnamon to the batter and topping with fruit and cinnamon sugar. Make a cinnamon sugar glaze to go with the cakes to really impress your guests. Here’s a recipe. Make sure to offer sugar-free maple syrup as well as regular. Deviled Eggs-What’s brunch without eggs? Make deviled eggs instead of any type of hot eggs- this way you can prepare them beforehand. Here’s a recipe for classic deviled eggs, and some creative deviled eggs recipes if you’re feeling ambitious. Bacon-Somebody will be disappointed if there’s no bacon. Cook some up in a sautee pan as a side dish just in case. The smell alone will have guests’ mouths watering as soon as they enter your home. Now that you’ve got the breakfast part of brunch covered, don’t forget to serve a few lunch items as well! Deconstructed Mini Sandwiches-Prepare a variety of sandwich meats ahead of time, choose from chicken salad, tuna salad, shrimp salad, egg salad, turkey, ham, roast beef etc. Display mini buns, lettuce, cheeses, tomato, mustard, mayo etc. Guests can make their own sandwich or enjoy the meats as they are. Poached Salmon-Now that you have a cold lunch item prepared in advance, prepare a hot one the morning of. Salmon is a favorite for pro-brunchers because it’s a lighter option. Here’s a recipe to try! SOURCE
Kitchen Trends Through the Decades
Interior design trends come and go with every decade, but the kitchen is where the most notable changes have occurred. Long gone are the days of retro refrigerators and black and white tiled floors. Journey with us through the decades as we take a look back at the most popular kitchen design trends over the past 70 years. 1950’s | 50’s kitchens are often remembered as post-war candy-colored dreams. Styles included bubble and rounded shaped appliances, multi-purpose appliances, linoleum floors, and pastel colored cabinets. Glittery red kitchen chair cushions were seen in many eat-in kitchens, boldly playing off the popular black and white square floor pattern. A notable staple of the 50’s kitchen was the pull-out ironing board cabinet. 1960’s | 60’s kitchens became more casual design-wise, as updated appliances became the focus. This was the decade where dishwashers were first introduced. Eat-in nooks, breakfast bars, and wood cabinets were all the rage. Warmer and richer hues became much more prevalent than the bright colors of the 50’s. 1970’s | The 70’s introduced the microwave which was such a big installation that the design choices of the 60’s remained for most of the 70’s, as the emphasis was on this appliance specifically. Wood cabinets continued and home-owners began matching the wood with wood-paneling, wood furniture, and wood fixtures. Warm browns remained as the overall look of 70’s kitchens, with fun pops of color found in colored-cookware. 1980’s | The 80’s was a turning point for women in society- which had a direct impact on the kitchen design of the era. Prior to the 80’s, many women stayed home and made the kitchen their domain. In the 80’s, women overwhelmingly began working- resulting in the kitchen becoming a place to interact with family at the end of the work day. This was the beginning of the “open floor-plan.” Expansive islands and breakfast bars were implemented providing views into the larger living areas of the home. Perhaps the most recognizable (and now detested) trend of the 80’s was the Euro-style cabinet, a white laminate front with a light-toned wooden band at the top to act as an integrated handle. White and beige began taking over the natural brown hues of the 60’s and 70’s. 1990’s | The white color palette of the 80’s continued into the 90’s but the style shifted from sleek to slabby-chic. Granite was a new material, and quickly became the most popular choice for countertops. 90’s kitchens boasted dark granite countertops to contrast with the white cabinets and appliances. Design choices included: ornate paneling, ceramic tiles with country flourishes, and wood cabinets (either in classic light brown or painted white). One of the most cringe-worthy and iconic trends of the 90’s kitchen is sponge painted walls- a cost effective “stucco.” Themed kitchens were all the rage as well. It wasn’t uncommon to stumble upon apple themed kitchens or grape vine and wine themed kitchens. Oh, and wallpaper, lots of wallpaper. Some homeowners even used wallpaper as their backsplash instead of classic tile. 2000’s | With the rise of HGTV, kitchen design was elevated in the new milliennium. The new aesthetic was industrial with white appliances being replaced by stainless steel. Wood cabinets remained, but were usually stained a darker brown or cherry color. High contrast kitchens became a popular choice, with dark cabinets balancing lighter countertops. Another popular kitchen design from the 2000s was Tuscan style- featuring Italian inspired stucco and an abundance of deep reds and tans. 2010’s | Reclaimed wood floors, subway tile backsplashes, farmhouse sinks, and brass hardware were popular in the 20-teen’s and added a touch of timeless vintage charm. Open cabinetry was often seen instead of classic closed door cabinets. Neutral tones were often deployed, although people favored cooler tones like grays and blues with high-contrast pops of navy. Blue kitchens made a huge splash in the late 2010’s. Stainless steel remained the number one choice for appliances. Low profile gadgets like microwave drawers and under-cabinet lighting grew in popularity. But, the most memorable trend of the 2010’s was the Instagram-worthy kitchen jungle. People really loved their plants in this decade. 2020’s | SOLD by Bob + Tracy Lucido 4010 Chatham Road, Ellicott City MD We’re just barely into the 20’s, but certain kitchen features have already begun to steal the spotlight. Two-tone cabinets are making waves in the interior design industry. Many kitchens boast either different colored top and bottom cabinets, or island cabinets that contrast with the rest. Also very popular is infusing wood into the design of the kitchen- whether it be wood cabinets, shelving, or decor. Double islands, ceiling-high cabinets, and ceiling-high backsplashes behind the hood vent are common design choices for the 2020’s kitchen. As popular as white kitchens have been for the past 30 years, color is taking over. Blue cabinets ruled the late 10’s, but now green cabinets are coming back in style. Instead of the avocado pastel-green we've seen in the past, emerald green is now making a splash. Get ready to see lots of darker colored cabinets, gold and brass appliances, and black metal fixtures. Source
Pantone Color of the Year 2022
Introducing Pantone’s selection for Color of the Year 2022: PANTONE 17-3938 VERY PERI “A New Pantone Color Whose Courageous Presence EncouragesPersonal Inventiveness and Creativity.” Pantone’s ability to forecast color trends is a marketing force that has influenced product development and purchasing decisions in multiple industries for the past 23 years. You can be sure to see Veri Peri used throughout the year by designers from all industries. Within the real estate industry, interior designers and home stagers incorporate the color into paint, fixtures, cabinets, and decor choices. Pantone experts arrive at a selection each year after searching the world for new color influences. This can include the entertainment industry, art, fashion, design, lifestyles, socio-economic conditions, technology, materials, textures, and effects that impact color. In 2021, Pantone chose Illuminating Yellow and Ultimate Gray as the Colors of the Year to highlight how different elements can come together to express an uplifting message of hopefulness, in response to the global pandemic in 2020. This year, Pantone took a similar approach, choosing Veri Peri to comment on these transformative times. Veri Peri, according to Pantone, is “a symbol of the global zeitgeist of the moment and the transition we are going through.” Pantone noted as we emerge from a period of isolation and further descend into a dynamic virtual world, we can create new color possibilities. Veri Peri derives from current trends in gaming and the expanding popularity of digital art. The color illustrates the fusion of modern life and the digital world. Source
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