Friday Faves

Well, I'll spare you the gory details but let's just say I'm glad it's Friday. For Friday faves I'd just like to point out that it is not yet Thanksgiving and there is Christmas decor in stores already, and it's EVERYWHERE! Isn't it customary to wait until after we are thankful to start thinking about the season of giving? I'd say yes. I'm still in the Autumn mindset so I bought some bittersweet berries yesterday and my apartment looks great and seasonal! Let's enjoy the current season before we have to rush into the next one, shall we?

How can you rush past Thanksgiving when you have a cute little pine cone decoration like this one? This turkey decoration is so cute! And it looks so simple to do...

I attempted a mini version of this wreath and let me just say that it doesn't look a thing like this. Oh well. If you want to give it a go, be my guest! HERE are the instructions.

When I bought the bittersweet berries, it was especially strange because the only times I've gotten them was when I ran out into my back yard and collected them from the woods. Buying them seemed wrong. Well, I'm headed home now for some for the long weekend. Please no holiday and more specifically Christmas music until two weeks from now? Thanks. Have amazing weekends! I hope you all eat pumpkin flavored things, collect pretty colored leaves from the sidewalk, or try out different stuffing recipes in prep for Thanksgiving!

ALSO, my photography show starts today in Farmington, CT! If you're in the area (presumably admiring the amazing foliage), please visit the Millrace Bookstore and see my photography! The show runs from today to the end of the year, which is fast approaching. Thanks!


Alicia B.

Farmhouse Sink Love

When I grow up and have a large converted farmhouse, my first order of business in the kitchen is to have a farmhouse sink. I just adore them. They look soft, smooth, luxurious and beautifully country.

Usually when I think of a farmhouse sink, I think white glazed ceramic. I do love this stainless steel one though. By Ruthie Somers via House Beautiful.

Woah I adore this. This might rival my favorite kitchen ever by Joan Schindler. I know those are strong words but this is so spacious and calming looking. From Living etc.

Gil Shafer can pretty much do no wrong in my book. Painted floors in a kitchen? LOVE IT. Painted interior cabinets? LOVE THEM. Farmhouse sink? You get the gist.

Via Simplified Bee. You can use many different materials for the same idea. I wonder how well copper holds up in a kitchen though...

Kyle Timothy took something pretty traditional looking and made it super edgy! I love this look-it's so chic with the glass tiles on the backsplash and this modern looking farmhouse sink.

I'm not sure if its the fact that it looks like a tiny tub, or how well it looks with a sweet country kitchen but I must have a farmhouse sink one day. I love how it extends down into the cabinetry below it too. Do any of ya'll have one? Is it everything I think it is?

Alicia B.

Sewn.

This past weekend I was meant to go to Philly to see my friends and their new baby but various parties got sick so the trip was canceled. I was bummed to be sure but I made the situation better by making pillows! Sometimes you just have to sew.


They are pretty much temporary until I can find the right fabric that I really want to work with but I'm pretty pleased with the way they turned out. I'm going to attach a big button to the back where the opening is to jazz these up.


Alicia B.

Faye Toogood is IT.

Among other things this weekend, I finally had a chance to read the Sunday Times! I love just relaxing with a cup of tea and slowly making my way through the paper, but I rarely have time. In the NY Times Magazine (special design issue!), I came across this incredibly talented designer and stylist, Faye Toogood. Her last name basically says it all, because she's fantastic.

Apparently, while she was working for World of Interiors she went stealth underground and started her own business; designing windows for Liberty, and Dover Street Market's shoe department.

I'm obsessed with this little scene with the overscale necklace on the vanity and of course that window. Obsessed.

Remember when I said she was fantastic? Literally, her scenes have a huge element of fantasy.

Soon after she started doing her "under the radar" work, a sort of buzz began and more jobs followed. I can see why.

At World of Interiors she was feeling inhibited by the magazine layout (2-D) and needed to literally bust out of the page. Mainly, she's doing exhibitions spaces and displays but just got her first interiors space for the owner of The Rug Company.

Is this not gorgeous looking? Faye is only 32 years old and is so talented and has such depth to her design.

The two most important elements to her are color and texture. Her scenes are very tactile and vibrant. This one is very ethereal.

I'm quite glad I didn't discontinue my subscription, this week at least, to the NYTimes. Visit her website for more. There is so much there that I didn't post on here and all of it is amazing and inspiring. Studio Toogood.


Alicia B.

Alicia B. Designs Photography Show!

So I promised you an announcement on Friday but I was too busy so here it is today! Friday the 13th ( I know!) will be the opening day of my first photography show! It is going to be in a very tiny space in a bookstore in Connecticut but I am excited about it nonetheless.



The show will be at the Millrace Bookshop in Farmington, CT and I'd be honored if you went and saw my photography. If you're in or around Farmington, it's definitely worth it because of the gorgeous Farmington River views, the amazing independent bookstore, the delicious restaurant below and the CUTE town of Farmington.

Please let me know if you stop by!


Alicia B.

Friday Faves

The title of my Friday special blog is now changed. Friday Faves. It will still remain as your fun inspiration to swing you through a slow Friday and land you into Saturday though! With Friday faves though, you might see my new fave fashion item...today too.

I spotted this amazing kitchen by Windsor Smith in the new Traditional Home mag, which I received yesterday in the mail. The magazine (I just started subscribing after buying it outright for countless months) is so full of fun things and such great articles that I had to admit that it was one of my faves now. Anyway, the kitchen, in brown, white and red has me staring. Normally I'm not drawn to red but this is so pretty--the light fixture over the island is especially captivating. The details are all attended to, which makes me love Windsor Smith even more.

OH. Here's the fashion part of the post! These yummy preppy little slippers are from Boden and look like a little polka dotted sweater about to wrap itself around my feet!

How nice would it be to come home on a Friday evening to this bathtub? SO NICE. I bet that towel rack is a towel warmer too. Ugh, delish. By uber talented Caroline Paterson.

I hope you all have amazing Fridays and even better weekends. I have plans to go to Philly to see my friend and former coworker and her new baby! I'm never around babies so I'm so excited to meet her!

ALSO, I'll let you know about something special later on today. I know you're all holding your breath in anticipation for it.


Alicia B.