What you get your Mom, Sister, Best Friend, or other special woman you adore? We’ve gathered a smattering of our most precious treasures that are sure to inspire or delight her this Christmas. A charming rug that is great for petite spaces- the entry, for example, or in front of her kitchen island or sink. Help her layer her table with a set of gold-rimmed nesting bowls and A spectacular frame to hold her most prized possession- a moment with her family. Throw in a pair of crystal candle sticks for a guaranteed wow factor. Give her color, with a floral arrangement that looks fresh from the florist all year long.  For some eye candy, you can’t go wrong with a beautiful book filled with great photos- fashion, interiors, take your pick! A delicious candle accompanied by a box of long matches is the perfect antidote to stressful day of holiday shopping and in-laws! For brownie points, surprise her with jewelry that is as inspired as she is. Even better, add a special box for her keep on her nightstand, desk, or, vanity  for her to display her treasures.

Stop by or call in and let us help you find the perfect thing for her- we’ll even wrap it up for you and ship it out!

Merry Merry!

- Jessica

 [photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat]

[photos by Meikel Reece]

It seems like the Master Bedroom is always the last room in the home to be finished. Most often this is because this room is tucked away where guests can’t sneak a peek. At Alice Lane, however, we believe this should be the first room you dive into! Your room is the first place you see when you wake up, and the last place you see before you close your eyes at night- it’s your shelter from the rest of your crazy, chaotic life, and should be as serene and comfortable as possible—and gorgeous, of course!

When we visited with our adorable young clients, we were inspired by the sounds of music, giggles of young children, and the pattering of little feet that echoed through their house. We felt the love that filled their home and wanted to carry that warm feeling in our design.

Our rug – oh, our rug! This is what began our beautiful story. Its luxurious texture and calming circular shapes were just the ticket to start our scenic tale. Its warm hues and peaceful palette really embodied the warm-hearted feeling we were after.

Instead of placing a typical bench at the foot of the bed, we decided to place a cozy, tufted settee. Not only does this look beautiful, but it’s also a cozy little spot for a sick child who’s having a rough night (or a great launching spot for the wee ones to dive into Mom and Dad’s bed on Saturday mornings!).

 Across from the settee sits the fireplace and a set of His-and-Her chairs. We did His chair in a cozy gray and white ticking stripe, and Hers – well, where do I begin? The custom gray and white toile upholstery just melts into the hand-carved frame with delicate gold detailing- it’s a truly feminine chair! This is surely a spot where our young family will enjoy cuddling and reading bedtime fairytales by the fire.

 Above the fireplace, we nestled a silver leaf Portuguese starburst mirror. The mixture of the soft metallic frame and antique mirror has a celestial quality. Who wouldn’t want to wake up to this every morning?!

Every room needs a little something to loosen it up. For this space we decided to sprinkle pearly white Carnation platters in the corner. Their organic shapes break up all of the linear lines in the room and give a sculptural, relaxed quality to a bare corner. The platters almost look as though they could float away!

My advice to you is this: don’t save your Master Bedroom for last- just dive into it! You need a refuge where you can escape your crazy and chaotic day, where you can breathe deep and relax. Most importantly, you need a space that inspires you, where you can’t wait to wake up and start your day!

- Christy

 [photos by Meikel Reece]

We have worked with this local family before on their front porch, and now it was time to bring things inside. For years they used their front room as an office before finally deciding to turn it in to a formal living room.

We started by lightening the room up with a silver-leafed cork wallpaper applied above their decorative paneling, along with a light fixture that was more to scale with the room size.

The room was very small and we wanted to maximize the seating, so we positioned a full sofa under their tall, shuttered windows as an anchor to the room; we then used a sofette along the other wall and placed a sculptural chair in the corner to not only create a great conversation area, but also provide additional seating as needed. We grounded the space with a fantastic rug that brought both color and movement to the room, and above the sofette we hung a series of blue screen printed ferns in silver leafed frames that play well against the cork wallpaper.

In addition to the living room, we wanted to make the entry a functional zone for the family as well.

