Inspo for my New Apartment

As I slyly mentioned before, I'll be moving in two weeks! I'm so excited to get out of this mini apartment and into a similarly mini apartment but with modern amenities like a full sized fridge and a dishwasher! This apartment is much more modern, because the place was built last August and has floor to ceiling windows. I'm trying to go for a more airy open feeling with light colors/neutrals with pops of color (I'm a color girl and I can't change that about myself). I'm really into adding some oriental carpets or a hide throw. Here are some pictures I've been collecting as inspiration. I'm going over to the apartment later today to measure the space and will update you with pictures!

What a lovely entry bench that leads into a beautiful serene but personal room. I wish I could see more of it. Rue Magazine.

Also from Rue Magazine, those are very sweet very simple window treatments--though I'm thinking of going with white linen curtains. I'd probs layer that small rug on something else? Also, I want some exposed beams in the ceiling.

I love the cute quatrefoil table in this bathroom. It's a little "shabby chic" but you see my direction here. Pretty feminine bathrooms are the best.

Though this living room by Darryl Carter has many classical and traditional elements, I love the relaxed quality of it with the neutral colors.

I really wish I had build in bookshelves but my Ikea ones will have to do for now. I'm really into these hide throws and would love to layer one on top of another rug. From Elle Decor.

I def won't have stairs in my new apt but I am OBSESSED with that oriental rug (HATE the coffee table--sors), but mostly love the eclectic look even though I'm not super drawn to each piece separately. Elle Decor

Who can spot the pug first? So cute! I also don't have a fireplace but what a great room! I want that zebra rug (and the pug drawing) and this airy informal feeling. From Lonny.

SWOON. SAH. WOON. I love this entire room. Everything from the wide plank flooring to the tufted sofa to the soaring windows. Elle Decor.

So this is just the beginning. I'm beyond excited to decorate another apartment for myself and for my lovely readers, too! I'll take pics of the empty apartment tomorrow and then we can start shopping! SHOPPING! Oh, did I mention I'm about 2 blocks from the Hell's Kitchen Flea Market? So start looking forward to some trips there and some thrift shops too. It's going to get good.

Alicia B.

Kate and Will Change The World...

...of interior design. Ever since Prince William and Kate Middleton got engaged (and stole our thunder.), there has been SUCH a buzz about sapphires. I suppose when the most influential people in the world get engaged with a 1000 carat sapphire, it will come into fashion in a very big way. I love Kate's style as well as her ring--she always has cute dresses and hats. I read an article that said that sapphire blue interiors would be everywhere for the next few years. I'm on board.

We could all do with a few more hats like these, right?

A wonderfully organized office. I love that pillow on the chair and I can't wait until the day that I have rolls of in a woven basket in my office. Homes and Gardens UK.

J. Crew. SUCH a pretty and simple dress. This is a great shade of blue and this dress looks so comfortable, too!

Eddie Ross designed this room with toile panels and this lovely fabric on the bed--love it.

Silk embroidered linen fabric by my favorite company, Vaughan!

SUCH elegant interiors by Mary McDonald. Blue and white interiors are incredibly timeless.

Here is a more mod-squad interior from Elle Decor with a deep blue striped floor--quite fun! I wish I could see more of that bed, it looks bright.

Okay so let's face it, blue is timeless no matter what shade it is. Will Kate and Will change a lot? Yes. I hope so. I do love that deep sapphire blue color--I hope that there are tons of shades of it everywhere in fashion, fabric, and design (you know, more than usual!).

Alicia B.

Friday Faves a bit early.

Though it is only Thursday, I thought I'd give you a little taste of a Friday Fave because I'll be on vaca as of...now! I'm on my way down to sunny Puerto Rico for a much needed mini break with a friend of mine. I'm pretty jazzed for the sun and relaxation and don't worry I'll take plenty of pictures of the hotel so that we can all pick it apart or love on it design-wise!

I've always loved this image, a room designed by Gauthier Stacy. I was helping my soon to be graduated sister determine what her "personal design style" is and we picked out these bed frames as inspiration. I love how even though there is a lot of pattern and color (pink!) going on, the room still feels airy and open.

My photography show at Cosi's in West Hartford Center (Connecticut) is still up and will remain up until April 10th. Please take a minute to stop by and take a look! In honor of the last few weeks I've even lowered the prices a bit. How you like that??

I loved MOST of the latest Elle Decor. This island retreat is a little on the modern side but I love the way this spa like bathroom looks. The tiled walls are so pretty and reflect the light wonderfully. I wonder what it feels like to be in a wooden bath...

