Green and orange and yellow....

1.28.2011

Zebras.

Happy Friday blog friends! What are you up to this weekend? We will be crafting all weekend at our house. DIY paper flowers here we come...

In the meantime, here is something fun to look at:



Starting clockwise from the top left: Orange hide rug by FLOR. (comes in any color) Jonathan Adler green zebra pillow. Yellow and green zebra pillows by The Well Appointed House. Colorful zebra coasters and blue zebra carpet from Mr. Alder. Yellow waste basket and tissue cover available at The Well Appointed House.


I love this look in a nursery.


Or if you are daring...




What do you think about this cheetah? I'll bring you more of this look next week. Enjoy your weekend.

See you soon, Alli.

Over-dyed Vintage Rugs.

1.25.2011

One Kings Lane is selling over-dyed rugs ONLINE.
Back in November, Holly Becker, from Decor8, blogged about this new hot trend and I fell for it instantly. What a great conversation starter, right?







The photo shoot below was taken byABC Carpet & Home for their new line Color Reform.







Just wanted to keep you posted on where you can buy these beauties.

See you, Alli.

Moroccan Tile Designs

1.24.2011

Hello Morocco. I can't get enough of these Moroccan mosaic tiles that are popping up in kitchens. They add color and patterns plus mix well with Carrera marble. It's only been 3 months since remodeling our kitchen (pics next week)... Is it bad that I already want to redo the tile above my stove?

The tile below is Moroccan concrete tile.


Pic from Cote de Texas.

Check out the Moroccan mosaic on the floor in this kitchen. I could get used to cooking in here!



Find these tiles on line at the Mosaic House and Chateau Domingue. Here is a preview of what you will find.


Like this patterns... Can't retile? I understand... I can't either. Here are some more options. Stencil a wall with a Moroccan design.









This is how I added a skosh of this pattern into my home thanks to Amy Butler.




Do you like this Moroccan touch?

See you soon, Alli.


Getting in the...

Valentines spirit. Over the weekend we had a few people over for dinner. I wanted to share a few pics of the table with you. I've been a sucker for anything and everything FELT these days.



You might remember this wreath from our Christmas table. I just could not pack it away... This weekend it became a Valentine's wreath when I added felt roses to it.



Don't you just love pictures taken from a cell phone? You think I could have just pulled out my real camera. Back to the table... Felt hearts around the water glasses and felt hearts on the place cards tied in the wreath to the rest of the decor. Me + Felt= obsessed.




Tip to all... Keep Kraft paper at your house at all times. It's amazing how it comes in handy and matches everything.



I had this card board cake stand that I had purchased several weeks ago and never used... My husband put it together and I added some flair. AKA felt and ribbon. Notice how this picture was taken before I finished all of the cupcakes.




These mini red velvet cakes were so delicious. Bake them for your special someone. Below is the recipe for the cakes from one of my favorite bakeries: Magnolia Bakery.

Ingredients

3 ⅓ cups cake flour (not self-rising) (per my grandmothers advice, I sifted all purpose flour 3x and it works the same as cake flour)
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 ¼ cups sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
6 tablespoons red food coloring (2 T did the trick for me)
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ cups buttermilk
1 ½ teaspoons cider vinegar
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

Frosting: 1 pound (two 8-ounce packages) cream cheese, softened and cut into small pieces
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened and cut into small pieces
1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
5 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and lightly flour three muffin tins. Place cupcake papers in the tins.
To make the cake: In a small bowl, sift the cake flour and set aside. In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
In a small bowl, whisk together the red food coloring, cocoa, and vanilla. Add to the batter and beat well.
In a measuring cup, stir the salt into the buttermilk. Add to the batter in three parts, alternating with the flour. With each addition, beat until the ingredients are incorporated, but do not overheat.
In a small bowl, stir together the cider vinegar and baking soda. Add to the batter and mix well. Using a rubber spatula, scrape down the batter in the bowl, making sure the ingredients are well blended and the batter is smooth.
Divide the batter among the prepared pans. Bake each tray for 20 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cupcakes cool in the pans for 1 hour. Remove from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack.

Frosting: In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth, about 3 minutes.
Add the vanilla and beat well.
Gradually add the sugar, 1 cup at a time, beating continuously until smooth and creamy.
Cover and refrigerate icing for 2 to 3 hours, but no longer, to thicken before using.
When the cake has cooled, spread the frosting liberally on the cupcakes.
Makes 36 cupcakes.


Enjoy and HAPPY MONDAY.

See you soon, Alli.


Showing our love for....

1.17.2011

the talented Hillary Thomas. Based out of LA, Hillary has made a name for herself in the interior design world. She achieves a whimsical traditional feel with her play on color and pattern. Something I envy!






























Oh how my mouth is watering! Loves to Hillary. Doesn't this make you crave more color? Here are some places to start:



Clockwise from top left. The Dolci Rug at Ballard Designs. The Company C IKEBANA circle pillow at Layla Grace. The Drainsfield and Ross Arsenic Ikat pillow at The Well Appointed House. Pink Silk Curtains from Tots 2 Teens Zone. Arteriors Paulette Lamp in Aqua at Layla Grace. The Elle Decor Horse at Kohls. Johnathan Adler Chippendale Chairs at Horchow. Arteriors Kensington Iron Mirror Tapered Side Table at Layla Grace.


See you soon, Alli.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Starting the year off with...

1.10.2011

WALLPAPER and London interior designer, Nina Campbell. I first came across her wallpaper in a Bella Notte ad several years ago and have not stopped following her or Bella Notte.







Isn't the Perroquet wallpaper to die for? I love how the single hanging sheet ties in all of the Bella Notte colorful linens.

Here is an up close look at this romantic-sweet-girlie-vintage print. If you like the print as much as I do... check out NinaCampbell.com for this pattern on china, trays and fabric. You can even get it as wallpaper on your phone.







My decorating goal this year is to paper at least one wall. Do you like this bright trend?





I know this is a lot but its Nina Campbell...




Love the bright graphic paper with simple furniture.



High in the kitchen.











I love the lattice walls as an alternative to wallpaper. How fab would this be painted in a contrasting color?

Want just a skosh of wallpaper in a room.... Try this...




The above five images are from lonnymag.com. If you have not visited this site... pay a visit soon... It's a fabulous online glossy!



I bring this blog to you from my Christmas present from the hubs... He thought I should start blogging from an IPad. It's taken a while to get used to but I love it! I apologize for not being able to link you to sites by just one click... but hopefully the app I'm using will update soon!

Happy New Year and welcome back!

See you soon,
Alli