Tall Headboards Galore

Ever since I laid eyes on the above bedroom, I haven't been able to get that headboard out of my head. This is from a Larry Laslo spread in Metropolitan Home that I came across a few months ago. It's not something that I'd usually be drawn to, but I love the natural green with the gilt surrounding each shape. It looks like a very beautiful piece of jewelry. Most beds have headboards but none as unusual as this one. I think that headboards really make a bed, and even make a bedroom in some cases. If you have one that is especially beautiful or tall like these, it can really become the focal point of the room.

Tom Scheerer designed this brownstone in Brooklyn. This one sort of plays with your eye and makes you see the wall first and the headboard contrasting against it. Those browns and blues are mesmerizing.

I actually did a little DIY project making a headboard out of three panels, much like the above with brown and white fabric. Mine are all going to be flush against each other though. This fabric is fun but the two panels almost separate the bed. From Living etc.

Tamara Mellon had a very beautiful and unique 18th Century tapestry so she used it as the headboard. Sometimes objects are meant to be hung up on the wall and displayed such as this one. She could have put it on the end of the bed or something but now it is functional and the focal point of this delicate bedroom.

Drake Designs. This is a really neat one; the upholstered headboard is part of a custom built in that reaches all the way to the ceiling.

Douglas Larson. In a mostly white room (with great painted floor boards), this exotic headboard sure stands it.

Headboards are everywhere. Some are short, some are wider than the bed itself, but some are super tall and command your attention. As you can see, they are not just your average headboards, these designers got creative. I'm going to be hanging my panels any day now, I'm just nervous about making them perfectly straight.

Stay tuned tomorrow I'm going to reveal my New Year's Resolutions as I've finally decided on one or two!


Alicia B.

The first creativity of 2010.

The grand disaster that I fixed!

Well it's not exactly the FIRST bit of creativity but take a look. A certain special someone told me (very nicely) that the sweater I thought was super cute and fun was in actuality super out of style and "90's". After a moment of discomfort, I blew past the criticism of my one year old sweater and turned this out of style disaster into a cute cozy pillow! It is the sweater above but in pink that this model can pull off better than I!

This is now a cozy little pillow and much better appreciated now.

I added a little bit of flair to it with this cute grosgrain ribbon flower.

I think that may be the answer to most of life's problems. If life hands you lemons, make a pillow. Have a wonderful Monday!

Alicia B.

New Year's Eve Partay Wrap Up

I hope you all had fabulous New Year's Eves whether you were cuddled up at home watching a movie or out on the town dancing up a storm. I had a mini party in my apartment with a few old and new friends! I had the most fun time decorating and baking for this party. Like I mentioned earlier, I wanted to use the color green throughout to keep the holiday spirit up but now have it look like Christmas. I used blues and greens mostly and I think it looked festive and fun.

On my tiny nautical hors d'oeuvres tray, I set up some glasses for Champagne. Each one was tied with a little knot of the blue ribbon. I think it adds a little something extra.

I made and decorated these cookies, you'll see close ups later. In one of my gorgeous Juliska bowls that my sister gave me as a gift, I put some of my new green ornaments that I bought 50% off after Christmas. It was a genius time to buy Christmas stuff because it's all on sale. I also made bruschetta which is maybe my fave thing to eat at a party.

I bought these gorgeous green and white flowers and spread them throughout the apartment. Instead of confetti, which is a drag to clean up, I got wrapping ribbon and curled it and made little ribbon curlies. They looked tres festive, no?

I made good use of the otherwise useless filler from the flowers I bought and spread the green around the room in random vases that I have. And yes, I bought munchkins. YUM.

Here is a close up on my ornament bowl.

It never hurts to have fresh fruit like these wintry clementines there. They look so orange in the blue bowl.

In my efforts to phase out the Christmas decorating and move towards New Years, I just switched the ribbon on my little tree that was wrapped in this gorgeous Lee Jofa plaid fabric. I got this little blue gros grain ribbon at Kate's Paperie, I believe.

Here are the cookies that I mentioned earlier. I received a cookie decorating book for Christmas, Cookie Craft Christmas, and it was very inspiring. I made wreathes, snowflakes, birds, and hearts.

Glamour shot of a snowflake.

The recipes and the ideas were so much fun. I can't wait to zip out and get some more cookie cutters and adapt some of these ideas to other seasons!

All in all, I had a fantastic New Years. Not only was I pleased with my little soiree, but I was surrounded by great friends and loved ones which is really the best way to start a new year. Happy New Year's everyone. Let's make 2010 a great year!


Alicia B.

Happy New Year!

Here is just a sneak peak at some of the decorating and cooking and baking I did for my mini New Year's Eve party. I've had an immense amount of fun getting ready for this party so I hope everyone has a good time.



I have a sneaking suspicion that 2010 is going to be a great year. Just a hunch. Have an amazing New Year's Eve everybody! Be safe, be good to yourself, and drink lots of Champagne!


