How-To: Freshen Up Your Entry This Spring!

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After the dreary winter months of over there are talks of what to plant in the garden, Spring cleaning, and just sprucing up around the house. Sometimes you just need something to freshen up your space, and what better place to do it than the first room you see when you walk through the door - your entry. You don't need to go out and buy all new furniture and repaint to give the space an updated look. Here are a few ideas to give your entry a Spring facelift. 1. Add pattern- Choose something that will be durable. This will be the spot that gets the most traffic in your home. Something with a pattern will be fresh for Spring.

2. Mirror above your console- Adding a mirror with an opinion will give your entry personality and flair. It doesn't have to be loud, a frame in a neutral color and a great shape will make a statement.

3. Bring the outdoors in - A vase of blooming branches will bring life into your entry. These can be real branches trimmed from your cherry tree or picked up from your local florist. For a long-lasting look, use a few of our fake branches.

4. Brighten things up - Add a new lamp to your console. This is a great way to keep the lighting perfect at night in your entryway. Pretty by day, pretty and functional by night.

5. Put some spunk into it - If you are feeling ambitious or just need a whole new look, switch up your console. The entry is like the "appetizer" for the house so make sure it makes a statement!

Here are a few of our favorite pieces:

1. branches - $13 each  vase - $223  // 2. mirror - $500 // 3. lamp - $900 // 4. 3'-6" x 5'-6" rug - $258 // 5. lamp - $1,500 // 6. 4' x 5'-7" rug - $98 // 7. mirror - $973

Stop by and let us help you find the perfect refresher pieces for your entry!

[photos 1, 2, 3, 4]

 

 

That Rug Really Tied the Room Together

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Dear beautiful online readers, If I could give you one tip, one bit of advice about designing a room, it would be this…..pick your rug first!  Why, you ask?  Because it is the biggest player in a space!  Once you pick your rug, be it loud, quiet, colorful, or muted, you’ve dictated what energy the room will have.  The rug is like the border of a puzzle; once you have the border completed, the rest of the jigsaw is soooo much easier!  Once you’ve got this base layer you can start to throw fabrics and finishes on top to see what gels!

Below are two very different  homes we’ve designed and as you can see, the rugs are everything!

Private Residence - Las Vegas, Nevada

Private Residence - St. George, Utah

Your rug will be the largest piece of art you'll ever buy and art, my friends tells a lot about a person....

Suzanne

What's in Store - Minerals and Crystals

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The Artist Select Minerals by Form and Pheromone are some of our favorite pieces here at Alice Lane. These minerals and crystals are hand selected and each is unique in color and composition making each framed piece truly exquisite.

As part of our art sale, these crystals are 20% off until March 27th and we’re expecting a fresh shipment any day. Feel free to stop by or email us for more information!

[photo 2 & 3 by Nicole Hill Gerulat]

Show n' Tell - St. George Parade of Homes - The Ferrara at Brookhaven Fields

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Remember the homes we were working on last month in the St. George Parade of Homes. You can see our posts about this home, the Ferrara at Brookhaven Fields, here, here, and here. We were able to have one of our favorite photographer's, Nicole Gerulat, come down and shoot each home. Some of you may have stopped by and seen it but for everyone who wasn't able to make it to St. George, here it is... the finished product!

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[photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat]

What's in Store - Artwork

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Take advantage of our Art Sale going on now - 20% off all in-store and special order artwork and mirrors. These are a few favorites and new pieces that we have in the store - Layer your artwork with branches and a lamp. Framed Horse Print - $575

Darling, I Love You - $437 each

Perfect in a boys room, these lizard and snake wall hooks are great even as artwork!Lizard and Snake Wall Hooks - $40 & $87 each

Framed Sketches - $350 & $373.50

Brighten up a mud room or girl's bedroom with these pretty Sugarboo pieces.Yellow Flower - $500 Black Bird - $500

Flora of the British Isles Book - $987

Remember When You Go Into the World - $350

Lean a small piece of art with accessories - This would be so pretty layered in front of a larger piece of art.Original piece by Chelsea James - $500

Warm Memories - $1,575

Layer your entry mirror with a small piece of art on an easel.Beetles - $625

This Just In - Patterned Pillows and Blankets!

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We just got in a huge shipment of kantha blankets and pillows. Each is one-of-a-kind - so many different patterns and colors. They are the perfect addition to brighten up your sofa for Spring.

Coverlets - $172.50 each Pillows - $61 each

And we couldn't resist sharing these charming patterned pots. Perfect on a patio with your favorite herbs or lovely for the indoors with a potted fiddle leaf fig!

Patterned pots - $45 each

Adding the Last Layer!

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The last layer of a home is what gives people the most joy in my opinion.  It is the life stories, the collected art, the family heirlooms and cherished memories you have held onto that give your home soul and conviction! 

