Branca-Perfect for the Holidays

Wondering what I was up to in Chicago last week? I know. I've been super busy (wedding planning!!) but I took time to visit the Branca store in Chicago which was absolutely incredible. I've wanted to see the store ever since it opened and now my dreams have come true! My mother and I braved the freezing cold weather and warmed up in the store.

This is the most beautiful fabric on the wall, is it not? (Don't say no.) On the lower floor of this three floor store in a townhouse, this was my favorite element. It made the store so warm and cozy, yet still incredibly elegant. What a great project too--plaid mats around some prints would really winterize your apartment!

This shot is for those of you that love foo dogs. I'm not a foo dog lover, I have to admit.


I love this eclectic cabinet with tons of Branca accessories and nothing gets my design heart (which is my real heart anyway) pumping like chicken wire in cabinets.

Horn and shell accessories are everywhere this season. I want all of it. Also I love this mushroom plate is astonishingly adorable.

Red is everywhere in this store and I love it! Horn and shell is everywhere but also feathers. Feather pillows, lampshades and wall decor.

Another feather pillow! Also I can't get enough plaid this season.

Plaid, exposed nail heads, a giant flower/feather pillow, fabric on the walls, and a cane backed chair. What more could you ask for?

The woman working there was incredibly enthusiastic and told us about a Carolyne Roehm party that they were hosting that week, which made me which I lived in Chicago (then I stepped outside and froze my face off). Anyway, I already have Alessandra Branca's book but would love just about anything from the store. You can now shop online which is AMAZING. Have any of you been to her store yet? Brave the cold and go for it!

Alicia B.

Winter Warmth Inspiration

Red is everywhere in this living room from H&G.

Since the weather has turned cold (especially if you're in Chicago right now as I am), I've been very much inspired by warm cozy fall colored interiors. Plaids, reds, oranges, and mustard yellows have been making me feel very warm though I am shivering at the thought of going outside. Snuggle in and enjoy!

Nothing says warmth like animal prints (and fur). I love the feeling of enclosure in this room--time to settle in with my favorite design books and shelter mags...

The fire is lit and those two chairs look ready for some action. I love the rusty red of that rug with the woods in the room. By Eldon Wong.

I always equate Amanda Nisbet with bright and poppy colors and while this is still bright and poppy it feels warm and cozy. Her attention to little details like the backing of that slipper chair are genius.

I KNOW this is no NOT me, because let's be honest, it's all neutrals. Fur is practically my middle name though and I have a weakness for modern art like the painting over the long sofa. By Pamplemousse Design.

Summer Thornton, a Chicago Designer, adds a stunning blue and green tartan plaid to the dining arm chairs at either end of the table. All you need is the turkey and stuffing (and cranberries, mashed potatoes, more stuffing, and yams!).

You must take a look at Oscar de La Renta's fall fur runway collection. It's so gorgeous. I loved the purple paired with the salmony orange and the delicious fur.

Alessandra Branca is another Chicago designer (what an odd coincidence that I keep picking them while I'm here)! Gorgeous table setting and warm rusty red walls with a pop of geometric Greek Key pattern on the drapery. I might visit her store today!

I hope these have gotten you inspired too! As much as I would love to stay inside my sister's warm apartment today, I must attend to some Christmas shopping (Branca). Other small changes to make your home feel more cozy are tartan throw blankets on your sofas, fall/winter inspired table cloths, warm candles around a room, or changing the lampshade to a soft brown instead of a crisp white color. Have you done anything else to channel winter warmth?

Alicia B.

A grey kind of day.

Church Spire Reflected in a Puddle.

If you live in New York or anywhere else on the East coast right now, you know that today was a rainy dreary grey kind of day. When I was walking to work this morning, it wasn't raining on me as much as it was raining at me. Grey doesn't have to be all bad though, especially when it comes to interior design. Here are some grey rooms that feel more lovely than dreary.

I think we all know that this wall paper is out of this world beautiful. It only enhances the incredible architecture in the room: the fireplace, the dental work moldings. By Thad Hayes.

This bedroom by Alessandra Branca is black, white and grey. It's soft and so subtly beautiful it makes you think that grey is a bright color.

Of course I'm immediately drawn to the two anchors on the wall, which is a nice soft grey, but the more I look at this the more elements I love! How cute is the stack of books on the nightstand? And I love the structure of the bed frame against all the soft elements of the bed. By Susan Ferrier via HB.

Though I despise mirrored furniture, I find this room quite intriguing and warm. I think it's all about the textures: the matelasse quilt, the upholstered wall panels...and the hanging pear. By Celerie Kemble.

Isn't this bath by BNO just so beautiful? The hard marble looks so soft because of the grey and white veining throughout. Looks luxurious.

See how good things can come from a grey day? Especially a grey Monday. Grey is also a wonderful color for other colors to contrast against. You can put a nice turquoise accent in a grey corner and really make it pop. Or you can use grey as a nice enveloping color for a room. Also, no matter how grey it is outside it can always be sunny inside!


