A Brilliant Downingtown Photographer: Andrew Seymour

Abiah Taylor Barn in Chester County, PA © 2010 Andrew L Seymour (www.aseymour.com)

Saturday morning I got to thinking about the move to Texas as I gazed outside at the dreary fall weather.  I wasn’t daydreaming about the bright, hot Texas sun or the roses that bloom there in December.  I was trying to absorb as much as I could of the view outside knowing that this would be the last real change of the seasons I’d get to enjoy in Chester County, PA.

Hopeful to brighten my spirits, I jumped on Flickr to search for other images of the area that I could ingrain in my memory.  It wasn’t too long before I stumbled upon a brilliant photographer by the name of Andrew Seymour who lives right here in our hometown – Downingtown, PA.

The amazing photographs showcased on his Flickr account were spellbinding.  I have never seen Chester County, Downingtown, in such light. Our hometown is more beautiful than I had ever imagined.  Andrew Seymour had captured the true essence, the beauty of Chester County, in its purest form.

This made me wonder about Seymour.  Was he a photojournalist?  A hobbyist?  A wedding or portrait photographer as well?

As it turns out, Seymour is all that and more. He has a slew of Digital Consulting services to offer his fellow Chester County neighbors including help with computers, the Web, photo restoration and photography.  Learn more about his services here: http://www.aseymour.com

If I was a real estate agent, a landscape contractor, an interior designer or even a restaurant owner in the area, I would most certainly contact Seymour about his photography and web services.  I’m quite convinced he’d be able to capture the beauty of one’s product or service in a compelling way and could offer hints on how to use the power of the Net to promote these products and services.

It’s a crying shame that we don’t have a wedding or christening coming up within the next few months.  I can only imagine what a beautiful job he would do capturing these beautiful memories in their true essence, their purest form.

For more information on Andrew Seymour’s Digital Consulting Services, click here: http://www.aseymour.com

To see more of his brilliant photography, click here: http://www.aseymour.com

Friday Night Dinner in 15 Minutes

Steak & Spaghetti Squash from marthastewart.com

I noticed that spaghetti squash is featured prominently at the front of Wegman’s entrance.  I also noticed that it’s 99 cents a pound.  Love that!  This prompted me to do a search for spaghetti squash recipes, and I came across and excellent dinner suggestion for tonight on the Martha Stewart website.  Best yet, this recipe only requires 5 ingredients and it’s ready in a mere 15 minutes.

Here’s a link to the recipe: http://bit.ly/mX1ujl

Since spaghetti squash is now in season, I decided to research it a bit further for other recipes ideas.  I came across a wonderful article on a blog called Start Cooking that details everything you’d want to know about spaghetti squash preparation.  Read this blog post here: http://bit.ly/qEuRmB

Paoil Design Center Holds ‘Tastes of Design’ Event Tonight

Veranda Magazing Spring 2011 - A Dining Room that Inspires

If you love design and enjoy meeting new people, you may be interested to know that the Paoli Design Center will host their 3rd Annual Award Winning “Taste of Design” event tonight (Thursday, September 22nd) from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.  For more information, please visit http://bit.ly/oNw2wT

On another note:  Do you love the photo of the dining room to the right?  Me too.  This room was featured in a spring 2011 issue of Veranda magazine.  This general look would be relatively easy to recreate.  And you can do it in a budget-friendly fashion.  Take a look at the shopping list I’ve created below, if you’d like to recreate this look in your home.

My Veranda Magazine Dining Room – Shopping List

• One gorgeous ivory boutis tablecloth from William Sonoma like the one here: http://bit.ly/qCqLNv

• One assortment of blue toile dishes and vases from HomeGoods in Downingtown

•  One houseplant grown in a terra cotta planter from Waterloo Gardens in Exton

• An assortment of white tulips from Wegmans in Downingtown

• An inexpensive collection of green tinted glassware (similar to the glassware in the pic) like  these from Pier One

Want more inspiration?  Visit Veranda magazine’s website at www.veranda.com

Bella Backsplash

The kitchen backsplash, shown here, is travertine.

If you’ve ever cooked in a kitchen without a backsplash, you know that it’s more of a necessity than an actual luxury – pasta sauce stains are not a good look for the wall behind the cooktop.

Honing in on the right design and the right contractor was the hardest part of our journey from drywall to travertine.  We knew full well that we couldn’t tile the wall ourselves – at least not if we wanted it to look good.  Instead we opted to contract with a professional to install the backsplash in the kitchen of our former home, and we really lucked out!

We ended up working with a man named Art, who was a subcontractor with Lowes at the time (Lowes off of route 30 in Downingtown).

We couldn’t have been happier with Art’s work or with the arrangement we had with Lowes.  We paid Lowes directly; Lowes provided Art with the travertine we selected and the additional supplies needed to complete the project, and then Lowes paid Art for his excellent work.

If you are interested in hiring a contractor to add a tile a backsplash to your kitchen walls, we highly recommend contracting Art through the Lowes in Downingtown.  Unfortunately, I misplaced Art’s business card, so the only way I know how to reach him is through Lowes.  He does own his own business out of West Chester called Tile by Art.

Art also installs tile floors, does tile work in bathrooms and can add tile to a fireplace surround.  We were blown away when he brought us a CD showcasing the previous work he had done on a number of large, custom homes in Chester County.   We were extremely lucky to have had the chance to work with him.

