Book Review: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams "The Comfortable Home"

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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]

Inspiration in Unusual Places - Back to School Fashion

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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]

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Mary McDonald's "Interiors"

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Inspiration is all around but books and magazines are a great place to start! We recently started carrying a few of our favorite books in the store - books that feature work from our favorite interior designers. To give you a little taste and inspiration, we will be starting a new feature called "Book Review" where all of our employees talk about their favorite book. Jen, who works in the store to arrange the floor,  will start this new feature off with Mary McDonald's book, Interiors.

If anyone thinks interior designers are not artists they need to be introduced to Mary McDonald! Creativity is bursting out of her! From her custom painted wood floors to 19th century embroidered tablecloths used as bedspreads, her ideas are endless.

In Mary’s book, Interiors, she says, “The first thing to do when you are ready to decorate is to think of all the things and places that you love.”

She does just that. She not only meets her client’s needs but she reflects their personal style better than they could ever imagine.  When Mary’s friend wanted his bachelor pad revamped she drew inspiration from his love for fashion.  She had his living room curtains fashioned from men’s vintage pin striped suites, and his bed pillows made from vintage silk ties. The woman is brilliant!

Mary McDonald is known for her ability to mix old world with the new world.  While reading her book I was amazed that she could effortlessly freshen a historic space using modern touches.   She described this natural style best when she said, “There’s a poetry to layering the new and the old with an insouciance that makes it seem as if everything just fell into place.”

Our homes should be uniquely our own, and Mary McDonald’s Interiors inspires us do just that.

- Jen

[photos from Mary McDonald's Interiors - The Allure of Style]

How-To: Make Your Summer Bed

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Start with your fitted and flat sheet. If your sheets have a pattern turn them pattern down, so that when they are folded back, the pattern is showing. Our favorite sheets are our Libeco linen sheets. They are breathable and light in the summer but keep the heat in the colder months. Really, the perfect sheets!

Because the summers in Utah are so warm, we use a quilt or coverlet as your overall top layer and fold the duvet at the bottom of the bed. Place the pillows used for sleeping at the headboard. Then layer the Euros in front of them - three for a king and two for a queen.

For the final touches - add decorative pillows. Use the decorative pillows to connect the dots. Mix sizes, patterns, texture, and scale  - make sure that they relate to one another through color or style. Choose from hair on hide, woven leathers, furs, shell details, wovens, velvets, these will give your decor a feeling of luxury and authenticity. This is your room - you deserve to feel like a queen!

What's in Store - The Cleo Bed

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She's back! And she's on sale! The Cleo is by far one of our favorites... she makes you feel like a queen with her sleek lines and nailheads but feminine button tufts. This girl happens to be a queen sized bed but we can order one in a king if that is what you would prefer. All of our beds, in-store or special order are on sale for 20% off.

Queen Cleo Bed Regular Price: $2,910 Sale Price:  $2,328

[photo by Meikel Reece]

Summer Living - Flat Weave, Jute Rugs and Doormats

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Summer is underfoot here at Alice Lane.

I love walking barefoot. From the cold stone floors inside to the hot concrete patio outside and onto a textural rug. It's a summer luxury to get to feel with your feet!

Flat weave rugs are the rage. It's a casual, carefree way to add color and energy to your space. Be it a dining room, family room, entry, hall runner or a little one below your feet at the kitchen sink! They're also very cost effective and reversible! So there's nothing precious about it.

If you're ready to feel some new energy in one or many of your spaces - stop by or give us a call if you live out of town. We are happy to help coordinate looks from room to room, incorporating all the textures and color you've been craving! Or just choose one! They're all on sale now - all in-store and special order flat weave, jute rugs and doormats. 20% now through August 11th.

Live Effortlessly with Slipcovered Furniture

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Slipcovered furniture has a breezy look that makes a room look effortless but beautiful. The great thing about slipcovers is that they can be taken off and laundered... some in your own washer and dryer or simply dropped off at the dry cleaners. Right now, all of our slipcovered furniture, in-store and special order, is 20% off on our Summer Sale.

