By Colleen Toomey | Photos by Chad Coleman

Spring is a precarious beast in the Puget Sound. Neither lamb nor lion, the warm weather will make a sudden and glorious appearance only to disappear as fast as it arrived, leaving far too many bleak days of drizzle.

But inside the Modern Cottage Company, vibrant hues of peacock blue and tangerine remind customers of spring on any day.

Modern Cottage, which refurbishes home décor for its clients, is the brainchild of Seattle resident Alison Bryan. In 12 years, she’s turned a love for vintage furniture into a fine art and now, a blossoming local business with many customers throughout the Eastside.

Bryan’s love of refurbishing secondhand furniture took off when she moved in to her 1910 farmhouse and needed to fill it with beautiful furnishings at an affordable price.

The styling of the farmhouse rivals the work of a masterful Pottery-Barn team: crisp white moldings, fresh linens and sunny accents of robin’s-egg blue and butter yellow. Embarking on her interior-design mission, Bryan created a blog in 2008 to detail her whimsical creations, and quickly received requests from readers for custom pieces.

Her favorite items she’s refurbished include a large dinner buffet, for which she paid $40, and a vintage wall clock.

“I bring home things all the time that my husband looks at like, ‘That is the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen.’” Bryan says.

Her reply: “Just wait until I’m done with it.”

With two small children to care for, Bryan started taking specialized orders out of a homemade studio behind her house, making The Modern Cottage Company an official business in 2010.

After demand for her work outgrew the space, she applied for a storefront through Spaceworks Tacoma. The city initiative provides no- and low-cost temporary space available to artists, creative entrepreneurs, organizations and community groups in unused commercial properties.

Bryan moved into her new space in February where she has a workspace and a showroom that can grow with her new discoveries and creations.

Despite her success, her strategies remain simple. She seeks out furniture and home décor through Craigslist and estate sales, uses her paints and supplies thoughtfully, as not to waste anything, and maintains a strict devotion to color.

“I try to look at every piece and decide what’s best for it. I don’t have a color in mind, then go out looking for something to paint. I try to think of myself as a furniture stylist,” she says.

None of her work looks tortured or inappropriately bedazzled. Her most noticeable items are ones the world would hardly think to use today. A honey-hued birdcage and three beautiful topical globes rest in the windows of her storefront.

Other eye-catchers include a grass-green rocking chair, bright paper roses and a sea-blue dinner buffet with a welcoming blackboard and chalk script.

Always a purveyor of 21st century technology and social media, Bryan enjoys browsing through the online pin board juggernaut, Pinterest. She says its both a great space for design inspiration and building camaraderie with home décor mavens across the digital social-sphere.

For those who want to dip their own toes into the world of DYI projects, Bryan recommends starting with Craigslist, checking every day for great finds, letting go of color-phobia and bringing items in and out for seasonal display.

“Things that are more simple, I try to go all out with color. Things that are more ornate, I try to balance out with doing a more simple color,” she says.

If one is still suffering from color phobia, start small with one bold accent item in the room. For the most apprehensive, start with a pillow. For the slightly more daring, try a coffee table in the middle of the room and let the sunshine reign indoors any day of the year.

The Modern Cottage Co.

311 S 7th Street Tacoma, WA 98407

253-241-6877

Open from noon-4 p.m. Saturdays, and by

appointment only on weekdays.

www.themoderncottagecompany.blogspot.com

Story by Gabrielle Nomura | Photos by Chad Coleman

If you want to cook like Bellevue chef Salvatore Lembo, it’s going to take more than simply fresh ingredients and a tested recipe.

It takes heart – the ability to improvise and experiment, to listen to one’s best judgment. The food should speak to the chef. It’s heart, passion and an unparalleled dedication to taking care of his customers that have made Lembo’s two restaurants: Firenze Ristorante and Pizzeria Guido right next to one another at Crossroads mall such a success. In fact, Firenze has been a neighborhood favorite for just under 20 years.

