Waiting for the other shoe to drop...

I mean that in a hopeful way, not a sad way. I'm literally waiting for some shoes to drop out of the sky and land on my feet. As you know, I'm getting married in August and I've been busy looking for shoes, the dress (found it a long time ago), the perfect invitations, the list goes on and on. I've been absolutely loving the shoes though. Wedding shoes can be SO much fun and also very extravagant looking. While I'm mostly a ballet flats kind of girl lately (b/c I have 80 year old knees), I'm gearing up to wear some 3 inch heels on my (OUR) big day.

These, from Kate Spade are SO gorgeous. They are perfectly appropriate but with a little bit of bling on the heal. It's like a little surprise at the end--love it.

I'd prefer some color underneath my white dress. These would be perfect. Kate Spade.

Pom Poms? Don't mind if I do. I DO. These are from Anthropologie's Wedding line BHLDN. They have the most beautiful designs. Found via this amazing new blog!

I'm obsessed with these. The pattern on them is like mini confetti and with a huge pink flower to top it off, it's like a party on a shoe. Also BHLDN.

AND of course we need some sparkle. I love the tailored bow on the peep toe. BHLDN

I'm usually a low maintenance girl (don't laugh), but when these shoes are flashed in my face, I go a little bit crazy. I love how much fun you can have with a wedding shoe and I know that I def want some color on mine. Kate Spade also come out with a whole wedding line, much to my intense glee. It's literally the cutest place on the internet. Does anybody have any ideas for other places that sell fun wedding shoes? I mean OBVI Christian Louboutin, but this girl can't wear 4" heels. Thoughts?

Alicia B.

Kitchen Moment: Terracotta Style

HERE.

I've been helping a friend out with her new home in Philly and shes asked me to help her pick paint colors in a few rooms. The first one was her kitchen, which had red walls and a terracotta tile floor. The red walls MUST go and I recommend pure creamy white walls in her kitchen. While I'm naturally drawn to wide plank flooring, you have to play the cards you were dealt, right? Only kidding, the kitchen is going to look amazing. Take a look at some kitchens I found as inspiration with creamy white painted walls and terracotta floors.

The uneven tile floor and the and artwork on the wall (kind of 6 months ago) create a bit of character in this kitchen. I do love the scale of this kitchen though.

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These red terracotta tiles are not your run of the mill squares are they? No. They are a rich red with a black tile surrounding the island. I like the contrast of the red and the clean white.

This is my favorite (from Elle Decor). I'm obsessed with the French bistro chairs and the polished look of the tiles.

This is a little something different, yes? Brick flooring with white paint and white cabinetry makes this kitchen look traditional but contemporary. From this gorgeous blogger.

You want your kitchen to look clean above all else. The red walls seem like an attempt at the "Tuscan" look from 1997 and they should def go. My friend is traditional, but shes also 27 and needs a great place to cook, entertain friends and be 27 with her husband. How do you all feel about the terracotta tiles? I like the look, because it reminds me of an open kitchen in France or Italy.

Alicia B.

Luckiest Blogger Ever

I came home last night from a double date (yeah we do those) and decided to check my mail and to my immense surprise I had a package from Denver. I thought...I don't know anybody in Denver and HOW do they know to call me Lish (ya know, short for Alicia)?? WELL Ms Raina from The Hilarious Lampshade was generous enough to send me this (from her article on Curbed):

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???

It's Diane! My idol, on the cover of Newsweek from 1976, will be taken to a framer and air-seal protected and displayed somewhere to inspire me in my apartment at all times. Thanks Raina, you are MUCH too good to me--I'm a very spoiled little blogger. Happy Monday Everyone!


Alicia B.

I need a little Springtime.

It's 31 degrees here in NYC and I've had it up to here (picture my hand held shrilly above my head) with this cold weather. I'm ready for spring, warm weather, and being outside more. Let's enjoy some spring images to counteract these pathetic cold weather shenanigans.

Savannah Style by Paula Deen is a tremendous book (given to me by my gorgeous younger sister) and has amazing images delivered by Paula and her super cute son. I'd love to have a yum meal at this cute table out on the lawn.