Alicia B.

Honest Scrap-tastic Award

About a million years ago one of my fave bloggers, Claire from High Gloss Blue nominated me for the Honest Scrap Award and I've taken my sweet time accepting it. It's New Years Eve so I figure I'd better get to it before the year is done. Thanks Claire! Basically for this award as you all probably know, I have to reveal ten things about myself and nominate seven other people for this award. Here goes! #1) I HATE revealing things about myself on my blog. I tend to say little tidbits but nothing major so maybe that's why I took so long making this list.

HOT SAND.

#2) I'm insanely fair skinned by if I could lie on the beach all day with a book (and a cocktail), I would do it in an instant. Don't worry, I'll still be wearing SPF 45. Really.

A postcard from Malta

#3) On that note, I've wanted to go to Malta (and lie on the beach) since I was a senior in college and I learned about Caravaggio and how be painted and became one of the Knights of Malta.

A dress made of Skittle wrappers! WOW...

#4)I'm a candy-a-holic. I know candy is bad/will give you cavities but I would rather eat skittles than chips or any other snack. And unlike most candy-a-holics, I don't care for chocolate.

OY.

#5) This one is SUPER juicy about me. Wait for it...I hate valences. I think they are worthless and ridiculous looking. If you don't like the ugly window moldings, install new ones and if you want to block the sun, go for broke and actually get shades/curtains. Those sad frilly valences are worthless.

This is a beach in La Jolla. Gawgeous.

#6) This one is also juicy. As you may know I'm a relatively uptight East Coaster but upon some somewhat recent trips to California I'd LOVE to end up there. I always thought I'd love to end up in Connecticut (and I still could), but after spending some time in San Diego, I fell in love.

#7) I love preppiness. I love to dress in pink and green and I love preppy interiors too. This one by John Loecke is so perfect! The pinks the greens and the sunny yellows are perfection to me.
#8) I'm a collector. When I was little, I used to collect rocks. I had a mini collection by the side of the road and I even had a Rock Tumbler that was set up in the garage. Please don't stop reading this! Yes, it's true. Anyway, now I collect fun things like fabric, frames, demitasse cups, as my mom says, "old junk from antiques stores", minks, and antique books and buttons! You never know when you're going to need these things!

#9) I have a massive crush on Jim Carrey. I've always liked him because he makes me laugh in his movies (Liar Liar). And even when he is in serious movies (Truman Show), he's an amazing actor and SO CUTE. Don't judge me, I stand by my opinion.

Who looks so pretty in fur? Martha.

#10) Ah, the last one! A dear friend of mine reminded me of this a few weeks ago. When I was in 7th grade I got a "layered" haircut and a few boys made fun of it and called me Martha Stewart. I ended up crying but now if that happened I'd be more than flattered. Martha is an amazing role model and such an inspiration. Thanks so much Claire for getting me to reveal embarrassing things about myself! Though I am in love with interior design, I do have many sides to me as you have just learned. Although as this blog is centered around interior design, it is much of what I think about. I hope you all learned a lot today and forget about the whole "rock collection" thing. Yikes.

I'm tagging the following people. And if you've already done it don't worry, I think I'm the last person who hasn't done this yet.

Penny Rounds
Eclectic Interior Design
Developing Designs
Shoebox Decor

Alicia B.

A Green for Winter

As I was working out in my head what colors I could use for my New Year's Eve party (which has taken a turn in a more relaxed direction), I was thinking what would be holiday but not Christmas? My colors were silvers, whites, and greens. I think the sparkle of the silver with the green color would be just festive enough but not scream Christmas at the same time. I've also been seeing light greens nearly everywhere against whites, gilt woods, and silvers.

This interior by Nate Berkus may be in my top 20 favorites and not just because of the patriotic moment in the back. The tiny pops of green among the neutrals is very subtle but makes the room fresher.

I saw this chest in the Wisteria catalogue today and was instantly enamored. It's so simple but it has so much texture.

This is a little vignette from a Lynn Morgan interior. Even using a plant is a great way to add green to a room. Like I said above, I'm super drawn to the metal tones with green.

This is really bringing the outdoors in in this Eddie Ross interior! The ferns are so sweet and natural with the brass lamp.

In this rustic and mostly white/creme interior, the green from the plants softens it. I love that layered display on the mantle. From Country Living.

This is a perfect neutral holiday scene. Even if it's not Winter these colors look warm and fresh. Bierly Drake.

An interior using Anne Selke fabrics has more light fresh mossy greens with a faux bamboo upholstered ottoman. I adore her fabrics; they're so fresh and whimsical.

These interiors are certainly inspiring for my little NYE get together. I'm thinking of using some of my same trees that I have for Christmas but remove the red elements and replace them with green. Perhaps the green theme is a good one for New Years as well; turning over a new leaf for a new year, that sort of thing. I'll let you know how it goes when I get back to New York and things get a little less abstract.



Alicia B.