It's Time...

The Light at Dawn.

To say goodbye.

After much thought I've decided to retire from my blog. I'm finding myself thinking of blogging as a chore; something I need to keep up with and I'm spending less time doing things that I really truly want to do. I'm going to be focusing more on my design work and my photography.

Albert Hadley.

I'm very grateful for all the friends I've made through this blog and all that I've discovered about myself design-wise. I never thought I'd have so many followers, commenters, a few give-aways, and over 300 subscribers! Many might think of this as sad, but I'm really quite happy about my decision. It's the right time for me to move on.

Bunny Williams.

Don't worry though, I'm still here at www.aliciabdesigns.com designing, making pillows and accessories, designing fabrics (that's right), and taking way too many pictures. You can email me anytime at aliciabdesigns@gmail.com. Anytime, really.

Cullman & Kravis

So, I leave you. Thank you so much to my friends and family who have supported me when I started and now, when I'm closing this chapter in my design life. Be creative, be nice (to yourselves and others), and smile.


Alicia B.

Trade Secrets Weekend!

This weekend I'll be attending Trade Secrets in Lakeville, CT for my third time! It's an annual garden event with garden vendors and the more GLORIOUS garden/house tours.

The proceeds go to benefit Women's Support Services WSS for women who might be in trouble, so it's for a good cause.

The Bunny Williams garden tour is my favorite, but they've added Robert Couturier this year and I'm DYING to go.

Curious? See last years post about it or go up (or down or over) to Lakeville CT and experience it for yourself. You might run into Martha Stewart too because she goes every year.

Martha loves gardening.

Alicia B.

Nine By Design: Episode 5

Courtney in a cute t shirt with all her kids' names on it!

Here we are the 5th episode of Nine By Design already! I love this show more and more every time. This episode shows off how much this family cares about other people. Not in a showy way, but in a way that helps people. Their family friend Jasmina is a precious 6 year old with Leukemia so they decide to throw a benefit to help her mother and her.

The design project for this episode is for their friend Dave Barry's office in Hoboken which DESPERATELY needs their help. Their main inspiration is to find some funky chipped or antique pieces to say that not everything is perfect. LOVE this idea.


There is a budget issue with Dave Barry's office project--he was NOT happy. DRAMA. He won't pay Courtney and Bob for their time but Courtney learns a valuable lesson about putting things in writing. I love the practical aspects that come up on this show, it's a helpful reminder that even already successful designers need to keep track of their spending/charges.

Bob is putting together his own benefit for Wolfie's basketball team, The City to raise money for the expenses of the team. Wolfie is REALLY good at basketball, btw. Here they are spray painting an old trophy to be used as decoration for the event. Creative and budget friendly.

The benefits were huge successes, which comes as no surprise. They are so enthusiastic and giving. They put in a ton of work into their benefits and their projects and they're incredibly creative.This is a huge wall mural they worked on for the basket ball event, too.

In the end, Dave Berry's office comes together really well. They use black and white photographs blown up to make the wallpaper for the office, a gorgeous yellow and white vintage carpet and a great mirrored coffee table, also vintage.

I love this show. It turns out that they find a bone marrow match for Jasmina which was very exciting but they dedicated the show to her as she passed away in January. It was incredibly sad, to say the least. Find out more HERE on how you can help others just like Jasmina. Next week though, they hit up London for their book signing!! I can't wait to see what they do next! Have I convinced you guys of this awesome show yet? Check out more details on Bravotv.com.

Alicia B.

Designer Spotlight: Seema Krish

Seema Krish, hard at work designing her fabrics.

One of my clients is asking me to help her with throw pillows to freshen up her living room space. She found Seema Krish's pillows and instantly fell in love. I went to her website, and fell in love too. Seema, a designer born in India, came to America and studied at FIT, and returned back east to start her textile studio, Azure. She designed for Calvin Klein and Donghia among others and reflect a traditional textile technique, but with modern designs.

The pillows are available in a natural linen or 100% cotton. They are also available in many sizes. I love this graceful design: Malabar Hill.

I adore the little tassel on the corner of each of these pillows. Mahalakshmi.

The Chowpatty is one of my favorites. I love the chevron patter. It's clear that these are beautiful but look at the detail below.

WOW. Each design is made with handblock technique and embroidered. Swoon.

Oh, maybe this one is my favorite. These look like leaves, and they're available in a red/pink color too! This one is called Worli.

This one's patter reminded me of water and sure enough, the design was inspired by the ocean. Each pattern has a little inspiration story behind it. Breach Candy.

They also make quilts! Imagine the work that goes into these; it's exquisite. Quilts/Throws HERE.

Word on the street/her website is that they will be selling this incredible fabric by the yard. I hope this day comes very very soon. Everyone knows how much I love to make pillows and my clients are requesting that I make them pillows from her fabric! Check out her website and her story HERE.

Alicia B.

