Inspiration in Unusual Places: Children's Spring Collection

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Pastels are not only for the young at heart... J.Crew's crewcuts Spring Collection for girls is full of airy pastels. But adults fret not, incorporate these color palettes into your interiors for that youthful and whimsical feeling! Purples and pale peaches with a few ruffles and a bit of shimmer make up this outfit. Adding this palette into a Master Bedroom makes the room feminine and soft. A light coral, chambray and other shimmery pastels from yellows to blues with a surprise pop of magenta make a perfect match. The rooms can be feminine and light or bold and colorful.

A laid back sweatshirt or a silky ruffled skirt in shades of coral make this outfit laid back yet girly. Add a bit of tufting and nailheads to dress an ottoman and a structured sectional to give this room the same feeling.

What's in Store: New Accessories!

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So... it's what you have all been waiting for... we have a whole slew of new accessories! Just in time to freshen things up for Spring. Add some bright colors or a touch of greenery!!!

Add a pretty flowered sculptural frame to your entry table or some pretty glass candlesticks to your mantle.

Isn't this little elephant stool the most fantastic thing you have ever seen?

So many new picture frames!!!

Some lovely silver is a nice touch to any table or cabinet.

So many fun new options for Spring! Stop by and check them out! And don't forget about our Rug Sale also going on now.

Market Watch: Persimmon

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While at Market, a few of the showrooms featured the color persimmon. The first encounter, Oly Studio showroom. We loved this lovely pop of color!

We are seeing this orangey-red shade in interiors and fashion. Isn't this bold, graphic rug by Thom Filicia great?

1.  Marilyn Side Chair - $875 2.  Tangelo Ball Pillow - $225 3.  Thomas Paul Daisy Pillow - $138 4.  Thom Filicia Durston Rug 6'x9' - $375

[photos from TradHome & J.Crew]

Market Watch: Annie Selke

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We love Annie Selke at Alice Lane. She is known for her charismatic color, comfort and approachable elegance. That's a great way to live. We don't believe in suffering for beauty, and with Annie's products you don't have to. They are bright - in in so many ways. Inspiring silhouettes offered in a kaleidoscope of colors, most of which are 100% cotton!

Annie and I, last week, at the Spring Furniture Show - Showcasing all the latest silhouettes, fabrics and casegoods available soon!

Here are a few of her new introductions from this market!

Gaga for this bamboo based ottoman. Oh the fabric! I love a wild pattern - tufted. Featuring this years hottest colors - lavender, silver, olive and chartreuse! Put this in a room full of safe neutrals, and boom! You'll look like a style maker!

Also, look forward to her new book coming out this August - Fresh American Spaces. A great tool for individual self-expression featuring five distinctly American decorating styles.

You can also follow her year long renovation in House Beautiful's feature, "Makeover: Annie Selke".

Market Watch: Thomas O'Brien

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We love his rugs and his lighting... Take a look at his gorgeous furniture! Loving the pattern on this dresser! Isn't it fabulous?

He is sooo good at art and display! The layering and stacking are amazing! See how he even has artwork leaning against the wall on the floor? Talk about using the most of every space!

These beautiful peonies were everywhere! A perfect way to add a bright splash of color and bring the outdoors in!

And look how lucky Jessica was! She got to meet Mr. O'Brien AND Suzanne Kasler!

Market Watch: Thom Filicia

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We always have a love for Thom Filicia's work... and this time at Market he has incorporated one of our favorite topics here at Alice Lane. PINK!!! The print on this chair is amazing and the pink just livens things up even more!

Loving the big pink blossoms in this dining table with the long willowy branches. Perfect for spring!

Keep watching to find out what else is hot at Market!

Spring Arrival

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With winter on it's way out and spring's much anticipated approach, the arrival of blossoms and blooms will soon be on their way. But for now, we just got in our annual supply of fresh-cut pussy willows!

Trim them and put them in a tall vase on your console table or use them in a floor vase in your entry. These branches are so fantastic and affordable - one bunch is only $24! They sell quickly and aren't something we can just order back in so stop by today!

Summer with Matthew Mead Photo Shoot

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We were honored to be approached by Matthew Mead about using Alice Lane for a photo shoot with Stephanie Nielson for one of his articles in his upcoming magazine issue, Summer with Matthew Mead. We love working with Stephanie and it was an absolute delight to meet and work with Matthew, his wife Jenny, and Linda who is the Executive Editor and also writes their blog. Wendy of The Shabby Nest who is a local, was also here to help! Matthew's presentation was beautiful, the food delicious, and the girls all looked fabulous in their spring attire! We can't wait to see how it all turns out.

We were so excited to look over the shots that Matthew had taken!

Matthew left us with the last issue of his magazine, Holiday with Matthew Mead and it was absolutely beautiful! We can't wait to see his next issue! It's only available online... You can order it here.

Inspiration in Unusual Places: Spring Clothing

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Even with the strange weather going on around us, there is a buzz and excitement for all of the many new spring clothing lines which can always inspire our interiors. Fashion and interior design have many of the same basic principles - color, texture and scale. Loving the most recent J.Crew catalog! Warm tones mixed with a bit of cool. Loving the orange mixed with a seafoamy turquoise. Whether adding a lace blazer to an outfit or lovely floral artwork to a room, it adds a touch of femininity to both. A punchy kelly green is a fun surprise in this mix!

