Glittery Stuff

Have you ever seen a brass kitchen?  Probably not.  This one took my breath away by Kelly Wearstler. 

So I'm obsessed with two things right now (besides my new job and my husband)--metallics and animal prints. I know metallics and things that glitter are taboo for the preppy girl but a girl needs sparkly stuff, right?  YES. 

A great spot to do something dramatically metallic is a powder room.  This fish scale wallpaper  is stunning and sparkly. 

I've been long obsessed with Porter Teleo fabrics and wallpapers so I am naturally loving this silver  animal print one.

Can you find the sparkle in this room?  A gold accent on something organic like a tree stump is the perfect mix.  Could also be a really cool DIY project.   By Joe Lucas from Lonny Mag. 

I'd love to make some fun throw pillows from this Gretchen Bellinger fabric.  

Alex Papachristidis always delivers a lot of glamour--dramatic brass and silver accents on the furniture and the table lamps. 

Diane Von Furstenberg loves a little sparkle.  This Piaza Dress with sequins on it would be a great winter cocktail dress.  Nice gloves too. 

And finally, here's a little picture of how i'm adding a little glitter into my life.   Penny Talk from Essie is my new color for the week!  

Anyone else out there adding some sparkle to their life?  Your house?  A client of mine just bought the Serena and Lily Metallic Suede and Hemp Rug.  It's SO pretty and adds just the right amount of glamour to her sweet apartment.  

Alicia B. 

Fabric Obsession of the Day

Lately I've been super into animal prints.  This includes, leopard, cheetah, zebra, and feather patterns and is not limited to just fabrics but to clothing as well.  More on this later because all I want to do is show you the fabric I want.

SIDENOTE: I want this dress so badly too but they are all sold out except for size 14--if you're a 14, go buy this dress for me.  Ann Taylor HERE.  

Off-White Castle Studios
Mur Des Raisins.
Obsessed. 

Anyway, I spotted this fabric at my favorite showroom, Holland and Sherry and I want to use it!  I want to do an entire chair in this fabric, OR I'd upholster the walls of a powder room with it.  OR a throw pillow?  I know, it has purple in it and we all know how I feel about purple but it also has blue and pink in it.  Case closed, it's amazing.  That's all.

Alicia B. 

Mirror Mirror on the Bed

Mario Buatta.  The bedding is better than anything ever but what a gorgeous bed. 

I've never been a huge fan of mirrored furniture, but I've learned that they have a time and a place--not like this.  A mirrored buffet in a dining room can take up less visual space while holding a lot of storage.  I was inspired to find some mirrored beds when I saw this article in the Wall Street Journal about designers being inspired by one another.  Hard hitting.  Intense.  

This is a fun modern mirrored bed.  I love that lamp though on the nightstand. 

This one might be a wee bit too much for me in terms of mirror but I appreciate the fun pink walls and the glam direction its taking. 

Bunny Williams.  A neutral room with a little bit of sparkle from the mirror and a drop dead amazing headboard is a yes for me.

Another mirror valenced bed by Jonathan Berger.  I love how the top side of this is upholstered...amazing and stripey.

Most of these have been pretty neutral and the same goes for this.  I suppose when you have a statement bed like this you need to let it speak for itself.  Another Bunny Williams. 

A huge headboard and a fur throw?  So glam, Miles Redd.

Remember when I did a blog about mural wallpaper?  Well here is some more PLUS a mirrored bed--this one has such modern lines that it could be a nickel bed frame.  From Elle Decor.

How are we feeling about mirrored furniture?  Scared like I was?  Feelin' it?  Do you just look for another chance to see your reflection in something like I do?  Just kidding, I don't do that.  I just blog and look at fabric.  And love Bunny Williams, clearly.

Alicia B.

HomeMint...Wait...What?!

Am I the last to know about this or did it just slip past everyone else's radar?  Justin Timberlake has expanded beyond music, being a "restauranteur" and is now trying to decorate every one's homes?!  I can't tell if he's super jazzed about it or laughing in every one's faces.  Be that as it may, let's talk about HomeMint.  

