Cool off Blues

Robert Stilin put a beautiful abstract painting over this table with different blues. Clearly a focal point.

Summer can get pretty steamy, especially here in NYC. In August the heat can be almost unbearable! Coming home and sitting directly in front of the air conditioner is one way to solve the overheating that comes with summer, but another way is to visually cool off your home! Adding cool colors to your home in the summer can be a way to take the heat down a notch and add some freshness too.

A blue geometric rug sets the tone subtly for this room by Thad Hayes. Also different blues are all around the room in throw pillows, a blanket and the drapery.

Simply adding blue accessories is also a fun and less expensive option. Massucco Warner Miller used different blue glass vessels in these cabinets.

Blue and white cachepots for the plants around your room also catch your attention. Wouldn't this be a nice place to sip lemonade after being outside for a bit? By Joann Barwick from Traditional Home.

My favorite idea, which is temporary for the change in season, is to switch up the throw pillows and lampshades. It's an easy way to freshen up the room and you can change the pillows back to orange in fall or tartan in the winter! By Frank Roop.

Pastels and different blues are nearly everywhere throughout this large living room by Diamond Baratta. Blue lampshades and lanterns are molto fun!



Don't want to repaint your walls or buy new lampshades? Want a project? A fun idea is to paint your bookcase blue, or even just the back wall of it for a pop of blue when you're admiring your books/bookcase display. From Remodelista via HERE.

Painting the walls blue is also a fun and inexpensive option. I love how this dining room is painted above the very high chair rail. Draws your eye up to the amazing ceiling too. By Marshall Watson.

When I started this and was thinking of cool fresh blues, I immediately thought of Bunny Williams summery room for the Kips Bay 2009 Showhouse. It's more of a turquoise blue but bright and lively. From Habitually Chic.

Do y'all ever change a room based on the season? Slip covers are also a good idea for an inexpensive seasonal change if they are done in a very tailored way though. My living room has yellow walls and a brown plaid love seat so I'd probably change (sew my own!) the throw pillows before I did anything else.


Alicia B.

A Visit From a Bostonian!

A street on Beacon Hill in Boston

This coming weekend one of my very best friends from college is coming to visit me in NYC alllll the way from Boston! In honor of her visit, I've chosen some of my very fave designers in the Boston area.

Mally Skok always uses the most beautiful colors and fabrics (possibly because she has her own fabric line). This living room has neutrals, ikats, and a generally soothing color palette.

Pinks, oranges, and yellows make up this preppy fun basement sitting area. Also by Mally Skok.

Another gorgeous interior by Mally Skok, in Cape Cod. How gorgeous are the french doors and windows and that coffered ceiling?! FYI Mally also is on Twitter an has her own blog!

Gary McBournie has always been a favorite of mine for his classic and nautically inspired interiors. I love this blue wall in the dining room. They texture gives it such amazing depth.

William Hodgins designs the most incredible houses. This foyer looks all the way through to the window in the sun room. I love the green little plants glowing in the sun!

What a gorgeous antique wing chair in the front hall of this Boston home by William Hodgins. Also, I wish we could see more of the front door because that glass work looks amazing.

Lastly, Frank Roop adds a little edge to the classic look that I love so much. This room is romantic and uses neutrals and jewel tones in the upholstery. I ADORE that glass globe ceiling light in the middle.

I am very partial to designers from New England because of the classic traditional style. Often times, the houses are old Colonial houses with amazing thick mouldings and beautiful front doors, graceful and unassuming stairways. You get the gist...I'm obsessed. Anyway, I'm excited for my weekend and all the fun times we have planned. Two stodgy New England girls let loose in the big bad city...uh oh.


Alicia B.

Go Blue?

Ultra modern tub found at Trendir.

If you haven't heard yet, being "green" is out and being "blue" is in. Blue is the new green. Being BLUE is about water conservation. Apparently along with the world having bad air, we're losing water. HERE is the article. While you're busy feeling bad about the world, I have collected some pics of BLUE bathrooms to perk up the mood! What better place to have a lot of blue but the bathroom? A room that is centered around water and cleanliness and recharging yourself (take a bath) might as well be blue.

Kenneth Albert designed this amazing over the top blue tiled bathroom complete with mosaics of a fish and people! All that blue tile gives off the feeling of water.

One more reason to love Katie Ridder. This bathroom. And that light fixture. And the bouquet of contrasting orange flowers.

Drake Designs proves that you don't always have to use tiles for the blue. Jamie Drake chose dark blue Madagascar cloth on the walls which is so beautiful; picks up so much light and accentuates shadows too.

Another pic of the Drake Designs bathroom.

Patrick Gallagher designed this blue beauty (yeah I said it). I love the tiles that he chose and that they continue up into the shower.

This is pretty with simple blue accents; blue Moravian star and blue hand towel. I especially love the glass jug in the back.

Frank Roop designed this incredible little bathroom. He even used CAD to custom design this tiled mat below the tub. Impressive! The soft blue on the walls is called Borrowed Light by Farrow and Ball.

This tub looks uncomfortable but there is something about those unfinished wide planked floorboards that is so appealing. The pretty blue wall is gingham blue by Pratt & Lambert. I love the ladder as a towel rack too--so rustic.

I love how the blue frames out the rest of the space. The star lantern picks up some blue as well! I do not care for that rug however. From Domino.

I know this isn't all blue but I thought this shower curtain was so adorable/delicate/perfect that I couldn't resist. From Country Living.

Also from Country Living, isn't that a fabulous vintage claw foot tub? This whole bathroom is a tad bit forced vintage though. Sorry.

I think designing a bathroom would be so fun. It can be such a small space and you can really have some fun with it as it isn't a main space and wouldn't have too much effect on the whole of the house.

Alicia B.