A Review: The New Classic Home: Modern Meets Traditional Style by Paloma Contreras & A No Bake Cake

Award-winningdesigner Paloma Contreras’s guide to pairing traditional style with modern design to create classic interiors with a touch of glamour and an infusion of color.
Foreword by India Hicks
In The New Classic Home, beloved designer Paloma Contreras focuses her sought-after expertise on one of the most desired yet difficult tasks in decorating: how to design a space that successfully mixes traditional and modern elements. How does one bridge the gap between such different concepts? By walking readers through her four main techniques-color, texture & pattern, scale & proportion, and tension-Contreras demonstrates how to successfully pair seemingly disparate pieces from different eras and styles to create harmonious, timeless, and balanced interiors.
With spectacular color photography and personalized design tips, The New Classic Home divulges how to blend vintage pieces into even the most contemporary settings, highlight favorite elements of any architectural style, freshen classic silhouettes, and create layered, interesting spaces that always include an element of modern surprise with a touch of elegant antiquity.
British Chocolate Biscuit Cake
EQUIPMENT
6 inch cake pan - Lined with parchment or wax paper. This will make it easier to invert after the cake chills.
Hand Mixer
Spatula
INGREDIENTS
8 ounces British tea biscuits (I used Walkers Shortbread Cookies)
6 ounces butter, at room temperature
6 ounces granulated sugar
1 Pasteurized egg (as it will be uncooked)
6 ounces semi sweet chocolate, melted
CHOCOLATE TOPPING
8 ounces dark chocolate, melted
Break or chop your biscuits into pieces about the size of almonds. Set aside.
Cream the soft butter, sugar and egg until light and fluffy. Beat in the melted chocolate until everything is completely combined.
Fold in the chopped biscuits until they are evenly distributed
Spread the mixture into your prepared pan. You want to make sure to fill all the nooks and crannies so there are no air pockets. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
When the cake has chilled, invert onto a rack or plate. Peel off the paper liner.
Melt and pour chocolate over the top and sides of the cake, and smooth it out.
Chill for 1 hour.
Cut and enjoy! (Using a sharp knife will help cut through the chocolate topping instead of breaking it.)
Music by EpidemicSound

[@maryfisher1965]

Thank you for another wonderful video. I really love the teamwork between you and Daniel!

[@thetartantopiary]

@@maryfisher1965 thank you for the kind comment!

[@lindawatts5260]

Loved the book and the pictures were lovely. Great job. The recipe I will write this one down ❤ Perfect for Valentines Day❣️Thanks Mary, Linda from Pensacola

[@phyllisdrinnen1837]

Enjoyed this book review: great designer. I especially loved the wallpapers and her mixture of textures; very pretty. Thank you Mary for the cake recipe. I'm sure it's rich but delicious. Look forward to our next book tour together.

[@thetartantopiary]

The Chocolate Biscuit Cake is one of my favorite desserts. If you make it let me know what your thoughts are.

[@kittyinserra5650]

Loving this book. I think I have ordered almost every book! My husband hasn’t noticed yet so keep going.

[@lindaortolano7837]

Hello Mary and thank you for yet another great review. I am always interested in mixing a little modern with traditional. The cake looks delicious! I wondered why you mentioned a pasteurized egg. Hi to Daniel and I will see you in the next one! Have a great week! Hugs! :)

[@thetartantopiary]

Daniel says hello back. We hope all is well, and I'll see you next week!

[@debcunningham5011]

Thank you for the recipe, Mary! Will be making it this weekend. Love the Walker shortbread idea!♥

[@marilynrhoads5555]

Thank you for your excellent work!

[@thetartantopiary]

I appreciate that!

[@guldenaydin9918]

Hello! I couldn’t see the “turtle printer” object on the elegant desk today.. I loved it, so much.. ( İt reminds me of some things.) Thank you so much for everything..🌈💝

[@barbaragodfrey1402]

Another wonderful episode. Look forward to your reviews every week

[@thetartantopiary]

Thank you, I am so glad you enjoy them!

