Zebra but Faded.

I've always loved animal print, especially zebra. Lately I've been seeing zebra, but a different kind of zebra. It's a faded zebra. Is it an antique? Vintage? Whatever it may be, it's a toned down zebra print and I love it. That girl above--her amazing non-toned down zebra maxi is for sale on ideeli right now. Toned down or not, I'm into it. Let's check out some subdued animals, yes?

Hang on, let me catch my breath. This. bathroom. is. SO HOT. It's from the Southern Accents (TEAR) Riverdale Showhouse. The amount of drama that that wallpaper provides with so little color is incredible.

Patrice Cowan Bevans. We all know how much I hate skirting around tables (what are you hiding??) but if you're going to do it with this faded grey zebra print, I'll accept it.

This is from Eric Cohler's latest spread in Veranda. He is mixing a safari with hunting lodge look and I'm liking it. I love the structured pleating in that little armchair and how it works with the zebra pattern.

Betsy Burnham mixes different greys with the zebra print Travers fabric for the drapery, the grey desk chair and a greyish wood desk. This looks like a great place to do work.

Do you see what I mean? It may be a trend, but it's a great one. Animal prints are timeless, but I love a fresh new twist on a timeless classic, such as an animal pelt. Do ya'll like it? Are you over it? DON'T FORGET that 9 by Design premiers tonight at 11 (Why is it so late??), and Glee is back also! I'll miss it because I'll be in class but I KNOW it will be amazing. Have a fabulous Tuesday!!


Alicia B.

Friday Faves

This week has been AMAZING because the warm weather finally came--but now it's been quickly ripped away from me and I've been left with rain and 60 degree weather. I'm practically left shivering compared to the 91 degrees we had two days ago. Yeah, I like warm weather. I'm really ready for it. WELL. Enough about me, let's get to Friday Faves, yes?

In my previous post I wrote about Scott Sanders' new book, Picture Perfect. This living room in a beach house is so full of color and life (from his website). I love the bright turquoise and the wall paper in the far room.

Lately I've been doing a lot of sewing (b/c i love to) and making pillows out of all the fabrics I have. I made this pillow a few nights ago from Lee Jofa fabric I believe. It is a gorgeous ikat and I backed it with a dark elephant grey linen. Right now it's $45, but when I put it up on my website it will be $52 so email me (aliciabdesigns at gmail dot com) if you're into it.

Whilst looking for some more inspiration fro my yellow dresser, I came across this great bedroom in Country Living. I think this really seals the deal with yellow and blue--they just look great together.

I'm off on a hot date tonight (with the bf) to Atlantic Grill- I'm pretty jazzed. I'm also working on a framed map sort of project which I'll let you know more about later! What are you all up to this weekend? Hopefully I'll get to spend some time outside if the rain holds off. Have a great weekend everyone!

Alicia B.

Picture Perfect by Scott Sanders

Last night I ventured down to Chelsea to a book signing for Scott Sanders's new book, Picture Perfect. If you haven't seen it yet, it's a must-buy. After accidentally chugging what I thought was juice and really turned out to be a VERY strong cocktail, the book signing party was really fun. It took place in a gallery and the walls were covered with Scott's drawings of houses and floor plans. The drawings were so inspiring, as is the book. Here are some of his breathtaking interiors.

The book tells of his childhood in Ohio and how he grew up completely obsessed with drawing houses and interiors.

I found it so inspiring that he knew on some level that he wanted to be a designer. Meanwhile my two options for what I wanted to be when I grew up were a) an artist which is definitely in line with what I do now, and b) a fairy. Yeah, that's not going to happen.

In the book, you are taken through a creative journey of Scott Sanders's design process; start to finish. The house in the book is inCREDible and there are many many blue and white rooms.

I LOVE this yellow toile room. The bedspread, the lampshade, the wallpaper, and the drapery is all the same sunny yellow toile pattern.

You might say, "Wow, this looks very Ralph Lauren." about this sitting room. Well, Scott began his career doing interior design with Ralph Lauren and was clearly influenced.

Check out Scott's website and you MUST pick up a copy of his spectacular new book. The book is Picture Perfect and you can purchase it HERE--I suggest you do so immediately. I wonder if I looked through drawings I did when I was younger, if they would be of interiors and houses like Scott, but I'm thinking they might just be of fairies and kittens. JUST a hunch.


Alicia B.

Yellow Painted Love.

If you read this blog on a regular basis you know some things about me: I love the color yellow, and I have a fondness for painted furniture. Most of the furniture in my apartment is painted--mostly just greens or one piece is blue. I have decided that I'm tired of my blue dresser in particular and decided to paint it yellow. Here is a little yellow painted inspo I've come across.

Martha Stewart offers a really helpful tutorial on painted furniture. I love how she used an accent yellow color on the trims and drawer pulls.

