Inspiration in Unusual Places - Back to School

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With summer ending and fall following close behind, comes cooler temperatures, colorful leaves, sharpened pencils and crisp clean notebooks. It's also the time for back-to-school shopping and new styles entering all of our favorite stores. Take this time to get inspired by our kids great new school clothing! Colors, structure, texture and graphics can be inspirational to our interiors as well! J. Crew and Zara have some of the most stylish children's clothing. They have a fabulous color palettes and textures to inspire us!

Patterns and graphics in the shorts and bed bring structure to a feminine design. The mixture of grays with hints of beige and tan and the mixture of textures adds interest to any room or outfit.

Outfit from Zara - Room Scene from Martha Stewart Living

Bright yellow, black or gray and a pop of white can brighten up and make any room or outfit happy!

Outfit from J. Crew - Room Scene from Canadian House and Home

Stripes are huge this season! Love these blue stripes mixed with gray and brown. Love that equestrian feel to the outfit and the room!

Outfit from J. Crew - Room Scene from Lonny Magazine

Beige, grays and pops of chartreuse and a deep bright pink! The soft texture of the jacket and sofa mixed with the crisp texture of the blouse and artwork adds even more interest to the outfit and room.

Outfit from J. Crew - Room Scene from Martha Stewart Living

Bold black and white stripes are paired perfectly with this floral scarf. A few flowers in this bathroom provide a bit of softness to this zippy room.

Outfit from Zara - Room Scene from Elle Decor

Neutrals and a feminine touch make this outfit and room complete! A modern and stylish outfit and room with some feminine and antique details in the skirt and the chair and wallpaper.

Outfit from Zara - Room Scene from City Sage

Deep blues... What a great way to make a stylish statement!

Outfit from J. Crew - Room Scene from Lonny Magazine

With this mix of orange and pink hues you can't go wrong. Add a pop of green or blue for an exciting and unexpected surprise!

Outfit from J. Crew - Room Scene from Lonny Magazine

Heaven on Earth!

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Look what just showed up last week... this lovely king size bed we have been waiting for since April... and boy, was it worth the wait! I had the choice to re-select fabric that wasn't out of stock... but I was patient and said "Nope, I'll wait. I can wait for perfection!"

And so we did...

This is the Cleo Bed by Michael Weiss. We've had it in the store just once before a charcoal gray. So we thought we'd bring it in this time in a lighter hue. Fabric changes everything... it has a whole different mood in this heathered oatmeal tone. We chose a French gray for the rails and feet. (You'll have to stop by and check her out! Our photos don't quite show that off.)

The icing on the cake: Our newest line of bedding, Ankasa. Textural delight - the Bonne Terre duvet, Highline Pic Stitch Silk Coverlet, three Upper East Euros, metallic stamped linen pillow, and appliqued linen flowers and berries on linen pillow stand as proud as a peacock.

This bed is DEEEEvine! Come on in and pick it up today! It's yours for the taking - four months of waiting to see it all come together and you could have it all installed by tomorrow! Sure you could!

What's in Store - Wavy Tortoise Glass Lamp

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The perfect little addition... this David Easton wavy tortoise glass table lamp can add a bit a sophistication to any room. The rich tones of this translucent glass base contrasts with the white shade and makes this the perfect combination. And guess what... we have one in the store! Wavy Tortoise Glass Table Lamp - $180

Look how this adds so much richness to the room!

Lonny Magazine

Private Residence

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Master Suite - We installed a sitting are in this Master Suite last week. The client asked that we work with her existing chaise, because it is so comfortable for her to nap in. So we took it from a butter yellow to a chocolate linen with a metallic finish - Robert Allen Metal Alloy in Pewter. We topped it off with a raw silk pillow from Shine adorned with Swarovski crystals - Magnolia Twill Tussah with Clear Stones. D'lish!

The origami table in a stripey wood brings some of the energy from "his" chair over to her side for a nice balance. We added a floor lamp for a little height, and to make for a nice reading spot in the evening.

