Easter Interiors

Easter is only three days away and am definitely ready for some jelly beans. I love Easter for many reasons but I really love the pretty pastel colors. Purples, greens, pinks, and yellow are a nice harbinger of Spring and warm weather. These interiors are like beautiful pastel Easter eggs.

I don't wanna brag but I have this rug in my bedroom. Its so cute but a little bit softer than the one above because it's faded. I'm a huge fan of painted furniture so I pretty much can't find anything I don't love about this S. R. Gambrel room--except that I'm not in it.

How great are these shades of blue and green. Like a vibrant robin's egg and a faded celery. The light in this bedroom is generous--designed by Phoebe Howard.

One of my favorite parts of Easter is when they show the local news reports of farms giving away little yellow chicks on Easter. They are so so cute but I'm definitely not allowed to bring home more baby chicks (Long story short we thought it was a hen, it grew up to be a rooster. Not a pretty scene). Anyway, this yellow wall and then the strategically placed Hunters are the perfect dose of yellow. From Country Living.

I wish I could get this color of seafoam green on my eggs when I dye them. This bathroom is simple but has so much going on and so much to look at. Designed by Kerry Joyce.

Perfect beach colors: sand and sky. This living room of a beach house from House Beautiful.

I think the color green is really growing on me. It is a color that reminds me of nature and plants so can be really fresh but also gives a feeling of coziness. I love this little bedroom from Coastal Living.

Yellow is really one of my favorite colors. I adore this little breakfast nook with yellows and whites and the organic elements like the faux bamboo chairs and the flowery chandelier. I will be doing a little DIY project involving yellow next week so GET JAZZED. This yellow gorgeousness is by Celerie Kemble.

I'd never put a shag carpet in any interior but I love the blue stripes running up the wall and the ceiling. I'd also love to have double doors leading to a terrace. So rip out the shag carpet and switch out the bed frame to a white painted country style frame and I'm there. By Betsy Burnham.

Don't you just love pastel rooms? I'm sure even if you're not a celebrator of Easter, the colors and the spring feeling, yes? I'm now at home in CT and I've been instructed that I must dye all the eggs, but I'll be helped when the boyfriend joins us tomorrow. My sisters are also dying eggs in Chicago and carrying out the silent competition of who can dye the best (funniest, too. I know, we're wild!) eggs. What are your Easter Plans? Non-Easter/just a gorgeous weekend plans? Tell me!


Alicia B.

Black and White amazingness in The Hamptons

Black and white has been a huge part of my life all of a sudden. I'm having a black and white photography show that I mentioned yesterday and I've falling IN LOVE with black and white interiors. It all started with this S. R. Gambrel house on the Hamptons that is different shades of black, white and grey with little pops of color here and there. I love the contrast with the classic elements in the house.

Check out the window frames painted in black; it really makes them stand out. I love the super traditional gilded mirror with the other more structured elements.

I'm not sure what that chair is doing there but I am LOVING the ebonized headboard and the black and white pillows.

Woo, all that travertine marble is making my head spin with delight. I love it.

The living room is so beautiful. The greys, blacks, and whites are very nice but the reason this all works is the pop of red in the lampshades and the greens which you'll see in the next image.

As a color girl, I LOVE how these colors pop in this neutral but NON beige base.

Aren't these chandeliers fun?

The main reason that I fell in love with this home is the kitchen. I love the graphic quality of this floor and the tiles on the wall. The benches and the rustic table read a little country (NOT a bad thing) and the floor makes it look more modern.

See what I mean about the graphic quality of the kitchen? I'd DIE to have this oven but this floor is like Escher came in and did a little art project on the floor. I usually hate oven hoods but this one is so impressive here with the pottery on the shelves against the black subway tile background.

I started this post out as a collection of great black and white interiors but I clearly changed course and couldn't stop looking at these pictures again once I started. I think these are a great example of a neutral not having to be a boring beige but a graphic exciting and surprising backdrop of creating something wonderful in an old home.

Alicia B.

Friday Faves

This first week back from "The Holidays" has been quite a whirlwind. Trying to adjust to work again, working on New Year's Resolutions, my Washington Post shout out, and selling seven of my photographs from my website has been keeping me quite busy. Busy is a good thing though; I'm certainly not complaining! It is Friday though and that means it's time to breathe and prepare for a relaxing weekend.

S. R. Gambrel designed this incredible townhouse down in the West Village and I think this narrow entry way is stunning. The high gloss walls and flooring really make a statement.

Along with just about everyone else in the world my OTHER New Year's Resolution is to get and stay more organized. I love the Container Store to death so this shouldn't be that hard... I have quote a large project to take on though--my under bed storage. I'll let you know how it goes.

J. Crew sends me daily reminders of how cute they are and how I can't shop right now (after Christmas). It doesn't mean I can't look though, right? The Blakely dress is adorably feminine and I love it in Caspian Blue.

I'm probably going to be organizing like mad this weekend. Then on Sunday I'm having brunch with a friend from my semester abroad in Florence! I haven't seen her since last New Years so I'm molto excited. Have great weekends everyone and stay warm!

Alicia B.

A Fire Burning...

A few months ago, when I was looking at apartments, one of them had a mini (non functional) fireplace that practically stole my heart. Unfortunately I just couldn't face living in an apartment that was just a 9' by 9' room--I have a lot of stuff so I had to move on from it (tear). Every time I see a fireplace though, I feel such incredibly envy so here's a collection of some hot hot fireplaces to ENVY.

By landscape designer Jay Griffith. *GASP* I just adore the idea of an outdoor fireplace. Eveyrthing here looks relaxing and just perfect for a quiet summer outdoor party.

Could this be more amazing looking? Are they going to bake bread in there? Or a pizza? This size fireplace reminds me of an old colonial house. By SR Gambrel.

By M Group. I love the traditional aspect of this one and the fact that it's in a dining room instead of a living room.

This little room brings out the modern (slash retro) side of me. Its like a little bubble fireplace and the setting seems like you could just come in from chopping wood, throw on a blanket and read for a little in front of the fire. From Living Etc.

Nothing gets me going like the look white washed wood! And exposed beams. By James Michael Howard.

I think based on this picture, it is going to be my life goal to have a fireplace in my bedroom. From The Daily Bed.

Another white fireplace but very different from the one above. I love how ornate the decoration is. By Eric Lysdahl.

There are so many fun things you can do with a fireplace and they don't always have to be traditional. Aside from how you decorate it, the structure itself varies in so many ways making it change the room completely, even making it the focal point. Even if it's not, it should surely grab your attention.


Alicia B.

Rando Design Inspiration Friday

Take a deep breath. Take these AMAZING interiors in and savor them. Yeah. This week has gone by quickly despite the fact that it has YET to stop raining. Thanks to everyone who told me to get over myself and embrace the rain. So now I'll tell you to embrace these amazing interiors!

Joe Nye has completely sucked me in with the amazing contemporary painting and fresh color scheme in this sophisticated living room.

Joe Lucas had me at the nightstand. NOT meant to sound dirty.

What draws me to this beachy looking room by S R Gambrel is just how unpredictable it is. The stool/bookcase at the foot of the bed is so unexpected and the desk with two chairs. Also, nothing gets me quite like a map (the wall paper) and a green glass jug made into a lamp.

I love how light this room by Kari McCabe is. Could there be more angular elements in here?? The sofa frame, the thinly framed pictures, the wood floor JUST to name a few. The main thing that drew me to this room was that fabulous window in the back though. So simple yet so perfect.

Happy Friday everyone! If the rain clears up, the bf and I are going to walk on the new High Line Park over on the West Side apres work! Have a great weekend.