Gilty

 Have you ever seen a product and been inspired to make your own version of it?  Of course you have--many design bloggers like to try their hand at making things themselves.  We are a creative bunch. As you may know, I have always been inspired by Diane Von Furstenberg.  She's just simply fabulous and her brand is always coming out with new designs for clothing as well as home goods for me to wish I had.  

 I spotted these beautiful salad bowls when I was registering for my wedding but went with the classic plain wooden bowl instead. I haven't been able to get them out of my head even 9 months after my wedding.  

Anyway, my project started with a completely plain Jane wooden tray that I picked up at the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market.  I found Martha Stewart gold paint at Home Depot and some blue painter's tape and taped off the area in some jazzy zebra style stripes. 

Here is the Martha Stewart Metallic Paint.  I chose Golden Pearl but there are a few other metallic colors if you are looking for a different finish. 

Once the tape was down, the painting started.  I did about 3 coats of it so that it looked thick and rich.

Taking the tape off (slowly) after the paint had dried was the most fun part. 

All the tape is off and the gold is shiny and fabulous!

I painted the sides too so that the paint extended over the edge. Little Touches. Little Details. 

I'm not sure what I'll use it for yet.  For a month it was sitting on the counter holding my spices but now that it's so pretty, I might just use it for parties as a serving tray.  Bar tray? My last step that I have yet to complete is to put a varnish on it to protect the gold paint and to just finish it off.  What do you all think??

Alicia B.

One Stop for Last Minute Gifts

I have your answer for a last minute gift: DVF. I was strolling through the Meatpacking district yesterday after our office Christmas lunch and went into DVF. As per usual, I found about 400 things I wanted but 0 that I should be buying for myself right before Christmas. These are practical but super chic ideas; no hipster bearded hats here (sorry those are hideous).

I picked this up and opened it and fell in love. I want this Raffia clutch.

I love this shade of green and this cute flirty lopsided heart belt buckle. Get me one.

I was totally blown away by their travel accessories. Luggage, ipad and computer cases etc. ALL good looking and nicely designed--typical. Look at that fun red interior!

A travel adapter in a zipper case with a tassel? Just amazing design. Only 98 dollars.

I would LITERALLY buy a $500 iphone to see this phrase every day. Only $28!!

I love a good old fashioned key holder too. Apparently this is for coins but I would link my keys to this. You would NEVER have to scrounge around your purse looking for it.

And also, WHO would like to buy this for me for New Years Eve? Thanks!!

These are great gifts, right? Perfect for a (high end) stocking stuffer or the 8th day of Channukah. Anyhoo, we are off to CT for Christmas for my first Christmas with my new husband! I'm so excited to be sharing my favorite holiday with him. Have a happy holiday, Merry Christmas, eat tons of cookies, give and receive graciously, and enjoy time with your friends and family.

Alicia B.

Bookcase Re-Org

This post should really be titled: Stuff I do when my husband goes out of town. I tend to break out the craft box, sew some pillows, and generally do small decorating projects (when I have 7 mins to spare) when my husband travels on biz. Hes a biz man traveler. Anyway, things get crazy and I do things like this:
I took out all the books, novels, art books, and yes, that says "Intermediate Accounting." That is a book of my husband's. We have a lot of books though between us so the organization of them is important.

These are more of MY books; DVF autobiography, a Twilight book, and a gorgeous book about chandeliers. I have a lot of large sized art and design books which should be displayed with their splines facing outward and stacked one on top of another.

Even if you have a lot of books, you can still make a cute bookcase display. It doesn't have to be a few books and tons of objects! You just have to keep it simple LOOKING. With lots of novels, line them all up by height.

Stack up your art and design books. They are beautiful, so show them off! I love antique books and have a few really small ones so I stacked them on my design books like objects themselves. Putting them on a diagonal helps.Here it is in all its book-full glory next to my full length mirror and my gorgeous framed DVF magazine.

When my husband came back (from China), he gave me a jade elephant statue for our bookcase display! Next time he goes away I'll probably paint the back of the bookcase a fun bright color. Or switch the living room with the bedroom--we'll see. Just kidding, that's crazy.

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.

Diane Von Furstenburg literally does everything.

As you may know, I am a huge admirer of Diane Von Furstenburg. I think that she's a remarkable person and had done a lot in the world of fashion and as a woman. My sister gave me her autobiography for my birthday and I read her incredible story. She grew up in very favorable circumstances, knew the right people etc, but she didn't squander all that--she used these things to her advantage and built an empire.


It all started with her classic little wrap dress back in the 70's and now the wrap dress has become an icon. It's great because it's easy to wear and looks great on all body types--this is exactly why DVF loved it so much.

