Christmas Stockings Before Thanksgiving

Faux fur fabulousness

This year I found my husband and me our first Christmas stockings as a married couple (even though this is our second Christmas married).  They are super cute and we bought them on Gilt.com but my search for a stocking has some ups and downs.  Here are the ups:

I love how this looks like a handmade embroidered piece and with a little sparkle to it, too!  This one will be mine.

This cutie cute one (sorry its so blursville) will be my husbands.  

This one if for your favorite friend who loves gnomes...I have one in mind. 

Love me some fur.  These white quilted ones are simple yet cute.  

This is QUITE nubbly and good if you're going for a bit more of a traditional look.  

Nothing gets me like a pom-pom.

Such a cute Christmas scene needlepointed on this stocking.  Plus you can monogram it.  

Speaking of monogramming...These are cute for a monochromatic christmas decor type of look.

I've seen a lot of my friends on Facebook who have already put up Christmas trees and I'm a little alarmed.  Don't get me wrong, I've been listening to Christmas carols for a good month at this point, but I feel like you should wait until after Thanksgiving...right?  So where do you all get your stockings?  Show me!!  All these adorsies stockings are on my Pinterest.  Hit it.

Alicia B. 

Roasting Chestnuts over Sandy's Fire

I consider myself extremely lucky to have not been effected by Hurricane Sandy.  We did not lose power, it barely rained, and there was no flooding.  The only thing I can't do, is get to work up in Connecticut because of the flooded tracks.  My little sister, however, is staying with us as she has been...displaced from her apartment down town.  I'm at home all day while my husband and sister go out and earn the bread up in this joint.  So today I slaved away and made roasted chestnuts...and apple pie for my hard little workers!!  Check out my chestnuts.  

I bought 2 pounds of these bad boys at Food Emporium.  

I got this awesome chestnut roasting pan from one of my best friends for my wedding.  I'm not sure why the holes are there but they must serve a purpose.  My mom said that she had a nightmare experience when she roasted chestnuts in a pan without holes.  

It's important to slice a line through each chestnut, though I'd slice an X so that they open easier.  

Be careful while slicing them.  Don't be an animal with the knife like I was.  

Load the pan up with as many chestnuts as you'd like and slip them into the preheated oven (350 degrees) for about 20 mins.  

And there you have it!  Yummy meaty warm roasted chestnuts for you to enjoy on a cold autumn day. 

I've wanted to make slash enjoy roasted chestnuts ever since I spent the fall in Florence and enjoyed roasted chestnuts on the streets shopping around and having the best time of my life (except for every day of marriage to my husband so far!).  Its pretty easy but if you feel you need a recipe, this one from from Martha is doable.  How is everybody doing!?  I hope all my readers and their families are safe and sound!!


Alicia B.

Cabin Fever

Thom Filicia's newly published cottage up in upstate NY.  Panelled walls, cozy sofas and blankets, and a stone fireplace make me want to escape NYC right now.

As is most of the Northeast right now, I'm trapped indoors due to Hurricane Sandy.  I have my refugee sister from Zone A (Battery Park City) staying with us and after what seems like days of Storm Sandy Watch, we all have cabin fever...and it hasn't even been a day yet.  In order to amuse myself, I'm going to blog it up with some fun cabins and cottages.  See what I did there...cabin fever?  YEAH.

Nothing sets an autumnal mood like plaid upholstery.  And as trendy as they seem I still love a good animal hide throw.  Dransfield and Ross (hot).

Antlers collection!  And I'm DYING in love with that table.  Spectac!  Also, amazing hide throw.

I'm really obsessed with navy blue walls right now paired with accents of creamy whites and brass.   In our imaginary guest room I'm thinking of painting the walls navy blue--too extreme?  This is from Lonny. 

I can't even count how many times I've posted on this room.  This is Bunny Williams's cottage up in Litchfield County.  Look at al the fantastic details in this beautifully decorated room.  Every piece was chosen with purpose, not just clutter.  

Here is a simple moment in a library from Martha Stewart's Lily Pond Lane home.  The yellow on that chair is warm and inviting looking.  

Exposed beams also give a cabin type look.  Too bad our mod NYC apartment doesn't sport exposed beams.  Lame.  By Shawn Henderson. 

Hudson Bay blankets, so hot right now, make up the uber high draperies on this windows for this Michigan cabin. Totally cottage chic.  From Country Living.

What are you guys in NYC/LI/CT doing to amuse yourselves today?  Are you all "hunkered down" today as they keep advising on the news?  Watching TV? Reading a...GASP...book??  I haven't quite gotten that desperate yet.  (Just kidding, reading is awesome).  Hope you all are staying safe!!


Alicia B. 

Another Bedroomy Post

At my fabulous new job, we do so many amazing new projects and one of them is upholstering walls!  Not the typical wall to wall floral upholstered fabric wall but a super chic upholstered accent wall.  We have designed two upholstered walls so far and they are so much fun!  

Large squares of grey suede make up this upholstered wall with over scaled sconces.  This looks cozy but I would have chosen a paler grey.

There is lots of layering going on here with a framed out upholstered section--really brings your eye up to the high ceilings.  

This headboard is SUPER fun but also very busy and the wall behind it is simple without being boring.

Not a huge fan of purple, this room is still pretty--and I love the art.  Wide sections  on the upholstered wall really expand the space, right? By Noel Jeffrey. 

Upholstered Walls aren't limited to just bedrooms.  This pale olive one is in a dining room is spectacular in this  side banquette.  

Here is a little seating nook--the upholstery makes the space its only little room. 

