Happy Birthday to my Dad!

Today is my dad's birthday! He would be the first to scold me about privacy on my blog so I'm sure he'll appreciate the picture. Here are a few things my dad loves...(you know, besides his ridiculously awesome daughters and his amazing wife) and that I hope he gets on his birthday.

This is a two-parter. Taking pictures--my dad is on a constant quest for the perfect picture. My mom--he's taking a picture of her running a small road race! Plus, he adores her.

BOOKS. My dad's bedside table is stacked with books...we're not sure if he reads them all but he does love the look of them.

Bowties. Not a trend, a way of life.

Cake!

Sailing. Some of my best pictures of my dad are when we are out sailing.

Happy Birthday Dad!!

xoxo
Alicia B.

Alicia B. Designs Photography Announcement!

Hi Everyone! I wanted to let you know that I'll be in TWO new photography shows in West Hartford, CT! One of them, I installed yesterday at La Petite France, an adorable french bakery with the most delicious croissants I've EVER had (when I'm not in Paris). They were just written up in the Hartford Courant last week HERE.

A snapshot of the show at La Petite France that I installed yesterday.

The second place is Cosi's in West Hartford Center!!! The show there will last just six weeks so you MUST go check it out ASAP. Curious about what's there? It's going to be a show of all Black and white photography and I'll be installing it this Friday, February 12th. If you need an excuse (I'm not enough!?!?) they still have smores there!

One of the many black and white photographs that will be up at Cosi's THIS FRIDAY!! Thistle can be seen on my website www.aliciabdesigns.com

I'm so excited about these shows so if you're in the area, please go have a look. If you're not, tell someone who is! Have a great Monday!


Alicia B.

Friday Faves

A gorgeous dining room by Michael Smith. I'm obsessed with that lantern.

Another week is over but WHAT a weekend we have before us! Predictions of the biggest snowfall of the year and the Superbowl on Sunday! I'm not really invested in either team but I'm definitely in it for the commercials and the guacamole. I'm also making my first trip EVER to an Ikea! I've never been to one before and I'm going to go with my Dad! It will be an adventure, that's for sure.

This is a hint for an announcement that I'm going to make early next week. Can you guess what it is? www.aliciabdesigns.com Hit it.
Last night I went to a sample sale last night for Hello Robertson, a company run by a new friend of mine! They make these amazing headbands, hair clips, and now necklaces which are super cute and preppy. I bought a headband made with a vintage fabric!

I'm on a huge wallpaper kick at the moment. I'm helping another client with their wallpaper for their master bathroom and loving every moment of the search. This beautiful little bathroom is by Lynn Byrne, fellow blogger (Decor Arts Now) and designer. Is this wallpaper not fabulous and charmant (say it with a French accent)?

I'll let you all know how much FIRST EVER experience goes at Ikea. I've heard it's overwhelming but I'm pretty excited!! I am secretly excited for the snow but if it interferes with my Ikea trip, heads will roll. And by that I mean I'll have to deal with it and make a snowman instead. What are your plans?


Alicia B.

Sneak Peak of my Photo Show!

This weekend has been extremely relaxing but busy nonetheless. I had an entire corporate residence to design, math homework (eek), my little sister to spend lots of quality time with, and Black Friday deals to attend to! I got a moment to swing by and check up on my photography show in at Millrace Books in Farmington, CT and would love to share some of it with you!

It is set up in the gallery space of a small independent bookstore in the town where I grew up. I used to ride my bike there and get the latest American Girl books. Now I just love independent bookstores; they have such character. Above is a short description of my work!

The show is centered mainly around water. I love to photograph water.

Growing up in New England though, nothing quite gets me like nature or a beautiful sunset.

This one here was taken down on the Connecticut shore over the Fourth of July.

The show is up for one more month at Millrace Books, but this month really flies! I am very grateful for the opportunity to be able to show my work to more than just my family and friends. You know, photography makes a great gift, too! If you want to check out more, go for a day trip to Farmington, or take a look at my website, www.aliciabdesigns.com.


Alicia B.

Friday Faves

Well, I'll spare you the gory details but let's just say I'm glad it's Friday. For Friday faves I'd just like to point out that it is not yet Thanksgiving and there is Christmas decor in stores already, and it's EVERYWHERE! Isn't it customary to wait until after we are thankful to start thinking about the season of giving? I'd say yes. I'm still in the Autumn mindset so I bought some bittersweet berries yesterday and my apartment looks great and seasonal! Let's enjoy the current season before we have to rush into the next one, shall we?

How can you rush past Thanksgiving when you have a cute little pine cone decoration like this one? This turkey decoration is so cute! And it looks so simple to do...

I attempted a mini version of this wreath and let me just say that it doesn't look a thing like this. Oh well. If you want to give it a go, be my guest! HERE are the instructions.

