Fit for a King - Utah Style & Design Winter 2012

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What a thrill it is to be published in this issue of Utah Style and Design. We loved working with Desiree Ashworth, the previous owner of the beautiful Gustavian-style home featured in the article. A few of my favorite details in the home are the intangibles. The calm feeling that exists in the carefully selected tones. This harmonious contrast between sunshine and water! (Sunshine and water = Combining the Belgium blue hues with the warmth of natural materials, will make the audience go weak in the knees!) The quality and authenticity is evident in the details... this definitely contributed to the "feeling" of the home.

We got to work closely with Desiree in the finishing stages of the home. Furniture, rugs, window treatments, paint and window seats. She came to us with her vision, having experienced that region of the globe first hand. If you love the home in the article, you'll love her blog, Decor de Provence! You'll be transported to another place and time... deep in the south of France.

- Jessica

What's in Store - Branches, Branches and More Greenery!

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Adding in some branches to that vase on your entryway will add life and color to the space! And its just that time of year when we are ready for some liveliness toward the end of winter. We just received branches galore! These are just a few of our favorites. Take a peek at these beautiful hydrangeas! Perfect for a dining table and they require no water or care and don't die!

$10 - $24

Here is one of our favorite rooms featuring branches:

So lovely on the mantle! And I spy a couple of the beautiful Marlena chairs from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

With Love from Alice Lane - Inspiration in Unusual Places

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Here at Alice Lane we like to think of this day of love not only as a holiday for couples but as a great time to show love and appreciation for friends, family, co-workers, roommates, you name it! It's also the perfect holiday to be inspired by! We love the colors of Valentine's Day. Pinks and bright reds! Mmm... delish! These are a few of our favorite rooms! Be inspired! Share some love!

[images from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,  13]

We're Obsessed - Belgian Linen Bedding

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We're obsessed with linen bedding! We indulge in our white Libeco sheets and can't tell you how perfect they are - they will make you feel like a queen! We visited their showroom last Market and got to see all of their beautiful products right from the mother ship! Belgium! This Market they introduced some colored striped bedding - quilted and bright - that was just divine.

And this month they've made it onto Elle Decor's "What's Hot!" list.

Fresh Flowers for the One You Love

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With the day of love just around the corner, everyone needs flowers! Whether for a significant other or just a good friend - nothing is better than fresh flowers. It's one of our February favorites! For the past month, we have been getting fresh flowers in the store once a week by our good friend Julia. She does such an beautiful job! Here are the arrangements that she's done for the store. Take a peek at her blog to see more or contact her at (801) 471.9337 to get flowers for the one you love for Valentine's Day!

What We Love About February

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1. Valentine's Day - "I love that there is a holiday dedicated to showing love to others - from my kids' valentines to the chick flicks. I think its a good excuse to tell someone you love them. (It doesn't have to be romantic) just admirable! I admire so many great men and women in my life! And I secretly hope my husband will do something unexpected without too much prompting." - Jessica

2. Hot Chocolate - " I love the cold weather outside so I can grab a blanket and hot chocolate and snuggle up to my hubby." - Jen

3. Leap Year - "It only comes every four years! What's not to love!" - Holly

4. Pink! - Valentine's Day and Pink! The perfect of all combinations

5. Candy Hearts - Just a little bit of elementary school love nostalgia.

6. Chocolates - It's the month to indulge in something rich and decadent.

7. Fresh Flowers - "I love fresh flowers in the dead of winter! Such a luxury!!" - Jessica

8. Bubble Baths & Candles - Nothing like warming up and relaxing on a cold winter's evening with a delicious smelling candle and a good read.

9. Love - Everyone has love in their life. Let the ones you admire and love know that you think they are great this month!

[photos: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]

What's in Store - Perfect Valentine's Day Pouf

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The perfect sweet little Valentine's Day pouf! A very pale pink - almost a nude - would work with most color schemes. $212.50

Have you seen this room in the most recent Elle Decor? Stylist and editor Jackie Astier's family's Upper East Side apartment is featured and this room is oh-so-dreamy!  That rich plum velvet headboard with raspberry colored grasscloth walls and oh that rug! Isn't it divine? Does that pouf look a bit familiar?

Inspiration in: Fashion

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Pattern in fashion and interiors can be inspiration to each other. I will see a wallpaper and wish I could have a skirt made with that same pattern or I will see a stunning dress and dream about having tailored custom pillows made from that same fabric. Let yourself be inspired by both and find a way to make it happen - maybe find a similar pattern or at least a similar scale!

A geometric pattern is a bold statement. Add it to lounge chairs or a sofa to make your statement in a living room. A small amount of a geometric pattern can go a long way.

