Botanicals with a twist

A few weeks ago I went to this great exhibit at the Yale Center for British Art of the botanical collages by Mary Delany. It was probably one of the most interesting exhibits in which I was completely unfamiliar with the subjects that I'd ever been to. She was a society woman who was married off strategically to a rather older man and developed a love for plants. She made these intricate botanical collages out of little bits of paper. Each color of each work is a different bit of paper that she cut by hand. These must have taken incredibly patience but through learning about her, she had a lot of spare time. I love botanicals of all kinds so take a look at some I found!

Black botanicals are not seen as often as others and I think they're quite beautiful. This is one by Mary Delany.

Here is another one. It was very important to her that all the botanicals be anatomically correct as well.Isn't the contrast of the black background against the beautiful flowers/plants breathtaking? S. R. Gambrel designed this interior and I'm blown away. It's fresh and traditional feeling at the same time.

This might not look too different but I really like this interior because when you think botanicals you usually think country. This room mixes the organic country with the hard lucite glass, the soft upholstery with the cold metal frame of the table etc. Interior by Michael Clattenburg from AD.

Via Velvet & Linen, these pressed botanicals are framed in a window pane--gorgeous and creative idea for framing them!

Robin Bell designed this traditional room. The botanicals really frame out that hutch. I'd love to see those quilts that are so nicely displayed in there.

Barry Dixon used these framed botanicals in one of the most admirable ways I've ever seen--to hide a TV! Nice choice.

Not only are botanicals beautiful but you can see that they really come from something. They are flowers, leaves, plants etc which can be seen as a craft, something horticultural, something simple, or something as intricate as one of Mary Delany's creations. The Yale Center for British Art put out a book about her with her works called Mary Delany and Her Circle. I'm super curious now about this book. I highly suggest reading more about her as she is a very fascinating woman. Actually, Peak of Chic wrote about her a little bit ago so check it out HERE.


Alicia B.

Dining Table Gossip

This is the dining table that Bunny Williams designed for the Kips Bay Showhouse.

I was so sorry that I couldn't make it to the Holiday House 2009 Showhouse; a tablescape show house on the Upper East Side, but I read a fun article about it in the NY Times. It sounded like a glamorous event to be sure but the main thing that I took from it was a fabulous quote from one of my favorite designers Bunny Williams. In regard to dinner and seating she said, "First off, hosts need to separate husbands and wives. Nobody does that anymore, and I think it’s disgusting. I don’t want to sit next to John (her husband), I want to get in the cab with him later and gossip." Oh Bunny, you are too hilarious! And of course, she's right. Bad form. Anyway, here are some gorgeous dining rooms that you can all gossip about later in the cab.


Here is Bunny Williams's table that was inspired by the Summer Solstice! So gorgeous and I love the colors--they look delicious. If you want to see more pictures, Heather from Habitually Chic was lucky enough to attend the gala and take amazing shots of everything there. Check it out HERE. Also, oddly enough she did a post on dining rooms today too...weird.

A simple X-based table with two benches, this dining room is simple and glamorous with the glass top on the table. By Tom Scheerer.

I normally hate a skirted table (yes, it's not a popular opinion, I know.), but for some reason this one is really working for me over this round table. Maybe it's the cheery yellow fabric in the otherwise muted, soft shaded room. By John Peixinho.

This traditional looking design by Eric Cohler is soft and unstuffy. I think that shade of blue freshens up the room that is fully antiques and plush fabrics.

I'm not sure why all of a sudden I'm drawn to round dining tables, but I am. I especially love the pewter vase full of flowers. Barry Dixon.

Not LOVING the rug there that Barbara Westbrook chose, but how can you not love the shade of grey against the gilt wood frames. Swoon.

Just a little flash of what must be an incredible dining room by Bunny Williams, I'm loving the yellows and that rug is exquisite. Yes, exquisite.

This post really makes me wish that my kitchen table didn't function as a dining table, craft table, drafting table, and counter top. It would be amazing to be able to throw a dinner party in a formal dining room but for now, I can blog. These are sure inspiration enough and now I must get back to my drafting table which is covered in fabric swatches right now! You can gossip in comments, thanks.

Alicia B.

Rando Design Inspiration Friday

Hooray the weekend is (nearly) here! This has been a really great week so lets end it with a bang, yes? FYI, I had the most amazing gelato (for the US) last night at Eli Zabar's. You should go try it over the weekend. Or now.

From Southern Accents which has apparently folded (tear), I couldn't take my eyes off this gallery wall on a curved wall UNTIL I saw that mini chaise. In love.

This bathroom seems so soft and smooth with marble and stones even thought the tiles look rough and blocky. By Philip Sides.

Ever since the House Beautiful issue a few days ago, I've been thinking about what "my color" is. I love pink but oddly enough I don't have much pink in my own apartment. I have blue and yellow. I'm very complicated. Thinking I might try out La Dolce Vita's test HERE. Room by Kim Zimmerman.

My bedroom is painted blue and has green and wood accents . This bedroom from Martha Stewart looks just as lovely as mine. HA.

I've always loved Barry Dixon. This is a gorgeous room from a house in the Caribbean. Can anyone guess what my favorite element in the room is?

In a few hours I'm off to the train to go home for the weekend. My father is alllll alone this weekend and last time he was left alone he did some overly ambitious yard work, cut his hand and DROVE himself to the ER. That's not happening again. Hopefully there will be minimal yard work and maximum tennis and sailing. Have a great weekend--what are your plans??!!


Alicia B.

Rando Design Inspiration Friday!

ADORABLE flowers from this great blog I found, Nestledin.

