Many A Change...

SO, I've been silent for a while.  WELL I've got some BIG TIME (for me) news!  My husband and I took a big leap and...we moved to the suburbs!  We finally bid adeiu to Manhattan after seven years and have a tiny place to call home.  Its not far from the big city but it makes my commute a HECK of a lot easier and I get to go crazy decorating!  We've been tres busy trying to get this place move in ready: painting, sanding, and overall making it fabulous.  Stay tuned for some fun decorating projects and big reveals/before and afters!  

Alicia B. 

How to Make 2013 better: Feng Shui it.

Welcome to 2013!  I don't like to make new years resolutions because usually people go for things like "lose weight" or "be better at blah blah" and it just implies that you don't like your 2012 self!  Anyway, if I were to make one it would be about de-cluttering.  I LOVE stuff and by accident buy a lot of stuff.  I definitely need to work on that, in a good way.  I was sent a book, "Feng Shui Your Life".  Normally I roll my eyes at Feng Shui, but after reading this book...I'm in.  

The book is by Jayme Barrett with a forward by Mary Sternburgen (my mom LOVES her and so do I) so already I'm intrigued.  The book is written for a normal person, not a person that wants to decode the Feng Shui language or lives in a spa.  For the person that wants a simple answer to, "How do I do Feng Shui?"

My favorite part is the part about de-cluttering.  It sounds easy but people (myself included), hang on to objects because they potentially have an emotional attachement to them or you might be saving it for later, whenever that is.  I think, as in with clothing, if you've hung onto it for 2 years or more without using it, looking at it, or wearing it, give it away.  

Like many of you, I had lots of misconceptions about Feng Shui.  For instance, you need to have a mirror in every room.  The "rules" are actually easy, make sure the mirror shows your whole body including above your head, make sure the mirror reflects something beautiful, not something unattractive, and do not place lots of objects in front of a mirror.  Again with the clutter.

Overall, I'm a convert.  I'm loving the book, consulting it often because it's easy to read, and trying new FS tips every day.  I got this book free (disclaimer) because I'm a lucky girl, but you can get it HERE.  Get at it, now.  BTW, all these images are from the book.  Amazing right?!


Alicia B. 

Christmas Stockings Before Thanksgiving

Faux fur fabulousness

This year I found my husband and me our first Christmas stockings as a married couple (even though this is our second Christmas married).  They are super cute and we bought them on Gilt.com but my search for a stocking has some ups and downs.  Here are the ups:

I love how this looks like a handmade embroidered piece and with a little sparkle to it, too!  This one will be mine.

This cutie cute one (sorry its so blursville) will be my husbands.  

This one if for your favorite friend who loves gnomes...I have one in mind. 

Love me some fur.  These white quilted ones are simple yet cute.  

This is QUITE nubbly and good if you're going for a bit more of a traditional look.  

Nothing gets me like a pom-pom.

Such a cute Christmas scene needlepointed on this stocking.  Plus you can monogram it.  

Speaking of monogramming...These are cute for a monochromatic christmas decor type of look.

I've seen a lot of my friends on Facebook who have already put up Christmas trees and I'm a little alarmed.  Don't get me wrong, I've been listening to Christmas carols for a good month at this point, but I feel like you should wait until after Thanksgiving...right?  So where do you all get your stockings?  Show me!!  All these adorsies stockings are on my Pinterest.  Hit it.

Alicia B. 

Roasting Chestnuts over Sandy's Fire

I consider myself extremely lucky to have not been effected by Hurricane Sandy.  We did not lose power, it barely rained, and there was no flooding.  The only thing I can't do, is get to work up in Connecticut because of the flooded tracks.  My little sister, however, is staying with us as she has been...displaced from her apartment down town.  I'm at home all day while my husband and sister go out and earn the bread up in this joint.  So today I slaved away and made roasted chestnuts...and apple pie for my hard little workers!!  Check out my chestnuts.  

I bought 2 pounds of these bad boys at Food Emporium.  

I got this awesome chestnut roasting pan from one of my best friends for my wedding.  I'm not sure why the holes are there but they must serve a purpose.  My mom said that she had a nightmare experience when she roasted chestnuts in a pan without holes.  

