Nashville, Y'all: Part One

This past weekend I took a three day weekend for a girls weekend with a friend from college. We decided on Nashville as neither of us had been there and had heard many good things. We ended up having a rockin fun time and learned a lot about the small city. There were cowboy hats, cowboy boots, honky tonks (still trying to figure out what that REALLY means), southern accents galore, and music on every corner. We stayed at the super fabulous Loews hotel and I thought y'all might be interested to see how the hotel was designed. I was mighty pleased, myself.

This was the huge hotel lobby. I don't remember those stars being there but there were little patches of grass growing all around. You can see some growing around the base of that column!

This is what our room looked like. All the walls were grass cloth walls and one was an accent wall--also grass cloth. It made the room seem softer and less hotel-like. I was loving the orange lamp that they chose on the bedside table.

Another super gorgeous room, this time with a blue accent wall.

This is the inside of the elevator which always had a country song playing in it. It was gorgeous wood paneled and had damask fabric panels on each side and a mirror on the back wall. And a super high ceiling.

Rumor had it that Dierks Bentley, the country star, was staying there at the same time because he had a benefit concert (that we attended) that Sunday afternoon. We MIGHT have started this rumor but there was someone famous staying there and the concierge was super tight lipped about it. INTRIGUE. Can't wait to show you more pictures from our trip! We did so much more than hang out with Dierks Bentley...

Oh, and FYI all these images were from the Loews website except for the one of the elevator. I took that.


Alicia B.

Rando Design Inspiration Friday

This has been an extremely busy week for me as you can see by the lack of posting. Busy is great though. I've been working on a school project of a town house, work is buzzing again, it's Fall Market in the D & D building and I'm helping a client select fabric for bedroom window treatments! Here are some lovely pictures for you to enjoy.

This little scene is from an interior by Sara Bengur. Isn't the fabric on this chair gorgeous? Faded salmon color? Pinky oranges are everywhere I look lately.

Nate Berkus. I love the surprise pop of blue from these ceramic vases in this beautiful but neutral dining room.

Ready for the close up? What a wonderful display cabinet for these great white platters. If you read this blog you know I love the wire in the cabinets. Bierly Drake.

I'll update you on my drapery project soon. I'm busy collecting fabrics to see in the space and to show the clients! I also attended a book signing in the D & D building yesterday and will let you know about that soon as well! Have a wonderful and creative weekend.

Alicia B.

Le Corbusier liked it...

La Lampe Gras! Brook Farm General Store in Brooklyn is apparently the ONLY store on the east coast to sell this gorgeous original architect's lamp designed by Bernard Albin Gras. Many repros have been made, which are gorgeous too, but this lamp is the only one of it's kind on this side of the country! I'd love to have one to attach to my drafting table while I toil away at floor plans and elevations. Rumor has it that Le Corbusier loved this lamp. Was it the secret to his success?? Something to think about... Anyway, I was drawn in to Brook Farm by this lamp but then discovered that it had SO much more to offer! Take a look at my favorite things. Ever.

Friend and fellow designer, Amie of Cafiero Lighting Design, just had a baby girl and this little ticking stripe blanket, $85, would make the snuggliest gift for her!

If I had this watering can maybe I would remember to water my plants! ...YUP, just bought it online for only $25.

Baking could never get more fun, but could it get better looking with these porcelain measuring spoons? I think so. HERE only $15.

I think my heart stopped when I saw these gorgeous colored pencils. I MUST have them. NOW.

And last but not least, an antique level. Have you ever seen anything more gorgeous? It's mahogany with brass inlay. I think you know what I mean.

I'd love to go check this store out in person. It looks like tons of home-store fun and I guess I could go shopping a little more often...you don't have to force me. Speaking of drafting and floor plans, I've been super busy lately with school so I just wanted to thank you all for being patient as the posting has taken a bit of a hit. Thanks for reading, following the blog, and following me on twitter! You guys are great!


Alicia B.

In Honor of Randall Ridless

Very sad news in the interior design world today: Randall Ridless passed away on Friday. He was an amazing and revered designer. Though I've never met him, I greatly admired him and thought he had incredible style. Here are a few of his interiors:

Via The Devine Life. This white interior is so serene and the painting over the sofa is so fabulous. I'd love to work in an interior with such high ceilings--notice the very large shade over the whole space.

Another gorgeous white interior. I love every single piece of furniture here!

Clearly he's talented, but also versatile. This little boy's room is so full of character! I really love the wall paper here.

Randall Ridless was an amazing designer and he will be sorely missed.


Alicia B.

Rando Design Inspiration Friday

As always, I've been much too busy to keep up with myself this week. I apologize about my slow posting but things have been hectic. I am secretly glad that Fall is quickly approaching though; as much as I love wearing mini skirts in the summer, I LOVE plaid and wool just as much. Here is a little selection of interiors you might like.

Nate Berkus had me at this simple striped throw rug AND THEN the amazing rough looking chest of drawers there. Then the table lamp. AH.

Lonny Mag was launched yesterday as many of you all know! I am very impressed and love it so far. It seems to be a Domino/Blueprint type with fashion mixed in, which I look forward to also. Congrats to the staff and creators of Lonny! This is just one of many gorgeous vignettes you can see in the online mag.

Kyle Sheneman of Live Well Designs, is a designer who once redesigned Tyra Banks's office in LA for her. His portfolio is youthful with many classic elements mixed in. This scene makes me feel like Fall.

So many things seem to be happening in the design world lately and it's all very exciting! I'm getting set for the weekend which will involve me redesigning an entire first floor for school! Talk about exciting! What do you have planned?


Alicia B.

Old Skirt= New Clutch!

I wanted to title this post: Stuff to do while watching Vampire Diaries, but it was too long and I had second thoughts. Anyway, I've been wanting to do this for a while but I made a clutch! I had a super cute skirt from Banana Republic that was not really in style anymore and I didn't end up wearing it all summer and the guilt was killing me. I needed to do something useful with it because I really did love the fabric. So...CLUTCH!

First I put little magnets under the waist of the skirt, folded it down, secured it in place and reinforced it to make it stiffer.

Then I folded it and pinned the layers in place.

Woo! Sewing time. Luckily the skirt had a nice light grey lining which became the lining of my new bag.

Then I turned it right side out and put a huge button on the top as a cute accent!

Close up.

My fave thing was the really amazing pleating in the skirt and it showed up really well in the clutch too, right? This little guy will probably make his debut Friday night!


Alicia B.