When Lembo describes how to make Leg of Lamb, a traditional food his mother used to make for Easter or Christmas in Italy, he doesn’t get out cookbooks or look up information, he recites from memory. We’ve done our best below to translate his innate expertise into a recipe for everyone else to enjoy.

Leg of Lamb:
Traditionally a holiday dish, Leg of Lamb is a treat year-round. It makes a delectable dish for its flavor and tenderness, and is an impressive centerpiece and crowd-pleaser.

Shopping:
Whenever Lembo’s customers ask him where they can find authentic Italian ingredients, he always has one response:
DeLaurenti at Pike Place Market.

You can’t beat the Seattle speciality food and wine retailer when it comes to quality, he says. It’s located at 1435 1st Ave. Lembo also likes to shop at the Metropolitan Market (10611 N.E. 68th St., Kirkland) and Whole Foods Market
(888 116th Ave. N.E., Bellevue).

Recipe:
Yield: Serves 4-5
Prep time: 10 minutes
Total time: About 2 hours

Ingredients:
4-5 lb Leg of Lamb
White Wine, Pinot Grigio (to taste)
10 garlic cloves
3/4 c. olive oil
1 Tsp Kosher Salt (or to taste)
T Tsp Rosemary (or to taste)
Freshly ground black pepper – to taste
Freshly-grated Parmesan
Small Red Potatoes, cut in quarters
Red Onions, cut in half

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush the leg with olive oil, salt and pepper. Using a knife, cut small holes into the meat; fill with Parmesan.
2. Place lamb, potatoes and onions on a rack set on a roasting pan; When the meat is almost fully-cooked, splash a little white wine on it. Bake for a total of 1 hour and 40 minutes to 2 hours.
3. Transfer lamb to a platter. Serve.

Side dishes:
Try an Arugula salad with Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, Balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper.

Wine Pairings:
Lembo recommends Brunello di Montalcino and Castello Banfi (If you dine at his restaurant, you can try the wine he makes  at his own vineyards in Tuscany).

Bellevue’s sustainable homes

are all about style, comfort, coziness

and living better.

By Gabrielle Nomura | Photos of Green-Concept Home by Chad Coleman

The air in David and Millie Huang’s home could turn the most asthmatic, allergic person into a deep breather.

Step through the oversized front door and into a totally pristine environment, from the quality of the air to the home’s green footprint.

The couple used sustainable technology during the construction of their LEED-certified, architectural anomaly in Bellevue’s Greenwich Crest neighborhood.  But saving the planet wasn’t their only priority after the chemical engineer (Millie) and architect (David) fell in love at a downtown Seattle bus stop, married and began living happily ever after in eco-bliss, hybrid, baby girl and all.

“To be honest, I’m not a tree-hugger,” David says. “I’m more on the practical side. For me, it’s about living a balanced lifestyle and saving money as well.”

While the building is new, the Huangs only finished construction and moved in October 2010, the mold and mildew that sneakily find their way into so many houses in the soggy Pacific Northwest, will never touch these sleek, futuristic-looking walls.

(Top) this open hatch is the access point to a 1,700 gallon underground rainwater storage tank, which collects rain water run-off from the roof and foundation and is eventually reused for toilet flushing, laundry, car washing and irrigation. (Below) Solar hot water heater on the roof.

This is due in part to the attention the couple has given to sealing gaps between windows and doors to create an “air-tight” house.  The insulation and heat recovery ventilator help too. Fresh air flows in through a ventilator that has a high efficiency filter. Structurally insulated panels mean less energy loss and not having to  turn the thermostat up as much.

Windows and skylights that bring in natural light mean not having to turn on the lights during the daytime. Dual flush toilets help save water. These systems, just to name a few, work so well that the couple was in the top 10 percent energy efficiency in their neighborhood this winter.