The central chest is Michael Weiss - mirrored front drawers with classic contemporary ring pulls in chrome. "His" chair is also by Michael Weiss in a zippy pattern to give the area a little designer buzz. New draperies in a Beacon Hill linen with a metallic taupe lining. (Wish I had a tight shot.)

Shine Magnolia Twill Tussah Pillow

The Breakfast Nook -

We reupholstered the banquette in an indoor/outdoor fabric that is 100% acrylic! I know you're thinking "ooh gross"... but it's white pattern is raised and has a soft pile. you'd never suspect! This family has five young kids and it had to be smart! We installed the Magnolia round 60" table in dark oak. We did custom finishes to the Newton Side Chairs. We used an orange wood frame to relate to the orange chairs in the Barbara Barry French chair fabric.

The front of the chairs are upholstered in an off-white ostrich leather, easy to wipe clean. The back of the fabric is black and white ticking to relate to the black and white banquette fabric.

The Serena Drum Pendant casts a spell on this room with it's magical graphic arrangement of capiz shells. We used the client's saucers to complete the little plate arrangement on the wall. She inherited her Grandmother's teacup collection. They were too cute to go unnoticed! So now she can adore them daily!

Detail of Barbara Barry Window Treatment Fabric

Design in Unusual Places

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Two separate items, one to sit on, the other to adorn your foot. Both wrapped in a sleek leather. Look at the similarities between the two. This Stuart Weitzman low heel pump is done in an adobe patent leather.

When we spoke with Annie Selke at market she mentioned that she received her inspiration for this chair from a nice dress shoe. Doesn't it hold a striking resemblance?

What's In Store - Spool Chairs

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These chairs are showing up everywhere! We have a a pair of these charming spool chairs in an ivory painted frame covered in a fresh gray linen in the store now. They add interest and are beautiful from the front as well as the back and would be perfect to float in a room. Blanchard Spool Chair - $2,298 each Blanchard Footstool -  $912

Check out these spool chairs in action -

Lovely Thoughts... Making Design Meaningful

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"Rooms are like albums that provoke memories. What you decorate with should remind you of a street you wandered down or an experience that made you happy."- Amy Hase

The best work we do as designers is when we get to incorporate the client's loves, memories, and passions into their space. Whether it be with framed photographs filled with life's moments and art or incorporating family heirlooms, such as an old chair frame that belonged to a great-grandmother, or a crystal bowl that was your mother's wedding gift. We are all about creating spaces people fall in love with. It helps us to know what you love and what makes you happy. This is your space, you need to express yourself! Everyone should get to live in a meaningful space that hugs you back when you gaze into it.

Here are a few tips:

- A gallery wall full of family photos that gives you a chance to peek into one's life and pause, browse, wonder, laugh, and remember. It gives life to ay home and tells your story.

- I like old pictures framed and matted in a clean contemporary way. I think the juxtaposition of the old picture in a cleaned up frame makes a dramatic statement.

- Collections are a great way to show what you love and what you pick up in your travels. Whether it be containers of sea-glass, old trophies, globes, postcards, or books, it's a peek into who you are and what you're all about. It says, you love the beach! Or you love to wander through antique shops...

- Flatter yourself and your room with great light. I think lamp light is the prettiest on the skin and makes you look all warm and glowy.

- Scent is essential to some people's happiness! Fresh flowers are a luxury that no woman can deny! A good flickering candle makes me feel like I'm having a moment. And nothing, I repeat nothing, is better than the smell of food cooking or being prepared that makes a house feel like a home.

