New life at the louis - part 3.

If you really really really love your kids...

The show stopping view when you exit the elevator.

I want this.

Inlaid jewelry boxes.

So cute!!!!

Antique animal prints.

Foxed mirror and exposed mechanics!  Love it!

Boston Strong.

The ball wall.

Well, that wraps up the RH gallery tour. You can pick your jaw up off the floor now.

What do you think?

All images property of Angela Raciti. 

New life at the louis - part 2.

Here we go... part II!

A view from the interior of the elevator towards a rustic table merchandised with florals and succulents from a local florist.

The glass elevator from the 2nd floor.

I like the idea they had to hang prints touching on all sides to give interest to the tall wall on the side of the bed. It would be so hard to get perfect, but I think my OCD could be put to very good use to get the job accomplished.

The flagship has 2 bars, one for wine, one for beer. The wine bar itself is a ginormous slab of stone. Above, the wines are showcased in a sidelit framed piece.

The elevator from the 3rd floor. Faux olive trees placed around the railing were uplit, and brought your eyes up to the ornate ceiling.

All the way down.

The ceiling looked original, not sure if it was.

I call this one the "Annie View"!

Please check back tomorrow to see the Baby & Child galleries.

All images property of Angela Raciti.

New life at the louis - part 1.

The best part about RH taking over the Louis Boston, is the complete renovation and preservation of this historic site. A place that once served as the Boston Museum of Natural History is 40,000 sq.ft., and has held a historic presence in the Back Bay since 1863 when it was built. Local architecture and interior design firm, Bergmeyer Associates,  did THE most amazing job preserving the historic architecture of this building, and I just know that you will agree.

Photo taken by Elizabeth Lo Soe

My interior designer friend Liz and I thoroughly enjoyed walking through, in RH's term, their "gallery", and letting it inspire us for future design project. I think I may have even drooled a little bit touring the interior. Enjoy the photo tour today and throughout the rest of the week!

A grand side entrance was constructed with glass and steel.

The same chandelier in three sizes, hung at different heights.

Walls, trim, and ceilings were painted Slate, one of RH's paint colors. The 2nd and 3rd floor plate is open in the center, so you can stand on the main level and look all the way up. A central glass elevator takes you up and down. I felt a little like Annie the first time she sees Daddy Warbucks's home.

Bergmeyer did such an amazing job giving new life to the existing historic architecture, and integrating new detailing. You can't even tell which is new and which is existing.

The main stairwell that connects the floors.

Liz and I loved the stair design. The guardrail and banisters were made from flat pieces of steel, and the banister was an antique brass. A spectacular crystal chandelier softly illuminates the stairs. It was huge, maybe 72" diameter.

A close up of the stairwell chandelier. Don't even bother checking, it's not for sale on their website...

All images property of Angela Raciti unless otherwise noted.

This week on my diary....

I am exploring the new Boston RH flagship. Wait until you see how gorgeous.

Vintage prints.

The front gate on Chelsea Street.

The facade. Both images taken by Angela Raciti

Are you an admirer of vintage architectural drawings?  I guess it goes without saying that I am, and they don't have to be vintage. While working on my thesis project (gosh, I cringe even writing the word now that the trauma is in the past) I had the amazing opportunity of going through the archives at the Boston National Historical Park in the Charlestown Navy Yard to find the plans for the building best suited for my project.

I'll admit that I was excited when the museum specialist asked me to wash my hands before handling the plastic covered drawings under his supervision. Some of them were on blue paper with white drafting, hence the name blueprints, and some were so torn and tattered that they were barely readable.

The two images above are reproductions from the Commandant's House drawings dating back to the early 1900s. Of course, I couldn't take the originals. I'm looking forward to getting them framed and on the wall!

NOLA Architecture.

I'll admit, I've never had the urge to visit New Orleans. To be honest, anywhere on the eastern side of the country south of South Carolina is waaay too hot and humid for me, and Mardi Gras beads remind me of my rearview mirror during high school. However, I came across this image of an eave of a building in NOLA. The ornate corbels, complete with finials, the lantern, and the shutters have a nostalgic simplicity.

via

Boston love.

via

I couldn't be more proud to be part of Boston. It has most definitely been an emotional week, but it's touching how much everyone has come together. As terrible as it is when tragic things like this happen, we are reminded just how much we are a community. Count your blessings every day.

Have a happy weekend.

I still consider myself a novice Instagram user (I just figured out exactly what a hashtag was and how to use them a few weeks ago) but this is a little peak into my world. You can follow me here.

Happy Instagramming!

Recipe: onion jam straight from a Tuscan kitchen.

Ok, I'm about 2 years late writing this post, but better late than never. I've been sorting through our recipe collection, and came across this gem. A few years ago when we visited Italy, a chef shared this recipe for onion jam with me, and now that I've made it, my life will never be the same.

It only has two steps, but takes hours to cook, so make sure you have plenty to read/watch/do while it's working on the stove.

1.  Over LOW heat, warm 3 tablespoon olive oil. Add 2 1/2 lbs of thinly sliced white onions and 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander. The onions will reduce by about 3/4, but don't try to fit all of the onions into a small pan at the beginning, because you will be stirring them every once in a while.

The diary of an onion: From the get go.

A few hours in...

A few hours more...

2.  When cooked but not brown, add 3/4 cup white wine, 1 1/4 c cane sugar, pinch of herbs de Provence, salt and pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. Cook on low for a few hours until thick.

After step 2.

A few hours later... it's a sweet sticky jam.

I'm still exploring new ways to enjoy the jam, but it is so so so good on toast, or even better, an egg sandwich.

All images taken by Angela Raciti

Aaron Bouvier

Words cannot express, so I'm not even going to try. Please keep praying and sending positive vibes. We can feel it.