We selected a new light fixture and a large woven rug to fill the space as you walk in, and placed a 78” long console and  large starburst mirror along the wall next to the front door. It was very important to keep the scale of the pieces appropriate with the size of the space so that nothing felt dwarfed or undone. Along the stairs we placed a bench with a large print hung above, bringing some of the color from the living room into the entry. At the end of the entry we repurposed a smaller console, tuckedd it into her niche, and filled it with a splash of green Pellegrino bottles. We topped off the space by placing some faux aspen branches atop the console. I love to use flowers or greenery in a space- they can really  bring life into a room!

We will be finishing up the install of the formal living room at the end of the year, but here is a sneak peak. Stay tuned for images of the final install.

- Natalie

An adorable young couple came to us with the request to design their theater room.  They love to entertain, play games, watch movies, and spend time together as a family.  They loved the idea of creating a warm, cozy environment with a modern turn, and so did we; we knew the push-pull dynamic between the cozy and modern aesthetic was destined to create an interesting design.

Thom Filicia’s Niagara rug was the perfect beginning to our story.  The lines are clean and modern, but its wool content keeps it cozy for the kids to snuggle when playing games or watching their favorite movie.  We needed to seat loads of family and friends comfortably – we immediately thought of the simply tailored Keaton sectional.  Once their guests sink into this little piece of down-filled heaven – they just may never want to leave! We hugged the sectional with a modern low console that doubles as a bookshelf – functional and so chic! We then generously sprinkled the room with lamps – the soft, moody lighting gives the room a warm and welcoming feeling.

What’s more fun and modern than a barrel swivel chair?!  We knew it would surely become a favorite spot for the kids and just had to sneak one in the room! In order to keep the room from feeling too stiff, we loosened it up with art.  We loved the simple, natural, grounded feeling of the black and white horses. It’s this dynamic, the pairing of modern and ease, that adds depth and dimension to the design – making it both interesting and fresh.

This style setting theater is bound inspire countless evenings at home, filled with family and friends, playing games, watching movies, and just enjoying one another.  We hope it inspires you, too, so start popping the popcorn!

- Christy

Those who know me and those who love me know that I looooove rugs!  Every kind really but I must say my heart stopped at one and has had difficulty moving on!   Her name is Tiffany and she is hand knotted, with a stylized motif that feels like she has lived forever!  The way the navy tones melted into the golden sun and splashed you with persimmon is like the perfect sunset!

It was no question in my mind that one particular client HAD to live with this rug!  And their second home in Entrada was the perfect landing spot!  When we started designing one of their guest bedrooms, we began with the rug and Tiffany was it!  Being so enchanting and whimsical, we paired her with a iron bed with a quatrefoil detail and slubby yummy white and greige bedding.  We wanted the nightstands to feel found, like they were born with the home and the lighting to feel authentic and true!  The accessories and art had to be just right….simple yet thoughtful!

The tile in the bathroom was critical!  We had to find something that felt hand sketched, painted and loved for centuries.  We found it from Tabarka tile!  A company out of Arizona who hand crafts and paints each terracotta tile.

We designed and hand picked everything in these spaces from the tile work to the plumbing to the cloisonné knobs on the vanity.  There are so many moments in this space that one only needs to stand still, absorb the sunlight and you can’t help but feel like you’re being hugged by mother earth!

-Suzanne

As fall tempts us with its metamorphic mountains and brisk morning air I can’t help but crave the holidays!  I am a girl of seasons and anticipate the upcoming events far before they happen which is why I’d like to talk with you about Dining Rooms, home of fabulous food and family!  Specifically giving your current dining room a facelift before the holidays land in your lap!

We just finished up a dining room remodel and I was amazed at what a little paint, reupholstery and lighting did for this once very dark and closed in space!  I present to you a very dramatic “Before” and “After”!

When we walked into this dining room initially, there was a large disconnect with the homeowner and the space!  She is all things charming and gracious and the space she entertained in so often didn’t reflect any of these traits!   The existing dining chairs were beautifully crafted and just needed some new skin.  The dining table was the perfect size but the design was ho-hum, nothing that couldn’t be dressed up and the lighting just wasn’t special enough for this jewel box!  So we rolled up our sleeves and got to work!  The cranberry paint color on the walls was a big factor in how the room felt and was replaced with a watery color that brought the temperature down.  Immediately the space was more relaxed and approachable…..just like our client!  As many of you know, we start from the ground up when designing a space which leads me to our rug!  The rug that was in the space before wasn’t broken but was not an ideal size nor color for this square room.  We opted with custom sisal with a diamond design and metallic binding.  Again, the natural fibers and the non-descript color was exactly what the space needed especially when we combined it with the aqua and red table covering our client picked up in Turkey.

