The Luck of Good Design

Crane's green willow envelope and Thank You notes HERE. Thank you notes are still important to write and having cute stationary removes all excuses!

Well, good design isn't luck really at all. It's a good eye, experience, good use of color, and all that other jazz, but you all know that. Today is St Patrick's day which means it's going to take me twice as long to walk home today because of all streets that will be crowded with inebriated post collegiates yelling things at me or falling down in front of me. Aahhh, kids these days. Though I'm not Irish, I have strawberry blonde hair and very fair skin. I do love the color green and little pots of gold!

A holiday like this one certainly isn't a reason to change your interior to add green elements (unless you're planning a party!), but the fact that green might look nice in a room IS a reason. Jamie Drake used a few different shades of green here in this bedroom. I love the tufted headboard.

This cute watercolor painting is from HERE via etsy. "In the Clover No 4"

There are plenty of amazing green toned fabrics out there. I love this one, Palermo, by Carolina Irving--it comes in a few other colors, too.

Whenever I think of a clever use of the color green, I think of Florence de Dampierre's front door of her home in Litchfield CT. It's really great looking in person, too (I did a drive by about a month ago, okay??).

Chicagoans really get into the spirit and dye the Chicago River green!!! It looks toxic, yes, but what spirit that city has! Good usage of tax dollars?? Hmmm.

I don't' think I really have much green in my apartment except for some green vases here and there, or in a plant. Green, for me, means that spring (and Summer) are here and it's time to open your windows and let some life in! I don't' have plans for St Patty's Day, except to pack my bags because I'm leaving on a small vacation tomorrow! Do you all have plans?? Anyone in Chicago ever see that river turned green?


Alicia B.

Tall Headboards Galore

Ever since I laid eyes on the above bedroom, I haven't been able to get that headboard out of my head. This is from a Larry Laslo spread in Metropolitan Home that I came across a few months ago. It's not something that I'd usually be drawn to, but I love the natural green with the gilt surrounding each shape. It looks like a very beautiful piece of jewelry. Most beds have headboards but none as unusual as this one. I think that headboards really make a bed, and even make a bedroom in some cases. If you have one that is especially beautiful or tall like these, it can really become the focal point of the room.

Tom Scheerer designed this brownstone in Brooklyn. This one sort of plays with your eye and makes you see the wall first and the headboard contrasting against it. Those browns and blues are mesmerizing.

I actually did a little DIY project making a headboard out of three panels, much like the above with brown and white fabric. Mine are all going to be flush against each other though. This fabric is fun but the two panels almost separate the bed. From Living etc.

Tamara Mellon had a very beautiful and unique 18th Century tapestry so she used it as the headboard. Sometimes objects are meant to be hung up on the wall and displayed such as this one. She could have put it on the end of the bed or something but now it is functional and the focal point of this delicate bedroom.

Drake Designs. This is a really neat one; the upholstered headboard is part of a custom built in that reaches all the way to the ceiling.

Douglas Larson. In a mostly white room (with great painted floor boards), this exotic headboard sure stands it.

Headboards are everywhere. Some are short, some are wider than the bed itself, but some are super tall and command your attention. As you can see, they are not just your average headboards, these designers got creative. I'm going to be hanging my panels any day now, I'm just nervous about making them perfectly straight.

Stay tuned tomorrow I'm going to reveal my New Year's Resolutions as I've finally decided on one or two!


Alicia B.

Easter Colors: Yellow and Pink!

A match made in Peep Heaven!

In my last post of Easter colors before I jet off to CT, let's take a look at yellows and pinks! Besides pink and green, yellow and pink is one of my fave combos--plus I look great in yellow so...Pink is vibrant, romantic, and glamorous, while yellow is bright, happy, and fun. Enjoi!

I think a little yellow always goes a long way. What a pretty yellow color and I always appreciated a little modern art, as well. Garrow Kedigan.

Don't want to commit to pink furnishings? Just get a pop of pink flowers like here! Gorgeousness by Schuyler Samperton.

Pink paisley wallpaper and sophisticated and understated furnishings make this room by Sara Bengur so beautiful. Also notice the red and pink flowers on the sill of the MOST amazing window ever.

Oh Mary McDonald...SO much pink is making my heart swell. This pink is glamorous but not too girly because of the giltwood bamboo mirror and the dark mahogany pedestal table.

I'd say this is more of a mustard yellow but really works in this space with neutrals and touches of blue. By Eileen Kathryn Boyd.

A precious times one thousand pink bedroom here with distressed ivory twin beds by Leta Austin Foster.

