Inlaid Wood Love

Italian inlaid wood tea caddy from 1st Dibs. Only $1850? I'll take it!

I think inlaid wood is incredibly beautiful. You might even say exquisite. There are so many intricate patterns you can create on the floor, in a door, in a box, I could go on but it's starting to sound like a Dr Seuss book. One usually finds it it a traditional setting where it is a stunning surprise.

A large honeycomb pattern is here in this foyer using different tones of wood to make the pattern stand out. From Traditional Home.

Think you can only find inlay in a historical home? Not so! Stephanie Stokes (my kitchen idol) took the pattern of her family crest and had it inlaid into the small kitchen floor. Stunning.

If you don't have the resources for hiring a professional to do your marquetry work, this is actually a stained pattern made to look like inlaid wood. Incredibly gorgeous and I love the Greek key pattern on each side. Designed by Brown Davis Interiors.

Here is designer, Juan Montoya modeling for us next to a kicky inlaid wood door. It almost looks like parkay flooring but much prettier as it is framed out so nicely on this door.

I wish I could see the top of this table better but it has an inlaid pattern inset on it. I like the informal look of this as well. Gorgeous foyer by James Michael Howard.

I think I'm most drawn in by the craftsmanship that it must take to create these pieces. The craft of marquetry is quite rare I'm sure so it makes them even more valuable and special. I just recently selected an inlaid wood box for a client to use as a cocktail table (with legs made) and a glass top and it is going to look amazing. Have a fantastic Thursday because guess what! Tomorrow is Friday!


Alicia B.

Discoveries in a Small Kitchen in NYC

Chris Welsh, the designer, had to deal with this alcove kitchen. he used light colors and maximized the light he had with that one window.

That title kinda sounds like a romance novel possibly involving an interior designer. Oh well, I'm keeping it. As you all know, I have a mini kitchen. Seriously, everything is lined up on one wall and the tiles stretch literally less than a foot until it hits the parkay flooring which indicates the transition to the living room. I thought I'd share a few tips for maximizing your space here.

1: Efficiency. Everything must have a place. I have very little counter space so every little inch is precious. To maximize your cabinets, don't feel bad about stacking things more than you normally would. Get cute canisters, too, for silverware or large spoons and spatulas.

In this kitchen by Chad Eisner featured in House Beautiful, he used seeded glass in many of the cabinets which makes them feel lighter. I love the look of open rack shelves in kitchens but in a practical sense, I don't think it works so this is a great alternative.

This is one of my fave kitchens on the planet. It's small but look how well each space is used. Canisters for utensils, little cook book nooks, and custom cabinets. By Stephanie Stokes

2: Wall space. A good place to store things is on the wall. Use this space for a potrack, a magnetic knife strip, or a bulletin board.

These sleek racks are from Pottery Barn. I have my own little rattan spice rack but these are nice and don't take up a lot of space. HERE.

Living Etc. Vintage canisters and a handy wall mounted pot rack.

3: Junk Drawer=NO. I had to forget about having the all purpose junk drawer (the thought scares me anyway) for anything that didn't have a space. Everything MUST have a home so make a bulletin board like I mentioned above. You can tack up invitations, reminders, lists (yay, lists!) or just notes you like that make your day a little brighter.



Here is a cool DIY bulletin board you can make with old corks and a vintage frame. Plus, it has a kitchen vibe. From Apartment Therapy HERE.



4: Color. I think you have two options here based on your space. If you have a narrow galley style kitchen you can paint it but make sure everything is the same color. If you have a monochromatic room, it makes it look bigger no matter what color you paint it (almost). I have a one walled kitchen so I painted everything a very pale yellow to bring light into the room.

Living etc. Sunny yellow kitchen. Make sure you don't use the wrong yellow though. Results could be shaky.

5: Mirrors. I don't LOVE mirrors as paneling but I've noticed a few designers using mirrors in kitchens to give the illusion of a bigger room. Here you can see it in the inset on the cabinets or the backsplash as in the one above by Stephanie Stokes


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By Jonathan Berger.

