Happy Halloween!!

I just finished icing these scary little cookies that I'm bringing to a friend's party, put out the little dish of candy for kids in my building, and I'm putting on the finishing touches on our Edward and Bella outfits (sparkles)!




Have a safe, sugar filled and happy Halloween!


Alicia B.

Old simple house plans - design inspiration

I posted an article the other day on gaining inspiration from old houses. Below is another great example - a bungalow that I stumbled upon near Forestville, California. It is so simple yet so well done. Why aren't builders and designers creating more homes like this anymore? Has the idea of doing a modest, simple and well detailed home escaped them? There must be a niche for this kind of house plan, but perhaps it's a lost art.

So here is the brilliant idea:

• keep the overall form and roof line very simple - this costs less to build
• use nice deep overhangs - this protects the walls, windows and doors from the elements
• create a good composition of windows - here picture windows are combined with double hungs and centered between the porch columns and the wall surfaces
• use minimal ornamentation - the window grid patterns and the exposed rafter tails are pretty much the extent of it here
• create a focal point - the simple shed dormer with louvers and the stair that is "captured" with side walls helps to create a center line and create focus on the entry
• give the house a base - the white clapboard siding provides a platform for the house to sit on and it contrasts nicely with the red shingle siding.

Simple,Unique, Small House Plans Cottage, Craftsman and Modern Home Plans

Georgetown in fall

My favorite time of year - crisp air and beautiful leaves. This image of the Georgetown C&O canal near my office. Enjoy your weekend!

Hope's Dream Room

Project: Hope
Client: 13 year old Hope. A sick little girl living here in Utah in need of a transplant. Make - A - Wish Foundation is granting her wish of a new room and my AutoCAD class presented options to them Wednesday night.

We were given a few of her likes/dislikes and a pretty hefty budget. Blue/fairies/gardening/Twighlight/Jonas Brothers. I gave her a restful room with plenty of room to grow and the option to give her a few hundred dollars from the design budget to accessorize as she pleases.



These drawings were scanned in before I put the finishing touches on them, but it shows the color scheme and general style of furniture.

My favorite parts of the room are the rug found on DesignPublic.com and the fairy artwork {not shown here, pretend it is in the frame above her bed} with a mermaid fairy conversing with a dragon fly. Too cute.

This was a fun opportunity to dream big and meet the wishes of a sick little girl. It was easy enough to think back to when I was that age and what I would have wanted in my dream room.

It was an emotional night for all of us as we met with people from the foundation and heard stories of other wishes they have granted in the past. After we presented out ideas, the excitement built as we were told that many of them will be implemented into the design of Hope's room.

home before dark

this is the first weekend all month we haven't had a wedding or two to do at the flower shop. (though why no one wants to get married on halloween is beyond me. we could have done fantastic flowers.) as soon as i arrived home i saw fantastic flowers in the yard: roses still blooming, berries glowing, and buds setting on the gardenia. there were fat bees buzzing round the caryopteris and beautiful leaves tinged red on a hydrangea. the time changes this saturday, i'll miss the light.

St Regis Bar

My new favorite place to hang out in DC is the bar at the newly renovated St. Regis hotel! Recently renovated by Sills Huniford, the space is truly amazing. The historic hotel has been beautifully renovated but updated with modern furnishings and light fixtures that are easily reversable so no fears of the space 'dating'.They have some creative cocktails and probably the best sangria I've ever had (the fruit is strained out so you don't get those nasty bits in your teeth!)But it's the atmosphere that truly gets me, especially at night. Ebony paneling, an antique ceiling and tall windows.We had our local dc design bloggers happy hour here a few weeks ago and now I'm hooked! If you're ever in dc check out the hotel!

Rando Design Inspiration Friday

This has been a super stressful week, to say the least, as I had my midterm presentation on Wednesday for my class. The night before I was at a Fed Ex/ Kinkos until 3AM trying to print out my presentation from my Mac and needless to say, the employees there didn't seem to care about my troubles. The presentation went well, I think, considering how tough the prof is! Now I can sit back and enjoy some good old fashioned interior design. Shall we?

