Blog

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Taniya Nayak Reel

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On today’s Boston’s View, J.C. Monahan gets tips on how to boost the value and appeal of your home from HGTV’s Taniya Nayak.

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Spring has sprung and if you’re like 90% of the population, your yard is probably not ready for its big reveal just yet. Here are a few inexpensive tips to turn your lawn into an at-home oasis in as little as one weekend.
Step 1 – Lay down new sod. It sounds scary but it’s actually really simple. Make sure to leave room to plant your flowers when laying out your sod. First you need to lightly loosen the soil using a rake or shovel making sure to keep the ground as level as possible. Apply a small amount of organic fertilizer or conditioner to the soil to make sure the sod grows in a nutrient rich environment. Next lay down the sod with the edges flush against each other – overlapping edges will lead to uneven ground. And finally, make sure to water your newly-laid sod immediately and ignore color differences within the sod as those will fade within a few days.
Step 2 – Now you’re ready for some color. Using that area of soil you left unsodded, plant some seasonal flowers in an array of colors and sizes. Space out your flowers to fill in the area of soil left bare without looking too empty or too crowded. Combine plants with similar water and sun needs so they will be easier for you to maintain; if you want to be more eco-friendly, use plants that are native to your area in order to reduce your water usage.
Step 3 – Accessorize. Make your garden day and night friendly with additional lighting without adding to your monthly light bill. Using solar powered LED lawn lamps throughout your newly planted garden will turn your outdoor space into a usable one whether the sun is out or not. You can find inexpensive ones in an array of designs for about $30 bucks. Add a couple of inexpensive outdoor chairs and a table and your new garden oasis is complete.
You can find plants for an eco-friendly garden at your local nursery. Look for drought-tolerant shrubs and disease resistant plants to add to your garden and not your pocketbook. And always remember to use organic lawn care products when you’re done planting and ready to care for your new outdoor space; they’re safer for you, your family, and your pets. Now sit back and enjoy day in and day out.

Oh yeah- I’ll let you in on my self-proclaimed award winning Sangria recipe for the perfect outdoor afternoon refresher!

T’s White Sangria
Bottle of white wine, I prefer using a Savignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio
Mix your own simple syrup- about 5 or 6 teaspoons of sugar and ½ cup warm water
1 can of Sprite
Apricot brandy (your call on how much to add!!)

Mix it up, add fresh fruit like peaches, apples, kiwis, and grapes.
My secret tip: Freeze the grapes so that it chills the sangria without watering it down.

ENJOY!!

XO,
Taniya

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PART 1

PART 2

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Among my passion for design, also lies a passion for food! Having a hubby that is a Boston restaurateur doesn’t hurt either. The first 10 minutes of most of our dining experiences are usually spent analyzing…well everything. On my end, I determine if the space is inviting. Did they select colors that evoke ambiance as well as hunger? How is the flow from the door to the bar to the dining room? Are there hooks under the bar for my bag? On his end, he observes the courteousness of the staff, the level of the music, and how bright the lights are. Yes- tough crowd, I know! But it is all in good fun. Once the food comes out- it is amazing how certain things that may have bothered us at first seem to go away as we savor a mouthful of foie gras or fresh burrata. My latest obsession and coincidently, my latest design project is designing a downtown Boston restaurant. We are transforming it into a fresh, casual French provincial eatery.
As I work on the design, I’m learning quite a bit about French dining and décor and I thought I’d share some interesting facts and history behind my two favorite things.

The word “brasserie” literally translates to “brewery” which may explain the long beer lists found in many brasseries in France. As opposed to a simple “bistro”, however, a brasserie offers a more formal dining experience wherein the customer may choose from a seasonal menu or simple hearty food. A bistro, on the other hand, is a more informal gathering space where locals would come together to enjoy wine and talk town business. In modern brasseries, you’ll find an energetic crowd ready to unwind over delicious food and drinks – it’s the perfect place to grab a quick bite to eat or to linger over a glass of French wine after work.
The design of a brasserie is based off of traditional French Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements and gives a nod to times when landlords used to open up their kitchens to the public in order to make a little extra money. Deep wood paneling and splashes of red walls and accents throughout the space make the brasserie warm, inviting, and familiar. Wood flooring enhances the romantic atmosphere that can be found within brasseries, and diverse seating arrangements with small café tables and communal bar spaces give patrons a choice in their dining experience. Subway tiles are a staple of the traditional brasserie and can be found floor to ceiling as a perfect backdrop to gorgeous mirrors and eye-catching chandeliers creating a sleek and clean look throughout the restaurant.
Francois Thomazeau wrote, “A brasserie is where the pleasure of the eye is reunited with the pleasures of the table.”
Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