Alicia B.

Friday Faves

Woo! It's Friday! This was a great week with Thanksgiving leftovers, the charm of the Holidays approaching, and business at work and in school. I'm slowly having my design soul crushed by the fact that I have to include a circular bed in the master bedroom of my latest project for school SO I'm going to need some Friday Faves inspiration!

I adore this simple Swedish style Christmas decoration by Edie Van Breems. She owns her own antiques shop in CT, and I'd love visit it sometime soon. This is from the latest Country Living.

I saw these precious ballet flats in the window at Bloomingdales and thought, I wonder how many times I've done that to shoes, sweaters, etc with a real bow from a present. These are simply adorable and by Kate Spade.

This is another store I'd love to visit, Branca, in Chicago. Alessandra Branca has incredible style and I'd really love her new book for Christmas. HINT.

Despite the fact that I have lots of work to do, I'm off to Philly/The Main Line tomorrow to visit my friends and their new baby! I can't wait to meet her! We are going on a tour of a few houses that are specially decorated for the Holidays--I'll take tons of pictures for you guys. Have a wonderful Friday and an even better weekend!


Alicia B.

Rando Inspiration Design Friday

A photo I took. Like it?

Finally it is Friday! Like I should be complaining though because I've had a four-day week. HA. Anyway, the rain seems to have cleared at least for a few hours so far, so I'll keep my fingers crossed. Again, it's Friday and we need a pick me up to make it to the weekend, so enjoi!

Isn't this wood skirted front hall table amazing? Yes. By Solis Betancourt.

This reminds me of the time I was in Cabo and we had outdoor showers. Good times. By Barry Goralnick.

My super traditional side is in LOVE with this room. Such pretty wallpaper. By Branca. Btw, I've been dying to go to the new Branca store in Chicago. Perhaps I'll have to make a trip and visit my sisters...!?

Not only do I love this fabric, but that round chair in the corner? Is it trying to ruin my life because I don't own it?? Lovely interior brought to you by Kim Zimmerman via Peak of Chic.

What's on the docket for this weekend, y'all? I hope the weather is nice as I'm going to a Mets game with my former roommate! Then maybe a day in Central Park? Who knows!


Alicia B.

Branca's New Store!

This morning I got an email from Branca announcing their new store! It is a collection of home objects from one of my favorite designers, Alessandra Branca. I'd love to show you some of my favorite things from the store but I loved them all! The blue hand blown glass vases, the regency faux bamboo cane armchair upholstered in a red wool tartan, the owl (even though I hate owls) measuring tape...to name a few. I highly recommend visiting the store in person if you live in Chicago (my lucky sister!) or visit it online HERE.


I love when designers start their own store or their own furniture/fabric line. It's like they are selling their favorite things to you! A gift to the design world!

Coming up: Things I'm thankful for !


Alicia B.

Dining Table and Sofa? YUP!

As if it wasn't obvious enough how much I adored the show Top Design (Eddie and Nathan in particular), I'm going to keep talking about it even when it's over. The show was silly sometimes but other times very inspirational and brought forth many design questions/issues. Remember the episode with those (ridiculous) Swarovski Crystal chandeliers? In Eddie's dining room that he designed, he put a sofa on one side of the dining table and chairs on the other. I was completely bewildered with the judges said they had never seen this idea before. I had seen it countless times in Domino and House Beautiful and had even used that idea in a school project! Anyway, I've collected some examples of this being done. Enjoi!

Tom Scheerer put this elegant sofa on one side of this breakfast/tea table. I think it looks very calming and draws your eye to the windows.

This one also leads your eye to the window but also give you something to settle on visually as these windows are floor to ceiling and there appears to be a lot of open space.
By architect Joeb Moore from Kaehler/Moore.

How elegant and cosy does this sweet little table look with these small sofas? From House to Home. I love the colors in this room too; perfectly feminine and inviting.

On the back wall they placed a gorgeous loveseat. From Domino.

You don't always have to have a sweet delicate little arrangement. Here, Alessandra Branca puts a heavy trestle table with an armless seat and matching high backed upholstered chairs.

I think the lesson learned here is, use a sofa with interest; some sort of embellishment or beautiful fabric. Also, don't have the sofa with it's back to you as you enter the room. Has anybody ever done this? I'd love to see pictures! I think it's a very sweet idea and when I have a small sofa I would use it in my breakfast room (when I have a breakfast room too). Perfect.


Alicia B.

Lets Talk About It: Ship Chandelier Edition.

Horchow Collection

I've been seeing these crystal ship chandeliers pretty much everywhere. At first they were a little bit too glitzy to me but I think they can add a little sweet delicacy to a room. They are nautical, which I love, but they have a little sparkle to them to add a whimsical feeling.

Carlos de la Puente Antiques.

Alessandra Branca put this vintage one over a dining table in a beach house. I think this adds a lighter feeling over this otherwise heavy table and chairs.

So what do we think? Am I jumping on this too fast? I can back out at any time...


Alicia B.