The honeycomb is another bold statement geometric pattern. A springtime dress maybe? Fall in love with a wallpaper and use it in a small space like a powder room to spice things up.

A bit of floral freshens things up for spring. A brightly colored silk skirt or a headboard and draperies can liven up a room and make it light and cheery!

The black and white stripe is a classic. Put a spin on the classic with a gradated stripe or varied thicknesses. Loving this rug!

[photos from Anthropologie, J.Crew, Gorman, Madewell, House Beautiful, Lonny, and Elle Decor]

Don't forget to enter our PATTERN GIVEAWAY going on here.

What's in Store - Patterned Rugs

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A geometric rug can pull a room together and add an energetic feel. Perfect for breaking up the solid sofa and chairs. Add a few patterned pillows to make the room complete. Although these rooms have a fun and lively feel to them they are still very polished because the amount of pattern is contained to specific areas.

Looking to get a new patterned rug? We have these in store  now!

1. 8' x 11' - $770 2. 8' x 11' - $770 3. 8' x 11' - $770 4. 8' x 11' - $725

[photos from Elle Decor & Lonny]

It's Giveaway Time! - CLOSED

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This week it's all about pattern! And we are kicking it off with a giveaway! This John Robshaw pillow would be great on a bed, sofa or window seat!

17" x 32" Retails at $158.50

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 Thursday, February 9th and the winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday, February 10th. Please leave your email address so that we can contact you! Good luck!

Guests Are Coming!

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One of our most recent clients came to us with a special request. "We have guests coming in February and need it completely furnished. Can you do it?" Of course we were up to the challenge, smiled and said "Yes!"

Our most important task for this bedroom was to make it as comfortable and functional as possible for her guests - making this bedroom their own cozy retreat. The room was already prepared with horizontal board and batten running up the wall. We loved the dimension and texture this brought to the room. However, we wanted to soften the hard lines with some graceful curves. our first thought - the Ingrid bed! The ideal companion with board and batten.

Instead of placing a nightstand on either side of the bed, we placed a desk on one side. This not only functions as a nightstand. It doubles as a comfortable spot for her guests to plug in a laptop, catch up on emails - or even write the host a nice thank you note!

Whenever I stay as a guest in someone's home, I always need a spot to place my luggage and unpack. the relaxed tufted leather bench at the foot of the bed is a simple solution to this dilemma, yet also doubles as extra seating in the room.

Above the dresser we positioned a charming organic mirror. Again, the shape and style of this mirror loosens those horizontal lines. This also becomes a great spot for her guests to freshen up before returning to the party.

However, as a lovely and important as all these details are, my number one tip for making your guests feel like kings and queens - Matteo linen sheets! I can testify from personal experience these sheets will change your life the way you sleep!  They truly are the ultimate in luxury and comfort!

With these few thoughtful details, our client's guests are sure to feel comfortable, cozy and welcome. However, I believe we may have one problem with this guest bedroom - her guests may never want to leave!

- Christy

Insta-ALHC

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We are just a little bit obsessed! We just joined Instagram and are trying our best to not overwhelm you with photos.

We love these instant snapshots so you can see a little bit of the day to day at Alice Lane mixed in with new products, sales, current projects, things that inspire and even some funny moments!

Follow us on Instagram (@alicelanehomecollection) or here.

Private Residence: Playroom

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We went back in time to design this gem of a playroom. Our ideas started with the glorious 19th century river boat that Walt Disney created for his Mark Twain ride. The railings were charming, gingerbread moldings perfect, and is an enchanting space for both children and adults. We wanted to go back in time, where play was as much about the elegance of the space and imagination as it was the toys inside it. We admired the meticulous craftsmanship of Disney's boat, and wanted the same touches to exist in this space.

We started with making the playroom as open as possible. We worked with the client, and designed the playroom in "zones" to make the space functional for different activities children would love to do. While working on site with the finish working on site with the finish workers we detailed out many studies and sketches for how this room would become magical.

Walking up the stairs to the upper level of the playroom you will find yourself surrounded with a charming balustrade echoing that of the Mark Twain ship. On the upper landing is a small Cape Cod style playhouse, complete with kitchen and dress up area. A splash of bright paint gives this playhouse the charm it deserves.

Across the upper landing there is a slide tucked behind the walls, that twirls you around and drops you off in front of the window seat below. Flanked with books and a swing arm sconce, the window seat becomes the perfect cozy nook for reading a book.

Across from the window seat is a quaint custom upholstered daybed. The kids can pile on to watch a movie, or tuck in with a blanket for a sleepover.

The room wouldn't be complete without an art center, full of built-in cubbies for supplies and a magnetic chalkboard, making this truly an enchanted playroom.

- Suzanne & Natalie