Well ya'll, I know it won't be same without me...but try to carry on. The weather on the East Coast is going to be GAWWWGEOUS as well so have some fun this weekend! I'm just so excited to don my sunglasses (SPF45 sunblock) and some sandals to wear to the beach where I'll be from tomorrow on!


Alicia B.

Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge 2010

After running into Eddie Ross yesterday, and meeting his partner Jaithan, I learned a little more about Bloomingdale's Big Window Challenge. Three designers are competing against each other where they each design a window in Bloomingdale's for a specific person. WE all get to vote for the room we like the best! Here are the options:

Designed by Eileen Joyce for Bloomingdale's. "the Urbane Traveller." This one I'm finding quite tame.

By Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan for Apartment Therapy. "The Writer's Romantic Supper." I really like the portraits over the sofa and I feel like I could really relax with a book and a cocktail here.

And last but not least, but last because it's my favorite, Eddie Ross for Elle Decor. "The Modern Woman." I'm really drawn to the exciting mix of colors in this: the pop of turquoise in the lamp and throw on the chair, the orange in the artwork over the sofa, and the pink that is mixed into the throw pillows. It looks elegant yet relaxed and full of life.

To read more about these windows and the great inspiration and the intense competition AND to vote for your favorite click HERE. All of them look wonderful and like a lot of work but my vote is in for Eddie's for Elle Decor. GO VOTE because we only have until January 28th--but also tell me which one is your fave too!


Alicia B.

White Interiors for a Color Monger

I have a bit of a reputation for being a color monger, so I thought I'd expand my palette, so to speak, and love on some white rooms. I'm finding them very calming and full of personality as they can't rely on color to make them beautiful.

Marie Claire Maison. These beams and this little elevated seating area looks like a great place for a mini party with tapas and mojitos with friends!

This living room is designed by Lynn Morgan. It looks so peaceful with the pretty pale colors and the tall simple drapery (not to mention the amazing beams and wooden brackets).

This is a tres romantic bedroom, oui? Love the fur, love the headboard, swoon over the chandelier. Elle Decor.

What a lovely dressing room. I love the contrast of the deep rich floors with the sweet feminine wall paper and white walls. Madeline Stuart.

This is designed by Benjamin Noriega Ortiz, who loves to design with white. If you need tips on how to live in a white home, skip on over to If the Lampshade Fits who reviewed BNO's home from the NY Times.

So, what's the verdict? I'm thinking very beautiful to look at, but not practical for someone like me to live in. They are graceful, feminine, and calming looking to be sure, but every time there is a little bit of color, I'm more drawn to that in the end. Happy Thursday!


Alicia B.

Spring Trend: Butterflies

Butterflies are everywhere! I've noticed them in magazines, on the blogs, and everywhere I shop (window shop). They are whimsical and colorful and definitely a sign of spring, I'd say. Many accessories are covered in butterflies, from throw pillows, to decoupaged plates, but here are some examples in interiors!

What a sweet kitchen inspired scene by Trevor Dixon via gogoabigail.com

This room from Southern Accents is very garden-inspired with framed butterflies up on the wall. I really love that mini stool under the table with the blanket draped over it.

This is a from good old Domino mag featuring Schumacher's Birds and Butterflies wall paper. Not entirely sure where the larger than life butterfly on the wall comes from...I'm scared. Definitely adds a focal point to the room though, right?

In this super luxurious bedroom by Nancy Boszhardt, she uses framed butterflies on the wall. I like these--they're very close together and all the same species. Very pretty and a great punch of color in this mostly neutral room.

I like this one the most, I think. It looks like a little horticultural study; perhaps there are books on gardening on the other wall and a beautiful garden outside? By Monique Keegan from Country Living.

This exotic garden room is from a Kips Bay showhouse, so is of course very over the top. The chair in the corner is actually in the shape of two butterflies. By David Barrett.

This Freeze Frame Butterfly Chandelier by Lladro, is very whimiscal and looks like a swarm of butterflies around a light. Only $3200!

John Willey had these duvet covers custom made with Holland and Sherry butterfly fabric! This room is super springy with the green painted ceiling and nature inspired fabrics (roman shades, grass cloth walls, etc).

Want some of your own butterfly decor? Here are some small framed drawings from Ballard Designs. Cute!

Read more about this new spring trend HERE in Elle Decor. Personally...I'm not loving it. I know I'm supposed to but all I can think of are glittery butterflies from the mid to late 1990's and I'm uncomfortable. I do love the framed drawings and the horticultural side to them, but the giant, out of scale butterflies are somewhat inappropriate. What do you all think? On board? Hate it? Love it?


Alicia B.