Precious yellow is paired with contemporary neutral (and somewhat ugly) furnishings. I do love the yellow and bright blue contrast though. And the fur rug. Drake Designs.

I think this is what I would do if someone would let me (and then let me change it a few mins later). Pink. Everwhere. By Drake Designs.

Woah, that's intense pink! I really love the ornate accessories painted white though. It makes the space more comfortable/inviting. Diamond Baratta.

OMG Pink and yellow in one room! Together at last! This adorable and fun room is by Amanda Nisbet.

Sorry for the late post but, I'm not going to lie to you, I had the day off and I did a lot of fun stuff. I won a squash match, cleaned my apt (amazing!), and saw The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. Even though the NY Times panned it, I thought it was great and the guy playing Art was ADORABLE. Anyway, I'm off to CT for Easter, dying eggs, hanging out with the fam and the beau, and eating WAY too many jelly beans. Have a great weekend and Happy Easter!


Alicia B.

Easter Color: Purple

Easter is coming up in about a week and I'm so excited. It's just yet another sign that Spring is (finally) on its way! When I think of Easter, I think of pastel purples, yellows, greens, and pinks. Today I wanted to focus on purple though. It's a color that some people I know have an aversion to. They might say it's too obviously girly or cliche feminine but sometimes it can be happy, relaxing, and romantic. It can range from a deep rich purple, to a light lilac. You can create a room full of purple, or just a bright punch of it will do, as well.

From Living Etc, this moody pewter room has just a bit of purple in the throw pillows but it sure makes the difference.

Light lilac walls (California Paints Faded Lilac) and a sweet chair upholstered in a soft purple make this room light and relaxing. I'd love to read on that with the fur draped over me. Let's make that happen, shall we? By Kim Gilhool of Pimlico.

One of my loves, Hal Williamson. These purples are more subtle and very romantic.

Drake Design, always bold with color saturates the entire room with with a fruity purple.

And speaking of color mongers (nothing wrong with that), this room by Diamond Baratta is PRETTY MUCH all lilacs, grapes, and......um.....purples!

Lots of times, purple is used in a traditional setting. Here it is in a more contemporary look as a sort of greyish purple. Isn't it neat how it makes the WHITE stand out? By Betsy Brown.

This comfortable looking sitting room is by (my idol) Amanda Nisbet. My favorite part is the throw pillow--I adore that fabric!

I don't have much purple in my own apartment but I do think it's pretty and can be very sweet. Do any of you have purple in your life? I can't wait until Spring officially comes and the flowers start to bloom in the country.


Alicia B.

Go Blue?

Ultra modern tub found at Trendir.

If you haven't heard yet, being "green" is out and being "blue" is in. Blue is the new green. Being BLUE is about water conservation. Apparently along with the world having bad air, we're losing water. HERE is the article. While you're busy feeling bad about the world, I have collected some pics of BLUE bathrooms to perk up the mood! What better place to have a lot of blue but the bathroom? A room that is centered around water and cleanliness and recharging yourself (take a bath) might as well be blue.

Kenneth Albert designed this amazing over the top blue tiled bathroom complete with mosaics of a fish and people! All that blue tile gives off the feeling of water.

One more reason to love Katie Ridder. This bathroom. And that light fixture. And the bouquet of contrasting orange flowers.

Drake Designs proves that you don't always have to use tiles for the blue. Jamie Drake chose dark blue Madagascar cloth on the walls which is so beautiful; picks up so much light and accentuates shadows too.

Another pic of the Drake Designs bathroom.

Patrick Gallagher designed this blue beauty (yeah I said it). I love the tiles that he chose and that they continue up into the shower.

This is pretty with simple blue accents; blue Moravian star and blue hand towel. I especially love the glass jug in the back.

Frank Roop designed this incredible little bathroom. He even used CAD to custom design this tiled mat below the tub. Impressive! The soft blue on the walls is called Borrowed Light by Farrow and Ball.

This tub looks uncomfortable but there is something about those unfinished wide planked floorboards that is so appealing. The pretty blue wall is gingham blue by Pratt & Lambert. I love the ladder as a towel rack too--so rustic.

I love how the blue frames out the rest of the space. The star lantern picks up some blue as well! I do not care for that rug however. From Domino.

I know this isn't all blue but I thought this shower curtain was so adorable/delicate/perfect that I couldn't resist. From Country Living.

Also from Country Living, isn't that a fabulous vintage claw foot tub? This whole bathroom is a tad bit forced vintage though. Sorry.

I think designing a bathroom would be so fun. It can be such a small space and you can really have some fun with it as it isn't a main space and wouldn't have too much effect on the whole of the house.

Alicia B.