Friday Faves

Enter my awesome give-away to win this adorable beach bag!! ENTER HERE. Now.

This week I went from wearing wool sweaters to flip flops, and now this weekend is going to be Summer weather! If you know me, you know I'd rather be in a sundress and flip flops than anything else so let's just say I'm excited. I've been rather lonely without my sister here (to clutter up my apartment), but I've been super busy anyway. Class, studying for my final next week (HAH), and making pillows!

This warm weather makes me wish I had a beach house or a house out in the country. My parents house in CT is sort of like that, I suppose. I love the wood floors in this country house in upstate New York. Isn't the light that floods into the next room amazing? Gil Schafer.

Here is one of the pillows that I sewed last night. I love the soft green color of t he vines in the fabric. The back of it is a soft natural linen fabric.

Do you like this fabric?

Horses are everywhere lately in design. How cute is this little Jonathan Adler ceramic horse sculpture? I'm so excited to be going to a Derby Party this Saturday. I love the Derby so much and I've only gotten into it in the last 4 years, since I moved to New York. My family and bf all choose a horse solely based on the names. It's tres fun.

Any weekend plans? Which horse do you have your bet on? I'm going for Awesome Act. It's all about the power of positive thinking, right? If you have a positive name like that, he's bound to win!

Alicia B.

Farmhouse Sink Love

When I grow up and have a large converted farmhouse, my first order of business in the kitchen is to have a farmhouse sink. I just adore them. They look soft, smooth, luxurious and beautifully country.

Usually when I think of a farmhouse sink, I think white glazed ceramic. I do love this stainless steel one though. By Ruthie Somers via House Beautiful.

Woah I adore this. This might rival my favorite kitchen ever by Joan Schindler. I know those are strong words but this is so spacious and calming looking. From Living etc.

Gil Shafer can pretty much do no wrong in my book. Painted floors in a kitchen? LOVE IT. Painted interior cabinets? LOVE THEM. Farmhouse sink? You get the gist.

Via Simplified Bee. You can use many different materials for the same idea. I wonder how well copper holds up in a kitchen though...

Kyle Timothy took something pretty traditional looking and made it super edgy! I love this look-it's so chic with the glass tiles on the backsplash and this modern looking farmhouse sink.

I'm not sure if its the fact that it looks like a tiny tub, or how well it looks with a sweet country kitchen but I must have a farmhouse sink one day. I love how it extends down into the cabinetry below it too. Do any of ya'll have one? Is it everything I think it is?

Alicia B.

A look at my weekend through a French door.

After spending most of the weekend thinking about gallery walls and French doors, I thought I'd share some French doors with you. I think we already had a huge craze of gallery walls about a year ago and the blog world has probably had its fill. In any case, I'm wild for these french doors. They look so inviting and gracious. French doors are usually wood framed doors with glass panes and are often found in pairs. Pairs are my favorite kind--the more the merrier!

Typical Phoebe Howard: elegant, comfortable and sweet. The French doors look like they open out onto a welcoming terrace or back lawn.

Wouldn't it be nice to have high ceilings like these? Mario Buatta was lucky enough to design this space; a 98 room Beaux Arts masterpiece in California.

Living Etc. Usually I shy away from purple, because it can be too "pretty," but these French doors are so gently framed by the periwinkle drapery that I can't help but adore this room.

Gil Schafer. This narrow porch is expanded with french doors into the adjoining room. I love the light blue paint on the floor and the walls.

I think I like french doors so much because they let a lot of light into a room. I love the way the room looks with all that light streaming in and if there's a gorgeous view that doesn't hurt either. I hope you enjoyed seeing a snippet of my weekend without having to do all the semi tedious drafting and leaning over a drafting table. More to come!

Alicia B.

A forgotten Space: Stairs

One of the elements that is the most overlooked in design can often be the stairway. Seems obvious but how often do you really think of it? Its not a room perse, but is a very important element; it can make or break a foyer, front hall, or whatever room it happens to fall into. There are many different ways you can treat the stairway. Paint the steps, stain the wood, put a runner down, paint a faux runner. What about the banister? Architectural elements? Mouldings? Art? There is actually a lot to think about.

Below are some fun examples:

Sisal carpeting runner.
Robert Stilin

A painted red runner.

domino mag

Crayola stairs
Domino mag

Reverse painted runner on natural wood.
Domino mag

Stairs slash counter top
I Beam Design

Ornate architectural element
Gil Schafer

Striped runner with large scale wallpaper.

Jed Johnson

Orkney Chair on the landing.
Orrick and Co

Alicia B.