When I bought the bittersweet berries, it was especially strange because the only times I've gotten them was when I ran out into my back yard and collected them from the woods. Buying them seemed wrong. Well, I'm headed home now for some for the long weekend. Please no holiday and more specifically Christmas music until two weeks from now? Thanks. Have amazing weekends! I hope you all eat pumpkin flavored things, collect pretty colored leaves from the sidewalk, or try out different stuffing recipes in prep for Thanksgiving!

ALSO, my photography show starts today in Farmington, CT! If you're in the area (presumably admiring the amazing foliage), please visit the Millrace Bookstore and see my photography! The show runs from today to the end of the year, which is fast approaching. Thanks!


Alicia B.

Alicia B. Designs Photography Show!

So I promised you an announcement on Friday but I was too busy so here it is today! Friday the 13th ( I know!) will be the opening day of my first photography show! It is going to be in a very tiny space in a bookstore in Connecticut but I am excited about it nonetheless.



The show will be at the Millrace Bookshop in Farmington, CT and I'd be honored if you went and saw my photography. If you're in or around Farmington, it's definitely worth it because of the gorgeous Farmington River views, the amazing independent bookstore, the delicious restaurant below and the CUTE town of Farmington.

Please let me know if you stop by!


Alicia B.

Kate Cordsen Photo

In interior design there are many roles that you can take on: designer, shop girl/guy, buyer, stylist, etc. Most of the time nobody thinks a TON about the photographer for the designer. In magazines that we see, we all look through the beautiful pictures and comment on the selections by the designer but the photographer plays a very important role. They essentially put forth the vision of the designer. A few weeks ago, I blogged on the amazing designer Cheryl Tague and I had the privilege of talking with the photographer behind her work, Kate Cordsen. Enjoy/learn!
To an amateur photographer like myself, your work is incredibly inspiring. How did you get started in the business of interior design photography?

Thanks Alicia. In an incarnation before photography, I was trained as an art historian. This love and understanding of art extends to the decorative arts and to interiors. So when I went back to school for photography, it was natural for me to specialize in interiors.


Were you always interested in a career like this?

Photography has a wonderful democratic nature to it. We have all been taking and appreciating images since we were children. It has been a dream for me to take that interest and build it into a profession.
Where do you see your work in the next 5-10 years?

A photographer friend told me that I will be astonished at how my photography will evolve through the years. He was right. I am slowly segueing from commercial and editorial work to fine art photography. Five years ago I would have never guessed that I would be doing large abstract landscapes.

What advice would you offer to interior designers looking to make their space more appealing or marketable? or in general?

What I say to all interior designers who will listen is: document your work! You are artists and your art is ephemeral.

What do you find most exciting about interior spaces? Light ? Pattern? Placement of objects?

Like any photographer, I am attracted to light. This is true in interiors as well.

What attracts you to a space? Are you more interested in contemplative spaces? Playful spaces?

Every good interior needs to start with good architecture. I am most attracted to the foundation of a room: the floors, the windows, the molding, the light, than to any overall decoration.


What is the biggest mistake you see interior designers make in residential spaces?

It is more a mistake that the clients often make...which is not spending time and money on art.

Melissa Barbieri

Who are your favorite interior designers/artists?

As you know, inspiration comes in many forms. I am loving the unexpected feeling of community that has risen from the economic crisis. In the arts: Eudora Welty's short stories and photographs, Halston's designs from the 70s, and Whistler's landscapes all have a perfect though deceptive simplicity.

Kate is a mother of two, lives in NYC and Connecticut and is amazingly talented. As someone who is interested in both interior design and photography, this was truly a pleasure. I was an art history major as well...this bodes well for me. Ha. Check out Kate's work on her website HERE. Like she said above, she's moving into more fine arts photography and you can see her work at katecordsen.com. It's beautiful and mysterious. Thanks again, Kate! PS--all the pictures here are from her websites.


Alicia B.

Weekend Time!

Have a lovely weekend, all. Try to stay warm!

This is from my photography gallery! Am now (in a few mins) off for the weekend to relax, read, go antique shopping, and wear 3 or more sweaters in my parents' house.


Alicia B.

First Snow of 2009

Well, It's back to the grind. No more holiday or New Year's Eve parties, Christmas cookies, or Yule Log from the fridge at midnight. It wasn't me, I swear! If you were in the Northeast of the U.S. though over New Years, you experienced an amazing and beautiful snowstorm! It made for some rough driving for me as I went up to Saratoga to spend New Year's with my dear friend from my semester abroad in college. On the upside, I got to take some really pretty pictures! I hope you enjoy them...shameless plug to myself.

Amazing faded yellow barn on the side of a country road upstate in New York. I love how patriotic they are.

Some little red berries poking through the intense and VERY cold snow. I think I still have frostbite from going out in the snow.

I was amazed at the silhouetted silo of this classic barn. Also amazed at my timing!

This is a near white out. Normally you can see the Berkshires from this spot where I took the picture.

Then, I enjoyed some (maybe too much) Champagne to ring in the new year! 2009 is going to be great. If not, at least my attitude is!

Alicia B.