Yet, people often think that being environmentally-friendly means going without certain luxuries. In reality, it’s not about sitting in darkness and freezing. It’s about breathing clean air, shrinking the utilities bill, increasing a property value and, as a bonus, doing one’s part to combat climate change. For those who can afford it, all it takes is some advanced planning and research.

While building a home from scratch is always a giant financial undertaking, (especially in this economy), and green technology can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more, the payoff comes later, when one is actually living in the house.

“[People say], ‘Is what I have to do to the save the planet going to significantly change my life? There is an inherent belief that it’s going to  cost more money,” says Matt Muhsam, founder of real estate company, GreenDwellingSeattle, which works with green-builders in Bellevue.

It may seem like there aren’t many sustainable houses on the Eastside. The two most visible ones in Bellevue are arguably David and Millie’s and the “Zero Energy Idea House” on Lake Sammamish Parkway, owned and built by Donna and Riley Shirey (1,630 square feet and energy bills less than $40 a month). Both couples maintain websites for their homes and have hosted educational, open-to-the public tours.

But there are more sustainable houses here than one may realize, whether, like the Huang’s home, it’s certified with a standard such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or an average home that’s been remodeled to include green technology, such as efficient insulation.

The Eastside has an unquenchable thirst for living in modern buildings, Muhsam says. The sustainable technology isn’t the driving factor, however. People are excited about the look of modern architecture, but the homes that happen to have that aesthetic are frequently built green, he says.

YS Development in Bellevue is one of the green builders Muhsam has worked with. YS projects include an “Eco-Village” in Redmond certified to 5-Star Built Green & Energy Star Home (a set of standards, like LEED, used in the green-building crowd). The village will include seven homes, ranging from 1,600-1,800 square footage of space, with attached parking, storage and landscaping included, ranging from $585,000-675,000.

YS also has a house on N.E. 39th Street: 5,542 square feet, five bedrooms, four bathrooms, hot tub, sport court and sustainable features. It’s about $2.4 million.

Not all environmentally-friendly homes cost so much, though. The Huangs wouldn’t disclose how much their Green-Concept Home, a year-long project, cost. But their friends are often surprised that the couple came out of it under budget.

Anyone can spend millions of dollars on a home. But the couple wanted to show  this was a reasonable undertaking for a middle-class family. David, a principal with Modus V Studio firm, who designed the building, and Millie, who did all the interior decorating, worked together to make their goal a reality.

He designed the living room and office area to include lofted ceilings, creating a comfortable, luxurious amount of space. The bedroom designs have lower ceilings to provide more intimacy and coziness. Modern materials such as concrete and aluminum are paired throughout the house with bamboo and chic, funky wall paper, with Millie’s artistic vision, giving the home a personality that’s inviting and uncluttered, but not sterile.

An even bigger priority, more than the look of the house or the innovative features, was giving the couple’s 8-month-old, Angeline, a home fit for her to grow up in.

From good nutrition, saving money and helping the planet, “We want to be an example for her,” says Millie, holding her baby girl’s arms as she hops with glee on the polished concrete floor (a surface that holds onto heat and saves energy, of course).

It won’t be long before Angeline is taking her first barefoot steps on her own, following her parents’ example.

Welcome to life inside The Bravern Signature Residences.  

While looking for a place to call home in Bellevue, Roderick Bond knew he needed to take his dog, Sasha into account. His six-year-old Golden Retriever needed an outdoor space and Bond was seeking the convenience and security of living in an upscale complex. The two found their match at The Bravern Signature Residences, developed by Schnitzer West. 

Hesitant to buy a condominium at the time, Bond was drawn to the apartment homes in the South Tower, situated above The Shops at The Bravern. 

“I loved the space the moment I saw it and the added security was what sealed the deal for me,” Bond said. “This isn’t just a home here. This is a community and a lifestyle. It’s the right fit for me.”

