Sunday, December 2, 2018

Lavender Design + Cuisine

 



Welcome to Lavender Design + Cuisine, your source of inspiration for living joyously, deliciously, and rooted in rebellion.
Sometimes, the path to your true calling is not a straight line. For me, it took two decades in high-tech sales before I took a leap of faith to pursue my lifelong passion. That decision birthed a sanctuary for avant-garde gastronomy and the curation of beautiful spaces, drawing deep inspiration from the rich culinary traditions of France, Italy, Spain, and Morocco.
Today, as a plant-based chef and author of the upcoming book Lemon, Love and Lavender (Late 2026), I am deeply grateful to design soul-stirring experiences.
My clients and students are at the absolute center of everything I do. Explore their remarkable testimonials here to discover the impact of our shared, unconventional journey.

Contact me today to discuss my services and get started!  

·   

Ellie Lavender
Space Curator & Avant Garde Chef
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook


Copyright © 2018 
Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Simple & Practical Feng Shui Tips For A Child’s Bedroom!


Enhance Education, Success and Happy Relationships!

Applying Feng Shui to a child’s bedroom creates an inspiring environment that fosters enhanced education, success, and happy relationships with parents, siblings, and others. 

However, before you apply the below Feng Shui enhancements to the bedrooms of your children, it’s important that you bring them into the process. Start by discussing the benefits of a clutter-free, organized and inspiring bedroom environment; and then get their permission and full participation. After that, work together to design short and long term plans for creating and maintaining an inspiring bedroom environment that will empower them to thrive in all aspects of life.

Here’s your action plan for this project:

1.       Remove clutter. Partner with your children to support their efforts to clear jammed closets and drawers. Encourage them to remove toys, games, books and clothes no longer suitable for their age. To make this process simple and most effective, provide them with three boxes, 1) items for donation, 2) recycling and 3) trash. Creating space and visual openness helps your child sleep better and feel much more rested, which will lead them to be happier and more productive.

2.      Teach organization skills and maintenance methods. Provide storage systems, a laundry basket and trash can so that children can easily organize and store items, without having to leave them on their beds, desk’s and floors. These simple and practical measures will inspire and motivate your children to keep their bedrooms clean, clutter-free and organized resulting in fewer chores for you!

3.      Create an inspiring bedroom environment. Make sure there is adequate lighting in the bedroom. Also, bedrooms that are painted dark colors create too much oppressive energy. Bright colors, such as yellows, light greens, soft lavender and pinks are good energy and inspiring color choices.  Add inspiring and motivational posters and art to the child’s bedroom!

4.     Bed choice and placement in the bedroom. Make sure your child can see the door from his or her bed easily, but is not in direct line of the door. Bunk beds are not optimal. Children must have room to grow and the bed overhead exerts pressure on the child below. Because there is empty space below them, children on the top bunk may feel less secure. If possible, try to have a separate bedroom for each child. If this isn’t possible, there are many decorative ways to create division and privacy within a room for each child.

5.      Establish a space for study and accomplishments. Having a dedicated space, including a desk and lamp where your child can study demonstrates to your child the importance you place on education, your child’s success and achievement. Display awards, trophies, and tests with good scores in the child’s bedroom.

6.     Praise your children often. Throughout the transformation process and afterward, praise your children often. The practice of this amplifying self-esteem gesture will make them feel good, loved and appreciated, and will also encourage and motivate them to maintain a clean, clutter-free, organized and inspiring bedroom environment for years to come.

7.     Lead by example for your children. Children are like mirrors, reflecting everything that happens in their environment. The examples you set have a significant impact on their present and future development and aspirations. Keep your home environment, clean, clutter-free, organized and inspirational. 

Have fun with your children and enjoy the process!


Ellie Lavender 
Certified Feng Shui Practitioner
Interior Designer

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Copyright © 2018 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.




Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Plant-Based Recipe: Butternut Squash, Red D’Anjou Pear & Ginger

Tangy Creamy Butternut Squash, 
Red D ‘Anjou Pear & Ginger Soup
Pic. 6

Pic. 5

Pic. 4

Pic. 3 

Pic. 2

Pic. 1

Greetings Soup Lovers! 

Celebrate the season with this nourishing plant-based butternut squash, D'Anjou red pear and ginger soup. Its delightful combination of tangy and creamy flavors makes it the perfect autumn dish.

This recipe features a harmonious blend of sweet roasted pears and butternut squash, pureed to a velvety consistency. The soup is beautifully topped with a textural contrast of pistachios and the finishing touch of extra virgin olive oil, resulting in a sensational flavor. It's amazing!

Ingredients (serving size 4):

2 Cups butternut squash 

1 Cup D'anjou red pears 
1 Tbsp. Meyer lemon juice & a few Meyer lemon rinds
1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger 
1 Cup oat milk
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 Tbsp. chopped pistachios
1/5 Tsp. sea salt

 Instructions: 

1. Cut the butternut squash in half, remove seeds, peel skins and chop into small cubes (alternatively you can use store bought frozen cubed butternut squash and thaw them first before roasting).

2. Cut pears in half, remove core and chop into small cubes 

3. Toss cubed butternut squash and pear with olive oil, sea salt and roast them at 400 preheated oven for 25 minutes, pic.1 

4. Place butternut squash, pears, Meyer lemon juice & rinds and ginger in a food processor, pic. 2 and process until they are pureed, pic. 3

5. Add oath milk, pic. 4 and process again until the mixture is creamy, pic. 5

6. Place soup in a bowl and garnish with chopped pistachios and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, pic 6.

