Dear Spring, Please don't leave.

Don't leave--until you bring Summer into the picture, is what I mean really. As long as Winter is on its way out though, I'll take spring for now. In fashion and interior design I'm seeing a TON of flowers. They're fun, classic, springy and I'm MORE THAN ready for them.


Tobi Fairley's living room is FULL of spring. Green and ivory and gold tones are everywhere. This room feel fresh and comfortable. You might think that with a rug like this it would feel stuffy but it can't with wing chairs, Greek key, and and a lively sunburst mirror on the wall.

Eddie Ross styled this when he was at Martha Stewart. First of all, the yellow in here pleases me greatly. Yellow = happy. Second of all, I love the idea of a screen as a headboard. It adds so much depth to the room and the fabric is so pretty.

Markham Roberts. I believe I've posted this picture before but clearly it deserves a second (or third or fortieth look). The patterns are so dynamic. The drapery is super dramatic and the wallpaper is so unexpected. Looks like vines climbing the walls.

Speaking of flowery, Liberty of London is designing a line for Target and it debuts in THREE DAYS!! I adore their flowery busy prints. They're just so happy.

Cute/girly skirt from J. Crew. Sunshine Peony skirt for $98. Does anyone want to buy this for me--I'm cut off from shopping for a while.

WOW there are a LOT of flowers in this adorable room. I love this four poster bed and the lively fabrics throughout. Even the sconces are nature inspired! Hamilton Design Assoc.

Besides the pretty chocolate pillows, I love this soft pretty flowery sofa. A lot of times if you choose a floral for a sofa fabric, it's bold, but this one is light and blends in without disappearing. Mollie Johnson Interiors.

Spring is all about flowers. In fashion, and in real life! Everything is finally coming alive again and in New York, where the only tree you see on a daily basis is a tiny one surrounded an icky fence, this is always welcome. I'm a huge fan of Liberty of London so I can't WAIT until the line at Target comes out. It's going to be super fun but I have a bad feeling its going to be a bad over used trend. I hope it doesn't, but...it could. Anyway, Spring is here (I promise), so flower it up!!


Alicia B.

Writing Tables Galore.

I love writing tables. I also love desks, but there is something about writing tables or library tables that I just plain love. They are simple and unassuming. You can have a traditional one, or a modern glass topped one. The one that I have is very shallow and works really well for me because I live in a shoebox of an apartment.

This writing desk from Horchow is not only beautiful, but impeccably designed for a modern lifestyle with storage and easy to use with a computer or laptop.

This glass topped, X-based table fits right in to this glamorous interior by Nate Berkus.

The view from this desk would pretty much guarantee that you might not get much work done. I've always loved this relaxing looking office by Todd Romano.

Need a small one because you live in a small space? This cute rattan one looks like it belongs in a beach house. From Pottery Barn HERE.

This eclectic look is from Living Etc. I love the simplicity of the table itself, the books, and the Mac!

I hate tables with fabric over them but this is by Miles Redd, so I'll let it slide. This time. Anyway, this is a really interesting place for a desk or work area; at the end of the bed.

Joe Nye sucked me in with his glam hot animal prints and the light mocha color of the walls but the writing table by the window is gorgeous too.

I think an upright desk or secretary is wonderful. There is room for a lot of storage, and they are beautiful in their form--if you have a nice looking one. The writing table leaves most things out in the open so I think the simpler the better. I probably have too many objects and notepads on mine, but I don't have much room for storage period so BACK OFF. Anyway, which do you prefer? Desk or writing table?


Alicia B.

Before and After: Master Bedroom

SO, I promised you a "before and after" MONTHS ago for some work I did for a client in their master bedroom. They moved to their current house about five years ago and took all their drapery with them. In their new master bedroom though, they needed a change. They told me that they wanted a more romantic/glamorous feel to the room and less of a country look. Let me tell you what we did!

This is the original fabric which was a gorgeous chintz, but looked faded and super washed out in their room with pale pink walls. The room is bathed in light all day long as they have windows on three sides of they room so they needed something to take on the light.

The drapery looks plain and is too short. I thought it should fall all the way to the floor.

I showed them a lot of fabrics, but we ended up choosing a gorgeous pink silk taffeta from J. Robert Scott.

These clients can be a bit stubborn when it comes to change (Don't worry, they know!). I convinced them to switch out their sweet country white drapery rods with these more glamorous antique brass rods from Restoration Hardware.

DRUM ROLL.........

Two of the windows flank the bed. As you can see this couple has traditional and incredibly sophisticated taste. They have many antiques as well which only look more beautiful with the pink silk drapery.

Now the drapery reaches the floor and looks incredible, if I may say so myself.

