French Chic: A must read.

Among many amazing and super generous gifts I received for Christmas, I was given French Chic by Florence de Dampierre a talented designer who hales from Paris France but now lives in Litchfield, CT. This book reminds me why I love traditional design so much. In the book she talks about different ways to make your home warm and inviting. One thing that stuck out for me was when she said, "Good design is about individuality, comfort and whimsy." I can definitely get on board with that when comfort and whimsy involve beautiful antiques and cheetah print carpets in the front hall! Take a look at some of her home.

This is her home in Litchfield. Not only is it stunning architecturally but, to point out the obvious, she has a light lime green door! I love it!

In this restored home, there is not one amazing thing to each room but everything is beautiful to look at. The floor for one is absolutely stunning and you can see a zebra rug poking into view in the foreground. I love the carving in the coffee table and the fact that the two side tables do not match.


Here is a little bit of the famed cheetah rug (which is real!?) with a cute dog on it! How could you not feel welcomed here?

I have always loved toile and I even have a pink toile duvet in CT, so it's quite obvious that I love this. The grey/brown toile is so calming though in this light bedroom.

All the images are from 1st Dibs and Amazon, btw. Florence lives in this home with her husband and three children so she can't be designing homes that don't really get lived in. It is formal and traditional, sure, but she still maintains the element of the country, too. It's a nice balance and you can certainly see her "whimsy" in the design too. I SUPER recommend this book as a must have. Florence also has a blog! Who doesn't?! It's HERE--hasn't been updated since September but I'll still subscribe because she posts about her book signings which I'd of course love to attend.

Alicia B.

Inlaid Wood Love

Italian inlaid wood tea caddy from 1st Dibs. Only $1850? I'll take it!

I think inlaid wood is incredibly beautiful. You might even say exquisite. There are so many intricate patterns you can create on the floor, in a door, in a box, I could go on but it's starting to sound like a Dr Seuss book. One usually finds it it a traditional setting where it is a stunning surprise.

A large honeycomb pattern is here in this foyer using different tones of wood to make the pattern stand out. From Traditional Home.

Think you can only find inlay in a historical home? Not so! Stephanie Stokes (my kitchen idol) took the pattern of her family crest and had it inlaid into the small kitchen floor. Stunning.

If you don't have the resources for hiring a professional to do your marquetry work, this is actually a stained pattern made to look like inlaid wood. Incredibly gorgeous and I love the Greek key pattern on each side. Designed by Brown Davis Interiors.

Here is designer, Juan Montoya modeling for us next to a kicky inlaid wood door. It almost looks like parkay flooring but much prettier as it is framed out so nicely on this door.

I wish I could see the top of this table better but it has an inlaid pattern inset on it. I like the informal look of this as well. Gorgeous foyer by James Michael Howard.

I think I'm most drawn in by the craftsmanship that it must take to create these pieces. The craft of marquetry is quite rare I'm sure so it makes them even more valuable and special. I just recently selected an inlaid wood box for a client to use as a cocktail table (with legs made) and a glass top and it is going to look amazing. Have a fantastic Thursday because guess what! Tomorrow is Friday!


Alicia B.

Falling for Yellow

GAWGEOUS yellow diamond from 1st Dibs

I've always been crazy for the color yellow. Different shades can be happy, demure, sunny, or subtle but either way it makes me feel warm inside. Also,I look great in yellow, so that's a plus. I've been noticing lots of yellow lately (particularly yellow and grey), but not the bright lemon yellow that we saw in the spring, it's more of a soft yellow with a feeling of gold in it.

Alicia B. Designs. WOW, she's a genius!

This contrast of yellow and black is so striking. via material girls blog.

This is from good old Domino. I normally would shy away from this marigold shade but it works really well with the soft browns. Oh and I think we all know how much I love painted brick walls!

Elizabeth Stuart Design. I like the gilded furniture and frames and the yellow upholstery. So elegant.

This bedroom looks very cozy and quiet with the red and orange quilt and striped yellow wallpaper. Also of note: asymmetrical frames. Just sayin'. Designed by Chad Eisner.

This might by my favorite of the bunch but I haven't decided. The contrast of the yellow and the blue is pure heaven. And don't think you can get away with white washing the floors and painting a design on them and now have me go crazy for it. By Jeffrey Bilhuber.