First you get on there (click HERE for my invite), create your own personal style profile based on a few pictures of an ideal dinner party (duh), and Justin and Estee will choose things that they think you might like for you!  SO EASY!  I chose the one above because I'm just that kind of girl.

Here is another question--are you kidding me?  WOW.  Estee Stanley was Justin's designer back in what he describes as his "glory days."  What is he talking about--he's still in his glory days!!

There is a lo-o-o-o-t of crap like THIS but also some fun rugs for super cheap like above. You've seen this rug before, comes in lots of colors.  

This is another accessory that I deemed acceptable enough to put up.  It's a lantern! 

As we all know, I'm pretty on board with rope accessories and so is Justin!  Good move JT.

A throw!  $70 for members only.

Yeah so that's pretty much all I could find that I liked.  After I took the survey, Justin advised that I'm "the artist".  It means I love color and a great vintage fine.  Oh Justin, you know me so well, you're so perceptive.  Have you guys seen this?  I wonder if HomeMint will let me do a giveaway--right?  I'd love to just do a whole style overhaul on this bad boy instead though.  Good thing he's pretty.

Alicia B.

Rope me in

Want these?  Get at me and I'll get them for you.  

As you know I love nautical design--I love a good anchor motif and I've been seeing lots of rope everywhere.  Rope is the ultimate nautical motif; knots, rope wrapped lamps and tables.  I'm seeing it everywhere and loving it.  The texture is forgiving and rustic.

South of Market side table.  SO chunky!

This bench is from Shades of Light and super affordable!  Under $1000!  Am I jaded?

1st Dibs whimsical rope sconces.  Vintage rope lights are usually from the 60's.

Vintage Rope lamps from 1st Dibs.  Fabulous.

Don't want vintage?  This Arteriors lamp is super affordable too and great for a kid's room or costal living room.

Ro Sham Beaux Rope wrapped lantern.  Obsessed. 

The sink is a little weird here but I love the rope wrapped mirrors.    Want a rope wrapped mirror?  Email me at aliciabdesigns@gmail.com  Image: Brown Contracting on Houzz.

Sailing motif!!  I'm not only obsessed with rope wrapped furniture but I love the idea of using rope as the stair balusters attached with a cleat. From Houzz as well.

Nicole Hollis used rope to wrap the balusters of the stairs.  Rope and a glue gun is really all you need.  

Instead of having regular hardware you can make huge knots as the drawer pulls and knobs on the doors.  It sure adds a more relaxed look to this hard edged but beautiful bathroom.  SB Architects. 

This may be the coolest chair I've ever seen.   Its in the Holly Hunt Showroom.   

Well it's clear that I love this rope wrapped trend.  You could even take something with an awful finish and DIY wrap that sucker and have a completely new looking piece.  So now. Like it and want it?  Contact me and I can lead you to it.  What do you guys think?  Weird or lovely?


Alicia B. 

Alicia B's Style: The Lilly Fall Collection!

Clearly, I don't talk about fashion very much and to tell you the truth I'm not much of a "fashionista".  I have my own personal style and I know what looks good on me.  I dress preppy for the most part and shop at J. Crew, Kate Spade, and Lilly Pulitzer.  When you think Lilly, you usually think bright pink and green summer frocks, right?  Yes.  I just got the Lilly fall catalog and saw so many cute things!  Check out my future preppy wardrobe:

This striped Elsa top looks super comfy.

This black lacey skirt is super fancy and so elegant.  The Hyacinth skirt.

OH look!  Polka dots!  Laney Dress.  Want.

A good old fashioned pants suit.  This is preptasticly fabulous.

This is pure perfection for fall.  Jonah Dress

I LOVE sweater dresses.  So cozy and would looks great with some brown boots.  Cas(ual).

And don't forget about jewelry.  This button necklace is cute as a bug's ear.  Bet you thought I'd say button, huh?

I always love Lilly's fun and happy designs but what do you think?  I think i'm mostly drawn to the navy blue combinations with pink and green.  I'm hoping to maybe get one of these dresses at the Greenwich Lilly store some evening after work.  Probably the sweater dress.  It's the most ME out of all of them...actually they're all me.  Who wants to go on a shopping spree for me?  Check out the rest of the line HERE.

Alicia B.