XO,

Taniya

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Sometimes you just need an escape from everyday life. Unfortunately getting away at the drop of a hat isn’t always realistic. So what better place to escape to than right in your own home? Here are some ways you can bring the awe-inspired sensation of your favorite travel spot right into your home.
Do you like the feel of the Italian countryside? Think neutrals like white-washed walls, beige linens in a heavy cotton, and rustic touches like wood or stone accents inspired by the old Tuscan stone homes.
Are you a hopeless romantic and dream of roaming the streets of Paris? Pick a few statement pieces like a dramatic oversized chandelier in wrought iron inspired by the Eiffel Tower. Find colors while window shopping on the Champs Elysees- you know that outrageously expensive elegant gown that you can’t get out of your head. Use it as your palette and Voila, in no time you’ll be transported to your own French flat.
Tropical Hawaiian vacations? Incorporate colors you’d find on the black sand beaches and deep umber sunsets. Use different shades of teals and taupe browns to create a calming feel. Try a grasscloth wallpaper inspired by a grass skirt or a thatched roof. Accent with deep oranges and golds from the sunset.
The sky is the limit when renovating with a travel hotspot in mind. Incorporating a few of these ideas into your humble abode will help ease the tensions of day to day life and create a soothing retreat right in your very own home.

XO,

Taniya

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Deck the Halls….and the Walls and the Tables

The holiday season has some how snuck up on us again and after turkey and stuffing it’s time for glass bulbs and holly. If you find yourself looking around at your home realizing that this year’s decorations are still neatly tucked away in the closet, I’ve got a few tips to restyle your holiday décor.

If you’re a little spontaneous, try instilling some of that spontaneity into your decorations through your choice of color or material. Step away from the traditional green and red and try purple or blue. If simplicity is more your style, then try something simple yet elegant by filling different sized punch bowls with glass bulbs that you would normally find on a Christmas tree and placing them around your living and dining areas – it’s unexpected yet festive.

Make any table a focal point by adding heat and height to the centerpiece. Bring fallen tree branches in from your yard and arrange them in a tall glass vase. Hang a few ornaments from the branches and surround it with candles to tie in your chosen holiday décor color scheme.

Try this do-it-yourself twist on the traditional village for a fraction of the price of a real village. It’s creative and only requires some cardboard and scissors. Are you more artistically inclined than most people – or are willing to give a paintbrush a go – and love wrapping presents? Go to your local art store and purchase a few small canvases, acrylic paint in your choice of colors and a small paintbrush. Set up your work station and start “wrapping” your canvas gifts. Paint on bows and ribbon in any pattern you’d like and hang them up on your wall in whatever order you choose. Not only is it great art, it’s YOUR great art!

　

Happy Holidays!

XO Taniya

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Pillow me Happy

Feel like re-accessorizing your home with a little splash of color? What better way to start than with pillows. Take it from the “Throw Pillow Queen” as my crew has so graciously dubbed me, every room can use a little pillow-love. Since starting my new show, I’ve come across so many cool websites that I have to share with you! You wouldn’t believe my excitement when I came across this site specially dedicated to my favorite things, throw pillows. Check out at their website http://www.imaginethrowpillows.com/index.html and see for yourself. Imagine that….pun intended.

XO,

Taniya

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‘Tis the season and I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling the chill already starting to set in. The temperature is dropping and the barbeques have been put away.  Now what do you do to get your home Fall ready? I have a few easy tips for you and your family to get your home fun and fabulously Fall and it all has to do with color, color, color!!!

First, put away your summer seashells and pick up some fabulous fall pumpkins! These are great for color, texture, and they make a clear statement that Fall has arrived.

Draw some attention to your dining or coffee table by making a simple yet elegant centerpiece with small gourds and pumpkins in varying sizes and shapes. Bring in some clean and colorful leaves from outside and place them around the gourds for a little touch of nature. For a splash of warmth, arrange some freshly picked apples (I love going apple picking) in a clear glass container with a candle in the middle, mix red and green or stick to just one kind, whatever you choose will work great. Second, focus on your pillows they’re a simple way to make your home ready for any season. Pick up some inexpensive pillow covers in deep reds, oranges, greens and browns to cover your throw pillows with. No need for new pillows and no need for extra storage. Who has the extra space these days anyway? Take your Fall décor outdoors and hang a wreath on your front door. Yes, wreaths are not just for the winter holidays. Just be certain yours has some fall character with twigs, deep colors, and maybe even a small pumpkin. Adding a seasonal touch to your home not only keeps it fresh and fun, it can also be an activity for the entire family. Make a fun decorating day out of it and top it off with some yummy hot cider by your newly decorated fireplace. 

 

Here’s my favorite way to brew up some cider:

2 quarts fresh apple cider

1/2 cup brown sugar

Slices from 1 orange

1 cup of pomegranate juice

2 sticks cinnamon

6 cloves

1 teaspoon allspice

Grated nutmeg to taste

Add the sugar, orange slices, pomegranate juice and spices to the cider in a large saucepan. Simmer, do not boil, for 15 minutes. Strain and serve hot in small glasses or mugs. Garnish with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick and enjoy!

 XO,

 Taniya

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