Mandarin & Midnight

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Tangerine & Noir

Mandarin & Midnight

Kumquat & Charcoal

Persimmon & Jet

Ebony &…

OK, let’s just cut to the chase…

Orange & Black

 It’s a great combination isn’t it?

So let’s not just save it for Halloween.

The black part of the equation is easy. Orange may be introduced as simply as above,

 with art, flowers, fruits, veggies in the kitchen, throws, books, glass or pottery in orange hues, candles, candy in a bowl,

leaving a luscious Leica laying around…

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A minor touch of orange carries major impact!

and if you don’t have the element of fire in a room, orange is your man.

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To further prove my point;

tumblr_mebiurvIM31rbsp5ao1_1280Love the art propped against the fireplace in this contemporary space.

03fb1532793411e2af7822000a1fb04e_7These are Von’s roses, not from my garden.  No scent, but they lasted about 9 days! Viagra roses.

268949408967282370_THIuSsGo_fTake note how many of these images have some form of natural wood working beautifully with the orange & black combo.

134127529_CtdQBZ7D_cSuch a cool kitch!

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Amanda Peet’s entry hall via Vogue

Do I see Viagra roses?

Here, natural wood, orange & black are adding a contemporary pop to an otherwise traditional room.

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 I want to hang a hammock inside somewhere, don’t you?!

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How about a sexy Public Bike propped casually against your wall

Michael Smith

This is a favorite photo so I’m sorry I don’t have the credit.

The coziness of a sleeping nook, dark wood and the arched leaded window are all so charming.

890A6279Here fiery orange & deep charcoal in my “Boy Barn”

It will be finished…eventually. You know how I hate to be rushed.

700_roman-williams-stiller-libraryBen Stiller’s library by Roman-Williams

Black bookcases are terribly chic.

Splashes of orange tones highlight them to dramatic effect in these three photos

one_kings_lane_scents_rusticand Hermes blankets always make Mommy happy.

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Pumpkin blankets and crisp black lines help to make this bedroom a triumph.

890A3820Oh, you naughty young Parisian man in Hotel Costes! How did you get on this post?!

c0fb762f6ef0f4e96eac0a238136cedeI like the warmth of this living space looking out on to the snow and pines, but can you tell what’s going on on the ceiling?

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and a touch of plum in these two pics60728294945475067_c7cdaavm_f

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LOVE this bold, fun room, especially the burnt orange velvet cushions on the African bead chairs.

SO…

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Go bold

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Go baby steps

but do think about giving orange & black a go-go (been watching Madmen much?!)

~

Slim Paley Daily #7

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I made it!

Slim Paley Daily #7…where I’ve saved the best for last;

Just a very small sampling of the beauty to behold at “Rose Story Farm” in Carpinteria, California right now!

L1150254This gorgeous, long lasting and, may I add, impressively virile climber is called

“Berries n’ Cream”

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A gentle scent of apple adds to its charm.

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Owners Dani & Dr. Bill Hahn have a passion for the art of growing roses that translates to virtually every corner of the farmL1150265Just put your face in that

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L1150263They even raise plastic cattle.

L1150267Roses simply do NOT get any better than these.

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loving my Instagram pics, even if I do say so myself  :-)

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“Rose Story Farm” ships both bare root bushes and cut roses country wide.

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These are your grandmother’s roses!

~

Slim Paley Daily #5

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Cest Cheese” (says she, sheepishly inching into the room two and 1/2 days later)

You see the thing I think I failed to mention is that “Slim Paley Daily” isn’t actually, necessarily daily.

Dang :-(

 I had such good intentions too (not to mention house guests that led me astray! )

L1020085In any case, I’m really making it up to you for dallying with the ‘daily’s

by sharing a GREAT selection of delicious cheeses.

Oh Yee of little faith-I told you these were coming eventually!

~

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Ossau Iraty

Ossau-Iraty is complex and includes an edible slightly white-moldy tart rind which adds considerably to the experience. This is a creamy, not bitter, not overly sweet, slightly nutty cheese. A producer of Ossau-Iraty won the World Cheese Awards in 2011, in Birmingham, England (Wikipedia)

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Red Hawk

You had me at “triple cream”, washed in a brine solution with sunset red rind. A real stinker, and I mean that in the nicest possible way.

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Midnight Moon

“Aged six months or more, this blushing ivory colored cheese is dense and smooth with a slight crunch of protein crystals that form naturally with aging. Nutty and brown buttery up front with a long caramel finish.”

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Pittig Gouda

An intense gouda, Himalyan rock salt-hard, with a rich caramel colour and flavour. Crystalized shards of lactic acid in-bedded in each bite are like little gifts of wonderfulness.

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Brillat-Savarin

Created in 1930 and named after the famous 18th century gourmet, this is another triple cream extravaganza of a cheese. gorgeous with champagne & dates.

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Parrano

Technically a gouda, Parrano is an Italian style cheese, with the flavour of aged  parmesan, but a mushier texture.

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Naked Goat

 6-month-aged goat cheese from Spain is produced with raw Murciana goat’s milk. Naked Goat® is mild and creamy with a tangy, sweet finish. The cheese is perfect for melting. Pair with almonds in honey and a crisp white wine.

~

 Cheese plate with netting cover from Summerill & Bishop  London

~

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Because, really, is there anything better than cheese?!

and reading about cheese

cheese

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Screen Shot 2013-04-27 at 7.51.24 PMFulvio Bonavia photo

So grab your bag and get shopping

Feel free to leave your cheese recommendations in a comment

and if you’re ever in Santa Barbara, Please C’est Cheese !

(PS. They also have an online store)

~

photo of girl in cheese frock  Tim Walker

 (et merci Benedicte et Kendall! xx)

Slim Paley Daily #2

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A Crusty Avocado Tart

in the gardens of “Maisons Des Reves” Dar Ahlam, Ouarzazete, Morocco

It’s Tart Tuesday!

(see what I did there?)

This was one of the most delicious dishes we ate inhaled during our entire holiday in Morocco.

The combination of melty, yet slightly grainy short crust pastry, creamy fresh avocado filling and crunchy baby lettuce & pomegranate seeds was positively dreamy.

So, Yay! Who’s your Mama?? I got the recipe and I’m sharing it with youse guys.

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L1150099It took literally every ounce of will power (and the fact that I wasn’t alone) to not ask for a second tart.

L1150096Serve with some freshly toasted french bread, chilled white wine

(do not look at that Coke-it’s a mirage-we were in the desert)

and you’ll feel like you are …

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ZZzzzzzzz….

Until tomorrow.

~

All photos Slim Paley, recipe filched from “Maison Des Reves”*

*Proper props will be proffered in an upcoming post. Promise.

Postcard From Marrakech

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Dear Faithful Readers

I’m still here.

I’ve been neither felled by a travel bug or run amok in a souk.

Just soaking in all the sights, sounds & scents that Marrakech has to offer…

It’s everything you would imagine.

I’m only sorry I can’t share the sensory overload in more ways than one.

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We’ve eaten like this every morning.

Yes, that’s cheese at breakfast.

That’s how I spell H O L I D A Y

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Grilled asparagus with truffle creme fraiche

and here’s lunch on any given day

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We’ve shopped like this

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and this

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and this…

but not like this

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(Not winning the Souk Award for Best Merchandising)

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We’ve sipped mint tea in so many beautiful spots

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you can’t imagine…

But the hour grows late, internet access here is limited and an early cheese breakfast awaits me.

So I bid you adieu for now

and promise there will be much more to follow.

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xoxo from the Medina

~

All photos Slim Paley