Recently we were invited to implement this imperative  layer into a home that was almost there!  The homeowner and designer did a wonderful job with the shell of the home and what a pleasure it was to help them take it to the finishline.  Each visit was filled with more pictures, art and records to be framed.   It takes decades to really curate a home and this client has held onto the most beautiful chotskys that we were able to pull from!   Below are just a few of my favorites from these heart filled installs-Enjoy!

 

How-To: Hanging Artwork

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Choosing artwork for your home is a very personal thing. Each piece of artwork in your home should mean something to you - whether it reminds you of a special memory or  it just speaks to your soul. You will be living with this piece, so you should love it! Once you find that special piece it is always a question of how high to hang it.

1. Hang the art with the center at eye level. 57"-60" from the floor to the center of the art is a good overall rule. It will change a little if the artwork is hanging above a console or with another piece or over a bed.

2. Keep about 1 1/2" - 2" between stacked art. It looks better to keep stacked art closer together. Initial instinct may be to spread it out over the wall. Don't be afraid to hang your lowest piece lower. It's ok if it isn't seen at eye level. When you step back it will have a bigger impact if you are stacking several pieces or two large pieces.

3. In general, hang the artwork no higher than 6 inches above a bed or fireplace. And when in doubt, hang it lower than you would think!

4. When creating a gallery wall, start from the center and work your way out. Remember, it doesn't have to be perfectly symmetrical. Think of it as a collection. Just make sure it feels balanced on both sides.

5. Keep it symmetrical with a simple grouping. When there are just a few in the grouping, set them up so that they are symmetrical with the largest size in the center.

6. Layer your art. Don't be afraid to try something new. If you love an art piece that is slightly to large to go over a bed or above your console, layer it and float the piece of furniture.

7. Lean artwork. If you have a large piece or even a small piece it is an easy casual look.

What's in Store - Artwork

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Spring is the perfect time to give your walls a new look. After that fresh coat of paint, pick out a few new pieces of art. The whole room will look different! Take advantage of our Art Sale going on now! 20% off all in-store and special order artwork and mirrors. Here are a few of our favorite new pieces we have in stock. If you don't see what you are looking for stop by or give us a call and we can help you find that perfect piece! 30"W x 40"H - $773.75  40"W x 60"H - $690

38"W x 27"H - $647.50

From left to right 29.5"W x 34.5"H - $550 | 41.5"W x 49.5"H - $937.50 | 23.5"W x 23.5"H - $350 | 24.5"W x 28.5"H - $400

45"W x 60"H - $799.50

61.75"W x 55.75"H - $1,400

30.75"W x 34.75"H - $387.50

The Final Reveal!

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Remember our gracious client that let us design a cozy retreat for her guests?  Well - Ta Da - here is the final reveal!  Our client couldn’t be more pleased and neither could her guests!  (Which by the way, haven’t stopped visiting  - we may have made this room a little too inviting!)  This guest bedroom is all about comfort.  We filled the room with luxurious linens, plush pillows, functional storage, loads of seating and whimsical artwork to create a cozy retreat fit for a Queen (and her baby)!  This cocoon of beautiful details will make anyone want to stay in bed all day!

- Christy

[photos by Meikel Reece]

Inspiration in Unusual Places - Fashion Week

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There are so many inspiring colors and textures during Fashion Week - We can't help but be inspired! The bright colors of this Oscar de la Renta dress are a perfect match for Miles Redd's famous red living room.

Love this happy Kate Spade outfit! Every room needs a bright ray of sunshine.

This Tory Burch dress and coat are elegant. The geometric pattern on silk make the most stunning drapes in Lauren Santo Domingo's Paris Duplex.

[all Fashion Week Photos from Elle, Room 1, Room 2, Room 3]

Private Residence - Office

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There’s just something about starting with the shell of a room and transforming it from top to bottom that I really love- designing everything from the fireplace and built-ins, to finishes and furniture, and getting to really transform a room to resemble our client is just so inspiring. For this particular project, I had the opportunity to work with the husband of a client on his sophisticated office/man cave.   He wanted to create a place where he could work or relax, and where his kids could be near him while they did homework- picture a cozy fireplace, gorgeous cabinetry, and loads of books!

We wanted the room to feel enveloped and handsome, so we selected a rich walnut for all the cabinetry and built-ins. To give contrast to the space, we selected a limestone fireplace and then played with parchment and gray tones in the furniture.

 

We anchored the room with a tufted sofa in a cognac colored leather and incorporated a sculptural chair to add some flair. Instead of a traditional cocktail table, we selected two weighted ottomans in a luxurious gray velvet. In addition to a built-in desk under the window, our client wanted a large table in the center of the room that he and his kiddos could pull up to. We selected a large leather-wrapped table and a pair of chairs upholstered in a graphic fabric. Now, imagine this whole scene against a herringbone wood floor- yep, that happened.

This room is going to be absolutely fantastic- I can’t wait for the final reveal of this perfect den!

- Natalie