Images from Lonny Magazine

Private Residence

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This week we have been working on a project for a client who has recently moved here from New York. She had grown up here in Utah but had been living on the East Coast for several years before deciding to move back to be with family and begin creating her dream home. Her style is refined and sophisticated. She loves the Art Deco look with sloping lines and smooth surfaces with a modern twist. This is how her Living Room and Informal Dining Area will lay out:

Floor Plan

Living Room Perspective

Living Room Furniture Selections

The rug is designed by Thomas O'Brien and brings a warmth that contrasts the cooler tones of the stone fireplace. The artwork that measures at 83 inches high plays up the scale of the room which has vaulted ceilings as well as the oversized studio floor lamp that reaches 122 inches high. The stone top coffee table plays off of the cool tones of the fireplace and adds curvature to the room

. Informal Dining Room Perspective

Dining Room Furniture Selections This beautiful rug adds color to the room and also incorporates the gold tones introduced in the Living Room. The rich walnut dining table is very sleek and will extend for additional chairs. The host and hostess chairs have a slight wing to differentiate them from the side chairs, both of which have the Art Deco sloping arm. The chest near the stairway is made from a beautiful ebony with a gold inlay.

What's in Store - The Pouf

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This week we're happy to introduce you to The Pouf ottoman, by Cisco Brothers. This little pouf makes a great side table, ottoman, or additional seating option. You can count on this piece adding a stylish softness to your room. The pouf comes in two sizes - 26" round x 18" high and also 43" round x 18" high, both of which are currently in-store!

26" round x 18" high in a tan leather $1,443

43" round x 18" high in a charcoal gray wool $2,191

See it featured here in Elle Decor and Domino Magazine...

Elle Decor

Domino Magazine

We're Obsessed - Ankasa Bedding and Pillows

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We have recently picked up an exquisite line of bedding and pillows - Ankasa - created by Sachin and Babi Ahluwalia. These two have been a much sought after design team in the fashion industry, creating beautiful embroidered textiles for Vera Wang and Oscar de la Renta. Think of all of the beautiful detail put into the textiles of some of the top fashion designers and them picture it adorning your bedroom! Here are some of the newest additions to their line:

Bonne Terre in Chrome - Cotton sateen duvet with allover crewel floral embroidery King Duvet - $550 Queen Duvet - $550 Euro Sham - $105

Pillows from front to back: Belgian Linen with Center Arri Band and Ikat Emroidery 15" x 30" - $450 Belgian Nubby Linen with all over Leather Strips 12" x 18" - $285 Belgian Linen with Arri Stripes and Chiffon Ikat Half Diamonds 16" x 22" - $300

Pillows from front to back: Linen with Corded French Scrolls 15"x30" - $445 Linen with 4-Side Border of Corded French Scrolls and Tulle Flowers 25"x25" - $600 Pom Pom Euro Sham - Matelass Shame with Raised Pom-Pom Border - $130

Pillows from front to back: Belgian Linen with Center Hand Embroidered Scrolls and Leather Border 16"x22" - $420 Belgian Linen with LEather Strip Boarder and Hand Embroidered Border 21"x21" - $405

Aren't these all so beautiful? They are definitely  show stoppers and we are so thrilled to carry them here at Alice Lane!

What's in Store - Kelly Green Ceramic Lamp

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Jessica is out of town for the rest of the week so the other designers here at Alice Lane are taking over the blog! We have recently gotten in a huge shipment of lamps. This gal is the life of the party. A bold statement for any room. This is the Finley Kelly Green Ceramic Table Lamp...

Come see her in person and you can take her home for $503! She's also featured in the September issue of Canadian House and Home magazine.

This lovely adds a punch of color to a more muted and natural space. Doesn't it look perfect in this entryway?

Brady Residence: Allison's Bedroom

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This is the bedroom of their 13 year old daughter, Allison. This is my dream come true. Thank you Allison and Laura for allowing me to have all my furniture dreams come true and finally be able to make a queen platform bed entirely out of pink mohair!!! Now you want to pet it, don't you? It's scrumptious! As are the other details EVERYWHERE in this room. The draperies, the bedding, the pillows, nightstands and rhumba lamps both by Shine. This console is by Currey and Company and the Oly Sophie lounge chair is upholstered in zebra hair-on-hide. The Essex floor lamp is also by Shine. What a great space to flop on the bed as a teenager and know that everything is right in your world!