His apartment is a 1,300-square-foot, two bedroom, two bath luxury space with rich finishes, expansive windows, hardwood flooring and gourmet kitchens with Bosch appliances. The condominium and apartment towers share a secure, underground parking garage and a 25,000-sqaure-foot lifestyle and entertainment center on the fourth floor. The shared space includes two fireside lobbies, a fitness center, a Garden House, exhibition kitchen and the Terrace Garden with views of Mount Rainier.

“The Terrace is Sasha’s favorite space,” Bond said. “It’s a great place to come and relax, do some work on my laptop or entertain some guests.”

The name “Bravern” is derived from the word “brave” and was chosen to capture the entrepreneurial spirit of Bellevue. The Bravern’s development team visited 25 of the world’s greatest cities and drew inspiration from legendary communities such as Rockefeller Center, Rodeo Drive, Via Condotti, and the Magnificent Mile.

(Pictured above) One of two Fireside Lounges which boasts two-story ceilings, intimate seating and a grand fireplace. (Pictured below) The Estate Homes include 8-foot entry doors, marble-floored entries, 10-foot-ceilings and expansive windows. The kitchens include slab granite counter tops, custom-paneled, oversized Sub-Zero refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher and a Sub-Zero wine cooler. Interior design for The Bravern Signature Residences by Erin Shaw with NBBJ.

The Bravern Signature Residences are located at 688 & 700 110th Ave NE in Bellevue. Visit www.bravernresidences.com for more information.

Imagine relocating to a new city and downsizing from a 5,200 square foot luxury home to a 600 square foot high-rise Elements apartment complex in Downtown Bellevue.

It’s not so easy but that’s exactly what Melissa Potera did when she moved to Bellevue in 2008. Potera’s two-story home in the gated Las Vegas community of Southern Highlands, consisted of five bedrooms, three and a half baths, gourmet kitchen, spiral staircases, four fireplaces, an outdoor entertainment area and a swimming pool. Potera said her home coupled old world charm and new age chic by juxtaposing tuscan inspired decor, earth tones and Grecian columns throughout the home against modern stainless steel appliances, dark cherry wood furniture and eclectic decorations.

“Because the home was moderate size I was able to really experiment with decorating. You have to have a common theme to make a decorating cohesive. In my case it was color. I took that same idea and shrunk it to a smaller space when I moved,” she said.

Moving was no easy task. Potera and her husband decided to bring everything and put what they couldn’t fit in storage.

“I was bound to make such a huge decrease in size work without making the place look cluttered. Bookshelves became my most valuable item. They come in all shapes and sizes and are so versatile. I have one long one in my living room where I put my television on and use the shelves for storage and one in the bathroom where I put all my accessories and bathroom items in decorative baskets in the cubbies,” she said.

Potera brought two large mirrors which she said make a room look much bigger, clean and add a sleek design. She recommends not over accessorizing or over decorating and making sure that everything has a place.

“Things on counter tops make the kitchen look smaller, so I hide everything even my small appliances and try to have as much open spaces possible.”  Her number one rule is not to buy anything unless you know exactly where it will go.

Living at Elements with all of the modern amenities a high rise offers Potera said, makes her apartment feel bigger.

“I know moving from such a big place to such a small one isn’t easy but it is possible. You have to reorganize your living style a bit. I know when I have guests over, I’m not going to entertain a party in 600 square feet. The entrainment space in the building is great for that, and I don’t keep gym equipment in my apartment because there’s a gym two floors down. Downsizing is really all about truly understanding what you need every single day and getting rid of everything else. You’d be surprised at how much you can live without,” she said.

Elements is located at 989 112th Ave in Belleuve. To learn more, visit www.elementstoo.com.

Lisa Larson makes use of her intimate space at her Metro 112 apartment in Bellevue. Photo by Chad Coleman, 2010.

With her kids grown and gone, Lisa Larson knew it was time to move from her Snoqualmie home to a location that would better reflect the next phase in her life. After researching the Eastside area, Larson settled on Metro 112, a new luxury apartment project at 317 112th Ave. NE, across from Bellevue City Hall. The all-rental residences are connected by east and west towers, housing 299 units.