This is the husband's night stand. He has an amazing library and books are nearly EVERYWHERE in this couple's home.

This is the view from the far side of the room.

This is the wife's nightstand. They have grown up children so I placed one of the many picture frames they have in their home on the nightstand.

Here is a close up shot of this beautiful fabric and brass hardware.

The pink drapery only makes the soft pink painted walls look more romantic and really unify the room. After the installation, it actually felt like the room got bigger!

What do you guys think?? The couple is quite easy to work with and are very receptive to my ideas. Currently I am helping them with the wallpaper in their master bathroom! They have just selected the paper, so stick around and see THAT before and after. I can't wait to show you!



Alicia B.

Friday Faves

Remember when I said that I was going to embrace the snow, and the cold? Well, now I'm over it. I've had a tiny taste of warmth (yesterday) and I want more. I NEED Spring. I need flowers, I need little grass patches trying to grow on the streets of New York, and I need warmer temperatures. Too soon for flip flops? Probably, but you know what I mean. It's Friday and the temperatures are climbing, say the weather people.

From Eastridge Design, I love the light in this kitchen. It looks like a kitchen you could really work in, and enjoy the garden or terrace to the right. I'd love to start spending more time outside if the warm weather ever comes back!

This adorable pink knob is from Anthropology and makes me REALLY want Spring. Pink Poppy Knob only $8. Did anyone else get the new Anthropology catalog? I love all the flowery skirts and dresses; they're so girly.

To continue my obsession with Greek key, here is a lovely light room with a fresh Greek key upholstered headboard. Via Haven and Home.

Like I said before, this weekend will be all about squash. I'm so excited to be back in the mix of competitive squash to cheer on my STAR sister. Both my sisters are stars, but I'll spare you my gushing of how awesome they are. For now. Plans for the weekend? Spring shopping? Tell me everything.


Alicia B.

What a racquet.

This weekend is going to be all about squash. I'm going to see my sister play her last squash matches of her CAREER before she retires as a college squash player. I played squash in college but wasn't nearly as good as my sister, but I love the game and the competition. How does this relate to interior design you ask? Well a lot of times people incorporate their hobbies into their designs. Tennis, squash, and even ping pong racquets can be used in design.

From Live Well Designs, Kyle Shuneman put antique tennis racquets above this bed. I like the way this looks with them alternating. In a close up though you can see that the strings have been replaced with mirrors. I don't' know if I LOVE that idea but I'll take it.

Jonathan Adler has created these fun geometric racquet covers in his Spring collection. I really would love one... Via Style Beat.

This room is full of fun classic sports equipment: croquet in the basket on the left, and the two antique racquets pointing towards the lovely glass cabinet. Suzanne Kasler via willow decor. I love everything in this room and I wish I could see more of those throw blankets flanking the patchwork rug.

You can customize a rug to have cute crossed racquet design like this one! This rug is in the Racquet Club of Philadelphia via THIS blog.

This design is totally plain Jane and I'm not happy with it BUT, I like the idea of hanging these racquets in somewhere utilitarian like a kitchen. This breakfast nooks seriously needs my help though. Via M English Design.

From Country Living, this DIY project is a project in which you place an oval cut mirror over the strings in each of these antique racquets.

Interested in buying your own antique racquets? I found some great ones on Etsy! HERE is a pretty one with a wooden frame! I bet there are some on Ebay as well. Just for the record I'm not a preppy obsessed designer. I don't have crossed racquets over my bed, they're in my parents' basement, okay??!! Decorating with object from a hobby though can be fun. Care to share? Also, GOOD LUCK to my sister! I don't' want to brag but, she's awesome at squash.


Alicia B.

Preppies like to Go Green too!

My family has been recycling since the second grade when our town issued everyone recycling bins and taught us about #6 plastics. My mother has had a compost pile in our garden for even longer. The latest (not really that new though) way of being green is to bring your own bag to the grocery store so as not to use too many plastic or paper bags. Most stores don't even offer paper bags anymore. I'd LOVE to take part in this but every time I see one of those bags I think..."I'd rather not." It brings to mind something like the below bag. Really?? Ew.

BUT THEN. When I saw THESE at Lilly Pulitzer, I thought..."I'll take it!"It says, "Lilly Loves Green." Creme Fraiche Grocery bag.

This one is called "Queen of Green."

These bags aren't very expensive (only $9.95!) and they're made of recycled materials. They're happy and bright and the perfect GREEN accessory for spring. Read more about Lilly Loves Green HERE. "Green" certainly isn't a trend, or some kind of extreme lifestyle, it should just be a routine. A cute bright one, now!


Alicia B.