·      Enjoy it by itself, or pair it with a light dinner of salad, crusty bread or focaccia.

Ellie Lavender
Space Curator & Avant Garde Chef
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook


Copyright © 2018 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

The Art of the Curated Space: Elevating Your Sanctuary


Your home is your sanctuary. It is a direct reflection of your inner self. When you mindfully curate inspiring living and working environments, you naturally cultivate clarity, vitality, harmony, and joy.
Let’s take your environment from a dream to a beautifully realized reality together.
Your Personalized 3-Step Curation Plan
  • Step 1: Space & Vision Assessment: We map out your daily routines, your environments, and your personal lifestyle goals.
  • Step 2: Mindful Decluttering: We methodically clear away physical chaos to uncover the true aesthetic potential of your rooms.
  • Step 3: Bespoke Aesthetic Curation: We layer in natural textures, light, and functional beauty tailored exclusively to your soul.
Why Space Curation Matters
Curation is the intentional art of editing your surroundings to enhance how you live, think, and feel. When a room is crowded, disorganized, or stagnant, it creates an invisible weight that drains your energy and blocks your focus.
Mindful decluttering is the foundational step. Removing what no longer serves you allows your home to breathe again. Next, intuitive organization introduces structure and daily ease. Finally, purposeful curation blends function with beauty, creating a balanced space that actively nourishes your mind and soul.
Inspired Kitchen Transformation Story
“Ellie helped us transform our cluttered kitchen into a wonderful gathering and entertaining space! We started by decluttering our fridge, pantry, cabinets, and counters. We cleared out chipped dishes, broken appliances, and expired items. Then, we brought in a container of fresh herbs, wild flowers, and a basket of lemons from our garden, adding instant life and color.
These simple, intentional steps completely transformed our space. We now cook more often and truly enjoy spending time together over meals, and especially for coffee in the morning! Thank you, Ellie, for your practical and creative solutions.”
— Sofia & Marco, Capitola, CA

Ellie Lavender
Space Curator & Avant Garde Chef
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook


Copyright © 2018 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Thursday, February 1, 2018

Lavender Meyer Lemon Madeleines

Lavender Meyer Lemon Madeleines

Valentine’s Day Gift

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and for a thoughtful and sweet present, nothing surpasses the unique charm of homemade, lemon-lavender Madeleines.

Madeleines are classic French tea cakes known for their distinctive shell shape, which is created by baking them in special molds. The cakes were named by Louis XV in honor of Madeleine Paulmier, his father-in-law's cook.

Culinary Lavender Tip: always use high grade organic culinary lavender.

Ingredients: Makes 12 Madeleines

1/2 cup pastry flour
2 Tbsp. almond flour 
1/3 cup unsalted plant-based butter 
1 Tsp. fresh Meyer lemon juice
1 Tsp. Meyer lemon zest
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 Tsp. organic culinary lavender (finely chopped)
1/3 cup almond milk

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Butter and flour the madeleines mold.
3. Melt butter and set aside to cool at room temperature.
4. In a bowl with an electric mixer at high speed beat pastry flour, almond flour, sugar, almond milk, lemon juice and melted butter until the mixture is creamy. 
5. Add lemon zest and lavender flowers and beat for additional one minute.
6. Place 1 Tbsp. of the batter into each mold.
7. Bake for 15-17 minutes until madeleines are golden and the tops spring back when gently pressed with your fingertip.
8. Use tip of a perry knife to loosen the madeleines from pan if necessary, transfer them on a cooling rack and set aside to cool for at least 15 minutes before enjoying them. 
9. For packaging as gifts, let the madeleines cool for at least one hour.

These delicious madeleines, featuring a delicate infusion of organic culinary lavender and Meyer lemon, are simple to bake. They make a perfect Valentine's Day gift and are wonderful on their own or when dipped in coffee, espresso, or dessert wine.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Ellie Lavender
Space Curator & Avant Garde Chef
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook


Copyright © 2018 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

The Space You Keep: Decluttering Your Inner Circle



Jim Rohn famously said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” 
You become what you surround yourself with. To thrive, you must consciously declutter your social space.
Here are the 5 types of people to release, and the 5 types of people to embrace.
5 Types of People to Avoid
  • The Haters: They project their internal pain onto your path. Deflect their negativity promptly; it is never about you.
  • The Sideline Judges: They critique your choices without ever stepping into the arena themselves. Remember Roosevelt: it is not the critic who counts.
  • The Comrade Who Knows Best: They mean well but think their blueprint works for everyone. Trust your own unique intuition over their advice.
  • The Old-School Thinkers: Rigid and bound by tradition, they fear soul-led, non-traditional choices. Bless their protective instincts, but forge your own path.
  • The Sympathizers: They host well-meaning pity parties that trap you in your challenges. Seek empowering solutions, not just endless comfort.
5 Types of People to Seek Out
  • The Listeners: They offer pure, judgment-free space where you can be fully seen and heard.
  • The Acceptors: They embrace you unconditionally, whether you are a hot mess or rocking your goals.
  • The Seers of Truth: They look past the surface to remind you of your innate power when you temporarily forget.
  • The Way Makers: They boldly explore new territory first, sharing raw, honest details to light your path.
  • The Empowerers: Grounded in rebellious positivity, they actively lift you up with motivating perspectives.
Happy decluttering and letting go of what no longer serves your space!

Ellie Lavender
Space Curator & Avant Garde Chef
Lavender Design + Cuisine

Let's connect: Instagram | Facebook


Copyright © 2018 Lavender Design + Cuisine, All rights reserved.