Random Design Inspiration Friday

Even though I gave myself a four day week this week, it was jam packed with busyness. My class just kicked into high gear and I have just about everything due next week, I'll be showing drapery fabrics to my client this weekend up in CT (SO JAZZED), and I'm working on decluttering my apartment. Hopefully I'll get a moment this weekend to just breathe. Here are some pictures that are helping me do just that!

I saw this amazing series of balloon pictures on You Are My Fave. Aren't they incredible? It reminds me of the hot air balloon races that used to happen when I was younger; all of a sudden you'd look up in the backyard and there were masses of balloons floating above you. (Btw, this has nothing to do with those lunatics who lost their son yesterday in a balloon. Weird.)

I love to photograph balloons whenever I get the chance. These are my latest; taken in Central Park a few weeks ago. Picnic Balloons.

Sixx Design is one of the most intensely inventive design firms right now. I'd just DIE for the garage door opening into the space. I wonder how that would feel to be in a space that open.

Keith Scott Morton. Everyone knows I love a good Windsor chair. The color of the door is perfect for fall right now.

In a few hours I'll be off on the train up to CT in this icky rain. I haven't been home in a while so I'm really looking forward to this. Rumor has it that we'll be eating dinner HERE! SO delish. Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Alicia B.

Tone on Tone Design

I've been brainstorming for a client lately. They have requested new drapery in their semi new home's bedroom. The current drapery is a gorgeous chintz, but it comes from their former home and need more of an updated look. They have very pale pink walls and have requested pink drapery. Pink is my favorite color so of course I'm all for it. I think the idea of the walls being the same color but a different tone is perfect for this room. Tone on tone, if you will. Let's take a look at the merits of this idea.

Jan Showers. In this library, the dark drapery matching the dark walls makes the room cozier and adds to the enveloping feeling, but still allows a generous amount of light in.

Designed by Grant White Design. I really wish this image in the top left was larger so you could see better but the walls are a pale mottled grey and the drapery is more of a cement color.

Janet Simon's soft blues and neutrals bedroom here is made a bit edgier with these brighter window treatments. They really pop in this room and draw your eye to the gorgeous bay window.

Gary Mcbournie. I feel like here, the very vertical drapery is used to accentuate the architectural elements of this room with a high ceiling. The green he used is so elegant.

Through these pictures you can really see how the brighter tone of each color simply brings that color forward even more. It also unifies the room a bit more without it being just one shade or many colors that may work, but are floating too much in the room. This helps tie them all down. I'll be showing my fabric choices to my clients over the weekend and seeing them in the space so I'll let you know how it goes!

Alicia B.

Cowboy boots are a standard.

Up here in the Northeast, cowboy boots are a trend. They are so hot right now according to the fall trend reports, but I've had a pair for a few years. Anyway, down in Nashville, any one who's anyone has at least one pair. Each one is different, black, brown, embroidered, with flowers, even wellington style! Take a look at some of my faves, y'all!

I LOVE THESE. Embellished and fabulous.

This entire wall was covered dollar bills with people's names on them! And Paul turned 50 in Nashville.

Manly.

Not a cloud in sight but these wellies were spotted and loved! Peacock feathers!!!

Clearly these bad boys get used a lot-scuffed and authentic!

I'm pretty sure these have a metal tip on them. Badass.

These are in a store that was pretty much on every corner.

I wanted to bring my own pair down to Nashville but was told that they would be "cliche" but they in fact were not. I've been a country fan since high school and have had many family trips out west so I do have my fair share of country gear. Do y'all have any boots or hats?

Alicia B.

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.