Not enough room for a tree?

If you're like I am, and live in shoebox apartment, sometimes a Christmas tree can be a bit overbearing. Last year I got a mini tree but this year I'm really loving Poinsettias. I think they are the perfect alternative and a nice one is only about $10-15 !

From Homes and Gardens UK (best magazine ever), branches and poinsettias are put in this beautiful pottery vase. This looks so simple yet creates such a beautiful effect with the contrast of white and red.

Martha Stewart was inspired by poinsettias and fashioned a beautiful wreath out of ribbons made to look like flowers. To attempt this insanely involved how-to, go HERE.

Lauren Liess of Pure Style Home put a small white poinsettia in an antique trophy on to of her mantle. She has many more adorable Christmas decorations--take a look at them HERE. Her house is beautiful.

Oh look, a white Christmas. Or ivory/silver. I don't recommend getting a metallic tree but I love the idea of different white and metal tones here. Is that little pot mercury or pottery? From Country Living.

Fellow blogger, Aesthetic Oiseau shows off her adorable tree and instead of putting a star (or an ill fitting Santa with Rudolf) on top, she put a poinsettia! It's basically perfect in my book.

From Country Living, they put these poinsettias in silver urns and added some decoration underneath the console table. True, they had room for a big tree and branches in a vase, but whatevs, nobody's perfect.

If you're like I am and live in shoebox apartment, sometimes a Christmas tree can be a bit overbearing. Last year I got a mini tree but this year I'm really loving poinsettias. I think they are the perfect alternative and a nice one is only about $10-15 ! Side question: How many of you pronounce it "poinsettEEA"? Anyone? Do you have poinsettias in your home this year?

Holiday Gift Guide 2010 Alicia B. Style

These polka dotted ceramic trays ($48) from Apartment 48 would make the perfect gift. Apartment 48 has the most amazing gifts--visit their store in Manhattan if you have the time. They have amazing horn accessories!

Every year now all the bloggers come out with "Gift Guides" for Christmas, Hanukkah or other holiday events, which are basically all about, "look at me and what great taste I have!" Right? Well, now its my turn. I'm not going to suggest to you where to find ANOTHER ikat pillow, or a sparkly clutch, because the answer is Pottery barn, and J Crew. Or Etsy and Etsy. I have fun ideas and a little bit unusual taste. Here is what I want if I could buy it all for myself.

Stationary is always a hit. I love this one with the Florentine paper envelope liner. One Kings Lane has TONS of great gift options--cashmere throws, beautiful candles, and cards!

Ask yourself (literally, out loud), who wouldn't LOVE an oversized acorn? It would make the perfect coffee table accessory or bookcase display objet. This is from my new favorite store that I discovered down in Tribeca around the corner from where I work, Just Scandinavian.

I'm pretty standard when it comes to jewelry, and I should really jazz it up with some costume pieces. This Zebra ring for only $38 is designed by Rachel Roy my old roommate's designer flavor of the month.

Another great gift that rarely gets re-gifted are tea towels! How cute and Scandinavian is this one with fish on it?! Find it HERE at Just Scandinavian.

I'm really into these little bouquet necklaces. This one is from Boden: Boden Corsage Necklace for $64.

Have you checked out the Kate Spade Home section lately? Do so immediately. These plates, designed by Bella Foster for KS are just adorable and they have a corresponding hors d'oeuvres plate.


Scarves are fun all year round, so this is really the perfect gift for anybody (or me). This Lilly Pulitzer Murfee scarf is $118.

My fiance has been gabbing about how much I would love this book that I'm wondering why he hasn't bought it for me yet. Syrie Maugham has so much style its amazing that they were able to put it in a book. I will have this book, thanks!

I'm the middle in our family, so this wine label "Middle Sister Wines" really spoke to me. They're based in California and have such a cute concept. I gave a few bottles to my older sister for her birthday this past year! Wine is ALWAYS (almost) the perfect gift.

So if you're looking for a gift for pretty much anybody, take your pick from the choices above! I'm super behind this year on my gifts. Life gets hectic but you always have to be thinking of others at this time of year. The time for giving. Anyway, no ikat pillows or sequin clutches here although those are great gifts too! You can fine some cute pillows at MY store, as well. How about you all? Are you behind like I am?

Alicia B.

Kate and Will Change The World...

...of interior design. Ever since Prince William and Kate Middleton got engaged (and stole our thunder.), there has been SUCH a buzz about sapphires. I suppose when the most influential people in the world get engaged with a 1000 carat sapphire, it will come into fashion in a very big way. I love Kate's style as well as her ring--she always has cute dresses and hats. I read an article that said that sapphire blue interiors would be everywhere for the next few years. I'm on board.

We could all do with a few more hats like these, right?

A wonderfully organized office. I love that pillow on the chair and I can't wait until the day that I have rolls of in a woven basket in my office. Homes and Gardens UK.

J. Crew. SUCH a pretty and simple dress. This is a great shade of blue and this dress looks so comfortable, too!

Eddie Ross designed this room with toile panels and this lovely fabric on the bed--love it.

Silk embroidered linen fabric by my favorite company, Vaughan!

SUCH elegant interiors by Mary McDonald. Blue and white interiors are incredibly timeless.

Here is a more mod-squad interior from Elle Decor with a deep blue striped floor--quite fun! I wish I could see more of that bed, it looks bright.

