The Workshops of David T. Smith Blog

Tomorrow is the last day of the Historic Home and Designer Craftsman Show. There was a great group of American artists in the show and we had a great group of buyers come through the show. I even talked to an Architect from California interested in period style kitchens. My salesman sample kitchen was also I big hit. I will be taking it to display at 2 more shows in the next 3 weeks. Check our Events page on our web site for my last 2 show dates of 2011.

 I am honored to work with publisher/editor, Kristine Berg Doss,and look forward to sharing my design skills, knowledge of antiques and history with their readers. A Primitive Place & Country Journal is the premier home and garden magazine featuring primitive and Colonial home tours, enchanting garden tours, savory recipes, simple craft projects, trash to treasure makeovers and more. Each issue is filled with inspiring photos and creative articles sure to intrigue you. If you have not subscribed to A Primitive Place & Country Journal, you will not want to miss out! My first article will appear in their Winter/Holiday 2011 issue scheduled to be released November 1st. Be watching for the big reveal of their Winter/Holiday 2011 cover and sneak peeks this Sunday! --David T. Smith

This is a great project that we did near Boston. The client wanted a David T. Smith kitchen but was concerned about the cost and hassle of doing a handmade kitchen long distance so she tried to find a local kitchen company to do it. No luck. So she finally called me at the last minute to talk about the project. It was a large project, kitchen, 2 pantries, bathrooms, and laundry. She sent us drawings, we had a few Web Meetings, and we drew up the project and made our deal. The next day we flew to Boston to make final measurements. We were a little shocked when we got there, because the house was 90% complete waiting for the kitchen. She had almost waited too long.

This most traditional scone has a creamy biscuit like texture obtained by using both butter and heavy cream. The most reliable approach to mixing the butter into the dry ingredients is to use a food processor fitted with the metal blade. I personally like to use a hand held pastry cutter (I hate the clean up when I use my food processor) and it works beautifully. Resist the urge to eat the scones hot out of the oven. Letting them cool for at least 10 minutes firms them up and improves their texture. For the Scone - 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for the counter 5 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small chunks 1 cup heavy cream (preferred) you may also use 1 cup half and half or 1 cup whole milk Glaze - apply to top of scone using a pastry brush 1 egg 1/4 cup heavy cream (preferred) you may also use 1/4 cup half and half or 1/4 cup whole milk 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar to sprinkle on to...

This delicious cake is a family favorite and is especially welcome around the holidays. We like this recipe because it combines the convenience of using box mixes with special added ingredients for a cake that tastes truly home-made. The rich and decadent icing is from scratch - but so easy to make! “RAVE REVIEWS” COCONUT CAKE 1 pkg. yellow cake mix (2 layer size) 1 3-ounce pkg. Jell-O Instant Vanilla Pudding 1-1/2 c. milk 4 eggs ¼ c. vegetable oil 1 tsp. vanilla extract 2 c. Baker’s Angel Flake Coconut 1 c. chopped pecans or walnuts Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 3 layer cake pans and set aside. Blend cake mix, pudding mix, milk, eggs, oil & vanilla in large mixing bowl. Beat at medium speed for approximately four (4) minutes. Stir in coconut and nuts. Pour into pans and bake for 35 minutes, or until tests done. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack ten (10) minutes; remove from pans and cool completely before frosting. COCONUT CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 1-1/2 st...

This stunning three piece pot celebrates America’s Independence. It is slip decorated in museum yellow, copper, and manganese, has sgraffito accents, and numerous applied and hand sculpted details. Note the sculpted eagles, flag, shield, and cannonballs. It has fancy scrolled handles and delicate pierce work on the lid. A truly one of a kind pot. Measures 16.75 inches tall over all. The pedestal base measures 6.25 inches. It has slip decorated stars and banding in museum yellow and manganese slip-trailed detail. The inscription on the base reads – “When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation”. These majestic words are the ...

This is a summarized version of a Webinar David delivers live online. He goes through the process of designing a kitchen for a historic or reproduction home.