First of all, I love a good library and this one is exquisite. The fact that it requires ladders makes me want to climb up them and get all Beauty and the Beast on them.

Nothing is more inspirational than a designers office. Especially when she's wearing a wrap dress. The rug is incredible, right?

Oh look, another desk. I'd love a large table (and a design studio) like this for fabrics and clients' projects.

I think my heart is about to explode. Animal print rug? Globe on a stand? Trunk? Lip print?

Now shes gone and made all my dreams come true and come out with a home collection. I was invited (she called me up and told me i HAD to be there but I couldn't make it because of school) to the launch at Bloomingdales--did anybody go? I'm completely enamored with her collection and love nearly everything. I even registered for some items for my wedding!!

If you've registered anywhere lately, it is SLIM PICKINGS for cute napkin rings. These, however are ridiculously cute. They are perfectly summery and would be great on a fresh warm tablescape.

There is also a serious lack of attractive salad bowls out in the world right now. I love the rich dark color of the wood and the edgy gold accent. Gorgeous.

And oh, BEDDING. My favorite thing. Some girl like shoes; I like duvets. The Butterfly Duvet is on sale right now for $149!

I love this girly watercolor inspired duvet. Such a pretty color palette on Rainbow Garden Duvet.

What do you all think about her collection? I think we all know what I think. I just find DVF so inspirational. She too went through a lot of difficulties in her personal life and her career. I'm so glad that she's back and expanding her brand. At Fashion's Night Out a few months ago, my fiance and I dropped by her store and saw her and then Anna Wintour and she walked right by me! It. Was. Life. Changing.

UPDATE: Here is an amazing article courtesy of Raina!

Alicia B.

Have we had enough snow?

Photo courtesy of my Dad.

This is quite similar to my commute down to Tribeca yesterday. We've had a lot of snow this season in NYC (understatement). Here are some fun accessories to help you get through this hard time in our lives called Winter.

DVF has the greatest winter accessories. This is the modern cool girl version of the dorky 90's turtle fur neck-warmer; a snood. The Alyssa Snood.

I'm almost always cold so these cute cable knit arm warmers would be great! Roxy Arm warmers from DVF.

After ruining a few pair of Uggs, I got these amazing boots made by Sorel. They're like snow boots and Uggs, and rain boots all in one. Not to brag but I've had about 5 people ask me where I got these! You can get them at Zappos for $150.

Marmot makes the cutest and warmest hats. I got one for Christmas with a big pom pom on top and LOVE it. It's kept me warm in all these crazy blizzards. This cute hat is only $32!

And back to interior design...and FUR. I will make a fur throw part of my life if it's the last thing I do. This pic from this awesome lady's blog. I think I'd just sit around and touch this fur all day long.

So are we sick of snow? It seems to just keep piling up here in NYC! At least I don't live near Syracuse anymore, which has had 10' of snow this winter. That's A LOT. I love seeing all the snowmen randomly built on the sidewalks though. Have ya'll had a lot of snow this Winter? We're due in for another mini storm here--get ready.

Alicia B.

Diane Von Furstenberg is my idol

My sisters have taken to mailing me little clippings of interiors, fashion, and other inspiring articles slash pictures. My most recent mailing was from my younger sister (thanks D!), of one of our favorite designers, Diane Von Furstenberg. It was an interview from the Wall Street Journal (boy, my sisters are into some serious stuff), called DVF: Mother of Reinvention about how she started in the fashion industry, her life, and her future goals (to pass the Design Piracy Prohibition Act). Born in Belgium, then moved to New York with her hottie new husband, Prince Egon Von Furstenberg who just happened to be the heir of the Fiat car fortune (they divorced 3 years later). Though she fell into amazing financial circumstances, she was determined to have a career. She said, "I think you have to want to be a success. It’s a lot of work and it’s a lot of perseverance." I've always liked her but now I'm in love slash awe.

This amazing dress is from her new collection. Love that hat.

Also from her new collection, how pretty is that dress? What a fun look.

This is just a rando pic of her in one of her beautiful dresses.

Mostly known for her signature wrap dress, she is constantly inventing and reinventing styles and coming up with new things. I admire her in so many ways. I love the fact that she wasn't one of those girls dreamed of becoming a fashion designer when they grew up because I certainly never wanted to be an interior designer until about 2 years ago.

DVF with her son, Alexander in 1970. So cute!

My favorite part of the article makes me want to totally throw out my old dreams of becoming a trophy wife on Park Ave. and instead be independent and successful. Did this get too girl-powery? Too bad. She says, "A man once told me, and his grandmother told him, you can lose everything in life, you can lose your health, your wealth, you can lose your partner, your child, you can lose your job. What you never lose is your character." Wise words Diane, wise words.

Alicia B.