A Visit From a Bostonian!

A street on Beacon Hill in Boston

This coming weekend one of my very best friends from college is coming to visit me in NYC alllll the way from Boston! In honor of her visit, I've chosen some of my very fave designers in the Boston area.

Mally Skok always uses the most beautiful colors and fabrics (possibly because she has her own fabric line). This living room has neutrals, ikats, and a generally soothing color palette.

Pinks, oranges, and yellows make up this preppy fun basement sitting area. Also by Mally Skok.

Another gorgeous interior by Mally Skok, in Cape Cod. How gorgeous are the french doors and windows and that coffered ceiling?! FYI Mally also is on Twitter an has her own blog!

Gary McBournie has always been a favorite of mine for his classic and nautically inspired interiors. I love this blue wall in the dining room. They texture gives it such amazing depth.

William Hodgins designs the most incredible houses. This foyer looks all the way through to the window in the sun room. I love the green little plants glowing in the sun!

What a gorgeous antique wing chair in the front hall of this Boston home by William Hodgins. Also, I wish we could see more of the front door because that glass work looks amazing.

Lastly, Frank Roop adds a little edge to the classic look that I love so much. This room is romantic and uses neutrals and jewel tones in the upholstery. I ADORE that glass globe ceiling light in the middle.

I am very partial to designers from New England because of the classic traditional style. Often times, the houses are old Colonial houses with amazing thick mouldings and beautiful front doors, graceful and unassuming stairways. You get the gist...I'm obsessed. Anyway, I'm excited for my weekend and all the fun times we have planned. Two stodgy New England girls let loose in the big bad city...uh oh.


Alicia B.

TAX DAY--Time to Shop!

A good way to lighten up the home is to change your quilt/duvet. I've been seeing this style quilt practically everywhere! From Cuddledown.

In honor of paying your taxes today (barf), let's all anticipate a great big fat refund check and shop! I'm so excited for Spring, as you know, and am looking forward to updating my wardrobe and also my home. As far as colors, I've been seeing lots of bright greens and yellows as well as navy blues. Have fun!Seersucker bedding from Cuddledown is a nice harbinger to Summer!

Galvanized metal is so hot right now. These great planters from Pottery Barn start at $29.

A great way to "Spring" up your home is to change out your lampshades! I super love THIS shade from Shades of Light with a pretty green monogram.

Oh look! My favorite drink, a G & T! Leather G & T coin purse from Kate Spade for $50

This yellow striped skirt is the love of my life right now. From Kate Spade for $375 and also comes in navy/white!

I'm pretty much a sucker for anything that has a daisy on it (ahh good times). This Brandies blueberry dress is from Trina Turk for $378. Boy, I hope I get a good refund if I want this dress!

Boden is one of my favorite stores. This Rainyday Mac Jacket is fun and springy for sure, for only $138.

I love the style of this feminine little light dress from Boden for $98. The Martinique dress also comes in denim-y blue, grass, and black.

Spring jackets are always super hard to find because it's such a transition season. This yellow knit jacket with a gorgeous huge button, from Boden, is $138.

I've been so good and not shopped in over a month! Shop away all and I'll live vicariously through you! Happy Tax Day.....

Alicia B.

Outdoor Furniture Love

If I see this "stuff" one more time, I'm just going to snap. Sorry, I'm not sorry.

Who can feel Spring coming? I can! I know it's only 40-something degrees here in NYC but it's much warmer than it was a few days ago. At least I'm not wearing Uggs, right?! So, the time is coming where all you want to do is be outside, eat outside, read outside, hang out etc. In the city you might not get much chance to choose your own furniture (if you do, you're lucky) and there are lots of options. Most of the time, it's boring modern woven wicker and if I see it one more time, I'm just going to lose it. I've done you all a favor and picked out some great pieces from a few of my fave places!

Petal Tables by Richard Schultz. I love these tables; they're so delicate but modern.

Inspired by plants, and shrubbery, these chairs, and benches are actually incredibly comfortable. By Richard Schultz in the Topiary Collection.

I could look through this store all day long; Mecox Gardens. I love this classic antique bench. The store is on the Upper East side and the Hamptons and is so gorgeous.

A deco inspired bench from Treillage, Bunny Williams's store on the Upper East Side. This store has so many amazing garden pieces.

I love this graceful painted iron chair from Treillage, too.

These pieces from Fermob are more on the whimsical slash modern side. This table has a canopy attached--how clever!

I really want one of these swings for my huge oak tree in my backyard. Oh wait, I don't have a backyard...just a fire escape. They come in SO many different colors, but pink is my fave! From Fermob, also!

This faux bois wood is from Currey and Co. Very nature inspired and beautiful.

Personally, all I'll need this spring is a little more sun but these pieces making me look forward to Spring more and more! When looking for outdoor furniture you can often get stuck in the rut of a teakwood collection, or just plain wrought iron, but you can really have some fun with it! Colors, styles, nature inspired pieces--I really wish I had a garden!

Alicia B.

Easter Colors: Yellow and Pink!

A match made in Peep Heaven!

In my last post of Easter colors before I jet off to CT, let's take a look at yellows and pinks! Besides pink and green, yellow and pink is one of my fave combos--plus I look great in yellow so...Pink is vibrant, romantic, and glamorous, while yellow is bright, happy, and fun. Enjoi!

I think a little yellow always goes a long way. What a pretty yellow color and I always appreciated a little modern art, as well. Garrow Kedigan.

