A Lighter Side of Woodsman

Wood panelling can add a masculine feel to a room like a den or a library but can often look too heavy and aged.  In other words, sometimes it's TOO manly.  One way to get that sophisticated and classic wood panelling is to bleach it.  Bleached wood has a raw and beautiful appearance.  

What a beautiful dressing room and made so light by bleaching out all that wood panelling. 

While I'm not in love with the chair and the mirror/sconce the wood panelling has won me over.  

This room certainly allows a lot of light with large windows and a high ceiling plus the bleached out panelling and built-ins. I'd switch up the rug and do some major styling to those bookcases but...

Here is another office with stunning millwork, designed by Orrick & Company. The wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries compliments the classic but fresh wood panelling. 

Another neutral room with a large case piece looking like a built in cabinet adds a rustic look. 

This room is a bit more classic and super comfortable looking but not oppressive and heavy. 

While this panelling isn't stripped down and bleached, it's nearly there.  I love the rustic feel of it. 

This room is breathtaking and looks like a well maintained historic home, right?  

Some call it bleached wood but its also called "limed" as well.  The classic look of the wood panelling allows you to mix traditional with some modern pieces as well and has a might more youthful look.  Neutrals are all over the place right now (see Restoration Hardware) and I like it.  What are we thinking/feeling?  Happy Friday!!

Alicia B. 

PS all these pics are from my Pinterest.  

Wallpaper Free-For-All

Hey everyone.  Looks like I want to blog more when it's about me.  

In our new home, my husband and I have an actual front hall (and an actual dining room!!).  This may seem like insanity to even mention to the average person but for someone living in NYC a front hall and a dining room space are not exactly par for the course.  We hung a Ballard Designs lantern in the front hall and are going to wallpaper the small space because...why not!?  

Titanium.  Appears more grey slash blue in the space.  

At first I wanted a simple grasscloth but then I was like UM let's have more fun, right?! Right.  I narrowed it down to 3 geometric wallpapers from Schumacher and would love your opinion.  As a background, the living room and dining room are painted Benjamin Moore Titanium which is above.  Here goes with the wallpaper:

A more Moroccan pattern and I would probably end up ordering it in a pale blue if I went for it in the end.  

Love me a chevron with a side of ikat.  

And here is every bloggers favorite, Imperial Trellis.  I know its popular but its also classic and might be my secret favorite.

So what are we thinking??  Its a small room as I said but I think it should be fun and "set the scene" as they say for the rest of the apartment, which is fun, blue/grey, and soft with a side of Alicia.  Get at me with your faves--1, 2, or 3??

Alicia B. 

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.