It's important to slice a line through each chestnut, though I'd slice an X so that they open easier.  

Be careful while slicing them.  Don't be an animal with the knife like I was.  

Load the pan up with as many chestnuts as you'd like and slip them into the preheated oven (350 degrees) for about 20 mins.  

And there you have it!  Yummy meaty warm roasted chestnuts for you to enjoy on a cold autumn day. 

I've wanted to make slash enjoy roasted chestnuts ever since I spent the fall in Florence and enjoyed roasted chestnuts on the streets shopping around and having the best time of my life (except for every day of marriage to my husband so far!).  Its pretty easy but if you feel you need a recipe, this one from from Martha is doable.  How is everybody doing!?  I hope all my readers and their families are safe and sound!!


Alicia B.

Cabin Fever

Thom Filicia's newly published cottage up in upstate NY.  Panelled walls, cozy sofas and blankets, and a stone fireplace make me want to escape NYC right now.

As is most of the Northeast right now, I'm trapped indoors due to Hurricane Sandy.  I have my refugee sister from Zone A (Battery Park City) staying with us and after what seems like days of Storm Sandy Watch, we all have cabin fever...and it hasn't even been a day yet.  In order to amuse myself, I'm going to blog it up with some fun cabins and cottages.  See what I did there...cabin fever?  YEAH.

Nothing sets an autumnal mood like plaid upholstery.  And as trendy as they seem I still love a good animal hide throw.  Dransfield and Ross (hot).

Antlers collection!  And I'm DYING in love with that table.  Spectac!  Also, amazing hide throw.

I'm really obsessed with navy blue walls right now paired with accents of creamy whites and brass.   In our imaginary guest room I'm thinking of painting the walls navy blue--too extreme?  This is from Lonny. 

I can't even count how many times I've posted on this room.  This is Bunny Williams's cottage up in Litchfield County.  Look at al the fantastic details in this beautifully decorated room.  Every piece was chosen with purpose, not just clutter.  

Here is a simple moment in a library from Martha Stewart's Lily Pond Lane home.  The yellow on that chair is warm and inviting looking.  

Exposed beams also give a cabin type look.  Too bad our mod NYC apartment doesn't sport exposed beams.  Lame.  By Shawn Henderson. 

Hudson Bay blankets, so hot right now, make up the uber high draperies on this windows for this Michigan cabin. Totally cottage chic.  From Country Living.

What are you guys in NYC/LI/CT doing to amuse yourselves today?  Are you all "hunkered down" today as they keep advising on the news?  Watching TV? Reading a...GASP...book??  I haven't quite gotten that desperate yet.  (Just kidding, reading is awesome).  Hope you all are staying safe!!


Alicia B. 

Another Bedroomy Post

At my fabulous new job, we do so many amazing new projects and one of them is upholstering walls!  Not the typical wall to wall floral upholstered fabric wall but a super chic upholstered accent wall.  We have designed two upholstered walls so far and they are so much fun!  

Large squares of grey suede make up this upholstered wall with over scaled sconces.  This looks cozy but I would have chosen a paler grey.

There is lots of layering going on here with a framed out upholstered section--really brings your eye up to the high ceilings.  

This headboard is SUPER fun but also very busy and the wall behind it is simple without being boring.

Not a huge fan of purple, this room is still pretty--and I love the art.  Wide sections  on the upholstered wall really expand the space, right? By Noel Jeffrey. 

Upholstered Walls aren't limited to just bedrooms.  This pale olive one is in a dining room is spectacular in this  side banquette.  

Here is a little seating nook--the upholstery makes the space its only little room. 

This nailhead treatment in the leather is phenomenal in this little framed out seating nook.  LOVE. 

I've always loved funky headboards, or super tall ones, and I love the idea of using an upholstery treatment in place of a headboard, or a sofa back.  You have the chance to go super funky, or pop some color into a room.  I don't think I'll have the chance to do this in my own home anytime soon, but designing them for others is just as fun.  


Alicia B.