If you would like help creating the home of your dreams, email me - jessica@alicelanehome.com about our design services.

Brady Residence: The Library

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This is a great transitional space. Between rooms, before the stair tower... a wide open area with plenty of shelving for the best books and albums. We added a desk to the space to make the area a bit more useful. Not just any desk - the Sophia by Oly with a pieced limestone top in a herringbone pattern. We selected this side chair for the back! And we called out the details by using a dark slubby silk so it would relate to the desk's dark finish. The hair-on-hide rug underfoot makes the space feel collected over time and brings an organic shape to a rather straight area.

We custom upholstered the Duncan chair by Oly to get this just the way we wanted it. Modern, graphic, Classic, French - everything in one chair. There was only room for one. So it had to do it all! And that color? Smokey lilac - it's totally undeniably gorgeous! Oh! And the lamp - they are gold cranes from a line called Shine.

Brady Residence: Master Suite

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Before entering the Master Bedroom of the Brady home, you pass through this vestibule that sets the stage for what's to come. It's like an appetizer before a great meal. We introduce the room by showing off a little leg(s) of this faux bois demi-lune table in antique silver. We topped it off with a crystal lamp, three clear wing butterflies and a pair of leaded crystal vases. Simple in color palette, all very serene - but then look closely at the textures of each of these in the collection. There is so much to admire - from delicate to dynamic... it's all there. Welcome to the Master Suite!

I am so pleased with how this room has come together. It's sophisticated finishes give it that timeless feel. But the metallic strokes make it radiant! The feeling is luxe! You simply couldn't stay in a hotel suite that's this lovely! The room is bathed in natural light, that is soon to have it's views framed in by sheer drapery that will add depth and opulence to the room! (As if it couldn't get any better?)

We started in the space by selecting the rug first. A wool and silk hand-knotted rug by Julie Cohen. It's silvery, with dots of golden taupe. This rug is best when you walk on it with bare feet!!! Ever walked on silk? It's heaven on earth! Once we made that selection we chose a traditional style bed that reads like a tufted wingback chair. Then the x-based ottomans at the foot of the bed are upholstered and tufted croc leather washed in a metallic finish. We used a silver-leaf on the ottoman bases.

The antique gold starburst mirror above the bed brings a central focus to the room and adds glamour.

This little gem is made by Shine and is covered with Swarovski crystals.

Opposite the beds are a pair of "Just Right Chairs". They are upholstered in a quilted diamond pattern fabric, and finished with bronze furniture nails. The silver twig side table and the Cooper gold leaf floor lamp add that extra shine to the room.

The Master BathroomI had to let you take a peek around the corner into the Master Bathroom. I could spend all day in here. The fabric memo folded over the back of the chair is what we will make a roman shade out of! Graphic. Bold. Metallic!

Brady Residence

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It's a story... of a lovely lady, (Yes, this is the tale of the Brady home... but sung to a much different tune.) This has got to be one of the greatest homes I've ever had the privilege of working on since we opened our store. Located in the awe-inspiring neighborhood of the Ridges in Summerlin, Las Vegas, sits this beautiful warm-contemporary meets traditional home. We've been working with the homeowner, Laura, on furnishing the home for about a year and a half now. She flew us out last month to do window treatments and show us the last few areas that need finishing touches. I couldn't resist showing you the photos we took while we were there. I should wait until the window treatments are up to share the photos... but it's still magnificent, so take a peek!

Entry/Dining/Living Rooms - Here is an establishing shot to help you get your bearings. The entry is located directly across from that leather settee. Beyond it to the right is the Formal Dining Area, and to the far left is the Living Room.

This is the Formal Dining Room. This custom walnut table we designed and had built in L.A., is anchored on Thomas O'Brien's Caruso Rug in Ocean, hand-knotted from wool and silk. The sloping side chairs are in an off-white leather, the host and hostess chairs are in a bronze shagreen leather - if only I had a tight shot of the leather - It looks like it has goosebumps and has been washed in a warm metallic finish. Looking at them gives me goosebumps.

