Friday Faves

This first week back from "The Holidays" has been quite a whirlwind. Trying to adjust to work again, working on New Year's Resolutions, my Washington Post shout out, and selling seven of my photographs from my website has been keeping me quite busy. Busy is a good thing though; I'm certainly not complaining! It is Friday though and that means it's time to breathe and prepare for a relaxing weekend.

S. R. Gambrel designed this incredible townhouse down in the West Village and I think this narrow entry way is stunning. The high gloss walls and flooring really make a statement.

Along with just about everyone else in the world my OTHER New Year's Resolution is to get and stay more organized. I love the Container Store to death so this shouldn't be that hard... I have quote a large project to take on though--my under bed storage. I'll let you know how it goes.

J. Crew sends me daily reminders of how cute they are and how I can't shop right now (after Christmas). It doesn't mean I can't look though, right? The Blakely dress is adorably feminine and I love it in Caspian Blue.

I'm probably going to be organizing like mad this weekend. Then on Sunday I'm having brunch with a friend from my semester abroad in Florence! I haven't seen her since last New Years so I'm molto excited. Have great weekends everyone and stay warm!

Alicia B.

Turquoise, is it?

Since just about everyone has had a go at the fact that Pantone announced turquoise as THE color for 2010, I thought I'd go for it as well. I'm not usually one to jump on bandwagons right away, but this one I am completely on board with. I'm actually very excited to move on from the purple craze that happened. In any case, I like the turquoise. I find it lively, preppy, bright, and bold. There are lots of different ways you can go with turquoise--watery blue, greeny aqua, etc.

Bunny Williams is right on track with this gorgeous fresh classic chair from her Beeline Collection.

Amanda Nisbet adds some fresh watery turquoise in this dining room with the leather dining chairs.

I just love this abstract painting that really pops in an otherwise neutral dining room. The reflection of the turquoise-y blue on the table top is so fun. S. Russell Groves.

Fawn Galli works in a bright pop of turquoise with a very traditional sort of setting. I love it on top of that chinoiserie chest!

This bedroom by Christina Murphy is so right up my alley. Monogramming? Yes. Tufted bench with turquoise fabric? mmhmm. Soft blue wall color? Delightful.

I guess I'm really liking the blue tones to this color. The pop of freshness in color is just what we need in 2010, right? Well, whatever shade you go with turquoise it seems to be a hit. PS- Has anyone else noticed that this seems to coincide with the invention and boom of Twitter, and that Twitter's color is turquoise? Have I said too much? Strange...


Alicia B.

Thank you Washington Post!

I feel so honored when this happens, but I've been mentioned on the Blog Watch this week in the Washington Post! They found my post on Tall Headboards HERE. Thank you so much Terri!



I'm sharing the blog spotlight with one of my new favorite blogs, House of Turquoise. Be sure to check it out. Have a wonderful Thursday!

Alicia B.

New Years Resolution #1

A dining nook from composer, Gian Carlo Menotti's home in Italy. Via Arch Dig.

After being very much against New Years Resolutions, I came up with two things I'd like to do this year. I am against them because I feel like they make you look back at the previous year, count up your shortcomings, and then put you into overdrive on trying to "improve" yourself when you're probably doing well just as you are. Some people go to extremes or come up with so many resolutions that they get in trouble with their husbands (my sister). Be that as it may, I realized that after about four years, I had pretty much forgotten all the Italian that I'd ever learned and that made me sad. My first New years Resolution is to be more Italian. I do not have one Italian bone in my body but if you recall, I spent a semester in Florence (Firenze, sigh.), living with a family and studying art, eating so much pasta, and learning the language. It was amazing and I look back on that time fondly.

Last night I made one of my favorite Tuscan meals for dinner, Pappa al Pomodoro. It is a Tuscan bread and tomato soup, and topped with some fresh Parmesan, it is delicious! Here is the recipe I used; simple and fast.

First, I sauteed some garlic and an onion in olive oil.

Then I added 3 delicious tomatoes (skin removed) to the mix and let all this soften and meld with each other.

During this time I had some day old baguette that I absolutely could not let go to waste, so I soaked it in water for about 5 mins. I broke it apart and added that to the mix as well.

These ingredients should simmer for about 10 mins. I know how this might look, but until you've had it, you don't know how delish it is.

Then spoon some out, top it with some extra virgin olive oil and fresh parm and basil and EAT! It looks scary but is so good!

A room in a boutique hotel, Villa Bordoni, in Tuscany. Via Mr & Mrs Smith.

As for the other part of this resolution, my other sister suggested that an affordable way to bring the Italian language back into my life was to download podcasts. She's a genius because I searched for some and there are tons of people on iTunes that want to teach you Italian! Maybe I'll even make it back to Florence this year, who knows! I'll tell you my other resolution tomorrow...What are yours? One of my friend's is to sew more--great one!


Alicia B.

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.