You and I can have great kitchens and be gourmet cooks too even if we have small kitchens! If you have a large one, make sure it works and it isn't just a massive waste of space. Thoughts? Do you have any tips from your kitchen you'd like to share?

Alicia B.

I want

YUP. I want. I rarely go shopping (as much as I used to) in this economy so when I want something, I feel like I really have to want it. I've saved up (kinda) for these adorable and super chic pants from jcrew and I'm going to get them today after work! Thoughts?

Minnie Pants from JCrew. These are so perfect for Fall!

Alicia B.

Rando Design Inspiration Friday!

Cool art table via abccreativity

I'm approaching this weekend with a bit of trepidation. I know I have a lot to do for school when all I really want to do is go downtown and shop around and hit up a flea market or two. OH WELL, these are the sacrifices I have to make for my future/school. I'll be at school chained to a drafting table. Not like the one above--they are all white and pristine but the one above looks like fun. I am jazzed that it's Friday because I'm pretty tired so here are some relaxing nap inducing rooms. Enjoy!

I love this kind of window here with a window seat. The light streaming in looks so warm and inviting. Interior by Courtney Giles.

My new favored designer is Chad Eisner. He has amazing taste as you can see above with that fun and surprising drum shade. Check out his portfolio HERE.

This whimsical coffee table keeps the room from feeling too stuffy. I'd love to have a soft arm chair like that one by the window. From Katie Sellers.

I would just love to skip out of work right now (at 10:30 eek!) and sit in a window seat warmed by the sun and read a book. But alas, I'll be out soon enough I guess and only to start madly thinking about rearranging a mini kitchen in an inventive way so that my teacher won't yell at me. What are your plans? Outside? Inside? With family and friends?


Alicia B.

Falling for Yellow

GAWGEOUS yellow diamond from 1st Dibs

I've always been crazy for the color yellow. Different shades can be happy, demure, sunny, or subtle but either way it makes me feel warm inside. Also,I look great in yellow, so that's a plus. I've been noticing lots of yellow lately (particularly yellow and grey), but not the bright lemon yellow that we saw in the spring, it's more of a soft yellow with a feeling of gold in it.

Alicia B. Designs. WOW, she's a genius!

This contrast of yellow and black is so striking. via material girls blog.

This is from good old Domino. I normally would shy away from this marigold shade but it works really well with the soft browns. Oh and I think we all know how much I love painted brick walls!

Elizabeth Stuart Design. I like the gilded furniture and frames and the yellow upholstery. So elegant.

This bedroom looks very cozy and quiet with the red and orange quilt and striped yellow wallpaper. Also of note: asymmetrical frames. Just sayin'. Designed by Chad Eisner.

This might by my favorite of the bunch but I haven't decided. The contrast of the yellow and the blue is pure heaven. And don't think you can get away with white washing the floors and painting a design on them and now have me go crazy for it. By Jeffrey Bilhuber.

Have you all noticed this gravitation towards yellow, too? I find it to be a nice welcome to fall. The color is warm without being too harsh or abrasive. All these interiors look soft. I'm in.


Alicia B.

The Furniture Joint

via apartment therapy

I just received an email announcing the new Furniture Joint website and it reminded me that I had had an intense desire to learn upholstery a while back. You might even say, I was jonesin' to learn the art of upholstery at The Furniture Joint. They offer classes there at the shop down town and I am dying to learn!

Maybe this will help with my sewing skills, as well!

This is Matthew Haly, the owner, who also has a book out called Matthew Haly's Book of Upholstery. THINKING I may pick that up as well!

There is just something in me that loves to do things on my own. After putting a lot of work into something (not just money), and looking at what you've made, it is an incredibly satisfying feeling. Reupholstering something can be quite pricey and perhaps if I knew a little bit about it, I could do some of it on my own--the simple things at least. Has anybody taken classes there? Fun?


Alicia B.