Miele Vacuum

Friday, June 28, 2013

I will admit, I love to vacuum....  (mopping floors on the other hand, not so much)....  I've been loyal to our Miele vacuum since first purchased back in 2000. It has never failed us, and always up to challenge (with multiple dogs & cats in our household) of keeping our hardwood floors and seagrass rugs neat & tidy.

Only recently, for like the last 3 months, the retracting cord button decided to stop working. But, no matter, the machine still worked great, and I would just loop up the cord when through. So while I was away on my picking trip 2 weeks ago, Mr. Ferguson brought our vacuum to our local shop, Buckhead-Midtown Vacuum, to see about getting the cord repaired....  Well long story short, he left with a brand new Miele vacuum and surprised me with it when I returned.

Now, this type of gift given can be perceived as a double-edged sword in its symbolic meaning (like the scene in Father of the Bride with Steve Martin, when his daughter Annie wants to call off the wedding because her fiance Brian has given her a blender and she questions his motive behind the gift - is he expecting a 1950's house wife?)....

But thankfully, I know Mr.Ferguson's intentions were purely honorable....  The new vacuum is really pretty (as much as vacuums can be so)....  It's bright banana yellow, lighter in weight and quieter than our old one, and unbelievably powerful! The swivel head design easily maneuvers corners and the wand is "telescopic", allowing to adjust the length as needed.

Viet-Nomie's

Thursday, June 27, 2013


The seasonal gathering of local food trucks on Wednesday evenings in the Virginia Highland neighborhood of Atlanta has recently started back up. On our visit last night, we got a chance to try a new food truck, Viet-Nomie's, serving authentic and freshly prepared Vietnamese food by owner Nomie Truong. Also to note, Viet-Nomie's was included on ZAGAT's 10 Must-Try Food Truck for Spring Around the US....  Each dish we tried was super flavorful & tasty! My photos below....

Lemongrass Chicken served over Jasmine Rice and fresh side salad dressed with Viet-Nomie's homemade vinaigrette


Jazzi Rolls with seasoned ground chicken served with side dipping sauce


Shaken Beef stir fry with Garlic & Onions served over Jasmine Rice and fresh side salad

images are mine

Weekend Notes

Monday, June 24, 2013

This happened for dinner on Friday night....  Pizza from Sapori di Napoli (the east side of town's answer to authentic brick oven pizza). We decided on 1/2 Sausage and 1/2 the night's special -- Spinach, Artichoke, and Ricotta Cheese.



This happened for lunch on Saturday....  As always, The Bakery at Cakes & Ale serves an exceptional sampling of the season's freshest offerings. We split a couple of different items, obviously not being able to choose just one -- The Quiche (with Bacon, Squash, & Cheddar), The Grain Bowl, The Roasted Chicken Salad Sandwich, and a side of New Crop Potato Salad....  photos below.






And then FINALLY, this happened Saturday night....   Went to see Before Midnight, starring Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, and it is so fantastic! The film officially opened in theaters on May 24, but only in NYC & LA. Its now available in Atlanta and continues to be released in other cities around the country....  clip from the movie attached below.

Vintage Finds

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Upon returning from my most recent picking trip, I have been taking care in preparing the vintage finds I turned up, ready for their postings on my site through One Kings Lane....  A couple of sample finishes are included above....  Keep a lookout for when this hand-selected decor goes live on sale!

Salt Yard

Friday, June 21, 2013

We had the opportunity to try Salt Yard on Sunday night...   A tapas style restaurant that has recently (like 3 weeks ago) opened in the Brookwood Hills neighborhood of town (right near Piedmont Hospital on Peachtree). The restaurant actually shares the same address as Watershed, with Watershed occupying the ground floor right corner side of the building at 1820 Peachtree and Salt Yard established in the left.

The owners of Salt Yard, husband & wife couple, Christian Favalli and Kristy Jones-Favalli, have deep rooted restaurant ties here in Atlanta....  Christian's family has owned and operated for over 30+ years the well regarded Buckhead restaurant La Grotta, and in 2000, Christian opened Meritage (which is now shuttered) in Bacchanalia's original location on Piedmont. Kristy has worked in the restaurant business (including La Grotta) for a number of years, and she was on hand Sunday night overseeing the "front of the house".

The interiors of Salt Yard have been designed by Square Feet Studio and layer a mix of a dark gray color palette with warm wood tones and rough metal finishes. When we stopped in, the restaurant had just received their liquor license so wine was limited to Cabernet or Sauvignon Blanc, but we asked if by chance there was a Chardonnay possibly hiding at the bar, and thankfully Kristy was able to accommodate us. We ordered a nice selection of dishes....  my photos below....

Gruyere Gougeres (left) and Hummus & Veggies (right)


Raw Kale Salad (left) and Bruschetta with Roasted Peppers (right)


Roasted Cauliflower (left -- and Brussels Sprouts beyond) and Burrata & Heirloom Tomato (right)


Scallops with a Sunchoke Puree (left) and Hangar Steak Frites (right)


Chocolate Nemesis (left) and Ricotta Zeppolis (middle) and Meyer Lemon Polenta Cake (right)


Interior photo from my vantage point (left) and the large wooden design door entrance (right)

Week Review >>> Eye Catching Articles

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Deeda Blair
Image T Magazine

  • T Magazine Summer 2013 issue features a revealing article on Deeda Blair (photographed above), plus includes the interiors of her NYC home, designed by architect/interior designer Daniel Romualdez
  • Cookie + Kate, a scrumptious vegetarian food blog, includes a recipe for homemade Buckwheat Pancakes with Roasted Strawberries.
  • The Garden & Gun Blog posts on "High-Style in Cashiers, North Carolina", one of my very favorite getaway towns, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains and within a 3 hour drive from Atlanta.
  • Pippa Middleton has been recently tapped as a Contributing Editor for Vanity Fair, and shares in the July 2013 issue her personal stories of attending Wimbledon as a child and offers insights to tennis fans for the upcoming tournament. 
  • Creative Loafing Omnivore provides a recap with photos & details of this past weekend's Atlanta Food & Wine Festival.

Thank You!

Friday, June 7, 2013


Thank You for Your Continued Support of my Duchess Fare + One Kings Lane Vintage & Market Finds Page....  Recent Sales are Featured Above....

I'll be stepping away from the blog next week as I head out on a picking trip to refresh & restock, and as always, in search of interesting one-of-a-kind decor....  Follow me on Twitter for updates from the road.

Ali Larter ~ Kitchen Revelry

Wednesday, June 5, 2013


Noted actress Ali Larter (above, working in her garden) adds author to her resume....  Hitting bookshelves on September 10 is Ali's first published work, Kitchen Revelry, "a month by month culinary scrapbook" that includes Ali's personal recipe suggestions, cooking tips, and stylish entertaining tales.

Images Here & Here

Color Inspired // Peach, Coral, & Cherry

Monday, June 3, 2013

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