A dark navy blue mixed with a pop of cobalt is a great way to spice things up for spring.

Neutrals galore. All of these textures are glorious! Clean and tailored lines give this room and outfit an A+.

Pinks and yellows, pretty and sophisticated with a bit of playfulness. These blossoms bring the springtime inside!

A mossy green and rich browns with a pop of kelly green give these rooms and this outfit a youthful and peppy feel.

A lovely eyelet skirt or a vintage sofa in a silk damask have that perfect feminine touch. A pretty pendant adorns the side of the sofa with two vintage inspired bird art pieces hang above.

Grey and navy. A dark and crisp look to any outfit or room. Wonderfully tailored and designed to perfection!

Which outfit or room is your favorite?

[photos from Elle Decor, Lonny Magazine and Rue Magazine]

What's in Store Follow-Up

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So we have had several requests about this wonderful industrial looking dining table that was shown in the Living Etc. article that we featured yesterday.

We have a few options that we can order here at Alice Lane!

Kingston Dining Table 99"W x 40"D x 31"H Regular Price: $1,738 Special Sale Price: $1,388

If your are looking for a smaller, desk version check out the Portobello.

Portobello Desk 55"W x 30"D x 30"H $815

What's in Store - Cafe Chair

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Picture yourself sitting in a breezy Parisienne cafe, watching the passersby. Why not have these chairs at your breakfast table or at your desk? Featured in Living, Etc. Magazine in their House of the Month. See how lovely they look pulled up to a dining table? Add a custom cushion for a bit more comfort!

Right now we have one left on our showroom floor and it's on sale! It's regularly $196 and on sale for $126.

What's in Store - Jana Lamp

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Perfection! This lamp is so beautiful and unique with it's marble base. Perfect on a desk as a task light or on an entryway console. The Jana lamp is sophisticated, smart and glamorous. 6"W x 17.5"D x 26"H Regular Price: $525

And because we love  and appreciate you... We are having a lighting sale! 20% off!

It was featured in Lonny Magazine on this lovely slipcovered nightstand!

Stop by and see it and the rest of our lighting today! 20% off on all lamps, chandeliers, sconces, etc. in-store and special order!

How-To: Using Lamp Lighting

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Growing up my mother taught me that you can have the most beautiful furniture, but if you use cheap lamps, the room is going to lose it’s savvy. I’ve known it my whole life.

It would be like putting on a beautiful dress and wearing plastic jewelry. It would kill the whole outfit. Recently, the brilliant Charlotte Moss, was asked in an interview, “What is the most essential element of a room?” She said, “Atmosphere. It’s the one thing you can’t buy. It’s not about an object; It’s about the end result.”

We create atmosphere with the right lighting, specifically lamp light.

The entire mood of a room can be altered by the addition of the right lamp, the right light, and the right amount of it.

Re-evaluate the lamps in your home. - Are they interesting? - What do they give to the room? - Remember, your lamps are turned off MOST of the time. So make sure they are inspiring even when they’re not on. They’re more than just a light source. Lighting is one of the MOST dynamic ingredients in a room.

FUNCTION: We have moved a long way from the idea of having one central fixture in a room. Successful lighting is created when we use various light sources, which creates pools of light exactly where you want them. Lamp light can be used for so much more besides to light up the area where you are reading in the evening. We use lamps to accent objects or artwork, to throw a shadow effect on a dark wooden surface, or to highlight a piece of furniture. The possibilities are endless.

HOW MANY? A good test would be turn off the overhead light tonight in whichever room(s) you want to focus on. Turn on your lamps. Does your room look inviting and comfortable? Do you have enough light to perform the tasks you need to? Are the special things in the room highlighted? Almost every seat should have a lamp nearby. Whether it’s a floor lamp or a table lamp, your lighting will dictate what happens in a room and how it will make you feel.

My husband and I like to sit down and watch T.V. at night. He likes to have all the lights off in the room for optimal viewing of his T.V. If he’s watching something that I’m not interested in, I sit on the edge of the sofa, where I have a lamp, and flip through catalogs. Then I don’t have to turn on the overhead light, but we can still be in the same room together, performing two different tasks.

MOOD: Lighting has a direct influence on the mood of a room. Nobody feels at their best when sitting in a flat light. It isn’t flattering, it’s a real downer. Try keeping the overhead lighting off tonight and see if your room looks attractive with the amount of lamp light available. If it’s too dark, it’s time to add more lamps.

STYLE AND SCALE: Some things you need to carefully consider when choosing a lamp are scale, shape, and the material the lamp is made from. It is a subtle but important element of a well-put-together room.

DESIGNER TRICKS: Lamps in pairs create symmetry and balance. use a pair on a sofa table as illustrated in the following room scenes. One trick we love to play is to place mirrors on the wall behind the bedside lamp. You get 2x the light… and the mirror adds glamour to any space.

xo- Jessica

Don't forget about our LIGHTING SALE going on now!

[photos from Lonny Magazine, Rue Magazine, Elle Decor, by Nicole Hill Gerulat]