Greek Key Love

HOT Greek Key pillow from The Well Appointed Home for $300. A complete steal!

I've always loved Greek Key patterns but lately I can't get enough and crave some Greek Key in my apartment. It's a classic pattern that gains a resurgence every now and then. It's also so easy to incorporate into many different styles; traditional and contemporary.

This bed looks SO incredibly comfortable with a super cushioned upholstered headboard, adorable throw pillows, and a soft Greek key pattern on the bedspread. By Eric Cohler.

Eric Cohler LOVES Greek key. The pattern in the marble mantle is just exquisite. I also love the striped wing chair with the nail heads and pop of orange in the pillow and blanket.

In this lovely bedroom by Nate Berkus, he adds more geometric elements with a unique Greek key pattern throw pillow. I love floral pillows but I'm thinking I might get a Greek key pillow for my living room.

Ann Nicholson used a simple Greek key carpet in this amazing outdoor room. Don't miss the little Greek key detail on the coffee table either!

Phillip Gorivan used two Greek keys over the sideboard to add height to the wall.

I love Palmer Weiss's soft pretty preppy interiors. The rug in this living room is bold yet soft and really grounds that lucite coffee table.



OKAY, let's shop!

A strong Greek key patterned shower curtain from Overstock.com for only $24.

If I weren't renting, I'd definitely consider this intense wallpaper for my small bathroom. I love it! If you're not ready for something quite so bold it comes in white and taupe for a more subtle look. From Jonathan Adler for $195/roll.

This hurricane resting on Greek keys that I saw on Mrs Howard Personal Shopper is especially unique.

I've been looking for a new duvet cover and this one is simple but has a pretty blue Greek key detail. From Williams Sonoma Home, the duvet is on sale for $278!


LOVE LOVE LOVE this Greek key business/calling card! From Pixelimpress on Etsy--only $20 for 50 cards!

This small rug with a Greek key border is especially bold and graphic. From Ballard Designs for $55 in a 2 x 3. It's on sale too!

Shades of Light is one of my favorite lighting stores. This simple sconce has a fun Greek key pattern on the back. Love it!

Are you all in on my Greek key love? I mean, I know I'm going overboard with the "stuff" but it's so fun! I promise I won't buy all of it. I would really love a Greek key throw or a new duvet cover for my bed. There is so much you can do with it and you can go subtle, like add Greek key trim to your drapery, or go bold and have a Greek key rug. Do any of you have Greek key in your home?

Alicia B.

Alicia B.'s Latest Obsession: Architectural Models

I love stuff. I have a lot of "stuff" in my apartment because I like to look at it and it looks pretty/fun/interesting. I don't have any room for any of these things that I want lately but I can talk about it anyway, right? Maybe some of you guys DO have room for it and I'll inspire you?! I've been lately very obsessed with architectural models; wire ones, wooden ones, you name it. Check them out:

A wire Duomo from Ballard Designs for $99 "had me" at Duomo. As you all may know, I'm a sucker for anything remotely related to Italy. Maybe I could fit this one because it wouldn't take up too much space on a table or window sill.

Another amazing Wire Conservatory from Ballard Designs for $79! I love the shape of this one.

I'd die for an architectural model staircase. This Grand Staircase is well priced from Ballard Designs for only $225. Most antique ones go for upwards of $1500.

I have wanted a wooden birdcage for a very long time (without the birds. ew.). This breathtaking Victorian beauty is from Mecox gardens. They have SO many special birdcages and models.

A little more on the rustic and distressed side, this hand carved Altar for $168 is also from Mecox Gardens.

A little more on the whimsical (and pricey) side, this ADORABLE Chateau wire lantern is from Anthropologie. I saw one similar to it at ABC Carpet as well a few weeks ago. This one above is only $1598--no biggie!

If you're into the whole wire thing that is going on right now, West Elm has these decorative spheres (tumble weeds) for only $13! Personally I think these are the types of things that you buy and then get them to your house and have crushing regret but they could be fun...

These wire birds are SO CUTE from Sundance Catalog. Song Birds of Paris, TX set of 3 for $48.

Hopefully this post will calm my need to acquire a new accessory that I don't technically need. Or it will convince me that it's meant to be and that I must have one now! Sorry to be so down on the wire spheres, I can see that wire decorative accessories are pretty much everywhere and i don't want you guys to get caught up in something you'll regret. It happens to everyone! How do you all feel about these?


Alicia B.

Rando Design Inspiration Friday

Just lovely. James Michael Howard.

Could this week have seemed longer? Maybe things seem longer when you get as old as I am now. Anyway, high five for Fridays! Enjoy the inspiration and have a glorious weekend!

Sandra Lindsay Design is making me want to go home and organize everything perfectly with these glorious bookcases stacked with woven baskets and antique books.

Did anybody else get their Ballard Designs Catalogue last night? I'm in love with nearly everything in it, especially these pillows. I just wish they came in a duvet form!

These stairs are so graceful and the angles are accented by that hanging globe. Curvy! By Austin Patterson Diston Architects.

