A non zebra rug? YES, they do exist!

I do love zebra rugs but sometimes they don't work in a certain space or home. I know, hard to believe that I'm not advocating for something fur, right? Anyway, often times my clients inspire my posts and this is one of them! As I've mentioned, I'm working on a client's master bathroom and as pieces are coming together in the master bedroom area too, they mentioned they want to replace the rug as well (though perhaps further down the line). Immediately, I envisioned a large faded antique carpet with pinks, creams, and golds. I've been seeing antique oriental and Turkish rugs everywhere lately and loving it.

From Lonnymag. A small rug can help define an area. In this case, it really draws attention to the funky chunky coffee table. It looks like you can just sit down on that pillow and play a board game. Life, anyone?

From Clover mag. This one, by Rob Southern, helped to separate the desk area from the rest of the room. It's like a little desk island.

I love idea of a layered rug; a smaller one on top of a wall to wall sisal like this one by Phoebe Howard.

Or many different rugs dividing up different seating areas in this large living room by Weissman Fisher via Point Click Home.

How sweet is this lavender room? This is how faded I envision the carpet for my clients. By Phoebe Howard

Here is a bold one with golds, blues, and reds that really unites the room. And this room is so beautiful! By Michael Smith.

James Michael Howard. Okay, so this one is a geometric but it's soft tones are wonderful.

A bold pattern in a faded tonemakes a beautiful statement but doens't take all the attention away from the other amazing parts to this room. Charlotte Moss via Cote de Texas.

I think this one is my favorite. The soft blue/green and cream tones throughout are so lovely. My client's bedroom has many pink tones everywhere so I think a faded pink toned carpet would be beautiful there. Elizabeth Dinkel.

You don't see many oriental or turkish rugs on the blogs. Many are geometic and striped, which are great and I have 2 striped rugs in my apartment, but often times you need a carpet that will bring together a room, not stretch it out. I hope I find the perfect rug for my clients, but I may just go with a simple plain one. A subtle faded carpet would certainly be perfect though. I can't wait to show you how everything comes together--more on their wallpaper soon!


Alicia B.

Feeling Thankful

This is the season to be thankful. We all have had quite a year with many ups and downs but we made it! Now is the time to just relax and enjoy the moment if you're with family or friends. Think about what you are most thankful for in the world. For me, it's my loving family, my amazing supportive friends, and my health. On the design side, I'm thankful for my blog, my great readers and commenters (you guys COMPLETE ME), my school, just plain good design, and my job! Here are some other silly things that I'm thankful for--because there are so many!

Yes, I'm thankful for the color yellow. I believe I've mentioned my love for yellow before but nothing puts a smile on my face and warms my heart like the color yellow. This living room by Mary McDonald.

I'm also thankful for throw pillows. I love to make them, look at them, lean up against them, and buy them too! Isn't this one fun? It's from Anthropologie: The Waterloo Pillow.

I'm thankful for girly sophisticated dresses like this one! I just bought it in black for a holiday party in December. Silk Taffeta bow dress!

Painted furniture and gorgeous bedrooms. This one is by James Michael Howard.

I'm thankful for Country music. Isn't Taylor Swift adorable? Don't judge me but ALL of her songs are great!

Stuffing is my favorite thing for Thanksgiving. Nothing compares to the way my mother makes it and I've been known to by accident (on purpose) eat an entire pan of this delicious stuff! HERE is Martha's Chestnut and Apple stuffing. I bet it's DELISH.

What are you guys thankful for? I'm so excited to go home for Thanksgiving--it's actually one of my favorite holidays! I've been put in charge of the mashed potatoes this year and I'm going to make Herb and Rosemary Mashed potatoes (recipe from Martha Stewart), so they better be good! Have an amazing Thanksgiving everybody and please find SOMETHING to be thankful for!

ALSO: If you're looking for something to do over the weekend and you're in CT, please visit the Millrace Bookshop in Farmington and see my photography show! They will be open over the weekend! For more photos see www.aliciabdesigns.com


Alicia B.

Inlaid Wood Love

Italian inlaid wood tea caddy from 1st Dibs. Only $1850? I'll take it!

I think inlaid wood is incredibly beautiful. You might even say exquisite. There are so many intricate patterns you can create on the floor, in a door, in a box, I could go on but it's starting to sound like a Dr Seuss book. One usually finds it it a traditional setting where it is a stunning surprise.

A large honeycomb pattern is here in this foyer using different tones of wood to make the pattern stand out. From Traditional Home.

Think you can only find inlay in a historical home? Not so! Stephanie Stokes (my kitchen idol) took the pattern of her family crest and had it inlaid into the small kitchen floor. Stunning.

If you don't have the resources for hiring a professional to do your marquetry work, this is actually a stained pattern made to look like inlaid wood. Incredibly gorgeous and I love the Greek key pattern on each side. Designed by Brown Davis Interiors.

Here is designer, Juan Montoya modeling for us next to a kicky inlaid wood door. It almost looks like parkay flooring but much prettier as it is framed out so nicely on this door.

I wish I could see the top of this table better but it has an inlaid pattern inset on it. I like the informal look of this as well. Gorgeous foyer by James Michael Howard.

I think I'm most drawn in by the craftsmanship that it must take to create these pieces. The craft of marquetry is quite rare I'm sure so it makes them even more valuable and special. I just recently selected an inlaid wood box for a client to use as a cocktail table (with legs made) and a glass top and it is going to look amazing. Have a fantastic Thursday because guess what! Tomorrow is Friday!


Alicia B.

Curve-alicious

Kelly Wearstler.