CANNOT WAIT for spring clothing to arrive in my closet. I love this straw bag from J. Crew.

Yellow and blue is one of my favorite color combos. It's like feeling, yet classic. Same with a sweet breakfast room like this one by Palmer Weiss.

Nothing says warm weather like a house on the water. Love the relaxed look of this living room and the exposed beams. Nate Berkus.

Who took this picture of a beautiful Park Avenue Daffodil? OH, I did.

Do you think that if we keep posting images of spring, that it will come sooner? I think so. Maybe if i start shopping for spring clothing it will warm up, too. SHOPPING.


Alicia B.

Dining Room Design

A client of mine for whom I do small jobs in the suburbs of CT has asked me to help her choose fabric for a set of gorgeous dining chairs that she acquired. The dining room is a bisque color right and sits between the kitchen and the living room with views of both from both. They are a young couple with a baby on the way so I have many things to take into account; budget, frequency of use, and the baby (!!!!). Since they are young but have a traditional style, I'd love to bring in a colored geometric pattern. The room really has no color and of course I think it should have some to bring life to the space.

Tobi Fairley has a great eye for beautiful geometrics and I think this one is a perfect mix of subtlety and fun. Its a great fabric, but doesn't take away from the star in the room: the turquoise bead chandelier.

LOVE this blue lattice pattern; it looks like an enlarged caning pattern on a chair. From Elements of Style blog.

John Robshaw's dining room is of course full of pattern and soft colors but I love this chair pattern. It's youthful and sophisticated. From Lonny.

OBSESSED with this space. If you're into geometry (not in life, but in interiors, like I am), this room is perfection. The soft green diamond pattern fabric on the chairs is very pretty and a nice detail in this room. Home and Garden UK.

This is more on the traditional side, by Michael Smith, but still quite pretty. I love toile but wouldn't want to make their house feel too French Country. Elle Decorsies.

Can you guess who designed this room? That's right, Jamie Drake. I'd love to do a different fabric on the back of the chair like this because it's just SO much fun but my client's chairs don't have upholstered backs. NO biggie though, it'll be plenty fun.

I have some samples on their way to me in the next few days, so I'll keep you updated on the progress. Weigh in on your faves?? I'm really excited to be working with this client (all my clients are awesome) on this small project. If I can add more color or pattern to someone's life, I'm happy.

Alicia B.

Bird Watching

In my new place of work, we frequently have vendors come to present new products. In the last week we had Osborne and Little show their new wallpapers and fabrics, and while everything (really almost everything) was so gorgeous, this wallpaper caught my attention. I'm not usually a bird person but I believe I have been swayed. Sometimes they can be scary and weird but I think I'm really loving them. They range from some with just birds, to others with a chinoiserie feel to them with a bird scene.

Here is the Osborne & Little wallpaper I mentioned earlier, named Laguna. I think these birds (technically storks) are just gorgeous--and this comes in other colorways as well. Perfect for a bathroom or power room.

These are becoming a little bit kitsch, don't you think? Still sort of cute though...

I've always loved this room and the bird wallpaper adds a lot of depth and whimsy to the room. There is even a cute little bird perched on the stool at the foot of the bed. Miles Redd.

Here is a detail of this gorgeous wallpaper with birds in the scenery. It's a quite intricate pattern with beautiful details. I love the orange coral of the chair next to this wallpaper. By Suzanne Tucker.

This wallpaper with an ostrich sticking its head in the sand is JUST adorable. I saw this in Lonny; designed by Lonny Founder, Michelle Adams. This room feels very open and light because of the pops of yellow and the very large print wall paper.

Meg Braff is designing wallpaper as well. Among many beautiful designs, I found this one called Tumtin. It's a very fun pretty design and I can't wait to see it used in a room.

Where do you all stand on bird wallpaper? At first it reminded me of my grandmother who loves ANYTHING having to do with a bird (so cute), but as I was looking I think they're quite charming. There are so many different ways you can go with the motif. The classic Chinoiserie, the very graphic single bird on a white background, or somewhere in between. So, birds. Scary or awesome?

Alicia B.