Friday Faves

The title of my Friday special blog is now changed. Friday Faves. It will still remain as your fun inspiration to swing you through a slow Friday and land you into Saturday though! With Friday faves though, you might see my new fave fashion item...today too.

I spotted this amazing kitchen by Windsor Smith in the new Traditional Home mag, which I received yesterday in the mail. The magazine (I just started subscribing after buying it outright for countless months) is so full of fun things and such great articles that I had to admit that it was one of my faves now. Anyway, the kitchen, in brown, white and red has me staring. Normally I'm not drawn to red but this is so pretty--the light fixture over the island is especially captivating. The details are all attended to, which makes me love Windsor Smith even more.

OH. Here's the fashion part of the post! These yummy preppy little slippers are from Boden and look like a little polka dotted sweater about to wrap itself around my feet!

How nice would it be to come home on a Friday evening to this bathtub? SO NICE. I bet that towel rack is a towel warmer too. Ugh, delish. By uber talented Caroline Paterson.

I hope you all have amazing Fridays and even better weekends. I have plans to go to Philly to see my friend and former coworker and her new baby! I'm never around babies so I'm so excited to meet her!

ALSO, I'll let you know about something special later on today. I know you're all holding your breath in anticipation for it.


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

A Day at the Beach just because I'm in such a good mood today is 20% off today ONLY. Also 20% off all Nature Photography today!
I wish I was at the beach now...

Today's Friday Inspiration is going to be short and sweet because I don't really need it today! I'm sailing through the day because my sister and her husband are in town so I've got a lot to look forward to! I'm so excited to hang out with them and show them my new apartment!

This bathroom is by Windsor Smith. I'm really warming to the idea of hanging clothing on the wall. This ornate jacket is just so beautiful that it must be displayed!

I found this in Veranda (swooooooon) in a spread of Vicente Wolf's apartment in Manhattan (swoon again). I love how the furniture in this large room shapes the space--the screen behind the desk is IT for me.

You had me at headboard. How gorgeous is that fabric?? From House Beautiful.

I'm so jazzed for sister time in the city! We're going to hit up Treillage because I've been talking about it non stop and then go bike riding slash running in Central Park! Have a lovely amazing sunny Summer weekend everyone!

Alicia B.

Tick Tock Clocks

Jay Jeffers uses this antique train clock face as the focal point in the room. HOT.

Paintings, wall hangings, china plates, and photographs are many common things to hang up on the wall but clocks are not so common. I love the idea of a clock on the wall. I don't wear a watch so it would be especially convenient for me as I hate to be late!


I just adore oversized and out of scale clocks. This lovely room with a cute striped rug (Dash and Albert?) is by Satinwood. It kind of looks like a black chalkboard, no?

The clock here is small but Windsor Smith makes it pop out by putting it against a dark charcoal background.

Julie Stevenson's kitchen is very contemporary. This modern clock makes everything look like it's floating. Hate the clock though even though most people love it.

Always pretty and traditional, Diamond Baratta used this white clock on a white desk. I love repeated shapes. Swoon.

Antique clock faces are so good looking--I love the distressed look and how cute is that mini one all the way to the left? MINI. From Country Living.

These may seem like sweet accessories but as Benjamin Franklin once said, "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that the stuff life is made of." Woah. Profound.


Alicia B.

Home Offices

A messy desk at home (in my mind) can be debilitating. Home offices have many uses, even if you are not working from home. I like to sit at my desk to read emails, chat with friends, and blog. I display postcards that remind me of people or things that I enjoy and keep letters from people. They can be very inspiring as well. I like to keep mine organized so that I can add things as my interests change as well. I love the examples with a little vase of flowers. Below are some inspiring examples:

Sara Story. Shes an amazing designer. Look out for a spotlight on her soon.

Sara Story. Grey color palette but still warm feeling.

Todd Romano. What a lovely view.

Ione Skye. Bright vibrant colors.

Sara Story. I love the orange storage boxes. SO organized.

From Domino mag. Great for someone with a small space, this desk is wall mounted.

Windsor Smith. This one looks so cozy.

This one is my fave from Living, etc. www.livingetc.com The desk is an antique and I'm in love.

Alicia B.