Bookcase Painting

Amazing Katie Ridder designed this fun living room. 

I have some rather boring dark mahogany finish bookcases and really wanted to do something to punch them up a bit. Painting the back of them makes the objects in front pop more, adds interest to an otherwise boring bookcase, and can be a fun weekend project.

See below for some fun examples, including putting fabric on the back!

Living room by Jason Bell in House Beautiful. I pretty much love this entire living room. Everything.

Some fun fabric options for a blah bookcase! I like the one on the left the best. Pretty fabric.

Sunny Yellow color from Domino Mag

Hopefully this bookcase distracts from that leopard sofa.

http://www.dominomag.com/howtos/diy/2007/04/howto_paint_bookshelves DIY project from Domino Mag.

Alicia B.

Silly Design

A friend forwarded me this image. This Men's Bathroom was designed by Edge Design, a design firm made up of all women.

Tasteless or humorous?

Alicia B.

Will the Gap be back?

New York Times is speculating again if the Gap is going to make ANOTHER come back this fall. Apparently they've gotten a new set of designers who will whip the Gap back into the mainstream. I'm pretty excited as all the new looks are very reminiscent of my youth...the 90's and they look very "back to school."

Here is the article in the NY Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/21/fashion/21PATRICK.html?ref=style

My Fave quote from it is from the designer Patrick Robinson,

"Speaking honestly, when I was younger, I really wanted the fame thing,” he said. “It was part of the game of being a fashion designer. But that doesn’t turn me on anymore. What turns me on — my soul — is making cool clothes and being part of a company where I can actually see the difference I’m making. I’m not just spinning my wheels and getting the clothes into five stores in America.”

How real/soulful! Anyway take a look below at some of their new looks...

Orange and brown belted cardigan...Orange!

I think I had a dress like this in blue when I was 8. I think I'll get one again...

The article says Khaki is back again and as a boring preppy girl...I'M IN!

Cute gauzy window pane scarf

Alicia B.

Hardcore Hardware

Fellow designer friend of mine from Cafiero Lighting Design asked me for my advice on sources for hardware which sent me into a wild search for new hardware ideas!

This is her pick above from Nanz Hardware http://www.nanz.com/ which is an excellent source for hinges, drawer pulls, locks, knobs etc and they do custom finishes.

Here are my favorites below:

www.Anthropologie.com , Medaglione

www.rejuvination.com I love this antique drawer pull

Cygnus hook from Rejuvination also. They are a really great source for vintage hardware.

Dakota Oval knob from Restoration Hardware.

Classic knob with ribbed detailing, Felicity knob, www.restorationhardware.com

www.rejuvination.com vintage "frog" hinge. Perfect.

I am terminally in love with Daisies because of my highschool. This one is from Anthropologie as well. Nancre Daisy.

Did not see this slate switch plate coming but SUPER love it from www.restorationhardware.com

Alicia B.

Dollhouse Design

Heather Benning should be an inspiration to us all with this lifesize dollhouse. See the article at Apartment Therapy here http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/look-lifesize-dollhouse-by-heather-benning-057296 She bought an old farm house and transformed it into a lifesized dollhouse. The front even comes down so you can go inside. Amazing!

I seem to be interested in all things small of late. Ever since I pulled out my old dollhouse from the attic I've been toying around with remodelling it. Good dollhouse furniture is quite hard to find so I might have to go the ebay route.

Here are some fab things I found:

Portrait in a frame

Chinese Console Table

Old Mixer. LOVE.

Old Washing Machine.

I found the above on Ebay http://collectibles.shop.ebay.com/items/Miniatures__W0QQ_armrsZ1QQ_mdoZCollectiblesQQ_msppZQQ_pcatsZ13777Q2c1QQ_sacatZ66518

I haven't decided on a style obviously...Here are some more modern furniture examples. Not sure if I love them for myself but they are great nonetheless. I hope Barbie can entertain properly on that Marshmallow Sofa...

The following is from http://www.zoolabees.com/ which is a great source for dollhouse EVERYTHING!

fish tank for the dollhouse kids!

too cute not to buy

wooden table lamp and shade...actually electrified.

I love this wing chair...Have a sneeking suspicion it will be bought soon...

Alicia B.

Baby Design

Bellini Girl's Bedroom. Girly Cute.

My cousin and his wife and having their first child in less than a month and its been pretty much all about babies for the past month and I know its just going to get worse. Kids rooms are difficult as the room is hard to grow as the child grows; then you end up changing the room completely. There are a lot of traditional, ridiculously cutsie things out there and then there are the David Netto style uber modern furniture. Not my cup of tea.

It got me thinking about a baby room or nursery though...here are some cute things I came up with.

Cute beaded chandelier from Kimberly Hall Kids

www.kimberlyhallkids.com

Pottery Barn, I love the pink lotus wall paper.

Pottery Barn. Boyish room with out all the cliche baseball and sports junk. I love the little block animals reading the book on the ground. (picked by designer Cafiero Lighting)

Pottery Barn. I love the yellow and brown combination.

Baby swing in preppy pink and green from Kimberly Hall Kids.

Alicia B.