[@patriciaflores2776]

Awesome book review and cake as always 😊thank you mary, can't wait for the wonderful tour🌞

[@mistyroach1758]

Another great Friday night with Mary ! Ok.. so more information about the book publishing tease ! Tell us more 👏🏻👏🏻

[@thetartantopiary]

Daniel mentioned this in the Q&A video that we did several months ago. He is a small publisher and mainly features local authors and historians.

[@vllukens7265]

Thank you Mary. I loved the fresh springtime vibe of the book- exactly what's what's needed on a grey cold, end of January day. That cake is amazing too- yum. " longest hour of the day" I'd feel the same. Good luck getting all the books stamped. I always look forward to seeing what beautiful jewellery you are wearing!

[@thetartantopiary]

@@vllukens7265 thanks for watching and your thoughtful comments.

[@PaulaShoaf]

Hi Mary ~~ lovely book .. at first I thought traditional & modern !?but with the right pieces it flows together ! The cake looks delish , I think I will make it for my March birthday yummy ! OMGoodness I bet that was a job stamping those 3000 books ? Have a super weekend and looking forward to next week !! Paula

[@thetartantopiary]

@@PaulaShoaf I will say this, some of the furnishings were not my taste, but her choice in fabric and wall coverings were great! Thanks for your kind comments. I always appreciate that!

[@MidwestGirl]

Thank you for sharing. ♥

[@thetartantopiary]

You are very welcome and thank you for watching!

[@silviaperdomo8215]

That cake looks delicious! Thanks Mary

[@tc7486]

I agree! ❤

[@thetartantopiary]

The cake really is good. The texture and taste are both very satisfying.

[@tc7486]

@ my mouth was watering. I might have to make it. I’ve been craving a chocolate cake all of January!

[@thetartantopiary]

@@tc7486 if Walkers shortbread cookies aren’t available vanilla wafers are good substitute also.

[@tc7486]

@ thank you! Good to know. 🩷

[@CJenkins-s1o]

A wonderful tour of the nature preserve.

[@thetartantopiary]

@@CJenkins-s1o We will take a full tour on next weeks review. It was one of my favorites. The history and the stories that this property holds is phenomenal!

[@alisadotson8403]

Gorgeous as usual.

[@buickinvicta288]

Very elegant and chic! ❤

[@joannlessner1551]

The cake looks better than the book!

[@thetartantopiary]

Okay- that’s funny! I think you will like next weeks book.

[@CarmenTorres-gf3sg]

That cake did looks delicious

[@vickeypierce293]

Lovely video!! You will have to give more info on Daniels books That cake looks so good...definitely will make it ❤❤❤

[@arell56]

I so enjoy your videos!

[@thetartantopiary]

I'm so glad. This makes me happy!

[@57merrill]

Another great episode. Regarding the cake recipe: I did not have a 6" cake pan. Googled it and saw the brand Fat Daddio's-good and I've used it before. Not sure which depth of pan to get ( there was 2.5" and 3") so decided on 3" depth. The brand offered 2 styles of pan-one style had a removable bottom (for cheese cake) so that's the one I got.

[@thetartantopiary]

Great- I do love this cake. It's one of my favorite desserts. Let me know what you think after you make it.

[@1956cec]

As always love your book reviews. Do tell though…what book have you two published?

[@thetartantopiary]

Daniel is the real publisher, I'm just there when he needs an extra pair of hands. Slapdash Publishing is very small and usually focuses on local authors and historians. The company has only published about 100 titles.

[@annanorth7997]

I enjoyed this book review even though it's completely opposite of my design and color preferences. I'm more of a Shea Mcgee or Amber Interiors girl. You're publishers??? Georgetown is one of my favorite places. The cemeteries are beautiful and peaceful. Can't wait for the tour!

[@thetartantopiary]

Daniel is the publisher. I am just an extra pair of hands when he needs them. It is very small and features independent local authors and historians. www.carolinabeach.net/ Georgetown is beautiful. I love the cemeteries too. I could easily spend hours walking through them. I feel certain that you have visited Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah, GA. If you have not, you should plan a trip. It is breathtaking!