Okay so let's face it, blue is timeless no matter what shade it is. Will Kate and Will change a lot? Yes. I hope so. I do love that deep sapphire blue color--I hope that there are tons of shades of it everywhere in fashion, fabric, and design (you know, more than usual!).

Alicia B.

Branca-Perfect for the Holidays

Wondering what I was up to in Chicago last week? I know. I've been super busy (wedding planning!!) but I took time to visit the Branca store in Chicago which was absolutely incredible. I've wanted to see the store ever since it opened and now my dreams have come true! My mother and I braved the freezing cold weather and warmed up in the store.

This is the most beautiful fabric on the wall, is it not? (Don't say no.) On the lower floor of this three floor store in a townhouse, this was my favorite element. It made the store so warm and cozy, yet still incredibly elegant. What a great project too--plaid mats around some prints would really winterize your apartment!

This shot is for those of you that love foo dogs. I'm not a foo dog lover, I have to admit.


I love this eclectic cabinet with tons of Branca accessories and nothing gets my design heart (which is my real heart anyway) pumping like chicken wire in cabinets.

Horn and shell accessories are everywhere this season. I want all of it. Also I love this mushroom plate is astonishingly adorable.

Red is everywhere in this store and I love it! Horn and shell is everywhere but also feathers. Feather pillows, lampshades and wall decor.

Another feather pillow! Also I can't get enough plaid this season.

Plaid, exposed nail heads, a giant flower/feather pillow, fabric on the walls, and a cane backed chair. What more could you ask for?

The woman working there was incredibly enthusiastic and told us about a Carolyne Roehm party that they were hosting that week, which made me which I lived in Chicago (then I stepped outside and froze my face off). Anyway, I already have Alessandra Branca's book but would love just about anything from the store. You can now shop online which is AMAZING. Have any of you been to her store yet? Brave the cold and go for it!

Alicia B.

Winter Warmth Inspiration

Red is everywhere in this living room from H&G.

Since the weather has turned cold (especially if you're in Chicago right now as I am), I've been very much inspired by warm cozy fall colored interiors. Plaids, reds, oranges, and mustard yellows have been making me feel very warm though I am shivering at the thought of going outside. Snuggle in and enjoy!

Nothing says warmth like animal prints (and fur). I love the feeling of enclosure in this room--time to settle in with my favorite design books and shelter mags...

The fire is lit and those two chairs look ready for some action. I love the rusty red of that rug with the woods in the room. By Eldon Wong.

I always equate Amanda Nisbet with bright and poppy colors and while this is still bright and poppy it feels warm and cozy. Her attention to little details like the backing of that slipper chair are genius.

I KNOW this is no NOT me, because let's be honest, it's all neutrals. Fur is practically my middle name though and I have a weakness for modern art like the painting over the long sofa. By Pamplemousse Design.

Summer Thornton, a Chicago Designer, adds a stunning blue and green tartan plaid to the dining arm chairs at either end of the table. All you need is the turkey and stuffing (and cranberries, mashed potatoes, more stuffing, and yams!).

You must take a look at Oscar de La Renta's fall fur runway collection. It's so gorgeous. I loved the purple paired with the salmony orange and the delicious fur.

Alessandra Branca is another Chicago designer (what an odd coincidence that I keep picking them while I'm here)! Gorgeous table setting and warm rusty red walls with a pop of geometric Greek Key pattern on the drapery. I might visit her store today!

I hope these have gotten you inspired too! As much as I would love to stay inside my sister's warm apartment today, I must attend to some Christmas shopping (Branca). Other small changes to make your home feel more cozy are tartan throw blankets on your sofas, fall/winter inspired table cloths, warm candles around a room, or changing the lampshade to a soft brown instead of a crisp white color. Have you done anything else to channel winter warmth?

Alicia B.

Time to be Thankful!

With Thanksgiving only 3 days away, I'd love to focus on everything that I'm thankful for. Health, family, and my all around awesome well being are the top things I'm happy that I have especially this time of year.
I'm super thankful for my blog. I'm really happy that I brought it back after a 6 month retirement. I've been getting such positive feedback too that it's definitively spurring me on! Also, my every expanding design business--e*design, photography, interior accessories. Thanks everybody.

I am really loving my new job as well. As much as I loved working in the D & D Building, it is thrilling to be working for an architect now! (No, I don't work for Frank Lloyd Wright but I AM making my way up to Oak Park today!!)

Online Design magazines like Rue, Lonny, Nesting Newbies, and High Gloss! I love all the new innovations in magazines and the level of creativity is astounding. High Gloss comes out in January and we are all eagerly anticipating its arrival...!

Glee. Yes, I love Glee. I'm not ashamed and it makes me ecstatic. Gwyneth Paltrow re-earned my respect in the latest episode. Check out whats playing on LOOP on my ipod HERE.

I'm very thankful for my friends--who are SO adorable and innocent and send me email saying "Have you seen this website--The Selby?!" HAHA Why yes, I think I might have heard of it. My friends are super supportive of pretty much everything in my life and I am thankful for that. (Group hug??)

Fabric. I'm working on a few throw pillows and new drapery for some clients and I'm LOST (not unhappy about it though) in a world of fabric swatches. Fabric is so much fun and you can do so much with it.

This is just a small smattering of what I am thankful for....AND...





As a side note (on the blog, not in my life), I'm thankful for my fiance! YES, I'm engaged!! The beau/love of my life proposed last Friday and we are SO so happy. You might see some fun wedding inspired posts as I'm planning it!

What are you thankful for?!!!


Alicia B.