Good Pouf vs. Bad Pouf

As you know, poufs are ALL the rage. I rarely go along with trends, but I'm pretty charmed by these little Moroccan stool/ottomans. I've been looking high and low for an affordable and attractive one and I've seen some awful ones and some awful(ly) cute ones.

I've seen a ton of these types of poufs at Jonathan Adler and we actually bought two for a client in yellow. I sat on one yesterday at an installation and it was rather comfortable! This room is by Daniel Pafford from Lonny.

I love the old leather and kilim type poufs. I feel like they were put together with remnants--they feel casual and beautiful. From Bohemia Design. Good pouf.

I saw this on Style Hive. I'm going to go with a resounding BAD POUF. This is like taking all those felt rock that were so "cool" a while ago and mashing them together like a bunch of dirty socks and telling someone to sit on it. Was that too harsh?

Houzz. I LOVE these little crocheted poufs! They are like warm chunky sweaters in this cold scary room.

Katie Ridder's room designed for Design on a Dime has two raspberry poufs that are a fun pop of color and look tres inviting!

Christien Meindertsma designs these poufs. What do you all think of them? They are like the sweater poufs on steroids...

Besides the felt rock one from above, I think this one from Urban Outfitters gets my award for worst pouf. As Raina pointed out, it could work in a kids room maybe but I'm just not feeling it. It looks cheap and if you get that, you might as well get a small bean bag and call it a day, you hipster. BAD.

And for the last, this was absolutely the best pouf I have ever laid eyes on in my entire life. Guess where I saw it! Bunny Williams Garden House tour from Trade Secrets. Isn't it beautiful? You're one in a million, pouf, and Bunny has two of them!

I'm still mixed on whether I should go with a modern or metallic pouf for a bit of fun and contrast in my apt or go with a kilim style pouf as they look the most authentic and they are certainly less ubiquitous. Tell me what to do!!


Alicia B.

Trade Secrets Book Signing

If you know me (you know me by now), you know I LOVE a good book signing. I love to have all my precious design books signed by the designers. It makes it special. Above are just a few of my signed books: Bunny, Bunny, Albert Hadley, Barry Dixon, Vicente Wolf, and Celerie Kemble. Anyway, enough about me. When I heard that there was going to be a book signing at Trade Secrets, I was SO JAZZED. There are EIGHT designers who are going to be there at the Johnnycake Books table (could that name be cuter??) between 10 and 1 to sign books. Besides Bunny Williams, I'm most excited about Carolyn Roehm because I've never met her and love her classic style. I own one of Florence de Dampierre's books as well and adore her. I can't wait to see the garden designers though as well. Gardens and landscape design is something I don't know a ton about but I find it totally fascinating. A beautiful landscaping job can make a home when you first approach it.

For more info about this, visit the Trade Secrets website. Okay, off I go to tour the gardens and see all the beautiful people!

Alicia B.

Trade Secrets Weekend!

This weekend I'll be doing what I do EVERY YEAR on this date...going to Trade Secrets! If you don't know, it's an annual garden tour and sale in beautiful Sharon, CT in which the proceeds go to Women's Support Services, a non profit organization to help victims of domestic violence. Design idols like Bunny Williams (who actually founded Trade Secrets) and Martha Stewart have been spotted there as well.

Bunny's house is on tour every year and her gardens are spectacular and incredibly charming. I'll give you an update after I see them! This year the new designer is Lynden Miller, a landscape designer who specializes in public gardens.

Intriguing, I know. If you live in NYC (of if you've been there), you've probably been to a park that she helped design or rehabilitate--Central Park is one of them. She heads up the Conservatory Garden of Central Park. Above is a shot of a garden at Battery Park City in lower Manhattan.

Who knew there was such a garden in NYC? Above is the British Garden at Hanover Square.

I'm excited to tour her garden home up in CT--don't worry I'll report back to you all! Have any of you been to Trade Secrets?


Alicia B.

The New Bee Line Home

Bunny Williams is a truly great designer. She has a very traditional style but she knows how to keep things fresh and interesting. I've always loved her interiors, her store Treillage, and her own line Bee Line Home. I clicked onto BeeLine Home today though and was blown away. Blown. A. Way.

A simple night stand with this gorgeous diamond detailing on the drawer and simple fluting on the legs.

How much do you love the nailhead detailing and low reflief carving in the legs? I love it a lot.