Cullman & Kravis is one of my favorite design firms so I was thrilled when I heard that Ellie Cullman and Tracey Pruzan were picked for "Saturday Shopping" on 1st Dibs this week! She has impeccable taste--isn't this hall gorgeous? That archway is so inviting and from what I can see of that round fixture, I love it!

I may or may not have gone to another Margaret Russell event, but this time, she signed my new book, Style and Substance! The book (I've paged through it 4 times so far) is gorgeous and, like she said, full of timeless interiors.

This is a really cool old barn converted to a home in the Finger Lakes region of NY! Yay Finger Lakes! I wish I still knew how to play the piano because this one is beautiful. From Martha Stewart.

I have the rest of the week off from school so I can finally relax and have a fun Halloween! The beau and I are going to be Bella and Edward from Twilight! Do you guys have any fun plans? Dressing up? Tell me everything.


Alicia B.

comfort and joy

it's been a week of comfort food here in the small but charming house. german girl is having a bear of a week at school, the normal 12 hour days (counting commute time) and then hours studying or writing a paper. so, i do what i like to do best, walk the dog and cook some life enhancing meals. she gets home so late, and hungry, there's no time for pictures. well, i did get one of a beef stew with mashed potatoes, but everything else can only be seen in the smiles on our faces and the inch on our waists. rereading "more home cooking" by laurie colwin, one of my favorite food writers and she says "you want comfort; you want security; you want food; you want not to be hungry; and not only do you want those basic things fixed, you want it done in a really nice, gentle way that makes you feel loved." amen to that!

Finding Design Inspiration in Old Houses

My better half and I just got back home from a short trip to the Napa Valley area. We don't really go for the wine, although that's nice too. For us it is really about the scenery. The area really has such a subtle beauty that we just love. On our trips I of course like to see the local architecture. I try to take snap shots of things I see that I might draw some inspiration from later on. Anyway I thought I'd show you an example from this recent trip and illustrate what I am trying to learn.

Here is a snap shot of the gable end of a historic home (the Kelley house) in Mendocino. I love the simplicity in form and the strength of it's details. This is a key to good design. If you have a simple form you need to pay attention to the details. Here are my thoughts:

• The proportions of the gable are quite nice - neither too slender or too squat with roof pitch neither too steep or too flat.
• I love the depth of the gable end roof overhang (this is called the rake end). The brackets underneath provide a sense of support for the overhang.
• The crown molding at the fascia creates additional shadow line and adds a subtle detail.
• A wide frieze board (that's the white trim on the wall below the overhang) provides a nice transition between the siding and roof overhang.
• The siding lap is nice and narrow. The proportion of the entire gable would be altered if the siding had a wider lap.
• I like the narrowness of the windows, and the fact the pair of windows are separated. Look closely and you can see a subtle little "pilaster" detail at the jambs and mullion. Also the trim at the head projects outward creating additional shadow line and interest.
• One thing I don't care for here is that the upper windows are nearly identical to the lower windows. I would rather see a bit of hierarchy - with the lower windows being a bit larger and more detailed than the upper windows. Another thing that bothers me slightly is the upper window intrudes upon the frieze board. It looks a little "crowded".

All in all it's a very pleasant composition and I can take away some good thoughts that I can apply on a future design.

Lastest news on our fabric

On Tuesday we went to see the first perfect meters of our Familjen fabric roll off the print but oh so disappointing it was... The screens had been made in the wrong order and the print looked diabolic... Nothing else to do but to have new screens made... This is of course causing delay... We'll keep you posted.

happy birthday to you.

marie, sending you flowers on your birthday. thanks for being such an inspiration and helping me to realize every moment of your day can be beautiful, delicious or meaningful.

