Friday Faves

Happy Friday to Everyone! I actually took a vacation day today to install my show in West Hartford, CT that I've been gabbing about for the past week! It's a lot of work; gathering together your work, signing and numbering everything, matting it, and making the labels. I'm pretty excited for this long weekend because I sure do need a rest. Here are a few of my favorite things from the past week.

Though I miss many magazines that have folded in the past year and a half, the online design mags are quite impressive. Clover Magazine had the most incredible Rob Southern spread. I love this intimate but exciting little sitting room and I'm seeing these gorgeous Oriental rugs everywhere.

Have I mentioned that I'm helping a client re-wallpaper their master bathroom? I'm looking for some fun pink and white prints and this one by Katie Ridder might just work. I love the shape and the pinky/salmony color.

I know many of my favorite blogs have been snarking on Lonny Mag but I really like it. I can't get enough of the adorable and creative interiors and the links that are attached to EVERY object. It's quite a dream for someone with ADD/loves to shop for home stuffs. This light sweet bedroom is one of my favorite rooms in the newest issue of Lonny. This room was by Sara Gilbaine.

Alright, ya'll (I just downloaded about 10 new country songs on itunes. Don't judge me). I have to go get ready for this show! I hope if you're in the area you'll drop by. It's at Cosi's in West Hartford, CT and runs from today for just 6 weeks! I hope you have amazing long weekends and fun/romantic/special Valentine's Days!!

Alicia B.

Lighting Obsession: Round Pendant Edition

Globe Pendant. Pretty and simple from West Elm.

I have said before that I have a great love for really great lighting. There is so much out there but what I've really fallen for lately are round pendants. They are simple and beautiful. There are plenty of amazing lanterns out there, so lets take a look at something a little bit different, shall we?

Pheobe Howard. Is this floor of the hallway not fabulous? The glossy black walls, the floor and of course, the round glass pendant together are so glam.

The orange is surprising, but they look like fun light balloons bouncing along the hallway. By Katie Ridder.

I think this kitchen designed by Joan Schindler is a complete and utter masterpiece. There's no two ways about it. With marble countertops and a custom refrigerator I'm pretty sure it was House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year two years ago and for good reason. I think without those gorgeous antique pendants that it wouldn't have won.

Hamilton Design had an amazing space with high ceilings to work with. I love that they chose open fixtures like these to add to the open look of the room.

Again, if these fixtures had been taken away, the room would have looked incomplete. The round aspect adds an element of surprise and something unexpected. Unfortunately, I have your typical boring flush mount lights in my apartment so I have to make do with pretty table and floor lamps! I'll have a little run down of some fun table lamps coming up in the next few days if you're a renter like I am, or need a table lamp!


Alicia B.

Small Space Dilemmas

Jay Jeffers in the San Francisco showhouse in 2005. Woah, pattern.

So, now that I'm moving, I have to downgrade to a smaller space: a studio. I know. Woah. This evening apres work, I went around and saw a few of these studios, and boy do I have a challenge ahead of me. It got me thinking of how to divide the space so that it looked the biggest and also how to carve out each area; living, sleeping, eating, and baking. Fortunately, I like challenges like this. Also, fortunately for me magazines (that I worship) like House Beautiful and Domino have little guides for this sort of thing. Among other things, one of the tips that sounded the most interesting and intense was Amanda Nisbet's advice of covering everything in the same pattern. Wallpaper, fabrics, lampshades etc. Let's see how this plays out...

The shades and wallpaper are the same beautiful chinoiserie pattern. The desk is gold leaf and it floats right into the space. Designed by Philip Gorrivan, who, btw is amazing.

Ah, Katie Ridder, you never cease to amaze me. This canopied day bed blends right into the gorgeous wallpapered back wall. Matching throw pillows and the mirror add depth to the room.

This small study in Atlanta from Traditional Home looks quite a bit larger with the large scale geometric patterned wallpaper and roman shades. I think the overly tall pedestals with the lamps also play with the scale of the small room.

How much do you want to curl up on that blue chair covered in that soft white cable knit throw and read a book? I know this is a relatively large space but the wall paper and corresponding fabrics really do lighten up and open up the space.

Designed by Ashley Whitaker in the Hamptons.

This is also a large open space but I wanted to show it because it literally has the same fabric on everything: chair, ottoman, roman shades, bedskirt, and ....lampshade! It's such a pretty house-- this image was featured on Architectural Digest about a year and a half ago

(designed by Alexa Hampton).

I think the uber patterning has the same sort of effect that painting a room a dark color has. It seems to eliminate the fact that you're in a small space by not letting you define the space on your own. If the shades, the drapery, and the walls are all the same pattern then you lose your sense of depth. And lets face it, wallpaper is fun.


Alicia B.

Go Blue?

Ultra modern tub found at Trendir.

If you haven't heard yet, being "green" is out and being "blue" is in. Blue is the new green. Being BLUE is about water conservation. Apparently along with the world having bad air, we're losing water. HERE is the article. While you're busy feeling bad about the world, I have collected some pics of BLUE bathrooms to perk up the mood! What better place to have a lot of blue but the bathroom? A room that is centered around water and cleanliness and recharging yourself (take a bath) might as well be blue.