This is a fun twist on a standard cocktail table. And it's appropriately named, the Bottoms Up Cocktail Table.

I know this has been in Bunny's collection for a while but I love it. The blue color is just beautiful. Emerald blue is so hot right now because of Kate Middleton/Prince William!

These ivory lattice backed chairs would be perfect in my imaginary country home. I think they'd look so fun with a bright poppy fabric.

A nice looking wastebasket is impossible to find. I always end up modifiying the ones that I buy but this one is a beautiful stained wood--no need to change it!

Could this possibly be more creative? A little spiral makes something icky (rain) into something fun and springy!

Nailhead sofa! This sofa is pure perfection. End of story.

Anyway, this was just a little fun--well a lot fun. There is so much more on her website and maybe you didn't like what I liked so...check it out. Alicia B.

Trade Secrets Weekend!

This weekend I'll be attending Trade Secrets in Lakeville, CT for my third time! It's an annual garden event with garden vendors and the more GLORIOUS garden/house tours.

The proceeds go to benefit Women's Support Services WSS for women who might be in trouble, so it's for a good cause.

The Bunny Williams garden tour is my favorite, but they've added Robert Couturier this year and I'm DYING to go.

Curious? See last years post about it or go up (or down or over) to Lakeville CT and experience it for yourself. You might run into Martha Stewart too because she goes every year.

Martha loves gardening.

Alicia B.

Turquoise, is it?

Since just about everyone has had a go at the fact that Pantone announced turquoise as THE color for 2010, I thought I'd go for it as well. I'm not usually one to jump on bandwagons right away, but this one I am completely on board with. I'm actually very excited to move on from the purple craze that happened. In any case, I like the turquoise. I find it lively, preppy, bright, and bold. There are lots of different ways you can go with turquoise--watery blue, greeny aqua, etc.

Bunny Williams is right on track with this gorgeous fresh classic chair from her Beeline Collection.

Amanda Nisbet adds some fresh watery turquoise in this dining room with the leather dining chairs.

I just love this abstract painting that really pops in an otherwise neutral dining room. The reflection of the turquoise-y blue on the table top is so fun. S. Russell Groves.

Fawn Galli works in a bright pop of turquoise with a very traditional sort of setting. I love it on top of that chinoiserie chest!

This bedroom by Christina Murphy is so right up my alley. Monogramming? Yes. Tufted bench with turquoise fabric? mmhmm. Soft blue wall color? Delightful.

I guess I'm really liking the blue tones to this color. The pop of freshness in color is just what we need in 2010, right? Well, whatever shade you go with turquoise it seems to be a hit. PS- Has anyone else noticed that this seems to coincide with the invention and boom of Twitter, and that Twitter's color is turquoise? Have I said too much? Strange...


Alicia B.

Popping Red Bedrooms

Barclay Butera's paisley fabric he designed for Kravet.

As I've mentioned about a million times I'm working on a very modern corporate residence for school and I'm nearly finished--my presentation is tomorrow! I must say, I'm pretty pleased with my work. The rooms are full of round features, circular beds, Kyle Bunting fur rugs (LOVE), and insanely modern fabrics. I need a break though. I need to go back to, as my teacher calls it, my safety zone. I am feeling so festive now a week and a half before Christmas. I keep seeing red everywhere and it's making me feel tres cozy. Here are some cozy and festive bedrooms that can be warm all year round.

Via Verdagris Vie. I'm in love with these oversized red striped pillows! If you need to add some red or something festive a throw pillow is the perfect thing because you can easily change the covers whence the season changes. Yeah, WHENCE.

Velvet is so hot right now, and really makes this headboard look soft and luxurious. I've always loved this bedroom from House Beautiful by Stephen Shubel.

How country fabulous is this bedroom by Kathleen Rivers? I love the faded red window pane plaid bed skirt. I'd die to have a fur throw on my bed. I love real fur but if you want the top faux fur throw, go for Bunny Williams's "Miss Naughty Bunny Throw" from her BeeLine Home collection. It looks so cozy!

This is such a simple room and I'd like to take that tiny television and hurl it out the window but the red doors for some reason make me stop. Almost made my heart stop, if you know what I mean. By Coco Raynes from Veranda.

This is a deeeeeep rich red. I am in awe over the wall paper--isn't it gorgeous? I love how the little tole lampshade subtly emerges from the darkness of the wall. By Casey Design Planning.
And who can resist fresh crisp red and white bedding? The is the kind of bed that only Santa can deliver (I know, I went too far there). From Pottery Barn.