These pretty dining chairs have a lovely detailed back. Perfect as host and hostess chairs at the head of the table or keep the table unified using all of the same chair. Regular Price: $373.75 each SALE PRICE: $299 each

The Morgan slipcovered sofa is by far one of our favorites. Being 46 inches deep, it the perfect sofa to curl up on! We have two in the store right now. Regular Price: $3,592 SALE PRICE: $2,873.60

These Vanessa chairs are easy to get along with in a neutral linen that gives them a beachy easy breezy look. Regular Price: $1,522.50 each SALE PRICE: $1,218 each

These two are a great pair! Although white may seem scary, because these are slipcovered, the slipcovers can easily be taken off, washed and bleached. This pair sold yesterday but we can always order them in for you! Regular Price: $1,475 each SALE PRICE: $1,180 each

 

 

Show n' Tell - Bliss Residence Nursery

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Mrs. Bliss is the most delightful person you will ever meet; always put together, with the perfect amount of blush on her cheeks and the most gracious smile. We have known each other for years but when we met to discuss her home she had a new glow about her! As we walked up the stairs towards her bedroom, she stopped short and said, "This is where the nursery will be!" I gasped, we giggled, and I learned that she and Mr. Bliss were chosen to adopt the most perfect baby girl in the world who they would name Kate... Miss Kate Bliss.

 

I felt so lucky to be a part of this miracle! Nurseries are one of my favorite spaces to design because they exude all things that are good... and, in this case, pink! I concluded that Little Kate's nursery would swim in the universal color of love and it is possibly a gallon more precious than anything you've ever seen before. Prepare yourself.

To anchor the room (and all that pink!), we used a rug that was organic and flowering!  A loose design by a French artist named Paule Marrot laid the perfect foundation for the rest of the room!  The crib was curvy with a lil’ bit of humble pie so things didn’t get too serious, and the only thing I thought appropriate to put inside the crib was Bambino linen(with ruffles, of course)!

Every mama needs an amazing place to rest her feet and rock her baby.  We dressed her swivel glider in a gold and ivory faux bois and the ottoman in this insane velvet that melts your soul!  Mrs. Bliss will use this surface not only as an ottoman but as a place to lay Kate when changing her outfits.

The changing table- Oh, the changing table!!! This thing is fit for a queen and the graphic German silver appliqué makes me want to be a better person!

Honestly, the best part about this nursery is how easily any of the pieces will transplant to the rest of her home.  While Baby Bliss will eventually grow up and out of her nursery, Mrs. Bliss will be able keep these pieces forever and incorporate them in other areas of her home!

Every memory and precious moment will be trapped in the fibers of this room and I can’t imagine a more beautiful place for Mama Bliss and that sweet baby Kate to spend time together, whether it be quiet mornings, warm afternoons, or even sleepless nights (may they be few and far between!).

Congratulations and thank you for letting me be a part of this!

- Suzanne

Party at Your House - Make your Event Come to Life

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When hosting a party, you want your guests to feel comfortable and to set the mood. Flowers and candles have a huge impact on the setting with little effort. Whether your party is indoors or out, add each of these to create the feeling.

Adding flowers to the coffee table or a side table will bring in color and life. Pick up a bunch at your local floral shop, trim the stems and add them to a vase. Using one type and color of flower is a quick and foolproof way to do it yourself.

Use a small grouping of votives on a tray or just place one in a setting on a side table to create that warm glow.

A patio setting is a great place to use candles and flowers. Keep it neutral and earthy with white flowers and succulents or make it loose with a few wildflowers in vases spaced over the table.

[photos 1-4 by Meikel Reece, 5, 6, 7]

Party at Your House - Serving in Style

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Summer is the perfect time for a backyard patio party. It's full of family get-togethers, the gathering of friends, birthday parties, bridal showers, and more. Make your house the place to be by making every event a lovely one with pretty table and servingware.

On those hot summer days, ice is a must-have. Serve it in style! Use a cake pedestal for your bread and cheese to add height to your tablescape.

Take these icy blue dishes on a picnic or use them for a summer tea party.

These gold serving spoons are a favorite. The perfect way to dress up a summer salad. Add a few little snack hideaways to the table and they double as decor.

Sparkly silver plates and bowls bring a sophisticated feel to a dinner party on the deck with close friends.

Don't forget... 20% off all table and servingware!

