Private Residence

Have you ever been in a space that feels infinite? How are you going to address the multiple functions that are supposed to take place? How can you create visual walls without erecting actual walls? This was the dilemma our client had in her just-finished basement. The bones and finishes of the space were perfection but the long alley seemed daunting.

First, we divided the space into sections and catered to the functions of each grouping. The largest being the family gathering area. Here, they can watch tv, enjoy the fireplace and each other. In our second grouping, we decided to create a more intimate setting with a dreamy French daybed and a high coffee table to study, play games or write love notes. The third  we envisioned being a place for dining, crafts and the occasional game of Risk!

Inspiration in Unusual Places - Halloween

With Halloween right around the corner, ghosts and pumpkins, ghouls and goblins, orange and black, lowly lit rooms and mirrors come to mind. Don't be fooled though, great design inspiration for an all-year-round space can come from this quirky holiday! The dark walls and soft lighting of this powder room seem as though this would be the setting for a scene in a scary movie, but when used in a home, it gives this room a feeling of luxury and richness.

The black furniture, metallic lamp and candlestick accents juxtaposed with the reclaimed wood flooring and paneling add the perfect touch of shine to this room. The glow of the candles and the black bird sculpture are perfectly sophisticated Halloween decor.

This very traditional space is very elegant with it's white lacquered walls, velvet upholstery, large antique cabinet and the delicate crystal chandelier.

In the library, with the candlestick... The black cabinetry and paneling give this room a very dramatic feel and the silver sconces, art lamps, and articulating desk lamp make the room come alive.

Reminiscent of a creature of sorts, this contemporary and sculptural lamp creates a soft, eerie glow but suites the space nicely by contrasting the rough finish of the wood and sturdy brick.

Take the traditional Halloween colors - orange and black - use them tastefully in a space and you will end up with a lovely modern space like this!

This black embossed wallpaper is evocative of something you would see in an old haunted mansion and immediately fall in love with! This and the collection of great antiques create the character of this room.

[images via Flickr, Elle Decor, Lonny Magazine and Design Sponge]

Giveaway Time!

An easy way to spruce up a room is by simply replacing or adding a few new throw pillows. We have decided to share this charming little pillow with one lucky reader!

Enter to win by following these rules:

- Follow this blog and leave us a comment. - For an extra entry, post this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Just copy the link into your comment on this post so that we can see it and your name will be entered twice. The giveaway closes one week from today, Tuesday, November 2nd and the winner will be chosen at random and announced on Wednesday, November 3rd. Please leave your email address so that we can contact you! Good luck!

What's in Store - Annie Selke Queen Bed

This upholstered bed by Annie Selke brings life to the room! This little lovely certainly makes a statement in a fun print with brightly colored bedding and lime green walls!

For a more relaxed look, we have used this fantastic striped fabric with dreamy white linen bedding. And lucky you, this one is in the store right now! Come in and see how beautiful it is in person! If you are looking for something in a different color or pattern, it can be ordered in in a number of fabrics!

Annie Selke Victorian Queen Platform Bed $2,016

[images via House Beautiful & Nicole Hill]

Private Residence

How does one marry fashionable living with functional living? This was our client's dilemma as she, a mother of five, loves catering to family and friends while admiring a well-dressed room. BEFORE

It all began with a polished white lacquered cocktail table, trimmed with natural resin details and clean lines. Our client fell in LOVE with this table, as did we! From there, we pulled in a charcoal tufted sofa for a touch of grace and loads of comfort. We then, nestled a pair of Oly Studio Gio chairs finished in a classic herringbone - perfection, really! For a little whimsy, we sprinkled touches of mirror, mixed metals, added layers of texture and threw in a few pops of color for that extra personalitiy. Proof it is possible to marry glamour and practicality!

How to Care for Your Linen Sheets

We are so excited about one of our new bedding lines! Libeco Home offers bed linens made of Belgian linen that are luxurious and comfortable. We recently received a shipment of bed sheets in white and stone and have a sampling of duvet covers and other bed linens offered by Libeco Home.

Linen sheets are our most favorite because linen is an all-natural fabric that is hypoallergenic, antibacterial and thermo-regulating - it's insulating in the cold and cool and breathable when it's warm! They are extremely durable and exceptionally long-lasting. These sheets will actually get better as time goes by; they become softer, smoother and more lustrous.

One important thing to help your linen sheets last, is the way that you wash them.

WASHING - Wash your linens as soon as possible after a spill or spot. - Do not overload the machine. - Choose the machine setting with maximum water level. - Use a mild soap. Avoid strong detergents, especially concentrated forms. - Do not use detergents with optical whiteners when washing linen. - Avoid all types of bleaches. - Recommended temperature is a warm wash 104 degrees F as a maximum.