Kenneth Albert designed this amazing over the top blue tiled bathroom complete with mosaics of a fish and people! All that blue tile gives off the feeling of water.

One more reason to love Katie Ridder. This bathroom. And that light fixture. And the bouquet of contrasting orange flowers.

Drake Designs proves that you don't always have to use tiles for the blue. Jamie Drake chose dark blue Madagascar cloth on the walls which is so beautiful; picks up so much light and accentuates shadows too.

Another pic of the Drake Designs bathroom.

Patrick Gallagher designed this blue beauty (yeah I said it). I love the tiles that he chose and that they continue up into the shower.

This is pretty with simple blue accents; blue Moravian star and blue hand towel. I especially love the glass jug in the back.

Frank Roop designed this incredible little bathroom. He even used CAD to custom design this tiled mat below the tub. Impressive! The soft blue on the walls is called Borrowed Light by Farrow and Ball.

This tub looks uncomfortable but there is something about those unfinished wide planked floorboards that is so appealing. The pretty blue wall is gingham blue by Pratt & Lambert. I love the ladder as a towel rack too--so rustic.

I love how the blue frames out the rest of the space. The star lantern picks up some blue as well! I do not care for that rug however. From Domino.

I know this isn't all blue but I thought this shower curtain was so adorable/delicate/perfect that I couldn't resist. From Country Living.

Also from Country Living, isn't that a fabulous vintage claw foot tub? This whole bathroom is a tad bit forced vintage though. Sorry.

I think designing a bathroom would be so fun. It can be such a small space and you can really have some fun with it as it isn't a main space and wouldn't have too much effect on the whole of the house.

Alicia B.

Thankful for...

Turkey Craft from Martha.

Since Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks, I wanted to share a few things that I'm thankful for; in the design world and otherwise. Here goes!

My friends, family, and loves (only one) who are all super supportive of me.

My health. I'm strong as an ox, people!



My blog and all the support I've gotten from people and people in the "blog world." Who knew a silly girl like me would get mentioned in the Washington Post! Yay!
Photo available in my Etsy Store!

The amazing food I'll be eating tomorrow. What is your favorite part of the meal? Mine is the stuffing...oh god CARBS. YUM.

The entire design world, including amazing designers like Katie Ridder and her classic yet fun designs.

Crown mouldings, wainscoting and the color pink. Is this list getting too frivolous? This was designed by Madeline Stuart. Perfection.

Oh yeah. PIE!! This delish recipe is from Martha!

Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving all! Eat lots of turkey (if you eat meat), stuffing, cranberries, and mashed potatoes. Btw, TWENTY NINE DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!


Alicia B.

Map Me

Something I've always loved are antique maps. I bought an antique map of New York City at an antique store out in the country about a year ago and I'd love to re-frame (as one part of it is damaged) it and be able to hang it (it's still in my room back home much to my parents' dismay). It's a nice way to create art in an inexpensive way. You can buy antique maps at antique or print shops or buy new ones and frame them to make them look old. I like to look at them and reminisce back to a time when I was in that place.

From Architectural Digest, Gayle Wells Mandle and James Brayton Hall. Wall paper map on the entire wall! I like how it is stained dark.

Country Living. This is a DIY project; break up a map into several frames.

Katie Ridder. I used to have a map of the world like this from National Geographic when I was a child. Considering my sense of direction, I think I should have looked at it more.

Tocar Design. If you have several small maps you can group them to add interest to this small empty space above the door frame.

This antique map of Connecticut is one of many valuable antique maps from The Philadelphia Print Shop in Chestnut Hill, PA.

I'd love to be able to find some good map wallpaper. Anyone? Bueller?


Alicia B.

Dark Rooms 101

Most people, when painting a room, think of going with a light color, not a dark blue, dark brown or even black. Dark paint colors are a bold choice, and as they are unusual, we are drawn to them. They are often good for small spaces, surprisingly enough. Designer John Barman says about the room above, "You're swept away by the blue and have no sense of the size of the room."

Moises Esquenazi used Farrow and Ball Mahogany paint.

Living Etc. The furniture in the room make this look more industrial.

Todd Romano. I love this room; it looks so cozy yet sophisticated with the rich blue walls and thick mouldings.

Australian Vogue Living. What a great gallery wall--looks so organic.

Carol Prisant used contrasting mouldings that add depth to the wall in this small room.

Elle Decor. This room looks pretty large and the windows add lots of light to it. I love how the walls curve up into the ceiling.

Leta Austin Foster. The dark color used here blends so well with the different colored ethnic floral patterns.

Metropolitan Home. The walls as well as the floor are painted a dark color. Again the use of the mouldings really adds depth to the room.

Jeffrey Bilhuber uses a dark chocolate brown. The glossiness of it reflects the light coming in from the window.

House to Home UK. I like how the black shade repeats in the next room to lead you through the space. NOT loving the Christmas lights on the floor though.

Katie Ridder. I love this little room with navy blue paint.

Markham Roberts. Dark floor and dark walls!

Markham Roberts. This room looks so New England-y and He even uses the dark blue paint in the fireplace.

Jeffrey Bilhuber uses dark paint in a larger setting with natural materials like a sisal carpet and stone fireplace.

I really likes these looks--they're fun and very bold. Thoughts? Has anybody done this in their own home?


Alicia B.