[photos by Meikel Reece]

Tickled Pink!

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Pink is the universal color of love. Pink is happy, playful, and charming - just like my sister, Amy! And I was tickled pink when she asked me to help design her home for her and her beautiful family. Amy's main request? A little touch of pink in each room! I smiled and said, "This, I can do!"

We began with the sneak preview to any home – the entry.  Amy is a busy mother of three children and leads a hectic life to say the least.  So she wanted every room, including the entry, to not only be stunning and elegant, but practical and kid proof as well.  Believe it or not – that is a doable combination!  We wrapped the entry in a luxurious cream wallpaper with a luminous silver-leaf pattern.  This set the tone for everything else to come.  My sister craves light in any room, so we of course lit her console table with two lamps.  On top of the console we placed some of her favorite family photos, and centered on the wall above a stylish multi-layered sunburst mirror.

The entry opens to her music room.  This room is well used since Amy is a talented pianist and her children share the joy of music as well.  We wanted to create a space where friends and family could comfortable lounge and listen while music filled the room.  The windows are draped in a metallic sheer, an elegant and peaceful look that lets in as much light as possible.  For that touch of pink, we added a fresh flower arrangement and a cozy pillow.  This room is no longer a pass through, but instead is a welcoming resting spot for friends and family.

Where mom is, the kids are sure to follow!  Just off of Amy’s kitchen is her family room, so this is where she and her family naturally spend the majority of their time.  She wanted this space to be stylish, comfortable and livable - with a dash of pink (of course!).  The watercolor-like hand knotted rug anchors this room – giving it an elegant look with the practicality she so needs with a young family.  The organic mirrored armoire not only looks beautiful, but the mirrored doors create a liquid quality that’s incredible calming and serene.  We spread that touch of pink throughout the room with the use of custom fabric on her modern wing back chair, a fun Moroccan pouf, whimsical art and comfortable pillows.  When I asked Amy what she thought, she excitedly told me, “I love how happy this room makes me feel.  Every time I walk in, it just makes me smile!”

Don’t forget about your laundry room or mud room.  As with most moms, these rooms get plenty of use!  We wanted to dress these spaces up a bit so that the typically daunting task of laundry would not seem so daunting.  So we spread a little pink around, hung cheerful art and tossed in some textured pillows.

One of the easiest ways to let your guests feel at home is to dress the powder room.  Fill this room with luxurious soaps, soft towels, fragrant candles and anything else you think your guests might enjoy to freshen up.  This is exactly what we did in my sister’s powder room – and I have to say I love lingering in this room!  We enveloped the walls with a soft pink paint.  When the lights are dimmed, it casts a beautiful rosy glow - everyone looks fresh and young in a rosy glow!

As Jessica Bennett says, “Your home should be your favorite place on earth.”  I was tickled pink to create that place for my sister.

[photos by Meikel Reece]

- Christy

Inspiration in Unusual Places - The Fourth of July

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Celebrate the Fourth of July in glamour. This red, white and blue color scheme can be very patriotic but used, in the right way, it can also be very sophisticated. These are a few of our favorite rooms. Use the scheme literally, and add a flag as wall art.

Adding in a piece of artwork adds some pizazz to this room and makes a bold statement. Add some color to your bedding with red, white and blue.

Navy blue walls add sophistication and depth to this dining room but the contrast of the white slipcovered chairs and linen drapes make it feel a bit more relaxed and breezy.

A pretty tufted persimmon headboard, with the contrast of crisp white sheets make this bedroom glamorous. I'm in love with this velvet navy sectional and that gold elephant! Love!

Happy Fourth of July! What will you be doing to celebrate?

[photos from Elle Decor, Lonny, and Rue]

What's in Store - The Maxime Bed

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Let your summer slumber be more luxurious with our newest addition to the store - the Maxime Bed.

In a linen/rayon/polyester blend, the rayon and polyester make it a bit more cleanable. This king bed is perfect for a Master Bedroom, but if a queen is what you are looking for, we can order that in. It is even offered in that hard-to-find twin bed. With it's clean lines and button tufting it would work in any transitional room.

94"W x 94"D x 57.5"H $2,445

Stop by and see it in person!