Larson was reluctant at first to downsize from a large home to the intimate 700-square-feet space at Metro 112 in her one-bedroom unit, but after nearly six months of living there, she is confident she made the right decision. 

“I was really ready to relocate to an area where I could live and play in a single place,” she said. “I wanted a sense of community and I have found it here.” 

Larson works as a director of communications for Drugstore.com, headquartered a few blocks from Metro 112. She now rarely drives in her car and instead walks everywhere, from the David Barton gym in The Shops at The Bravern to her favorite restaurants on Main Street. 

“I travel a lot to Canada for work and when you visit places like Vancouver, you notice how walkable and livable the city is and Bellevue has really turned into that over the past several years,” she explained. “I’m so impressed with it. I have been wanting to move here for a while, but I wanted to do my research and really find the right place for me. I found it,” she added.

Larson’s third-floor apartment has an added bonus with an outdoor central courtyard with a fire pit and meditation fountain. Metro 112 includes a private clubroom, fitness center and a rooftop terrace. The apartment complex also has 20,000 square feet of retail space available, with room for up to nine different stores or restaurants.

“I decided to rent for now because I travel so much for work, I wanted it to be easy and fun. I didn’t want to worry about dues and keeping up the place,” Larson explained. “This also allows me the chance to see if living in downtown is what I like. So far I love it.” 

To learn more about Metro 112, visit the website at www.rentmetro112.com.

833 108th Ave NE, www.washingtonsquareliving.com

Project Type: Condominiums

Floors: 25

Units: 400 

Unit Size: 808-3150 sq feet

Price:  $600,000-$4,000,000 

Description: The Washington Square tower residences include encircling floor-to-ceiling glass windows in the living rooms, hardwood flooring and private balconies. Amenities include access to a fitness facility, spa, hot tub, lounge and conference rooms.  

*Bonus: Washington Square Condos is home to Top Pot doughnuts, just in case you are in the mood for a late night snack (Golden Tate anyone)? 

The Bravern Signature Residences

688 & 788 110th Ave NE, www.liveatbravern.com

Project Type: Condominiums & Apartments

Floors:  33 

Units: 455

Unit Size: 625 -5,000 sq feet

Price Range:  $400,000-$6,000,000 

Description: Choice of city home, penthouse or condominium estate, the Bravern Signature Residences include nine to twelve feet ceilings, single edge stone kitches, custom cabinetry, name brand appliances and 50 to 2,439 square foot terraces. 

*Bonus: The Bravern Signature Residences are located atop the new outdoor shopping village known as The Shops which also house Wild Ginger restaurant and John Howie Steak.

Bellevue Towers

10655 NE 4th St, www.bellevuetowers.com

Project Type: Condominiums

Floors:  43 

Units:  541 

Unit Size:  782 – 3588 sq feet 

Price Range:  $450,000-$9,000,000

Description: The Towers boast a distinct architecture by the MulvannyG2 and GBD firms comprised of a mix of modern and traditional design as well as eco-friendly and energy saving practices. Residence can take advantage of a fitness facility with spa, dual screening rooms, a stylish dining room and grand room for large scale events.

*Bonus: The street level of Bellevue Towers boasts three top-notch restaurants including Purple Cafe & Wine Bar, Barrio and the new Lot No. 3. 

One Main Street

10000 Main Street, Bellevue, www.onemainstreet.com

Project Type: Condominiums

Floors:  10

Units:  57

Unit Size:  568 – 2143 sq.ft.

Price Range:  $400, 000 – $2,000,000

Description: All units are fully equipped with Bosch appliances, Lagotek home automation, hardwood flooring and expansive windows.

*Bonus: The new luxury apartment complex located across from Bellevue City Hall, offers an expansive outdoor patio area with fire pit for entertaining. 