This nailhead treatment in the leather is phenomenal in this little framed out seating nook.  LOVE. 

I've always loved funky headboards, or super tall ones, and I love the idea of using an upholstery treatment in place of a headboard, or a sofa back.  You have the chance to go super funky, or pop some color into a room.  I don't think I'll have the chance to do this in my own home anytime soon, but designing them for others is just as fun.  


Alicia B. 

Glittery Stuff

Have you ever seen a brass kitchen?  Probably not.  This one took my breath away by Kelly Wearstler. 

So I'm obsessed with two things right now (besides my new job and my husband)--metallics and animal prints. I know metallics and things that glitter are taboo for the preppy girl but a girl needs sparkly stuff, right?  YES. 

A great spot to do something dramatically metallic is a powder room.  This fish scale wallpaper  is stunning and sparkly. 

I've been long obsessed with Porter Teleo fabrics and wallpapers so I am naturally loving this silver  animal print one.

Can you find the sparkle in this room?  A gold accent on something organic like a tree stump is the perfect mix.  Could also be a really cool DIY project.   By Joe Lucas from Lonny Mag. 

I'd love to make some fun throw pillows from this Gretchen Bellinger fabric.  

Alex Papachristidis always delivers a lot of glamour--dramatic brass and silver accents on the furniture and the table lamps. 

Diane Von Furstenberg loves a little sparkle.  This Piaza Dress with sequins on it would be a great winter cocktail dress.  Nice gloves too. 

And finally, here's a little picture of how i'm adding a little glitter into my life.   Penny Talk from Essie is my new color for the week!  

Anyone else out there adding some sparkle to their life?  Your house?  A client of mine just bought the Serena and Lily Metallic Suede and Hemp Rug.  It's SO pretty and adds just the right amount of glamour to her sweet apartment.  

Alicia B. 

Fabric Obsession of the Day

Lately I've been super into animal prints.  This includes, leopard, cheetah, zebra, and feather patterns and is not limited to just fabrics but to clothing as well.  More on this later because all I want to do is show you the fabric I want.

SIDENOTE: I want this dress so badly too but they are all sold out except for size 14--if you're a 14, go buy this dress for me.  Ann Taylor HERE.  

Off-White Castle Studios
Mur Des Raisins.
Obsessed. 

Anyway, I spotted this fabric at my favorite showroom, Holland and Sherry and I want to use it!  I want to do an entire chair in this fabric, OR I'd upholster the walls of a powder room with it.  OR a throw pillow?  I know, it has purple in it and we all know how I feel about purple but it also has blue and pink in it.  Case closed, it's amazing.  That's all.

Alicia B. 

Mirror Mirror on the Bed

Mario Buatta.  The bedding is better than anything ever but what a gorgeous bed. 

I've never been a huge fan of mirrored furniture, but I've learned that they have a time and a place--not like this.  A mirrored buffet in a dining room can take up less visual space while holding a lot of storage.  I was inspired to find some mirrored beds when I saw this article in the Wall Street Journal about designers being inspired by one another.  Hard hitting.  Intense.  

This is a fun modern mirrored bed.  I love that lamp though on the nightstand. 

This one might be a wee bit too much for me in terms of mirror but I appreciate the fun pink walls and the glam direction its taking. 

Bunny Williams.  A neutral room with a little bit of sparkle from the mirror and a drop dead amazing headboard is a yes for me.

Another mirror valenced bed by Jonathan Berger.  I love how the top side of this is upholstered...amazing and stripey.

Most of these have been pretty neutral and the same goes for this.  I suppose when you have a statement bed like this you need to let it speak for itself.  Another Bunny Williams. 

A huge headboard and a fur throw?  So glam, Miles Redd.

Remember when I did a blog about mural wallpaper?  Well here is some more PLUS a mirrored bed--this one has such modern lines that it could be a nickel bed frame.  From Elle Decor.

How are we feeling about mirrored furniture?  Scared like I was?  Feelin' it?  Do you just look for another chance to see your reflection in something like I do?  Just kidding, I don't do that.  I just blog and look at fabric.  And love Bunny Williams, clearly.

Alicia B.

HomeMint...Wait...What?!

Am I the last to know about this or did it just slip past everyone else's radar?  Justin Timberlake has expanded beyond music, being a "restauranteur" and is now trying to decorate every one's homes?!  I can't tell if he's super jazzed about it or laughing in every one's faces.  Be that as it may, let's talk about HomeMint.  

First you get on there (click HERE for my invite), create your own personal style profile based on a few pictures of an ideal dinner party (duh), and Justin and Estee will choose things that they think you might like for you!  SO EASY!  I chose the one above because I'm just that kind of girl.

Here is another question--are you kidding me?  WOW.  Estee Stanley was Justin's designer back in what he describes as his "glory days."  What is he talking about--he's still in his glory days!!

There is a lo-o-o-o-t of crap like THIS but also some fun rugs for super cheap like above. You've seen this rug before, comes in lots of colors.  

This is another accessory that I deemed acceptable enough to put up.  It's a lantern! 

As we all know, I'm pretty on board with rope accessories and so is Justin!  Good move JT.

A throw!  $70 for members only.

Yeah so that's pretty much all I could find that I liked.  After I took the survey, Justin advised that I'm "the artist".  It means I love color and a great vintage fine.  Oh Justin, you know me so well, you're so perceptive.  Have you guys seen this?  I wonder if HomeMint will let me do a giveaway--right?  I'd love to just do a whole style overhaul on this bad boy instead though.  Good thing he's pretty.

Alicia B.