Have you all noticed this gravitation towards yellow, too? I find it to be a nice welcome to fall. The color is warm without being too harsh or abrasive. All these interiors look soft. I'm in.


Alicia B.

Reader Question: What is Bobbin Furniture?

A few months ago, a reader asked me a very good question. What are these bobbin chairs that I keep referring to and praising? Originating mainly in the 1800's in England, the furniture ornamentation changed to a lighter look with bobbin or spool ornament. Bobbin furniture is mostly antiques and you can find a lot of beautiful ones on 1st Dibs and some less expensive ones on Ebay HERE, for example.

This gorgeous corner bobbin chair is one that I found on 1st Dibs from Yew Tree Antiques; one of my favorite antiques stores. A corner bobbin chair is quite rare.

These dining chairs are especially pretty as you can see the finish is worn down revealing the wood. By Victoria Hagan (her house on the Hamptons!)

Isn't this painted bobbin bed AMAZING? The answer is yes. By James Michael Howard.

The beauty of these chairs is that you can see their framework and they are still quite comfortable. The room by Mollie Johnson is very elegant yet very inviting.

Dan Marty, who has his own showroom, sells bobbin chairs as well! I love the upholstery on these. As a side note, how gorgeous is the color of these walls?

In searching I noticed that Martha Stewart also makes a bobbin chair HERE. Can you blame me for getting excited when a designer uses a bobbin chair in their work? They are so pretty and versatile. Thanks for the great questions--keep them coming!

Alicia B.

Art Inspiring Design: Matisse Style

The Red Room. Henri Matisse

Have you ever been super inspired by an artist or just plain fallen in love with a certain artist? I've always felt a certain affinity for Henri Matisse ever since my first art history class in high school(that I took because of a crush on a teacher). There is something whimsical and beautiful about all of his paintings, cut outs and drawings. Not everyone can afford to have a painting or work by their favorite artist so why not do something in your home that is inspired by them? In my apartment I have a few black cut outs on my mirror that I made for a project in college and then put them on my mirror as a reminder. Matisse has inspired many things in interior design such as fabrics, color schemes, and furniture.

From Eric Cohler's latest amazing work featured in House Beautiful, in this bedroom he created custom Matisse cut out lampshades. This room is so beautiful and surprising and I just adore the art work over the bed.

Stephen Shubel used Matisse fabric from Clarence House on this chair.

Bungalow 5 designed a leaf cut out cabinet inspired by Matisse. From Point Click Home.

From Flickr, Liselotte . A fun DIY project, this girl made a large scale leaf cut out mobile. What pretty paper she used.

From 1st dibs Lotus Collection Kathleen Taylor Rug has Matisse inspired cut outs on a black background.

Maybe I love the bright and happy colors, or the cut outs, or the gorgeous interiors that he painted, or maybe I just loved the spirit that is emitted from each painting, but I've continued to love Matisse throughout all my art history studies. Plus he says brilliant things like, "What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject matter." Thoughts?

Alicia B.

Steven Sclaroff hates Karate-chopped Pillows. Me too.

I've always adored Steven Sclaroff's designs. His interiors are comfortable and subtly surprising--my favorite! He uses antiques and modern pieces together to create beautiful rooms. His use of color is also incredible. When I read in this in House Beautiful a few months ago, I knew we were soul-mates. He said that these were his biggest decorating pet peeves: Karate-chopped pillows. That look would never occur in 'pillow nature.' Prominently placed family portraits. Best avoided if you're not royal or papal. TVs that are disguised. They've been around for decades, so just embrace your TV. Would you buy an armoire for your stove?" True that, Steven Sclaroff.

This living room is absolutely gorgeous and unpretentious. The sofa is in perfect scale and I think you know how I feel about the gallery wall behind it. I feel pretty good about it.

This is a little display from the Jack Spade Store that he redesigned in downtown NYC. I'd love to have little drawers like that for collecting little things.

How perfect is this little green bedroom? The contrast of the uber structured hotel style bedding with the curvy headboard is perfection.

Clearly he's "in" with the Spades as he collaborated with Kate Spade and redid her apartment in NYC. The light flowing into this room is so pretty and the use of color is....astounding.

The floor is killing me with love/classic beauty. Kate Spade's kitchen.