Michael Smith Lecture

I had the pleasure tonight to attend a lecture given by Michael Smith (seen on the left, with Ali Wentworth speaking to his right) at the Corcoran Gallery of Art here in Washington, DC. Michael is a very talented and now very FAMOUS interior designer thanks to the coverage of his work in the private quarters for the Obamas at the White House (which he would not talk about). However, no stranger to publicity, he had his first project published at the tender age of 24 in a major publication! Images shown are from his website of one of my favorite projects he has completed, a townhouse in Eaton Square. Michael showed a great deal of images: both published and unpublished, older and recent as well as a brief rundown of his many product lines. While talking about the bedroom shown above, probably one of my top favorite published bedroom images, Michael mentioned his philosophy of a bedroom as 'a crib' or a cozy retreat. He is a fan of patterned walls and beds nestled against the wall.Michael quickly broke down his design philosphy in a very clever way and you can see examples of this throughout all his work: the mixture of 2 ideas (often opposing) that bring out the best features of both. Whether it be mostly modern with an antique painting thrown in or English country with a few pieces from Marrakesh, this tension is where the interest lies in his work- the true definition of an eclectic interior! He believes the discord "brings you into the moment by its contrast". At the same time, Michael is concerned with balance. He never wants a room to be 'too simple, too fancy, too cluttered', etc. In a very formal dining room he'll throw in a sisal rug in contrast to a patterned or scenic wallpaper.

Another of the mainstays of his work is investing in quality, classic pieces. He mentioned in his own homes (as he is always moving) keeping the same couches for decades and uphostering them when they get a bit shabby. I noticed throughout many of his own houses that he showed the same pieces kept showing up. If you love something, you will always make it work: Stay away from the overly trendy and never start from scratch!Michael said that being an interior designer is one of the most personal and private fields you can ever go into. You get to know your clients very intimately and you should never betray their trust, hence the 'don't ask don't tell' policy on the White House! He did however mention that his work there was to 'highlight the best of America' and not neccesarily the traditions of the White House.

Some of the most interesting things he talked about were during the Q&A which was cohosted by his hilarious friend Ali Wentworth, actress and wife of George Stephanopoulos (whose house was recently in Elle Decor magazine). He mentioned his use of layering numerous smaller carpets in a large room. The reason? Not for the 'look' per say, but more because he felt it was hard to find rugs he liked in appropriate sizes!

Michael easily (and often) admited to being proudly high maintenance. He said "I'm not the easiest decorator to have" because he wants to challenge his clients to be invested in their houses. He wants them to think about their choices and for their spaces to be true reflections of not just Michael's taste, but their own lives. He claims all of his projects are incredibly individualistic and won't ever take on a client who merely wants a copy of one of his previous jobs.

I hope you all enjoyed these little tidbits I gleamed from the lecture; it was an entertaining and charming way to spend a rainy evening! All quotes are in italics.

Stay warm

Tucked away in the mid-Norwegian hinterland south-east of Trondheim is the quiet town of Roros. It is a small community. A place without pretention, renown or significance. A one-time mining community where copper from pulled out from beneath the old-fold mountains.

When a childless Director of the mine died in the 1700s, he bequeathed his wealth to the local community that had served him and the mine. He set up a foundation to supply free yarn to the community and teach them to weave.

 

Roros is now listed as a World Heritage Site with over 100 original dwellings preserved and maintained as they were in the mining days. Now the town has nothing to offer but tranquility, beauty and a sense of belonging. On the outskirts of the town there is still a textile plant run by father and daughter Erling and Arnstein Digernes. They still produce the finest lambswool blankets in the world with 100% pure Norwegian wool. Each blanket is inspected by hand and the wool is teased up with needles to give better thermal properties. The blanket will last you a lifetime.

This is where ISAK came to produce our Penguin blankets. Blankets that will keep you warm and carry your memories for the rest of your life.

on the vine

Scarecrows, corn rows, pumpkins on the vine
Leaves curl, wind swirls...Fall is right on time.


Thought I'd share my favorite little saying about fall that runs through my head sometimes when I see leaves swirling in the wind.
Though, today it is snowing and the leaves are soggy and squished to the ground. Kinda early, but I like it.
The count down begins. 23 hours until I start the longest day of the semester thus far: Historical Furn. Midterm, documents turned in {a month of hairy CAD work}, and a presentation for Make-A-Wish Foundation for a little girl's room who's wish was to have a fairy/gardening/SpongeBob filled room. {Bet you can't wait to see how I blend those themes together huh?}

Elle Decor: Women In Design Night!