[@jokeschaap3505]

Did I miss something...are you and Daniel publishers?

[@thetartantopiary]

Yes, Daniel is a local publisher, and I am one by proxy. His company mainly focuses on local authors and historians.

[@CharlotteFairchild]

@@thetartantopiary was this a book you wrote Mary?

[@tamaranicholaschilds8097]

Hi Mary! Wonderful book review as always. I see you have two of my favorite things in life, Guittard chocolate and Walkers shortbread cookies. My friends and I agree, they are the only ones to purchase!!! I must try this cake recipe, it looks fabulous. ❤

[@KellyMcKee-f3z]

Mary, I thoroughly enjoy your weekly videos. Could you please list the music that you use? Thank you.

[@MourieAnnFeeney]

The estate next week looks divine. Thank you for this book review. I liked it and saw on one of the pages your favorite two flowers in a vase. Fresh cut flowers are so beautiful in our home decor. Those were your books or maybe another you wrote, since it doesn't look like the one you wrote about the history of Wallace. I want one, can I purchase online, when? What was the book we see in today's video? Have a restful weekend Mary after stamping 3,000 books ~ xoxoxo

[@thetartantopiary]

Hello- I hope your week went well. The book that we were stamping was for one of Daniel's clients. This particular author is an artist who wrote a book about her art and the Cape Fear region of Wilmington. I'll leave Daniel's website for his publishing business. It also has a link to the book I wrote. As we only have a few remaining Daniel has inflated the price. If you really want a copy, call the number on the website and tell them you are a viewer of The Tartan Topiary, and they will price it at $45.00 instead of the listed $150. www.carolinabeach.net/

[@jillenglish5878]

Hi Mary, I believe Prince William had a chocolate biscuit cake made for his wedding, along with the giant fruit cake, as he loved it so much growing up.

[@thetartantopiary]

As much as I try, I just can't love fruitcake. The chocolate biscuit cake, on the other hand, I LOVE! It may be in my top 5 desserts of all time.

[@nancyhoskins197]

This review was too short. The New Classic Home seems to be a nice blend of many styles. I am sadly downsizing and my decorating library (200+) is being donated to a thrift charity. Thumbing through the pages before packing them is like saying good bye to old friends. I watched you and Daniel with amusement and understanding as you packed your books for shipment. As I lived in South Carolina for years, I wonder is Daniel's publishing company would have books of interest. How would we contact the company?

[@thetartantopiary]

It is a very small company (Slapdash Publishing) that mainly features local authors and historians. Here is the website: www.carolinabeach.net/

[@MarySchlotter]

2000 more to go …. Doesn’t sound like fun at all. I once worked on a very important event ( floral designer) there were 2200 orchids that arrived in their boxes packed with water tubes. The head designer explained that before we couldn’t begin our design all the orchids had to be removed from their tubes ,given a fresh cut and then put in new tubes , and the new tubes had to be filled with water. Buckets and buckets of tubes floating in water waiting to be refilled. So when you said 2000 more to go I definitely felt your pain. I do hope it went well~ Mary

[@thetartantopiary]

What a daunting task! Who would guess orchids could cause PTSD?! 😄 We did finish stamping the books. Once we developed a systematic approach, it went quicker than we thought it would.

[@kcwatkins4377]

An ad after only one minute is not good.

[@vickiehollandburch1285]

Yes did we miss something?

[@thetartantopiary]

This video was not sponsored. Am I missing something? I always request that KZbin not place mid-roll ads in my videos. Although, it means I make less money for my content, I do it as a courtesy to my viewers. In all sincerity, what would you have me do?

[@TheSwissChalet]

kcwatkins, do you work for free???? Why not????

[@alibugnah9643]

Another wonderful episode. Look forward to your reviews every week

[@thetartantopiary]

I’m so glad you enjoy them! Thanks for watching.