It's that time again! FRIDAY. This is a new section I'm doing because it's Friday, we've had a long week, and we just need to kick back and relax with some nice images to help us through the day. I've had a rough go of it this week: adopted a cat, fell in love with him, and then returned him the next day because he viciously attacked me twice, jumped on my back, and began stalking me around my own home looking to attack again. Heartbroken. And yes, you can laugh.

How delightful is this little scene in my dear little CT? I wish I could see more of that sweet looking rug. And I DIE for the caning in those chairs. By Philip Gorrivan.

Tea time with Jackson Aaron? Yes, please. Only If I can face the wall though at all times because I can't take my eyes off those thick grass cloth panels.

Yeah yeah, I'm predictable. I love the new Lilly Pulitzer collection.

I love when things are out of scale like the giant 1930's factory clock that takes over the ENTIRE wall here. This room can pretty much do no wrong in my eyes, especially with the two non-matching armchairs with salmon pink fabric. By Jay Jeffers.

This kitchen is by Barry Dixon. Personally this is a LOT of island for me but I am absolutely enthralled by the lantern over the table--I love the perforated holes.

Word on the street is that it's going to be in the 80's this weekend in NYC. This means I'll be lying in the park reading the last book in the Twilight Series, Breaking Dawn (don't judge me!!), and as many design magazines as I can get my hands on. I might try again on a kitten too...though I'm pretty emotionally scarred. What are your plans for the weekend??


Alicia B.

Flora

Rita Konig's bedroom in her fun eclectic apartment in NYC. She uses a floral pattern in the bedspread, the wallpaper and even the light fixture!

So over the summer I was seeing lots of geometric patterns, lattice work etc in fabrics and wallpapers. WELL, summer is over, and so is geometry. Sort of. Anyway, I've been noticing a lot of flower patterns in wallpaper, bedspreads and fabrics in general. I find it quite calming in a world full of dropping numbers and people panicking about the economy etc. (clearly I need to get out of NYC for a few days). Flowers are pretty, sweet, and simple. Take a look at some of these sweet rooms.

I think this wide floral patterned dining room makes the space look bigger than it already is by adding a depth and openness to the walls. By Michael Taylor.

I know, I know. It's very traditional, but SO pretty! Look at the effect of the large beams on the ceiling leading down to the simple but beautiful curtains and into the room. By Markham Roberts.

Again, Markham Roberts (genius) uses the flowers to frame out a room/area, and it continues around the room (tablecloth, flowers on table and on mantle).

Even with traditional flowers, you can make the space look modern. Living etc.

Mix many different floral patterns for an eclectic look like this one by Fawn Galli.

Does this wall paper look familiar? (See above.) Found it in Domino.

It could be fun to use big bold flowers, like this one in Greenwich, for a glam/modern/but also classic look.

There is a lot of floral fabric in this bedroom designed by Barry Dixon (love!), but it is a pretty wide pattern so it appears more subtle and not too over-flowered. In the huge glass vase, the theme continues! So cute!

It's interesting how even though we are seeing lots of flowers, they can still maintain a modern look or some of the geometric quality. I think that when people think flowers, they think old lady designs or a stuffy chintz, but they can be light, feminine, modern, or glam depending on how you place it. Thoughts?


Alicia B.

Nice Jugs--I MEAN recycled glass...

Did that get weird? Colored recycled glass is something that has been catching my eye of late. I love the subtle color of green or olive in them and each one is different. They are antiques as well as glass that has been reused (how green). They are used as vases or can be made into lamps. I know it's not exactly a new idea but I really love it.

Vicente Wolf uses them as vases in the foreground and as an accent in the back.

Tom Sheerer placed these two bulbous jugs side by side to draw subtle attention to the far corner of this room.

Martha Stewart. She always says if you have something odd like a little jar, to get a bunch of them and group them so they look like a collection.

Pictured in Metropolitan Home, a yellow and a green vase are paired together on the mantle. So cute!

Love this Barry Dixon hall with a large demijohn in the corner.

I love this mini still life scene in a Tom Sheerer interior.


You can buy these recycled glass wine glass and decanter from Vivaterra.

One of my favorite places for antiques is rubylane.com. This antique demijohn from ruby lane is $475.

Alicia B.

I met Barry Dixon...I KNOW

Last night I went to a book signing at Rizzoli Bookstore for Barry Dixon's new book. Barry Dixon is a southern interior designer (and sweetheart). He told me about the importance of good traditional design. Traditional design lasts through decades, trends etc. He said when he went back to clients' homes to photograph his new book, Barry Dixon Interiors, he found that virtually nothing in the homes had changed! This just goes to show that traditional is timeless.

The main thing that struck me about Barry was how genuine he was. He seemed like he just wants to share his ideas and thoughts about design and life! At the book signing I also met the photographer, Edward Addeo, and the author of the book, Brian Coleman. Take a look below at some pics from his website.

I love architectural detailing like this in bathrooms.

This is one of the most gorgeous libraries I've seen in a while. Amazing color scheme.

I love this little "tablescape" of interesting perfume bottles on top of the chest.

Long hallways like this one are accentuated by the repeating lanterns.

The brown shade of this wall is super successful. Also check out the nailhead detailing on the baseboard molding!

Even with a bright color like orange, this room appears soft.

Dramatic.

Beautiful scene.

The wallpaper in this small room is so unique. Love it.

In his book, Barry Dixon says to put a round carpet in a room to make it look larger.

The traditional look can often come across as too formal, but I've found that Dixon's interiors are comfortable and elegant at the same time. He also has his own furniture line which is available to the trade only, here. Thanks DJ!


Alicia B.