OMG! Alicia B. Designs has moved!

Yes, I've moved!  Its been a nice stay here on Blogger but I'm off to a new location, better looking, and more posts!

Get at me HERE.  

Alicia B. Designs

Duck, Duck, Uncle Goose

Remember playing with wooden blocks when you were younger?  I grew up with a great set of blocks but have you seen the toys kids have these days?  Everything has a button or a battery, right?  Well blocks just got cool again--Uncle Goose!  Uncle Goose sent me a set of their House Industries set of Big and Tall blocks for me to play with and decorate with.  They have tons of other patterns too, check them out HERE.

Not your ordinary blocks, huh?  They each have the numbers and letters from the House fonts archive. 

What is better than building a little tower with all these fun patterns? Nothing. 

A. B. C

The colors are really fun: green, orange, and black make for some really great buildings.  

I know my nephew, Teddy, would love these blocks.  They are handmade in Grand Rapids, MI, which is a huge plus (yay America) since everything is made in China these days.  The company was started in the CEO's garage!  These are great also for bookcase display or a little moment in a tray/ on a coffee table.  The possibilities are endless and good looking, too.  Thanks so much to Uncle Goose for these magnificent works of art.

Alicia B. 

An old trend that I love--Ombre

Double height ombre=double amazing. Also, ombre chandelier?  

I know ombre was cool about a year ago with hair, clothing, etc. but I love it in an interior.  I saw tons of accessories and furniture when ombre was hot hot hot but didn't see much of it installed. I am working on a friend's Living Room and she picked (so excited!) an ombre fabric for her living room drapery and I can't wait to see it come to life.  It's a really great way to bring subtle pattern or color into a room.  

David Collins (still amazing) nailed the ombre with the color at the top and the white/light part at the bottom. 

These gorgeous and fun colored ombre draperies are from Romo Black--The grey ones are the ones that I've picked for my friend.  

I just threw this one in for fun.  Ombre tiles are pretty hot too. I've seen a lot with little mosaic tiles but this one is bold yet subtle and a great color. 

This bright and cheery ombre is from BHG.  It really makes this light colored room quite happy and colorful!

Like I said, I know this was all the rage like a year ago but I really don't care (so don't think I just caught on).  I think trends like this (and ikat and animal print) keep going--just because the Kardashians don't have ombre hair anymore doesn't mean I don't still love an ombre panel.  What about you?  Are you still feelin' ombre?  All these can be found on my Pinterest by searching Ombre.  

Alicia B. 

Longitude & Gratitude

Gratitude--My husband planning my birthday party and this REDIC good cake!

As you may know, I just turned 30.  I know.  In my 20s, I used to freak out that I was too old whenever I'd have a birthday, but now that my 20's are behind me and I'm 30...IT'S AWESOME!!  I was fortunate enough to have most of my favorite people with me and my younger sister gave me these gorgeous bracelets that I wanted to share with you. They are called Longitude & Gratitude Surf Bracelets by jewelry designer Laura Lobdell and they are handmade silk scarves with different beaches and nautical locations on them and fastened with a shell. OBSESSED. 

This is my freckle covered arm with my awesome Surf Bracelets.  

See the longitude and latitude locations?  

They are meant to be worn a few at a time--so fun!

I love the name too, Longitude & Gratitude.  I am very grateful for my awesome life as a 30 year old and for my sweet sister for these bracelets!  Thanks for keeping me cool.  Laura Lobdell's store is located in Manhattan at 183 1/8th West 10th--get at it!  What are you all up to this weekend in the searing heat?  If you're up in Litchfield area in CT, check out gallery night in Lakeville--the Fran Gormley show in particular! It should not be missed.  

Alicia B. 

Looking for Art? Palette Earth is your answer

Wondering where I'll be this weekend?  Well, I'm going up to the Northwest Corner of CT to check out Fran Gormley's photography show at the White Gallery in Lakeville.  I am familiar with her work through my job and its so different from any other photography I've ever seen.

Fran Gormley, though afraid of heights, goes up in a helicopter and photographs the earth.

Are these not breathtaking?  The shot of deep blue is so stunning. 

I love the movement in this photograph. 

She does no color alterations on her photographs.  This green is so pretty and serene. 

Though I love the color ones but this neutral one is gorgeous.  The texture is so vivid. 

What do you all think?  I am just so drawn to these because they are not what you usually see in arial shots of the earth.  They appear like an abstract painting in some of them.  I'm also just blown away that this is what an ocean looks like, or a dessert, or a river looks like from above.  I'm really looking forward to the show this Saturday--check out The White Gallery for more information.  Also, take a look at Fran Gormley's website to see more of her beautiful work. 

Alicia B. 

Happy Birthday America!

I'm a super patriotic person and I love Summer so the 4th of July is a great holiday for me.  My sister and husband and I are going to Coney Island (I know, right.  Never been.) to see the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.  It's going to be very crazy, chaotic, and nothing is more patriotic than an eating contest.  I feel like all of Coney Island looks like one big Instagram picture--is that accurate?  Let's get our red white and blue on. 

I got a mani/pedi today but I didn't get these patriotic beauties. 

A casual and awesome outfit from J. Crew.  I plan on wearing a blue and white striped shirt with white jeans tomorrow. Maybe a red headband or coral necklace...