Belcarra Bellevue Apartment Homes

Avalon Towers Bellevue

10349 NE 10th Street, www.avaloncommunities.com

Project Type: Luxury Apartments

Units: 398 units

Unit Size: 465 to 1506 sq feet

Price available for rent: $1050/mo to $2285/mo Penthouse

Description: The Avalon Towers combine a contemporary flair and a premier location in the heart of downtown Bellevue. Located one block from Bellevue Square, the East and West towers offer spectacular views, high-end finishes and an amenity-rich lifesytle. 

*Bonus: The Avalon Towers is a prime example of today’s “Green Living”. The project has taken special measures to promote sustainability throughout the apartment community such as on-site recycling and a green roof. 

Main Stage

Bellevue Parks Family Fun Zone

The 6,040-square-foot waterfront manor at Fairweather Bay in Medina has sweeping views of Lake Washington and pays tribute old world elegance and modern sensibility.

The gated half acre property includes manicured grounds, a private dock, and covered outdoor living area. The property also includes a carriage house and guests quarters, garages for 6 cars and a putting green.

Inside unveils intimate formal rooms, media and game rooms, a private terrace and a luxurious spa. The four bedroom, four bath manor is listed for $7,180,000. For property inquiries, contact Tere Foster of Windermere at tere@fosterrealty.com or call 425.637.8373.

Armed with a pair of rubber boots, gardening gloves and a small shovel, you are ready to tackle that withering flower bed you call a garden. But where do you begin? 

Having a detailed plan customized for your project, whether it be a small vegetable container or an expansive flower bed, would make the overwhelming task seem a little less, well, overwhelming.

That is where garden consultant Kristen Lints comes in. 

Garden design is considered to be an art in most cultures, a distinction Lints takes pride in. Lints is the founder of Gardens Alive Design, a local company specializing in landscape design and coaching for all gardening abilities. She is a Certified Professional Horticulturist and attended Master Gardener Training last spring.  

She works with clients from all over the Eastside and Seattle area.  

“Gardening is my joy,” she said, on a recent sunny afternoon in Bellevue. “I want to share that joy with others. It’s that simple.” 

Lints’ goal is to get people feeling good about gardening and onboard with the hands-on process. 

A nature-lover from a young age, Lints grew up on her father’s farm in Eastern Washington before returning to the area to attend the University of Washington where she earned a degree in Botany. After college she joined the U.S. Peace Corps and traveled to Tonga in the South Pacific where she taught villagers about gardening in a tropical climate.

“I have an in-depth knowledge of gardening in different climates, an innate sense of soil, plants and a love for being outside,” she explained. “It has given me a scientific framework which gives me a very rigid and problem solving approach to gardening along with a sense of artistry.”

According to Lints, vegetable gardening is the latest trend sprouting up around town. 

“Eating local is huge right now and what’s more local than your own back yard?” she asked with a grin. “It’s all about where you find your joy.”  

Lints takes on clients with all levels of gardening experience and works closely with them to design, plan and implement their ideal garden space. When designing a new garden, she takes into consideration the climate, the location, the purpose and the clients preferences including color, scent and overall maintenance time they wish to devote to the project. 

She then works with the client to create a shopping list consisting of which seeds, plants, soil and tools to purchase.

Next, she creates a gardening calendar including the outline of the design, a plant shopping guide, what soils to use, a how-to guide and a checklist for upkeep throughout the year. It is all delivered in a single notebook, organized for simple instruction and follow through.  

“It’s all about cutting out all the trial and error,” she said. “I want to make the process as simple as possible so the client can really enjoy the magic of gardening.” 

Learn more at Gardens Alive Design ~ gardensalivedesign.com

Photo of Kristen Lints by Valley Voice Weekly

Gardening Tips from a Pro 

Soil:  It’s all about feeding your plants a solid, healthy diet consisting of a good compost.

Seed Selection: You have to know what plants work in our cold winters.  Do your research.

Watering: The number one mistake people make is using the sprinkling method. You need to get down to the roots.