Sette Design

How To Make the Perfect Cappuccino

served with love

In this Diario di Design - every now and then we are going to do something Italian just for fun and because they do have a simple understanding of how to live over here.

I have read that one tall cup of American coffee has 180 grams of caffeine in it. Where as one shot of espresso used to make a cappuccino has just 45 grams. You can see why America is so wired up. This also gives me the excuse to have many cappuccinos a day. This could be a reason for you to go out and try to buy some imported Italian coffee. I believe it is softer and less bitter. In fact I never really drank coffee until at 22 I went to Venice, sat in an out door cafe and had the best coffee of my life. I feel like I still remember it.

So today to kick off the weekend right, we are going to make the perfect cappuccino.

tools are important

I use a stovetop “mocha” espresso maker, a container to heat up the milk and a hand pump froth maker. These creamers you can buy bigger so that you can heat the milk directly in the container that makes the froth.

add water

I fill up the “mocha” espresso maker so the water reaches just a little bit over the filter.

in Naples they add the sugar right into the coffee here

Then I pile up the coffee loose into a big mountain.

Close it up tight and heat it on a medium flame on the stove.

Then I heat up the milk (I use whole milk, because I like the taste and believe in whole food).

just fill it part way up or it foams over

I pour the milk into a cup, add espresso and sugar as desired, then I pump the steamer for about 30 seconds and let it sit in the closed container another minute, then I pour it over the espresso and milk and WALA.

cafe sette design serves it up!

Anyone ready for a cappuccino?
Happy weekend everyone around the world.
Natalie

Color Inspiration Robin Red, Moss Green

robin red, taupe, mocha, and dark earth

I was alone this morning, not working and sitting at the kitchen table with my cappuch (cappuccino) when suddenly a robin flew on to our windowsill herb garden and just hung out there for a moment looking at me. When she left, right away I went and got some of Coco’s (our hamster) seeds and put them on the windowsill, not because I have become an Italian Mama and want to feed everyone. I don’t even believe in domesticating free animals. Why, because I want her to come back so I can look at her colors better. They are something like the palette above. Man, that rusted red, mocha brown, rich earth, and warm taupe are so hip together. I can just see a library or kitchen in those colors.

Then after my cappuch I got up the muster to go for a “little” run. The fog was in deep and I ran along the river heading toward our beach, that my daughter Elisa has named the beach Splash Splash Splash Splash. I love that name because it is not a splashy beach. In fact it is not even a beach. I force the girls to call it a beach so I can say, wanna go to the beach? We are California girls suffering in Umbria. It is really an outlet of pebbly land.

moss green, kiwi green metallic grey-green bedroom?

As I ran among the gray fog, green river and mossy grasses, I came across a huge swan right in the middle of the path. What the freak kind of bird day is this? So guess what and you are going to be so disappointed in me, I stopped and considered my options. I saw the headlines of some tiny insignificant article in the local paper. Woman Attached By Swan, Alone On Foggy River. Plus, swans are mean and this one I happen to know has relationship problems, because first SHE had a swan lover and then later that “partner” was gone and I saw her with a goose (I’m not kidding). Combine this secret knowledge of mine with a long history of being attached (even dive bombed) by crows, seagulls and little black birds, I knew that I was not going to risk running by that swan. I have this silly idea I want to live a very long time. The veins, freckles and wrinkles are o.k., but peck marks NO WAY! So I waited to see if she might move over, and then I turned around and ran back up the river, my long life waiting ahead of me, filled with robin red kitchens, and moss green bedrooms.

Natalie

The Game of the Gray Doors

“There are years that ask questions, and there are years that answer.”

-Zora Neale Hurston (Writer)

Happy New Year Everyone!

2013

I am so happy to be back. I love a fresh start, a new beginning. I want to encourage everyone to make some resolutions especially about your creativity – do something with it this year, embrace it, enhance it, explore it.

Today I want to play a game with these Gray Doors. I want you to image opening each door and behind it you will find some part of yourself or your life changed for the better. Try to imagine how you will get there and how it will look, whatever blocks you, jump over it and go directly to the point where it is real. Later you can go back and figure out how to actually get around it.

“THEY” did a study with musicians and athletes and they found that if they imagined a piece of music that they could not play, had never accomplished before or run a race in record time. If they went over each step over and over again precisely, in their minds, when the moment came to actually perform their goal, their minds thought that they had already done it. They were able to trick their minds into accomplishing what they thought their bodies could not do. Isn’t that just the coolest. This is what I want you to do with these Gray Doors. Open them and imagine step by step how you will accomplish these goals.

Also “THEY” (now this a different they) did a study that found when people wrote down their goals it increased the probability of them achieving it by over 70%.

So write down what is going to happen behind these Gray Doors. There are six doors, so you can have six little dreams or changes or goals. Remember sky is the limit.

Lastly since this is a Diario di Design I want to say, environment matters. Create for yourself an environment where theses goals and dreams can actually happen. Notice what people or situations in your life sabotage your plan. Could it be you? Stop that action right away. I am going to do the same, and I’m going to be aware.