Don't want to commit to pink furnishings? Just get a pop of pink flowers like here! Gorgeousness by Schuyler Samperton.

Pink paisley wallpaper and sophisticated and understated furnishings make this room by Sara Bengur so beautiful. Also notice the red and pink flowers on the sill of the MOST amazing window ever.

Oh Mary McDonald...SO much pink is making my heart swell. This pink is glamorous but not too girly because of the giltwood bamboo mirror and the dark mahogany pedestal table.

I'd say this is more of a mustard yellow but really works in this space with neutrals and touches of blue. By Eileen Kathryn Boyd.

A precious times one thousand pink bedroom here with distressed ivory twin beds by Leta Austin Foster.

Precious yellow is paired with contemporary neutral (and somewhat ugly) furnishings. I do love the yellow and bright blue contrast though. And the fur rug. Drake Designs.

I think this is what I would do if someone would let me (and then let me change it a few mins later). Pink. Everwhere. By Drake Designs.

Woah, that's intense pink! I really love the ornate accessories painted white though. It makes the space more comfortable/inviting. Diamond Baratta.

OMG Pink and yellow in one room! Together at last! This adorable and fun room is by Amanda Nisbet.

Sorry for the late post but, I'm not going to lie to you, I had the day off and I did a lot of fun stuff. I won a squash match, cleaned my apt (amazing!), and saw The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. Even though the NY Times panned it, I thought it was great and the guy playing Art was ADORABLE. Anyway, I'm off to CT for Easter, dying eggs, hanging out with the fam and the beau, and eating WAY too many jelly beans. Have a great weekend and Happy Easter!


Alicia B.

Steven Sclaroff hates Karate-chopped Pillows. Me too.

I've always adored Steven Sclaroff's designs. His interiors are comfortable and subtly surprising--my favorite! He uses antiques and modern pieces together to create beautiful rooms. His use of color is also incredible. When I read in this in House Beautiful a few months ago, I knew we were soul-mates. He said that these were his biggest decorating pet peeves: Karate-chopped pillows. That look would never occur in 'pillow nature.' Prominently placed family portraits. Best avoided if you're not royal or papal. TVs that are disguised. They've been around for decades, so just embrace your TV. Would you buy an armoire for your stove?" True that, Steven Sclaroff.

This living room is absolutely gorgeous and unpretentious. The sofa is in perfect scale and I think you know how I feel about the gallery wall behind it. I feel pretty good about it.

This is a little display from the Jack Spade Store that he redesigned in downtown NYC. I'd love to have little drawers like that for collecting little things.

How perfect is this little green bedroom? The contrast of the uber structured hotel style bedding with the curvy headboard is perfection.

Clearly he's "in" with the Spades as he collaborated with Kate Spade and redid her apartment in NYC. The light flowing into this room is so pretty and the use of color is....astounding.

The floor is killing me with love/classic beauty. Kate Spade's kitchen.

Again with the great use of color. I don't think I'd ever look twice at that red striped chair but it fits in this room like a little glove. The bathroom beyond this is also so gorge. I love it so much I'm not even mad about the exposed pipes under it.

Of course, he has his own 1st Dibs shop full of amazing antiques, furniture, accessories, and vintage fabrics.

I NEED these adorable coasters by Piero Fornasetti! They're only $450 for the set of 8!

Also, a lover of folk art, here is a folk art model of a factory for only $675.

I think overall his interiors are thoughtful, and it seems like he's having fun while doing them. Also, word on the street is that he has a little obsession with squirrels and after I saw this commercial the other day, so do I. Did I mention that we're soul-mates?


Alicia B.

Easter Color: Green

Easter is now only FOUR days away and I have YET to dye any eggs (I have to wait till I get home, but still). The color green can invoke many different hues: kelly green, minty green, a dark traditional green, grass, or light celedon green. When I think of Easter, the light celadons and mints come to mind. Here are some interiors with those greens.

Suzanne Rheinstein, a long time green lover, uses this soft silk on the bedspread and the drapery which makes the room look light and comfortable.

This is a more minty green used in a country bathroom by Martha Stewart. How clever is Martha to make that little shelf under the window? I have some antique brackets and am thinking of making a shelf in my room!

This green isn't my favorite but j'adore how the color of the green changes when the light is on it. From Marie Claire Maison by Francoise Smilenko.

Pink and green is my absolute favorite color combination. It reminds me of summer and I'm pretty ready for summer or some warm weather. This is a beautiful color green. The iron work on the balcony is so amazing, I'm quite jealous of whomever lives here. From Marie Claire Maison.

This precious living room by Kathy Abbott uses mints, celedons, and aquas.

Now we're cooking here! Lets all get outside (PLEASE GET WARMER). This gorgeous and relaxing terrace is by Joe Lucas and Parrish Chilcoat of Lucas Studios.

The fabric in the room is so to die for! Prints, stripes, solids and then little pops of other colors like the raspberry red flowers and the mini blue throw pillow are making me freak out with envy. By Heidi Freidler.

This is from Point Click Home about a story on Feng Shui. Green is meant to represent harmony. I think that is definitely accomplished in this comfortable yet elegant front hall.

Overall, greens have a very relaxing and approachable quality. They are beautiful and can change hues when the light is shining on them but they are solid and soothing. I have a green painted kitchen table which is fun and always makes me happy and a pastel quilted pillow sham on my bed which is adorable as well. Kinda matches my personality...


Alicia B.