Often times experts claim that fashion leads interior design, or interior design lead fashion and I think in this case, the latter is true! Curves are fantastic and not only are they IN, they've always been in! A beautiful curving winding staircase is a very classical element that can be adapted in many different ways. For some reason curving staircases have always caught my eye.

Marie Claire Maison. The winding staircase has been adapted for a contemporary setting using glass and steel.

James Huniford. I am dying to see this foyer from the other side. Two winding staircases? Could you ask for anything better?

Living etc. These are a tad more industrial. Check out that railing slithering up the stairs.

James Michael Howard. Double staircases. Gawgeous.

This staircase is very nice but what makes it stand out is the way the ceiling curves around it at the top. By Jan Showers.

BCV Architects. I think i might cry tears of joy at this picture. SO beautiful and simple.

Another genius staircase by BCV Architects. This is a wine stockroom for a restaurant that they designed.

Not loving the drapery choice but the architecture here just blows me away. I love the way the light from the doorway shines on the underside of the staircase. Austin Patterson Disston clearly has this down.

Austin Patterson Disston. I've posted this image before but it's so perfect that I don't think it could hurt to post it again.

I grew up with a regular staircase with two landings, but no curves. Certainly not complaining, as my sisters and I used to spend hours on end having jumping contests on those poor stairs, but maybe that's why I love the curving ones so much.


Alicia B.

Reader Question: What is Bobbin Furniture?

A few months ago, a reader asked me a very good question. What are these bobbin chairs that I keep referring to and praising? Originating mainly in the 1800's in England, the furniture ornamentation changed to a lighter look with bobbin or spool ornament. Bobbin furniture is mostly antiques and you can find a lot of beautiful ones on 1st Dibs and some less expensive ones on Ebay HERE, for example.

This gorgeous corner bobbin chair is one that I found on 1st Dibs from Yew Tree Antiques; one of my favorite antiques stores. A corner bobbin chair is quite rare.

These dining chairs are especially pretty as you can see the finish is worn down revealing the wood. By Victoria Hagan (her house on the Hamptons!)

Isn't this painted bobbin bed AMAZING? The answer is yes. By James Michael Howard.

The beauty of these chairs is that you can see their framework and they are still quite comfortable. The room by Mollie Johnson is very elegant yet very inviting.

Dan Marty, who has his own showroom, sells bobbin chairs as well! I love the upholstery on these. As a side note, how gorgeous is the color of these walls?

In searching I noticed that Martha Stewart also makes a bobbin chair HERE. Can you blame me for getting excited when a designer uses a bobbin chair in their work? They are so pretty and versatile. Thanks for the great questions--keep them coming!

Alicia B.

White Drapery Surprise.

As I mentioned, over the weekend I am helping out a friend with her new house. It's so much fun for me and great to have someone who is receptive to my ideas even if we don't have the same style! Isn't that what a designer is for? Anyway, in her living room which is her top priority at the moment, she has simple ivory colored drapery. My first instinct is, COLOR! But then I stood back and thought that even though they were white, they still carried themselves without any color. Here are some other lovely rooms with ivory/white drapery and don't fade away.

This room is mainly made up of whites and neutrals in a very traditional style. By William Hodgins. Interesting how he works with the shape of the room and places the bedside table forward from the window.

Not a ton of color here but the white drapery is what draws your attention to the height of the ceiling. By Westbook and Winkler.

James Michael Howard, always decorating with soft neutrals tucks this gorgeous drapery behind the stunning architectural detailing.

The ceilings in the Kip's Bay Showhouse this year were so high that Bunny Williams had to sew two sheets (she used linen sheets I believe instead of drapery fabric) together to achieve that height.

Windsor Smith had the honor of participating in this Veranda Showhouse Greyhouse Estate. I'm just in love with those windows that are nicely framed out by strong white silk drapery .

Another lovely room, this one designed by the editors at Veranda.

Funny how even though there is a white carpet, these white drapes really stand out against the cocoa painted walls. By Carrier and Co.

I, of all people shouldn't be too astounded at how many people use simple white or ivory colored drapery. I have soft white drapery panels in both my bedroom and my living room with white scalloped edge roller shades underneath that. Would have included a picture for you but sometimes stealing internet has its drawbacks. I think it's subtle and elegant and lets the rest of the room speak for itself without being a cop out. White is certainly not a cop out.


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.

A Fire Burning...

A few months ago, when I was looking at apartments, one of them had a mini (non functional) fireplace that practically stole my heart. Unfortunately I just couldn't face living in an apartment that was just a 9' by 9' room--I have a lot of stuff so I had to move on from it (tear). Every time I see a fireplace though, I feel such incredibly envy so here's a collection of some hot hot fireplaces to ENVY.

By landscape designer Jay Griffith. *GASP* I just adore the idea of an outdoor fireplace. Eveyrthing here looks relaxing and just perfect for a quiet summer outdoor party.

Could this be more amazing looking? Are they going to bake bread in there? Or a pizza? This size fireplace reminds me of an old colonial house. By SR Gambrel.

By M Group. I love the traditional aspect of this one and the fact that it's in a dining room instead of a living room.

This little room brings out the modern (slash retro) side of me. Its like a little bubble fireplace and the setting seems like you could just come in from chopping wood, throw on a blanket and read for a little in front of the fire. From Living Etc.

Nothing gets me going like the look white washed wood! And exposed beams. By James Michael Howard.

I think based on this picture, it is going to be my life goal to have a fireplace in my bedroom. From The Daily Bed.

Another white fireplace but very different from the one above. I love how ornate the decoration is. By Eric Lysdahl.

There are so many fun things you can do with a fireplace and they don't always have to be traditional. Aside from how you decorate it, the structure itself varies in so many ways making it change the room completely, even making it the focal point. Even if it's not, it should surely grab your attention.


Alicia B.