Friday Faves

This week has really been great. Work has been quite busy (take that, recession!!), and I finished my class for the semester! Next semester I'll finally be taking Auto Cad--I'm quite excited to take it. At last. And at last, it's Friday! It's time to sit back, and enjoy some beautiful design.

Matthew Patrick Smyth designed this beautiful room in a London townhouse. I'm IN LOVE with that carpet. It's different and I love that shade of blue.

Navy/emerald blues are everywhere this Spring. Isn't this skirt adorable? From Kate Spade for $295 in Emerald.

I'd love to enjoy a fun summer evenning at this outdoor dining room under the wisteria. By Robin Bell.

What are you all up to this gorgeous (minus Saturday) weekend? I'm planning on hitting up Central Park if the weather is nice and get my tan (okay okay, I burn) going for the Summer. I know I say this almost every weekend but I really want to go to the flea market. I'm thinking of maybe even going to the Brooklyn Flea Market! Is anyone else going? Tell me more!


Alicia B.

Give-away Winner

The winner of this give-away is.....

Alyssa!!!

She said she'd like to take this lovely tote bag from Simply Bags to the beach. I think that's a great idea. Congratulations Alyssa, please email me your email and which color you'd like and what monogramming you'd like on your bag. Thanks!!

The good news about this bag is that you can buy one yourself, if you didn't win. They are quite affordable and as the name states, stylish. Check out more bags HERE.


Alicia B.

Nine By Design: Episode 4

It seems like all signs are pointing to the beach. In this episode of Nine By Design, The Novogratz's head to the Hamptons for a new project. They also have to deal with the daunting task of hiring a nanny. I honestly can't believe they don't have one already but, more power to them if you know what I mean. Also, how can you not love this family? They put chocolate on their waffles!!

I love this episode because we get to meet Courtney's design assistant, Helen who I went to prep school with and she looks gorgeous! She is helping them with the Hampton's house for the VIP anonymous client. OOOO Intrigue!!

Courtney has so many great ideas for this slightly dated house. She wants to open up the floor plan, change all the sliding doors to french doors and make a floating staircase. The budget is only $300, 000 and they have 7 weeks so complete it.

Before-ish.

After!

While they were busy designing, the crew pretty much gutted the whole home. For the lighting on either side of the front door, they are doing a custom light box fixture with the map of LI. I love how they think outside the box for everything. It's so much fun. Hit up this video of the gutting.

Robert and George start to work on finding a nanny for the little Novogratz's! It.....gets weird. And really really funny, see this video here. They ended up hiring this super cute lady from Hungary--I hope she survives these cute little animals's antics.

Next, Courtney and Helen head on out to the Hampton house and tried to make sense of all the furniture that the client had delivered and the pieces that they ordered. I think they sure pulled it together, yes?

There are some disasters which are fixed, and some major successes like the light boxes and some other amazing light fixtures. It looks fresh and amazing, don't you think? This oven in a line that has 190 color options. Yellow is a nice choice.

Here is the dining room. Some mismatched chairs and a dramatic horse photo makes for a nice eclectic look.

So have you all been watching?? Thoughts? Let's talk.


Alicia B.

Outdoorsy Types

I'm not really the "outdoorsy" type, but I love to be outside when the weather is nice. These rooms definitely are the outdoorsy types though, I'd say. They are the nice happy medium between outside and inside. Some of them are outside, but decorated like an interior. Take a look.

This is a "summer house" from a country house tour on Martha Stewart. I love the simplicity of it and how you focus on the architecture and the details instead of fabrics and furniture. Check out the height of that door.

Here is a terrace that is decorated much like a living room: sofa, two chairs flanking, coffee table, and two end tables complete with lamps on each one. I assume they are purely for decoration and they don't really work. LOVE the pink hat on the right chair. I could have used that at the Derby Party over the weekend! Kemble Interiors.

This is the dining room of the same outdoor setting. I love the faux bois dining table and chevron pattern on the dining chairs. Both are by Kemble Interiors.

Jay Jeffers created an incredibly welcoming covered porch with amazing seating with beautiful botanical fabrics and floor to ceiling soft pink drapery.

Here is the rest of the room! How beautiful is this? The shingles on the wall are a nice contrast to the interior aspects like a gallery wall and floor lamps. Jay Jeffers.

I would LOVE to walk out of my front door and walk out onto this wrap around porch. The lanterns are gorgeous and I love the massive columns as well. G P Schaefer.

An outdoor space isn't complete without lighting. If you can't hang a lantern outside, make sure you get these little floor lanterns with candles. There are some really beautiful ones at HERE. By Gary McBournie.

What do you all think? Are you ready to be outdoorsy? I don't have my own personal outdoor space to decorate but I can enjoy the park and my parent's terrace in CT. Do you have outdoor space? How do you decorate it?

REMINDER: This is the last day of the giveaway contest for the super adorable nautical tote bag. Click HERE to get to the contest or scroll down 2 posts. I wish I could win but, you can instead!!

Alicia B.