Last night I attended the Elle Decor: Women In Design, a celebration of 20 years of Elle Decor and five amazing women in interior design. Among them was Charlotte Moss (who won an award!), Michelle Nussbaumer, Holly Hunt, Kelly Wearstler, and Josie Natori (who couldn't make it). It was amazingly inspiring and the panel discussion format made it a fun and interesting discussion. We were able to see each designers real personality, instead of a staged personality on a reality show (Top Design).

Margaret Russell was monitoring the discussion and she was SO gorgeous. Wearing a little black dress, four inch heels (and an ankle brace), she was graceful and so funny!

I don't know much about Michelle Nussbaumer but from what I learned about her last night she has impeccable style and amazing design. I can't wait to learn more about her.

Charlotte Moss was so feisty and hilarious but beautiful and graceful, as always. She said she keeps a little notepad (or blue leather bound Hermes notepad!) in each purse to write down ideas as they come to her. She also has a blog Tete a Tete that she updates every few weeks.



Kelly Wearstler was quite inspiring, actually. She has such a passion for art and design and beautiful things.



Holly Hunt is another successful entrepreneur and founder of Holly Hunt which started out as a tiny little shop in the Merchandise Mart in Chicago and how she has a huge design empire and amazing showrooms; one in the D & D!

What was the most inspiring thing for me, as a student was that all these women followed their instincts and passions. In school, there are so many rules that often times you get bogged down and inspiration is hard to come by. These women didn't live by a set of strict rules, and though they've made their fair share of mistakes, they live just by their passions. BTW most of the pictures are from Point Click Home. There is a Margaret Russell book signing October 29th at the D&D as well! I can't wait to go.

Alicia B.

When it rains it pours!

When it rains, it pours. First my HVAC broke, then my refrigerator (beware of GE monogram), I broke my favorite teapot, a pair of sunglasses split in half this weekend and then today my dvd player died after I was sick for a week. Better days must be ahead.

When one door closes, another opens: here's hoping it's true. I've already rediscovered a new favorite teapot in my kitchen cupboards! Back to our usually scheduled programming tomorrow.

Paris doorway & detail

Modern Kitchen Discoveries

I know I've been lagging on my posts of late and this acknowledgment doesn't mean that's going to change because I'm still just as busy. Don't worry though, I'm still here, still loving the blog and still loving design. I've been working tres hard (7 hours at school yesterday drafting) on this town house project and guess what...it's MODERN. I started out with a traditional style because that's what I naturally drift towards, and the professor told me that I needed to challenge myself more. I decided on a somewhat industrial glam look and I'm actually warming to it! The room that I've had the most trouble with is the kitchen though. It's hard to design an industrial kitchen with some Alicia B. personality in it because of all the appliances and stainless steel.

If I could have any kitchen in the world, this would be it. Designed by Joan Schindler, this kitchen has so much character and amazing details: mini tile flooring, glass door fridge, and the most beautiful pendants I've ever seen.

Here are some modern kitchens that I actually like! They have some personality in them and they're sleek as can be (in my eyes).

The different greys and blacks (and whites) add lots of interest to this kitchen though I'm not sure how that table works so close to the counter space, right? I do enjoy the appropriate seasonal accents of orange though! From Marie Claire Maison.

I kind of super like this industrial look for this loft kitchen. I love how the counter juts out of the wall with the mysterious opaque glass on the wall and rough wooden column to contrast the sleek finishes. From Marie Claire Maison.

I like the natural wood paired with the hard steel surfaces and art in the kitchen always gets me! Elle Decor.

Another kitchen with black glossy cabinetry! This one designed by Eldon Wong has open shelving under the island with pretty glass dishes which as a bit of sparkle.

If you imagine this open kitchen in a different finish than the wood as it currently is, it would be super streamlined. In the wood though, it gives off a softer more textured look. Can anybody explain the super thin sink in the island?? Designed by Ann Wolf.

I will admit, if pushed to it, some of these modern style kitchens do have their own personalities. Its hard to balance a contemporary look without it looking too much like a restaurant kitchen. I have certainly learned a lot designing one for my class and I guess I've come around! Cement counter tops, opaque glass cabinetry, and who doesn't love a brand new ultra sleek Wolf range?? I definitely do.


Alicia B.