White Interiors for a Color Monger

I have a bit of a reputation for being a color monger, so I thought I'd expand my palette, so to speak, and love on some white rooms. I'm finding them very calming and full of personality as they can't rely on color to make them beautiful.

Marie Claire Maison. These beams and this little elevated seating area looks like a great place for a mini party with tapas and mojitos with friends!

This living room is designed by Lynn Morgan. It looks so peaceful with the pretty pale colors and the tall simple drapery (not to mention the amazing beams and wooden brackets).

This is a tres romantic bedroom, oui? Love the fur, love the headboard, swoon over the chandelier. Elle Decor.

What a lovely dressing room. I love the contrast of the deep rich floors with the sweet feminine wall paper and white walls. Madeline Stuart.

This is designed by Benjamin Noriega Ortiz, who loves to design with white. If you need tips on how to live in a white home, skip on over to If the Lampshade Fits who reviewed BNO's home from the NY Times.

So, what's the verdict? I'm thinking very beautiful to look at, but not practical for someone like me to live in. They are graceful, feminine, and calming looking to be sure, but every time there is a little bit of color, I'm more drawn to that in the end. Happy Thursday!


Alicia B.

The Madoff NYC Penthouse

Madoff Penthouse floorplan via curbed

Ever since this whole Madoff scandal hit the press, I've been nothing short of obsessed. I know, it's sick to watch this man and his family's pathetic downfall, but I can't look away. I've been mostly waiting to see each of their many properties. How does someone with that much money decorate their home? Well, The Daily News came out with some images of the penthouse from a number of years ago BUT STILL. Something to think about.

Yeah, so this living room is about three times the size of my apartment. Besides that, this room has a gorgeous Lavar Kerman Persian rug estimated at $35,000, gorgeous architectural detailing, a $20,000 Chippendale tea table, and many priceless antiques and works of art.

The Madoff boudoir? EESH to that bed. That's a beautiful wardrobe in the corner though with Chinese porcelain jugs from the 1700s.

Word on the street (slash HERE) is that the property will appear on the market sometime in the near future. I'll just be waiting for more pics of this incredible penthouse, the house in Montauk, the house in Palm Beach, the yacht, and the castle in France.


Alicia B.

A Great Makeover

Everyone loves a good makeover. Whether it's a tired rundown 40 year old mother of 3 on one of those TLC shows, or a tired rundown living room, people love to see a successful before and after. My latest favorite is one that I saw in House Beautiful by Jonathan Rosen. I've always loved his work, and I even did a blog post about him a few months ago HERE! Here is a one day makeover he did on this lucky woman's living room--oh I forgot to mention everyone loves instant gratification, too.

Here is the boring average mess that he started with.

He used mostly what his client already had by taking things he found in other rooms that would work better in other places, or rearranging the pieces in the room already.

The most fun part is to see his process; to see how he is thinking through his next change/improvement and then to see the result. Amazing!

He did do a wee bit of shopping. William Wayne is one of my favorite places too! Check out their website asap.

Voila! Look how much more fresh this room is now! Jonathan rearranged some furniture, brought in pieces from other rooms, and added some that he purchased and this room is completely transformed.

Nothing like a gorgeous bouquet of flowers to add life to a room. I just adore those sconces though over the fireplace--the scale is PERFECT.

Check out the whole article in House Beautiful and the 69 pics of Jonathan Rosen in action! After visiting his website many a-time and finding it "under construction" I tried one last time and OMG my wish came true--his website is finally up! Thanks!

Alicia B.

And the winner is.........

The winner of this adorable fun rug giveaway (picked by random.org) is...

ROBINCHRISTEN!!!

Congratulations! Please email me asap at aliciabdesigns@gmail.com with your address so that CSN rugs can send you your prize! Thanks again to everyone who participated and left me some amazingly funny responses!

Alicia B.

Friday Apresmidi

Clouds Reflected in the Water

Have a lovely weekend!


Alicia B.

Rando Design Inspiration Friday

Friday is here again! Here is your weekly dose of design inspiration. Enjoy. Also, please don't forget to enter the Rug Give-Away Contest below. If you can't be bothered to scroll down just click HERE: I'm lazy but I still want to win.

Timothy Whealon created a gorgeous living room using many different geometrics, some subtle, some bold but I really love the white washed mirror over the fireplace.

Southern Accents. You couldn't pay me to touch a book when I was younger but now, if I seen an interior crammed with books and a lovely arched bookcase like this one, I'm ready to move in. Seriously. It's going to get weird when the owner comes home and I'm sitting at that desk with glasses on and holding one of those antique books.

Lars Boldander never stops impressing me. This painted blue clock is mesmerizing.

This is a tad bit too symmetrical for me but the bold modern looking monogramming on the pillows is what won me over. By Jackye Lanham.

Amanda Nisbet is so great with color. How happy does this mantel look? I want that painting.

I'm not sure if I had a theme for today but all of these images have a cottage quality feel to them. Maybe it's because I'm going home to celebrate my Mom's birthday (AND I get to bake her cake!!) this weekend up in the country, or it could be because all I really want to do is lie on my bed and listen to Heal the World by MJ. Have a great weekend everyone (MJ would want you to.)!


Alicia B.