I suppose this is a famous ferris wheel on Coney Island??  Patriotic colors!  From HERE.  

Blue and white wallpaper and a red door.  Perfection. 

If you're looking for a good and non-cheesy way to decorate, try a flag! Simple and inexpensive. 

I'm quite excited to witness this hot dog eating contest and maybe even try a Nathan's Famous hot dog?  Maybe, lets not push it. I hope you all have a fantastic 4th of July and celebrate out amazing country.  Have a fun with family and friends and get your red white and blue on!

Alicia B. 

Williams Sonoma Home, You are my new jam.

You know when you shop at certain places because they are your classic great place to shop and then they come along and pull out all the stops and have amazing they things?  Well that was Williams Sonoma Home for me. I've always loved their things but this...just...got...good. 

A twist on a traditional shaped candle holder.  bleached wood amazingness.  

We love these as accessories where I work.  These badass votives come in white, celedon (above), and black. I have two white ones!  

Ugh I love woven baskets.  These are beautiful and make a great accessory for an entry table. 

Ahhhh objets on stands.  MY FAVE!

I have three horn jars and put my charcoal pencils in them on my desk. So pretty! 

Did I mention the throw pillows?  No, but they're awesome.  

I love love love a little metallic in my preppy little world.  Every girl has to have a little bling.  

Do you guys have a store that you rely on and then they surprise you by being more and more awesome?  This is what Williams Sonoma is for me. Kind of like when Bravo is amazing and then they come out with a show like Princesses Long Island...Better gets BEST!  

Alicia B. 

Thad Hayes, I'm into you.

"Alicia--Wish you the best with school.  Designing is a very cool profession. Best--Thad" I have since finished school and am working for an awesome designer thank you very much!  

I met Thad Hayes at a joint event for Celerie Kemble at the D & D Building and ended up buying his book and getting it signed (I'm a huge sucker for a book signing).  I just decided to look at his portfolio just now on a whim and I'm OBSESSED.  

Isn't this stairway breathtaking?  The art is pushing it for me but the light and the angles of the stairway are beautiful. 

AMAZE.  The marble slabs for this bathroom are pure perfection. Also, love the light fixture. Anybody know where it's from? 

A neutral but graceful living room.  I'd love to have a curved window like that. 

Another amazing stairway.  I love the white walls and the white stairs.  

This is an entry way in a modern home in Watermill NY.  I'm noticing a lot of horizontal lines in Thad Hayes work.  

Ahhhh easy access to the outdoors through this great sitting room.  Check out that beautiful French mattress sofa. This is from the same home in Watermill. 

And we leave off on another great bathroom.  The shower curtains add a lot of softness to this bathroom.  

I think I'm just really attracted to the mix of traditional and modern in very clean modern spaces.  I don't think I could necessarily live in a space like that but they are quite lovely to look at.  I love that I checked in to see what he had been up to since I bought the book--AMAZE!

Alicia B. 

The Obsession Continues

It's been a while since I obsessed over the color yellow so I think I'm due for it.  My boss hates yellow--apparently she grew up in a yellow bedroom and has been traumatized for life.  I, on the other hand, did not, and I love yellow! My current bedroom is basically 50 shades of blue and I have ONE pop of yellow on a throw blanket over a chair.  Let's take a look at yellow and blue combos!

I could always paint our nightstands yellow but they are a very pretty brown stain and my husband might kill me. A dash of yellow fabric in a pillow might just do. 

A neat and crisp bed is finished off with a yellow chevron boudoir pillow and a little yellow box on the night stand. 

A lovely and open blue and white living room has small pops of yellow with pillows, lamps, and National Geographics. This is literally the best use of Nat Geo I've ever seen. 

In this John Willey house, the walls are painted yellow with accents of blue throughout. The glass balls are my favorite! 

The rug isn't my fave but I have blue walls like this in our bedroom and I love the pop of yellow.  

As pure coincidence, I'm wearing my yellow skinny pants from Madewell and a navy blue blouse from Banana Republic.  I'm pretty excited about it and yellow just makes me happy.  I'll let you know how I get my yellow on in my bedroom. Do you get yellow in your bedroom or living room? 

Alicia B. 

Life is not Black & White

But black and white decor can look pretty good from time to time!  Apparently the contrast of black and white is super hot right now.  Some good, some bad.  Personally I couldn't live in a space that's just black and white.  This girl needs some color but let's explore, shall we?

I've always loved this entry way by Rob Southern.  The high gloss walls are stunning. 

Robert Couturier designed this living room.  The room dividers are really cool but I don't think I could live in a room like this. 

WOW. That's quite a wild backsplash.  Black and White. Chevron. Trend alert. By Anne Marie Midy. 

This is monochromatic but I love all the textures: Furs, woods, twigs. Love it. 

I am obsessed with what this painting might be.  Also, the shades of black, white and grey add many layers to this cool but comfortable looking moment. 

So yeah, theres my view on Black and White interiors.  I think the way to accomplish a successful one is to make sure it has many layers, and textures are key.  Add a little fur in there, some raw unfinished woods, and a high gloss piece of furniture or painted walls.  Or just add a splash of color and go crazy with it!

Alicia B.