I'll never forget the day Laura and I were talking over the plans for this room and we decided to do the Elizabeth Armoire by Oly in this space... I knew it would be spot-on with the rug and the clean reflective finish of the mirrors in the doors would add that sparkle. Then Laura suggested that we do two! And I thought... Why didn't I think of that? What could be better than the Elizabeth Armoire? Two of them! Brilliant!

The Living Room - I love this room! It's so easy to be in. There is enough interest to keep your eye moving... but everything gets along so well that you feel relaxed. The finishes are sophisticated, the shapes are timeless.

Take the Chesterfield sofa for instance, a totally traditional style done in a contemporary bone leather. It's these answers that continue to flow throughout the home! We anchored the room with a Martha Stewart, hand-knotted wool and silk rug, Faux Bois in White Birch. The round coffee table is finished in a deep rich brown stain with a mirrored top. The chairs are through Palecek. The floor lamp is from Shine! The room is flooded with the best natural lighting which makes these high-end finishes dance! Look at that silk pattern dance on the rug! GULP.

The sofa pillows are Giraffe Hair-on-Hide, Popcorn Silk in Tobacco, the Komaki Ball Pillow, and white-on-white animal print sculpted velvet pillow is custom Alice Lane.

That is all for this post. Stay tuned for the Master Bedroom shots tomorrow!

NieNie

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This past weekend, over the 24th of July, made for a great 3 days of installation for the NieNie project. The Nielsen's had to leave town, which made it even more fun to transform their basement Family Room while they were out! We are still so overwhelmed by all the help we had from each of our expert subs! They generously donated their time and talents during their holiday. We are so grateful for their skill-set and attention to the details. Everything turned out exactly perfect! (Can't wait for Stephanie's response!!)

The piles of books removed from their shelving, waiting for their new home to be installed... and then each will be carefully placed one by one on the new built-ins.

First, we had to take down the wall brackets used for her old shelving to make way for the new built-ins. Next, take down the plasma T.V., rewire and move to another all so we can patch and paint all the holes. Clean-up the messes we made. Suzanne's sweet Momma York came over and shampooed Stephanie's rugs. Magleby's then installed her beautiful built-ins which are now housing her precious books and game boards.

The wall where the brackets and shelving once were. Make room for Magleby's...

The darling little retro-glam semi-flush mount chandelier. She's a beaut!

Jonathan Law and Josh Torgerson, his assistant, relocated the plasma T.V. to this smaller wall, installed the surround sound, hung the chandelier and did some other high-tech cable hiding stuff so Steph won't have to look at black cables connecting all of her devices. Thanks Jonathan! You're super smart! For help on your next project you can reach Jonathan at (801) 529-7814.

Mark Magleby installing the wall of beautiful custom shelving.

Thanks Mark! They are perfect! Stephanie is going to squeal! (Mark took 85+ hours out of his busy week as a realtor, and put on his cabinetmaking hat to build and install these beautiful cabinets for Stephanie and her family.)

Then the custom furniture comes in! Just like the characters in a great film, each piece took the stage. The sectional with the red striped welting! The darling Belle chair! The smart articulating lamp! Afterward our dear friend Geeta hung the roman shades which married everything together perfectly! Meikel Reece then photographed the finished product and we couldn't be happier with how it turned out!

Whew, what a great weekend! Big round of applause goes to our installation crew: Tom Hall, Gary Brown, Geeta on curtains, Mark Magleby, AV Extraordinaire Jonathan Law, Momma York, Photographer Meikel Reece, Suzanne Hall, and the rest of the Alice Lane employees who helped manage this project!

And now for the finished product...

The details always tell the story...

Thanks to the Nielson family who let us invade their darling home. I loved the time I've been able to spend with Stephanie. There is a special feeling in their home I wish the whole world could experience and we are grateful for the chance to try and make her life a wee bit more comfortable.

xoxo,

Jess