The backsplash Art installed is travertine, and it’s extremely easy to keep clean.  Since natural stone is porous, Art advised us to add an extra sealant, which we did, to keep the stone protected and low maintenance.

If you are thinking about adding a backsplash in your kitchen, you may have interest learning more about the installation process in an article from This Old House here: http://bit.ly/pR28NY

Check out glasstilestore.com to see the wide range of materials that can be used to create a backsplash.

Click here to see my facebook page album of bella backsplashes. I promise you’ll be inspired.

Get to Kerr Park Tonight for the Last Concert of the Season –The Fun Starts at 5 pm

Free Concert at Kerr Park in Downingtown, PA tonight at 5 pm

If you haven’t had the opportunity to enjoy one of the many summer concerts in Downingtown’s Kerr Park this season, tonight is your last chance until next summer.  Why not?  Admission is free and Kerr Park is an absolutely lovely place to bring your family.  The Eagles game doesn’t start until 8:20 pm, so there are no excuses Eagles Fans!

Tonight’s entertainment will be provided by The Large Flowerheads and Liz Longley.  You can expect sounds from the 60s and a pleasant venue for unwinding before the work week.

We’ve been to the concert series a few times this summer and usually make a half day of it with an early dinner at one of downtown Downingtown’s many restaurants (usually Doghouse Gourmet Burgers).  After the concert, I like to top the night off with a visit to Rita’s Ice (also located downtown near Kerr Park).

If you have children, the Sky’s the Limit playground is not to be missed.  Our nieces love it!    The playground is located walking distance from the gazebo where the concert  is slated to begin at 5 pm.

Please click on the following link for Google directions to Kerr Park: http://bit.ly/nVjgGf

From Shabby to Chic: Gorgeous Fall Curb Appeal

A unique fall look for the front entry.

Fall has arrived here in Chester County, and not a minute too soon.  My summer annuals are past their prime and the flower pots on the patio are looking a bit shabby.  The cooler weather means that it is time to transition over to a fall garden look – without having to feel so bad about ripping out the summer season petunias.

But which route should I take to transform the front entry and back patio from shabby to chic?  A classic display of mums in shades of red, orange and yellow sounds nice.  Then again, white asters are pretty and that sort of color scheme appeals to my cottage-garden style design sensibilities.  Left with more questions than answers as I pondered today’s garden makeover, I turned to the Better Homes and Gardens website.

Voila!  Right there on their landing page, I found the answers to my burning questions and all the inspiration I could handle on this cool Saturday morning.  Click here to see their slide show titled Prettiest Fall Entries & Doors.  I promise you’ll be inspired.

Stay tuned to the Silbury Hill facebook page photo album for upcoming images of the fall outdoor transformation. I hope you’ll share ideas and images of your fall garden too!

Friday Night Dinner – Merci Beaucoup Barefoot Contessa

Barefoot Contessa's Parmesan Chicken

Mustering up the energy to make a decent dinner on Friday night proves to be a challenge here at Silbury Hill.  The work week has been long, most of the groceries we purchased on Sunday have been consumed and I simply don’t feel like slaving over the stove.

Thankfully, good ol’ Barefoot Contessa (aka Ina Garten) must have heard my plea for a quick dinner recipe because I just cracked open one of her trusty cookbooks and came across an easy, breezy chicken recipe – Parmesan Chicken.

The fantastic thing about this recipe is that requires a mere 30 minutes of prep and cook time, and yields pure deliciousness.  If you like chicken, check out the recipe here: http://bit.ly/rr5UZO

Sofa Sale! Get to Crate & Barrel September 9th – October 16th

The Azure Sofa- A Shabby Chic Option from Crate & Barrel

I’m not in the market for a new sofa at the moment.  However, if I was, I’d probably go for the one featured in the picture to the right  from Crate & Barrel.

Crate & Barrel calls it the Azure sofa, and it has a wonderful rustic look with its linen upholstery.  Plus, it’s available in an array of shabby chic colors.  I’d probably buckle under the pressure of the shade called ‘Wysteria’ – if I was indeed in the market for a sofa.  I’m a sucker for all things ‘French Gray’.

For those of you that actually do need a sofa, you’ll be happy to know that Crate & Barrel is offering 15% off their upholstered items September 9^th – October 16^th.  Here’s a link to Crate & Barrel’s website announcing the sale: http://bit.ly/rkxgxa

Attention Gardeners: PHS to Host Fall Garden Festival on Saturday, September 24th

Attention Philadelphia Gardeners!  The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society will hold a Fall Garden Festival on Saturday, September 24^th at The Philadelphia Navy Yard from 10 am – 4 pm.  Admission to the event is free.  Let’s hope for sunny weather because this event looks like it’s going to be a lot of fun.

According to the PHS, the event will include music, food, plants, shopping, workshops, gardening tips and even activities for children.

For more information, visit the PHS website here: http://bit.ly/q09XH1

Got 10 Minutes? Get an Amazing Side Dish.

I’ve never tasted a Barefoot Contessa recipe that I didn’t enjoy.  Her recipes are super easy, require few ingredients and are always tasty.  Tonight I’m going to make her roasted asparagus.  See the recipe here: http://bit.ly/q1HJNa

The directions say that prep time is 10 minutes; however, it usually takes me about five to six minutes total to clean and prepare the asparagus for roasting.  I usually sprinkle fresh Parmesan cheese over the asparagus when it comes out of the oven for an extra hint of flavor.  Bon appetite!