Mirror Mirror on the Bed

Mario Buatta.  The bedding is better than anything ever but what a gorgeous bed. 

I've never been a huge fan of mirrored furniture, but I've learned that they have a time and a place--not like this.  A mirrored buffet in a dining room can take up less visual space while holding a lot of storage.  I was inspired to find some mirrored beds when I saw this article in the Wall Street Journal about designers being inspired by one another.  Hard hitting.  Intense.  

This is a fun modern mirrored bed.  I love that lamp though on the nightstand. 

This one might be a wee bit too much for me in terms of mirror but I appreciate the fun pink walls and the glam direction its taking. 

Bunny Williams.  A neutral room with a little bit of sparkle from the mirror and a drop dead amazing headboard is a yes for me.

Another mirror valenced bed by Jonathan Berger.  I love how the top side of this is upholstered...amazing and stripey.

Most of these have been pretty neutral and the same goes for this.  I suppose when you have a statement bed like this you need to let it speak for itself.  Another Bunny Williams. 

A huge headboard and a fur throw?  So glam, Miles Redd.

Remember when I did a blog about mural wallpaper?  Well here is some more PLUS a mirrored bed--this one has such modern lines that it could be a nickel bed frame.  From Elle Decor.

How are we feeling about mirrored furniture?  Scared like I was?  Feelin' it?  Do you just look for another chance to see your reflection in something like I do?  Just kidding, I don't do that.  I just blog and look at fabric.  And love Bunny Williams, clearly.

Alicia B.

Bird Watching

In my new place of work, we frequently have vendors come to present new products. In the last week we had Osborne and Little show their new wallpapers and fabrics, and while everything (really almost everything) was so gorgeous, this wallpaper caught my attention. I'm not usually a bird person but I believe I have been swayed. Sometimes they can be scary and weird but I think I'm really loving them. They range from some with just birds, to others with a chinoiserie feel to them with a bird scene.

Here is the Osborne & Little wallpaper I mentioned earlier, named Laguna. I think these birds (technically storks) are just gorgeous--and this comes in other colorways as well. Perfect for a bathroom or power room.

These are becoming a little bit kitsch, don't you think? Still sort of cute though...

I've always loved this room and the bird wallpaper adds a lot of depth and whimsy to the room. There is even a cute little bird perched on the stool at the foot of the bed. Miles Redd.

Here is a detail of this gorgeous wallpaper with birds in the scenery. It's a quite intricate pattern with beautiful details. I love the orange coral of the chair next to this wallpaper. By Suzanne Tucker.

This wallpaper with an ostrich sticking its head in the sand is JUST adorable. I saw this in Lonny; designed by Lonny Founder, Michelle Adams. This room feels very open and light because of the pops of yellow and the very large print wall paper.

Meg Braff is designing wallpaper as well. Among many beautiful designs, I found this one called Tumtin. It's a very fun pretty design and I can't wait to see it used in a room.

Where do you all stand on bird wallpaper? At first it reminded me of my grandmother who loves ANYTHING having to do with a bird (so cute), but as I was looking I think they're quite charming. There are so many different ways you can go with the motif. The classic Chinoiserie, the very graphic single bird on a white background, or somewhere in between. So, birds. Scary or awesome?

Alicia B.

Writing Tables Galore.

I love writing tables. I also love desks, but there is something about writing tables or library tables that I just plain love. They are simple and unassuming. You can have a traditional one, or a modern glass topped one. The one that I have is very shallow and works really well for me because I live in a shoebox of an apartment.

This writing desk from Horchow is not only beautiful, but impeccably designed for a modern lifestyle with storage and easy to use with a computer or laptop.

This glass topped, X-based table fits right in to this glamorous interior by Nate Berkus.

The view from this desk would pretty much guarantee that you might not get much work done. I've always loved this relaxing looking office by Todd Romano.

Need a small one because you live in a small space? This cute rattan one looks like it belongs in a beach house. From Pottery Barn HERE.

This eclectic look is from Living Etc. I love the simplicity of the table itself, the books, and the Mac!