Good Luck Natalie

here is my favorite and it's number 7 by chance

“The thing always happens that you really believe in and belief in a thing makes it happen.”

-Frank Lloyd Wright (Architect)

Christmas Trees

centro storico

Nat’s taking a break till the first week in January.

Come back to Sette Design 7.

Or I’ll miss you.

I would like to say any kind of Christmas tree is cool (fico) and hip.

In our downtown there is a tree that is very large, structural and FULL of lights.

it will be here next year

I like tiny and full of hope and simplicity.

mother christmas

Innovative and cool, plus some humor.

our tree

Homemade, crazy-joy.

I WISH FOR YOU

PEACE

JOY AND

SPERANZA

Buon Natale

See you next year!

-Natalie

Easy Handmade Winter Solstice Candelabra

Winter Solstice Candelabra

For us here in the Northern hemisphere the Winter Solstice kicks in today. It will be the darkest, longest night of the year. From here on out the days start getting longer. We are reaching for spring.

Here is my Winter Solstice Candelabra.

wood painted metallic gold and pale blue

I took a piece of wood, painted it gold and blue.

the ribbon is transparent blue and gold motif

Then I wrapped the wood with a pretty ribbon, the kind with wire inside, taping it on the back to secure it.

make sure to secure the candles on the wood part

Then I took all the left over candle stubs from around our house and dripped on the wax to secure them to the wood.

sometimes simple is better

It’s that fun and simple.

A cup of hot cider or mulled wine and the party has begun. See and the world didn’t even end, in fact we are doing craft projects and have a little party.

E Via!

Salute,

Natalie

Raining

days before Christmas

“If you don’t like Louis Armstrong, you don’t know how to love.”

-Mahalia Jackson

The days are quite dark and wet, black trees and charcoal-gray pavement.

I want it to snow in the valley.

If I had a temperature reader on the balcony as I have had in the past. I would be the type to yell the degrees back at everyone in the house with joy, or elated horror.

It is almost the Winter Solstice.

It would be nice if we could find some peace in the world, suddenly an unexpected, overwhelming sense of peace calming the world.

The girls delicately suggest I put presents under the tree. I say, but then you will feel them out, shake them, sniff them. I’m exaggerating to make a point.

A cup of tea is in order.

Louie Armstrong is singing Christmas carols with that velvety, deep voice of his.

He sings,

“He comes a calling when the snows the most.

And all you cats are sleeping warm as toast.

And you gonna flip when old St. Nick,

takes a lick from a peppermint stick.”

I'm relieved that Mahalia thinks I know how to love - big time!

Cheers,

Natalie

Some Italian Furniture Design

glass draw pull - a nice detail

I believe that design preference is often just a contrasting reaction to the generation that came before us.

Our eyes want to see something new.

What’s nice about design now is that it is a big mix up, something old, and something new. A little modern – clean line next to ornate with color, smooth and shiny paired with old and worn.

Today we are going to take a look at a store I love Savini here in Foligno. The owner Grazia has a wonderful eye for design. Keep in mind we are in Umbria, although there are many cities it is not Milan or Rome. Umbria is the only region in Italy that the land does not touch a sea. This I believe (since I'm a San Francisco girl) grandly affects people mindset.

black and white check chair comfortable and simple

love this little chair for in front of the fireplace

Eco Christmas tree a decorated branch -gorgeous!

I like the idea to hang a love note or gift in mesh bag

dark red always a good accent color -the lamp is made of thread spools

wooden table framed in metal very masculine

this door I painted in gold paint, then gold leaf and antiqued

colored glass is always timeless

way cool shelf in aged mirror

gray distressed wood dresser - I like it for the kitchen

page holder and weighty letter opener a great gift for the book worm

little metal table paired with folding wooden chair

off white-gray wood table and chairs

Was that fun, see anything that could go in your home?

Natalie

Christmas in Italy

Christmas lights

Christmas in Umbria.

Here in Italy there is an old saying:

“Natale con i Tuoi e Pasqua con chi vuoi.”

Christmas with yours (family) and Easter with whomever you want.

In Umbria all the jewel like hill and valley towns string the historic centers with lights. It is so fun and festive to go around and see the other cities glowing.

Friends chatting in the rain

Special moments when family is together.

Cappeletti made by hand in broth.

Citrus leaves painted gold framing doorways.

holiday glow

Wet pavement and snow covered mountains.

Nativity scenes made in tiny figurines and even constructed big as live human statues.

Running into friends and having a Prosecco at a cafe.

hot chocolate is waiting

Christmas theater and music concerts at school.

Gobbi (thistle) alla Parmigiana (Parmisian).

Taking the kids out for a hot chocolate served warm and thick like pudding.

Everyone – everywhere saying Auguri – Buona Festa – HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

I say the same to you!

Natalie

12 Photos for 12/12/12

For the fun and joy of today which is 12/12/12. I am going to post up some simple photos from my life here in Umbria. And I will leave you with a funny quote from the fabulous Muhammad Ali. It makes me laugh every time.

"If they can make Penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you."

1.