I love the color combination of blue and yellow which works well because my walls are painted blue. This relaxed looking living room is by Lynn Morgan. Doesn't this table look like an Oomph table? They should do a sunshine yellow color.

I love the pretty textiles in this room; the carpet, the suzani quilt, and the scroll upholstered headboard. The texture continues in the matching night stands in a mustard/gold tone of yellow. From House Beautiful designed by Johnathan Berger.

This room is the epitome of sunshine; designed by Eddie Ross. I'd love to know what paint color Eddie chose...

Okay, so now back to me. Here is my dresser which is a distressed blue finish:

Here it is after I re-organized the surface of it with all my make up (what make up?) and jewelry. See what I mean with the competing blues? It's time for a change.


These are the paint colors I'm choosing between and I'd like your opinions also.

Haystack by Martha Stewart Paint from Home Depot. My apologies but imagine this a little bit more on the lemon side of yellow.

Sunbeam by Glidden. Not quite this intense in person.

Golden Honey by Benjamin Moore

So far, my head says Sunbeam by Glidden but my heart says Haystack by Martha. What do you guys think? This project probably won't be finished for about 2 weeks so I'm going to need a decision right away. My plan for the knobs are a turquoise knob from Anthropologie I believe. Don't you worry, I'll give constant updates. Thoughts??

Alicia B.

Putting all your eggs in one basket.

Eddie Ross put all these pretty country eggs in a wire basket. I love the different colors these eggs can be without dying them.

People warn against doing that but really it can be quite beautiful! Clearly I'm on an easter high even though its not quite here yet, but I'm decorating eggs so i can't stop thinking about how beautiful they can be all together! In one basket!

What would a holiday--or even HALF a day--be without Martha Stewart? This looks like a fun project with little fern leaves silhouetted onto these little Easter eggs. I think I'll try this one this year.

I love these wire baskets and egg holders. I think this is from Country Living. OOO Jelly beans!

Pottery Barn wanted to get in on the Easter madness as well with this cute egg holder. Well played Pottery Barn.

This is a fun little project you can do with those commercial Cadbury eggs. If you put them all in a pretty box with some Spring flowers, look how gourmet they appear! From Country Living.

Whatever you're doing today, walking through the park in this amazing weather, dying eggs and getting your fingers pink and yellow like mine, or hanging out with friends, have a great day. Happy Easter everyone!!


Alicia B.

Easter Interiors

Easter is only three days away and am definitely ready for some jelly beans. I love Easter for many reasons but I really love the pretty pastel colors. Purples, greens, pinks, and yellow are a nice harbinger of Spring and warm weather. These interiors are like beautiful pastel Easter eggs.

I don't wanna brag but I have this rug in my bedroom. Its so cute but a little bit softer than the one above because it's faded. I'm a huge fan of painted furniture so I pretty much can't find anything I don't love about this S. R. Gambrel room--except that I'm not in it.

How great are these shades of blue and green. Like a vibrant robin's egg and a faded celery. The light in this bedroom is generous--designed by Phoebe Howard.

One of my favorite parts of Easter is when they show the local news reports of farms giving away little yellow chicks on Easter. They are so so cute but I'm definitely not allowed to bring home more baby chicks (Long story short we thought it was a hen, it grew up to be a rooster. Not a pretty scene). Anyway, this yellow wall and then the strategically placed Hunters are the perfect dose of yellow. From Country Living.

I wish I could get this color of seafoam green on my eggs when I dye them. This bathroom is simple but has so much going on and so much to look at. Designed by Kerry Joyce.

Perfect beach colors: sand and sky. This living room of a beach house from House Beautiful.

I think the color green is really growing on me. It is a color that reminds me of nature and plants so can be really fresh but also gives a feeling of coziness. I love this little bedroom from Coastal Living.

Yellow is really one of my favorite colors. I adore this little breakfast nook with yellows and whites and the organic elements like the faux bamboo chairs and the flowery chandelier. I will be doing a little DIY project involving yellow next week so GET JAZZED. This yellow gorgeousness is by Celerie Kemble.

I'd never put a shag carpet in any interior but I love the blue stripes running up the wall and the ceiling. I'd also love to have double doors leading to a terrace. So rip out the shag carpet and switch out the bed frame to a white painted country style frame and I'm there. By Betsy Burnham.

Don't you just love pastel rooms? I'm sure even if you're not a celebrator of Easter, the colors and the spring feeling, yes? I'm now at home in CT and I've been instructed that I must dye all the eggs, but I'll be helped when the boyfriend joins us tomorrow. My sisters are also dying eggs in Chicago and carrying out the silent competition of who can dye the best (funniest, too. I know, we're wild!) eggs. What are your Easter Plans? Non-Easter/just a gorgeous weekend plans? Tell me!


Alicia B.