I hate tables with fabric over them but this is by Miles Redd, so I'll let it slide. This time. Anyway, this is a really interesting place for a desk or work area; at the end of the bed.

Joe Nye sucked me in with his glam hot animal prints and the light mocha color of the walls but the writing table by the window is gorgeous too.

I think an upright desk or secretary is wonderful. There is room for a lot of storage, and they are beautiful in their form--if you have a nice looking one. The writing table leaves most things out in the open so I think the simpler the better. I probably have too many objects and notepads on mine, but I don't have much room for storage period so BACK OFF. Anyway, which do you prefer? Desk or writing table?


Alicia B.

Friday Faves

Fun doily tin decoration for all the cookies I'll be making (eating) this Christmas season!

It is the last Friday before Christmas and the second to last day of Hanukkah! I have nearly all of my Christmas gifts purchased and the last of it I will do this weekend when I finally have time. I have finished my class for the semester so that stress is behind me and I did pretty well so I'm quite happy about that. Here are the Friday Faves!

This year my family used a photograph that I took for our Christmas card! If you like it and want to buy one, I'm offering 20% off until next Monday. Time is limited and deals are GOOD. www.aliciabdesigns.com for more!

While I am a huge fan of antique or vintage ornaments, these little crocheted ones are so sweet! Its very cold today in NYC and these are making me feel warm already. From Etsy shop, Amy Gaines.

I love this warm interior by Miles Redd and the different mixes of patterns. I love how he put the Asian art work in the little mirror niche on either side of the fireplace.

Now I have to get cracking on my gifts. I have lots of ideas and I'm finding it so hard to narrow it down. I just love to GIVE (I also love to shop)! I might be going to a carol-sing this weekend with the beau, might play some squash, might get some more Christmas decorating done, and might have some egg nog! Egg nog anyone?

Alicia B.

Narrow Moments

In my last project for school one of the biggest issues I had was the fact that when you walk into the townhouse, all you see is a narrow hall and then a view into the kitchen. I ended up opening the whole space up completely but it got me thinking about living in a townhouse and the fact that things are quite narrow. If you can't change the wall, what do you do? Here are some cute pictures of entering a home in a narrow space.

The black and white tiled floor is leading you into the rest of the house here. via Simplified Bee.

Again, the flooring here is so pretty that besides the light at the top of the stair, that's what I noticed the most. Light is really important in a town house too because you only get it from two sides unless you have a skylight. This is Miles Redd's hot townhouse.

Keeping the area clean and simple is quite appealing. Those stairs are so fun looking. Living Etc.

Architectural detailing here is really setting a nice scene and the super inviting half open door is QUITE intriguing. Whats behind the door?? Living etc.

I think the idea of a focal point or something to lead you into the space is especially important. You don't have to enter a narrow space and be bombarded with things, furniture, or a wall. It's interesting how most of these pics have a fun or different floor pattern going on, isn't it? In other news, for my next project in school the style that my prof chose for me was...you guessed it! Modern! It's cool though, I'm going to rock it. STAY TUNED for a special announcement on Friday BTW.


Alicia B.

Trend Alert? Objects in low places.

I've noticed a few times now when objects are placed very very low. They seem out of place but then you look at them and you notice them more that you probably would if they were where you thought they were going to be. I've only found a few examples but I think they're pretty interesting.

Nancy Boszhardt placed this still life painting underneath this desk, as opposed to above it. I was worried at first that the painting would get hurt under there, but I suppose the desk is deep enough...

It is a great idea to place objects under the console table and these lanterns look amazing. Miles Redd then added a mirror to draw attention to them.

My new design love, Grant White Design placed this sconce next to the fireplace where you might usually see it above the mantle.

Have you all seen this anywhere else? Perhaps this is an old trend and is coming back again? What do you all think? I was skeptical at first but designers are always being applauded for placing things up high to draw your eyes up; why should this be any different? Just something to think about.

Alicia B.

Red and Green and X MAS all over!