Again with the great use of color. I don't think I'd ever look twice at that red striped chair but it fits in this room like a little glove. The bathroom beyond this is also so gorge. I love it so much I'm not even mad about the exposed pipes under it.

Of course, he has his own 1st Dibs shop full of amazing antiques, furniture, accessories, and vintage fabrics.

I NEED these adorable coasters by Piero Fornasetti! They're only $450 for the set of 8!

Also, a lover of folk art, here is a folk art model of a factory for only $675.

I think overall his interiors are thoughtful, and it seems like he's having fun while doing them. Also, word on the street is that he has a little obsession with squirrels and after I saw this commercial the other day, so do I. Did I mention that we're soul-mates?


Alicia B.

Architectural Digest Home Design Show Rundown.

As I mentioned last Friday, I headed over to the Architectural Digest Home Design Show on the west side. I love going and seeing the new trends and the huge kitchen stoves that I could never afford. Once you get past the boring overly smooth reconstituted go-green wood furniture and literally come on to people SIMPLY because they have their own 1st Dibs shop (I'm shameless for a good antique), it was pretty good. Some of it I was literally bored out of my mind--yes I know, you made that in Vermont and it's low VOC but IT'S UGLY AND BORING. Now that I've gotten that out of my system, here are some of my favorite things that I saw!

This is from the Bob Williams & Mitchell Gold display. I really liked this mirror but otherwise it was your basic sofa and lamp display. They are really great for a low cost sofa and coffee tables though.

The only saving grace to this horrid beige round chair (The Jeanie Round Chair) with karate-chopped pillows (shudder), is the mini stuffed animal bulldog. So cute!

I love these antique up and down lights. They were all a little bit different--I couldn't decide which was my fave. This was part of the 1st Dibs area and the shop was Country Gear Ltd.

Vol 1 Antiques was one of my favorites in the 1st Dibs Pavilion. I love these glass display domes.

I loved this birdcage sconce with little crystal flowers on it. I know, terrible picture--here it is on 1st Dibs. So cute!

How can you not be taken in by a GIANT skull on a distressed wood painted pedestal? I just don't know, but I could barely look away.

As a jar lover, I was obsessed with these antique mercury glass jars. Yes, I just called myself a jar lover. What.

Look how many!! From Linda and Howard Stein's spot in the 1st Dibs Pavilion. They have a shop in Bridgehampton.

This is one of those very high finished wood pieces I mentioned above. I have no idea what kind of baby would like that. By Laren Algren Woodworking.

I am a traditionalist for sure but I loved this display by FurtherDesign. The glass pieces they had were beautiful.

If you read my blog, then you know how I love colored glass jars and lamps. Don't you love that mini one off to the left? I think it knows how cute it is.

Drippy glass large sconce. Crazy but kinda cool and organic looking.

Cocobolo Design had some cool light fixtures, too. This large pendant had a gold mottled sort of interior finish but the fun part was that they had sculpted a spoon into the interior to block your eye from seeing the light bulb.

Also Cocobolo, this hanging pendant looks like a giant pea pod...or an eye.

I believe this was Cocobolo too. Pretty neutral colored wall sculpture.

I super loved this installation by Libby Ware Studio. They are small spheres and boxes made of ceramic. Check out the website HERE for more.

These glass lights were hand blown and so pretty! They were modern, came in clusters or as a table lamp (above) but I loved the organic quality to them.

Glass ball chandelier.

Suzanne Lovell's room was inspired by Henry James's Portrait of a Lady, so I was instantly taken by the scene. I love Henry James and this room was elegant and soft with pops of color. This shot is of the ceiling; a canopy of delicate grey silks.

The bed was simple but I love the lights on the nightstand and the pattern on the quilt was very interesting. I liked the pops of red on the bed and head board.

Before I started to pass out from exhaustion from this show, I saw a panel about kitchens! My fave speaker was William Diamond of Diamond Baratta Design. They use bright fun colors and their interiors are amazing. I was very intrigued about their obsession with painting the floors, too. Sounds like fun.

Did any of you go? Did you enjoy? Did I hear someone say they were bored? It's a lot to get through and there are lots of (somewhat pushy and annoying) people. I also, by accident, signed up for a subscription to the NY Times by a fellow ginger! What!? I got a free coffee mug, okay?


Alicia B.