DRYING - Fill your tumbler with half the normal capacity in order to let the linen move freely during the drying process. Line-dry if desired. - Do not over-dry. Use a short cycle setting as linen dries quickly. - Use a medium temperature machine setting, and a slower tumble setting, if available.

PRESSING - 100% linen can be ironed at the highest temperature with a hot steam iron.

What's in Store - Serena Drum Chandelier

This beautiful Serena Drum Chandelier by Oly Studio will add a bit of glamour to your home. It is such a versatile piece that can be used in a traditional or contemporary room .The capiz shells let the perfect amount of light through to soften any room.

It's even more stunning in person! Come see it in the store today!

Serena Drum Chandelier 26" Dia. x 16.25"H $2,299

[images via Amanda Nisbet Design & Oly Studio]

Private Residence

There's something magical about a home nestled in a grove of mature trees! When the light finally filters through the leaves and leaks into the windows, it highlights and flatters everything that it touches. This is exactly what happened in our client's Music Room! The neutrality and simple lines of each piece came to life! Even the layout of the furniture felt as if it were planted there along with the trees right outside the window. BEFORE

PHASE 1 - Sometimes all you need to do is throw your existing pieces in a blender and shake things up a bit! By centering our client's loveseat on her window, it created instant symmetry and allowed us to get two additional club chairs in the space.

AFTER - After rearranging the existing furniture in Phase 1, we had to help this music room reach its optimal potential. First we added an amazing rug by Thomas O'Brien which started to dictate the simple elegance our client was hoping for. Second came a tailored sofa from Michael Weiss and what would a Music Room be without a little zebra hair-on-hide and a fiddle leaf fig! Encore! Encore!

Inspiration in Unusual Places - Food

As the weather gets cooler and the air gets crisper, we crave warmth and comfort in what we eat, in our clothing, and in our homes. What better place to look for a bit of inspiration than in our cuisine? Shades of browns and creams bring a serene and comfortable feeling to a room. See how adding a pop of orange can bring life to the room and spice things up?

The sumptuous jewel tones emphasize the beautiful woodwork in both of these rooms. It is a fantastic combination, that brings richness to any room.

Think about fresh-0ut-of-the-oven sweet rolls; they bring us to a happy place where everything is warm and comfortable. Incorporating this rust and terra cotta color scheme will give that same inviting feeling to any room.

This berry cobbler would be a delicious indulgence! Don't be afraid to take a risk by incorporating these daring purples into a room. Add a bench in a deep violet mohair or simply complete the space with a few patterned throw pillows.

[images via Johnny Miller Photography, Elle Decor and Lonny Magazine]

Lovely Thoughts...

"I began realizing there is something to comfort and ease, to having a room where you can put a book and a drink down and it all blends into the landscape of the room. I started moving backward in time. Now my taste runs every which way. But what I really love is an extremely comfortable room, the kind you can spend hours and hours in. The English do that so well, especially in their country houses. You can create a happy mess in a room, and it just makes it feel more comfortable."

-Daniel Sachs House Beautiful, October 2010

Guest Blogger: Kirsten Krason

Kirsten Krason is the talented voice behind 6th Street Design School and we are so happy to have her as our guest blogger today!

When was it that you were first inspired to be an interior designer? I've always been a creative person, however, it took me a long time to decide that interior design was what I wanted to do. I was first inspired when I visited the Utah Parade of Homes a few years ago. I looked at each beautiful home and decided that someway or another I was going to do that one day. I feel so lucky to be living my dream. It is the best job in the world.

What inspiration have you drawn from the various places that you've lived and traveled? How do you incorporate it into your design? I have been lucky to travel a lot in my life. My parents took us on many trips as children. When I was in college I had the opportunity to visit China and Italy as well as spend five months living in Russia as an English teacher. Now I am married to a pilot and we try and travel as much as possible. I love unique cultures and find that there are few things better in the world than being exposed to different kinds of people and lifestyles. The architecture from different countries, especially the older ones, is stunning. Putting mementos from different countries into my home reminds me how big the world is and encourages me to be adventurous in my life and in my designs.

Who is your design icon? There are so many amazing designers out there but I have to say my favorite designers are bloggers. Most of the time these people have not had any formal education in design, just a passion for it. They are the ones who are usually not afraid to take risks. They are resourceful and are often making their homes beautiful on a limited budget. They pour their heart and soul into making their own homes beautiful. One room at a time.

If you could choose, what would be your ultimate dream project? I would love to work on a project like Extreme Home Makeover. To help design a home or room for someone really deserving would be so special.

What is your design "pet peeve"? Rules. Most of the time when I first come to a client's house they have been stumped because they find themselves worried about breaking the "rules". I think most of the time I have to reassure them that following design rules is not always the recipe for a successful room. Sometimes breaking the rules is the best part!