I just found out that I will in fact get Christmas Eve off from work so I am imposing myself on my family one day early! Now I can really feel Christmas coming! Not feeling the Christmas spirit? Don't celebrate Christmas? Well, here are some red and green rooms that you can enjoy all year round no matter what you celebrate. Yay!

Tomo Callahan designed this sweet study. I love the eclectic look of this room and the rolls of wallpaper off to the side make my wish that my stash wasn't hidden under my bed.

Mario Buatta's room in Kips Bay I believe from a few years ago. This is the perfect looking room for a holiday gathering. A tartan seat in the middle in front of the fireplace and dark green walls to ground the room.

Miles Redd uses many dark red accents here that do not clash with the pink wall! Crimson flowers, red and white throw pillows, sweet red pleated shades, etc.

How classic does this look? It's from House Beautiful 1943 and still looks perfect now in 2008!

I love the green moire silk on the walls of The Green Room in the White House (taken in 1968).

This is a red kitchen from Domino Mag. It's accented with greens (chair, green bowl, plants) and wood tones.

Bunny Williams designed this formal yet still country styled dining room with a rich muted green. I love the plates on the wall inside the wood paneling. A bit too 80's for me though.

Anne Miller designed this small sitting room. Somehow the red seems more inviting than bold and aggressive (we all know how I feel about red). I think it's the stripes. I really like the yellow accents on the chairs with this red.

A bright pear green Benjamin Moore paint is the backdrop for this sweet bedroom. I am super in love with those monogrammed sheets. They look vintage in such a mod sort of setting. From Domino Mag.

Sara Story's fun red bathroom with red and white tiling is quite festive! I especially love the round ball lantern hanging from skylight we can't see.

Kathy Abbott used a bright traditional green wall paper in this dining room. SO pretty.

I think my favorite is the red tartan (swoon) and green walls in Mario Buatta's room. Thoughts? What are your favorites?


Alicia B.

Striped Love

Okay, who is with me when I say that I'm super sick of the downtrodden mood that the "recession" has brought down on the world? I know we are all cutting corners and saving and that's REALLY GREAT. Really. But, it's the mood that goes along with it. Maybe it's the rain, or the fact that people have to "shop their closets" now but I say let's take that attitude and turn it around! Let's enjoy beauty in simple things. I chose the theme of stripes for today! Enjoi!

I know this isn't an overwhelming use of the stripe but it is accentuated by those cute little Gothic mouldings above it. LOVE IT. Robin Bell astounds me.

Markham Roberts used these stripes diagonally. How clever. This makes it super busy but using the colors that he did, it appears more subtle.

Eric Cohler designed this amazing horizontal striped shower. Is that an ipod I see on the right? Rad.

Uber glam Victoria Hagan used a tone-on-tone green stripe on the wall and then mirrored it in the fabric of the chair. Subtle and pretty. Love the nail head accents on the bedside table!

One of my fave designers, T. Keller Donovan used Jane Churchill fabric on these chairs. I love the wide stripe of alternating blues but I do NOT care for the flat screen t.v. above the fireplace. Woah.

Miles Redd designed this busy little room, but I feel like the stripes on the walls really ground the space very well.

Miles Redd uses a horizontal stripe which makes the space seem wider. I love this cute sitting room right off the water. Is that my little tug boat I see through the window?

Michael Whaley used these striped curtains to frame out the space in the transition from room to room. I love the colors he chose.

Designer Joseph Abbati used a painted stripe that continues from the wall and onto the floor. This looks uber vintage glam to me with the mirrored surfaces, the Phillipe Stark Ghost chair, and the overall graphic feeling of it.

Celerie Kemble. Again, in a small space stripes are used to create an illusion of more space. I love how she used vertical stripes on the wall and then placed the throw pillows so that the stripe was horizontal.

As beloved (by me) designer Barry Dixon says, "Wallpapering horizontal stripes on the ceiling of a long, narrow room can make it look dramatically wider."

I love stripes. I'm the type of person who had to be TOLD that horizontal stripes are not slimming. I took that advice slash comment and threw it out the window because with interiors it seems to do wonders for the space!


Alicia B.