The sconces were designed by Suzanne Kasler (a personal hero) and are such a necessary detail the room didn’t have before!  When lit they look like diamonds in the sky!  And the chandelier is a gold leafed flower of a thing that gives back a lot of whimsy to the dining room!

The dining chair upholstery needed to be something that was interesting, textural and gorgeous of course!  This faux bois number was just the ticket ad gave such an update to these very traditional chairs!

Everybody, go right now and look in your cupboards and unveil your favorite china, pewter, candlesticks, whatever it is!  Display it!  Nobody hides Baby in the corner and you shouldn’t hide your favorite things behind closed doors!  Our beautiful client had so much fabulousness tucked away in her cupboards and we found it blasphemous NOT to display it for the world to see!  (We added the crystal ooey gooey candlesticks to add some glam to the arrangement but other than that,these were all things in her house!)

- Suzanne

This great how-to book by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is an endless cache of design tips, decorating checklists, and inspirational room settings and furniture pieces.  If someone is thinking of re-decorating or re-purposing their home, this serves as a wonderful starting place.

First, they say, you should define your style.   Do you like modern, sleek pieces or traditional, classic pieces?  The authors recommend mixing and matching different styles to achieve a timeless and versatile look.  “For us, it’s all about the mix, whether you’re filling your traditional home with modern furniture or adding elements of country style to a mostly modern living room.  Don’t be afraid to consider furnishings from different eras with a subtle blend of finishes, fabrics and colors.  The result will be a uniquely personal space.”

Mitchell and Bob put the reader’s mind at ease with their room-by-room guide that shows you how to work with your room’s scale and purpose.  Will the room be used for entertaining, for everyday living, or for formal occasions?  Does the room need pull-away seating or hidden storage?  Keep this functionality in mind when you’re selecting new pieces.  For example, a high traffic area like an entry may not be the place for a white rug.

They give some great tips for helping your home reach its full potential.  Invest in simple, clean window treatments, staying with the same draperies throughout your home’s common spaces.  If you need to alter hardware or treatments because of a window’s shape or functionality, use similar colors and fabrics.  Choose a neutral palette for your walls, and limit the number of colors in your home overall.  Change the amount of color in each room to create visual interest.  Finally, let your home’s architecture shine through.  Paint or stain all wood trim in the same way, and use all the same style, finish, and color for all your doors and hardware.  Keep the flooring consistent, as “different floor colors or finishes in hallways and adjacent rooms can make a layout feel choppy.”

Most importantly, they recommend everyone do their design homework.  Scan books, magazines, online photo albums, and see what style speaks to you.  We always recommend opening a Pinterest account, as this is a great place to collect your favorite design moments and discover new, inspiring design elements.

In the hustle and bustle of a hectic world, creating a peaceful and welcoming home is a must.  This book by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams helps us organize our thoughts and design rooms that will bring happiness to our homes.  “We’ve found that how you arrange the furniture can have a real impact on your home life…Each new update is a chance to reassess what makes us feel at home.”

- Andrea

[photos from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams The Comfortable Home]

It’s that time again… back to school. Fall clothes are always a favorite – cozy sweaters, crisp button ups and boots – and a necessity for the first day of school. When shopping for the kiddos be inspired by all of the colors, textures, and patterns.

Black and white stripes are always a classic. Keep it casual, easy and breezy or glam it up with a few gold accents.

Keep it monochromatic. Use different shades of blues – on the walls, with accessories and in the artwork. Polka dots are all the rage right now! In your interiors, use them wisely. These tiles are spaced evenly and in line but still gives the polka dot effect.

Blue! Use a striped rug to create and casual, easy and comfortable feel to the room.

Use a bold graphic statement piece for your artwork.

Make a room pop with a bold pair of cerulean velvet chairs. Luxurious and welcoming!

How will your back-to-school shopping inspire your interiors?

[photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Our Summer Sale is quickly coming to an end. Hurry in to save 20% -

On all beds and bedding.

All slipcovered furniture – sofas, chairs, beds!

Doormats, jute and flat weave rugs!

Don’t forget the votive candle holders and all servingware!