What is the most difficult part of being a designer? Most rewarding? The most difficult part is trying to convince clients to trust me! It's hard when I know how amazing the room could be but because of a client's fears or doubts the room never gets to that place. I don't want to do a room that's just "all right". The most rewarding part is when you help a client see the potential in their room. A lot of my clients feel like there is no hope for their rooms and I like to show them that their home can be just as beautiful as they dreamed it could be.

What advice do you give when helping someone determine their style? I would say start making a collection of things you are drawn to. So many people have no idea what their style is. Once you start gathering images and products that you love you will start to find that you either love color or hate it. Maybe you find yourself being drawn to graphics or florals or both! Once you figure out what you love, embrace it! I don't try to bring a lot of neutrals into my home because I know that color is what I love. Even though I can appreciate a beautiful neutral room, I'm comfortable with the fact that it's just not "me".

Where do you go for inspiration? When I am stumped on a room, I always turn to blogs and magazines. Sometimes all it takes is to flip through a couple of magazines before the perfect idea strikes. I'm not sure what designers did before blogs. I love that someone can create a room and the next day it is online for all to see. Suddenly people are noticing colors and patterns and trends that they never would have thought about before. There are so many creative stay-at-home moms who are getting to showcase their talent for design. I think that is amazing and it inspires me everyday.

What is your favorite place in your home? My office is my sanctuary. I love everything about it. This room evokes a feeling of peacefulness which is exactly what I need. I love to sit down at my desk and stare out my windows at the mountains. Sometimes the life of a mother can be overwhelming and stressful. It's so nice to come into this space that is all mine and feel happy. I like that this room is a mix of modern clean lines and also has a femininity and softness to it. The hard and clean lines make me feel efficient while the softness of my rug and the pretty chandelier make this room feel luxurious.

What would you say is your favorite 'finishing touch' to a room? I would say personal elements are my favorite finishing touches to a room. After every piece of furniture has been placed and after all the big accessories are put out, I love to come in with all the personal photographs and mementos. Little picture frames on the fireplace mantel or artifacts from travels on the end tables. A room is not complete without these things.

Thanks Kirsten for taking the time to share some advice and inspire us! Stop by her blog, 6th Street Design School.

What's in Store

Take a look at a few of these fabulous pieces that we have in the store! We just got these lovely photos back from our studio shoot with Nicole Hill. Aren't they gorgeous? Sterling Sofa 88"W x 37.5"D x 35"H $2,753

Workman's Side Table 24.5"W x 24.5"D x 28.5"H $574

Mallory Chair 37"W x 36"D x 35.5"H $1,998 each - 2 in-store

Italian Baroque Table 32"Dia. x 29"H $725

Tufted Scripted Rectangular Ottoman 60"W x 24"D x 18"H $1,386

Inspiration in Unusual Places - Autumn

Fall is in the air! Summer flew by this year and now it's time for boots and cozy sweaters, football games, mulled cider, and autumn colors. With the cooler and crisper weather, the leaves are turning beautiful colors. Who doesn't love autumn? These vibrant reds, yellows, oranges and greens from the leaves can inspire your interiors too. In this room, the wallpaper has an inspired texture as well as color, and the artwork unifies all of the colors of the room.

These lovely greens and yellows add bright and happy pops of color into these two rooms. They allow the rooms to feel polished yet a bit playful.

Adding yellow to a room brightens and warms it, which helps make those colder months more cheerful. Adding a touch of yellow in the room on the top was as simple as adding some National Geographic magazines to the bookshelf.

These rich tones of browns and rusts work well together to warm up a room. The combination makes the rooms feel complete. This can be done with wood or even as simply as stacking a few antique suitcases and using them as shelves.

Bright oranges and reds are used in this room through artwork, the comfy yet modern leather chair and ottoman in the corner and the woodwork. These pieces make this traditional room a little more modern.

Take a fall drive to the canyon and get inspired!

[images via Flickr, Elle Decor, Metropolitan Home & Lonny Magazine]

How to Add a Golden Touch...

Maybe it's the autumn season and the rapid approach of the holidays, but here at Alice Lane we are loving gold!

Gold is a sophisticated neutral and can be used in any color scheme or style. It brings a bit of luxury and glamour and is a bold and unexpected, yet classic statement. Adding a gold lamp, mirror, side table or accessory brings a little bit of sparkle and character to a room.

Take a look at how a few gold accents have been used in a few of our favorite magazines and see what gorgeous gold items we have in the store right now!

Lamps on the left from top to bottom: Goldberg Tall Wood Table Lamp - $525 Midas Table Lamp - $475

Side Tables above from left to right: Sherwood Accent Table - $481 Annie Selke Atlas Square Table - $621 Oly Studio Vincent Gold Side Table -  $965

Mirrors on Right from Top to Bottom: Federal Mirror - $503 Fleur Eglornise Mirror - $1,344

[images from Lonny Magazine and Elle Decor]