I think that even just a pop of red is sufficient to make you stop in your design tracks. I know I have a fear of red, but I'm coming around. It doesn't have to be super aggressive, it can be fun, festive, and sumptuous. Or it can be tartan!

ALSO: Stay tuned tomorrow for an extra special interview with the owners one of my favorite new stores! SO EXCITING!


Alicia B.

Dining Table Gossip

This is the dining table that Bunny Williams designed for the Kips Bay Showhouse.

I was so sorry that I couldn't make it to the Holiday House 2009 Showhouse; a tablescape show house on the Upper East Side, but I read a fun article about it in the NY Times. It sounded like a glamorous event to be sure but the main thing that I took from it was a fabulous quote from one of my favorite designers Bunny Williams. In regard to dinner and seating she said, "First off, hosts need to separate husbands and wives. Nobody does that anymore, and I think it’s disgusting. I don’t want to sit next to John (her husband), I want to get in the cab with him later and gossip." Oh Bunny, you are too hilarious! And of course, she's right. Bad form. Anyway, here are some gorgeous dining rooms that you can all gossip about later in the cab.


Here is Bunny Williams's table that was inspired by the Summer Solstice! So gorgeous and I love the colors--they look delicious. If you want to see more pictures, Heather from Habitually Chic was lucky enough to attend the gala and take amazing shots of everything there. Check it out HERE. Also, oddly enough she did a post on dining rooms today too...weird.

A simple X-based table with two benches, this dining room is simple and glamorous with the glass top on the table. By Tom Scheerer.

I normally hate a skirted table (yes, it's not a popular opinion, I know.), but for some reason this one is really working for me over this round table. Maybe it's the cheery yellow fabric in the otherwise muted, soft shaded room. By John Peixinho.

This traditional looking design by Eric Cohler is soft and unstuffy. I think that shade of blue freshens up the room that is fully antiques and plush fabrics.

I'm not sure why all of a sudden I'm drawn to round dining tables, but I am. I especially love the pewter vase full of flowers. Barry Dixon.

Not LOVING the rug there that Barbara Westbrook chose, but how can you not love the shade of grey against the gilt wood frames. Swoon.

Just a little flash of what must be an incredible dining room by Bunny Williams, I'm loving the yellows and that rug is exquisite. Yes, exquisite.

This post really makes me wish that my kitchen table didn't function as a dining table, craft table, drafting table, and counter top. It would be amazing to be able to throw a dinner party in a formal dining room but for now, I can blog. These are sure inspiration enough and now I must get back to my drafting table which is covered in fabric swatches right now! You can gossip in comments, thanks.

Alicia B.

White Drapery Surprise.

As I mentioned, over the weekend I am helping out a friend with her new house. It's so much fun for me and great to have someone who is receptive to my ideas even if we don't have the same style! Isn't that what a designer is for? Anyway, in her living room which is her top priority at the moment, she has simple ivory colored drapery. My first instinct is, COLOR! But then I stood back and thought that even though they were white, they still carried themselves without any color. Here are some other lovely rooms with ivory/white drapery and don't fade away.

This room is mainly made up of whites and neutrals in a very traditional style. By William Hodgins. Interesting how he works with the shape of the room and places the bedside table forward from the window.

Not a ton of color here but the white drapery is what draws your attention to the height of the ceiling. By Westbook and Winkler.

James Michael Howard, always decorating with soft neutrals tucks this gorgeous drapery behind the stunning architectural detailing.

The ceilings in the Kip's Bay Showhouse this year were so high that Bunny Williams had to sew two sheets (she used linen sheets I believe instead of drapery fabric) together to achieve that height.

Windsor Smith had the honor of participating in this Veranda Showhouse Greyhouse Estate. I'm just in love with those windows that are nicely framed out by strong white silk drapery .

Another lovely room, this one designed by the editors at Veranda.

Funny how even though there is a white carpet, these white drapes really stand out against the cocoa painted walls. By Carrier and Co.

I, of all people shouldn't be too astounded at how many people use simple white or ivory colored drapery. I have soft white drapery panels in both my bedroom and my living room with white scalloped edge roller shades underneath that. Would have included a picture for you but sometimes stealing internet has its drawbacks. I think it's subtle and elegant and lets the rest of the room speak for itself without being a cop out. White is certainly not a cop out.


Alicia B.