I'm going to CT this weekend to celebrate my birthday with just my parents. I guess my sisters don't care enough to come all the way from Chicago for two days, but whatever. I'm okay with it. Totally fine. *dramatic tear* Just joshing--but really it'll be lovely and I'm taking Monday off to help a friend with her new home! Alicia B. Designs to the rescue!


Alicia B.

Non-boring Side Tables

If you show me this boring thing again I'll die. I don't want to be dramatic or anything, but it's a very real possibility.

Since the big move, I've noticed that my new apartment is really lacking a great side table in which I can put things; bowls, frames, and stack papers (that go in cute containers, duh). So I've found some fun and different side tables that include shelving! I can't take this modular look for another moment, so I've branched out and I hope you enjoy them.

This little unassuming table is from LL Bean Home and comes in many fun bright colors for $99. Great price for so many shelves!

This bobbin table from MGBW would be perfect, but I need more shelves. I still love it though and it's only $325.

Perfect for small spaces, here is an Asian inspired table, the Harbour Tea Table from Gumps for $259.

J'adore this faux bamboo etagere on castors, also from Gump's for $649

Very attractive 4-shelf bookcase from Ballard Designs. The Dunstan for only $289.00

This one is plain, but classic. The Conservatory Garden End table from Ralph Lauren Home for ONLY $7485.

When I'm a high end designer, I plan on using Hickory Chair all the time. The Chippendale lamp table HERE.

I like the brass accents on this; especially the fretwork top! This 3-tier etagere is from Baker for $3038.00 Hmm.

This beautiful mahogany antique table that I found on 1st Dibs is most certainly going to be out of my range, but aim high...right? From Burden and Izett who has very beautiful antiques.
I've really fallen in love with Victoria Hagan's Designer collection through Target. I am leaning towards this one. I like the wood ornamentation on the sides and its only $79.99. And Victoria Hagan designed it so...I'm in!

When I said I was "leaning towards" the Victoria Hagan one, I really meant that I bought it four hours ago. Oops! I'm so excited to get some things off the ground--literally. Next stop: the Container store for some more cute boxes. What?! They're having a sale!!


Alicia B.

Spring Trend: Butterflies

Butterflies are everywhere! I've noticed them in magazines, on the blogs, and everywhere I shop (window shop). They are whimsical and colorful and definitely a sign of spring, I'd say. Many accessories are covered in butterflies, from throw pillows, to decoupaged plates, but here are some examples in interiors!

What a sweet kitchen inspired scene by Trevor Dixon via gogoabigail.com

This room from Southern Accents is very garden-inspired with framed butterflies up on the wall. I really love that mini stool under the table with the blanket draped over it.

This is a from good old Domino mag featuring Schumacher's Birds and Butterflies wall paper. Not entirely sure where the larger than life butterfly on the wall comes from...I'm scared. Definitely adds a focal point to the room though, right?

In this super luxurious bedroom by Nancy Boszhardt, she uses framed butterflies on the wall. I like these--they're very close together and all the same species. Very pretty and a great punch of color in this mostly neutral room.

I like this one the most, I think. It looks like a little horticultural study; perhaps there are books on gardening on the other wall and a beautiful garden outside? By Monique Keegan from Country Living.

This exotic garden room is from a Kips Bay showhouse, so is of course very over the top. The chair in the corner is actually in the shape of two butterflies. By David Barrett.

This Freeze Frame Butterfly Chandelier by Lladro, is very whimiscal and looks like a swarm of butterflies around a light. Only $3200!

John Willey had these duvet covers custom made with Holland and Sherry butterfly fabric! This room is super springy with the green painted ceiling and nature inspired fabrics (roman shades, grass cloth walls, etc).

Want some of your own butterfly decor? Here are some small framed drawings from Ballard Designs. Cute!

Read more about this new spring trend HERE in Elle Decor. Personally...I'm not loving it. I know I'm supposed to but all I can think of are glittery butterflies from the mid to late 1990's and I'm uncomfortable. I do love the framed drawings and the horticultural side to them, but the giant, out of scale butterflies are somewhat inappropriate. What do you all think? On board? Hate it? Love it?


Alicia B.

My New Apartment: Project Bathroom Wicker Rack

Remember when my parents brought me this wicker rack that I used in my bathroom? Well, I did a project. My bathroom has this amazing grey tile in the shower so I wanted to add to the different tones of grey and black and white by painting this rack a darker grey. I took it off the wall (opened all my windows) and put it down on my painting tarp to prepare it for its transformation.

Ready?

I got this primer/paint that works on metal and wood at Janovic for only $8.

I sprayed it with two coats to make sure that I got all nooks in the wicker. Here is the pattern that it made on the tarp.

Here it is! Look how fresh and clean it looks with a new color on it.

Close up glamour shot. Now I need to figure out what to put in that cute Mason jar.

Next on my list for my bathroom is the shower curtain. The Hold Everything shower curtain that I've had for 3 years has faded and isn't fitting in the new bathroom. Here is what I have on order from Ballard Design!

Alicia B.