Snow-icane!!!!!

I'm working on some new posts including a designer series which I'm really excited about. Until then, let it snow!

Above is my little cutie pie neighbor Claire to the left and my Gigi to the right.

Closet Envy

Yes, she's got crazy hair at times. But isn't Kelly Wearstler's closet to die for??? It's featured in the newest Canadian House & Home. I never was a glamour closet person. But I think I'm changing a bit. We didn't have a ton of space to sink in a virtual room like dear Mrs. Korzen, but at least it's walk in and take out what you need rather than stand in your bedroom and look through doors into a black hole. But I'm thinking in my little space that I need to make it a bit more stylish,on a budget of course. What about laying down some of these affordable FLOR tiles for a little pattern? I think I would only need like 4 (sad, I know)

And then add a little sparkle (thanks Jon!)

Then steal all of Kate Spade's creative director Deborah LLoyd's wardrobe


Perfecto!


And Kelly if you happen to read this, I love you and your crazy hair.


Pictures from Canadian House and Home (my new fav!),Harper's Bazaar and retail sources listed.

Groundhog Day

It's starting to feel like that movie to me here in Scranton. Wake up. It's very cold, grey, and slightly snowing. I'm ready to get outside and plant my garden. Go for walks up to the coffee shop a few blocks away. Start dressing less lumberjack-ish. I need sunshine and color, damnit!!! I think I'll turn to these images to give me hope for brighter days ahead.


Images from Domino, Meg Braff,Celerie Kemble,Unknown

Wooly Baby

Why didn't I discover these in November? They are made out of recycled sweaters and I'm thrilled to see they come out of Philadelphia! Find them on Etsy here

I found them on lovely Kayce Hughes blog. Every time I am overwhelmed I'm going to remind myself of this mommy of seven who designs and operates a women and children's clothing business. Keep it up girl!

More Randomness

I'm pretty psyched about my new coffee table. I can see why it was in there Where Furniture Goes To Die section of our local furniture store. Brass and smoked grey glass isn't exactly a hot ticket here in Northeast Pennsylvania. But its so glamorous in my book and I love the bit of shimmer over the zebra. And its actually kid friendlier than our last (much lower for James to surf without being able to pull it down on him). It does get sticky, but the smokey glass doesn't show as many fingerprints. Amen! Now I'm after two old chairs two flank my dining room table, reupholstered in the classic David Hick's LA FIORENTINA








Speaking of, I thought it might make a nice "Deal Alert" to offer this iconic fabric at the sale price of $79.00 a yard, as it retails for $114.00! Email me what color you want and the yardage, and we'll get it right out!



Photos Domino Magazine, Me

Happy Valentine's Day!

From my house to yours!


xxxooo Ali

Amore

I'm in such a pink mood!

PS Happy Valentine's Day to all my sweet readers xxxooo Ali
Images from Amanda Nisbet,Domino,Unknown

Lonny's Out!

I'm so happy to have something to look at besides snow! It's really terrific, head on over there. Tell the gang we said hi.

Find it here

Hotel Fauchere

Jerard and I had the good fortune to be invited to stay a night at one of our newest sponsors, The Hotel Fauchere in Milford, Pennsylvania by one of its owners Sean Strub. I was a huge fan of the hotel from a year back when we were passing through Milford and stopped in after admiring the striped awnings outside. Sean and his business partner Richard Snyder meticiously restored the hotel in recent years with careful attention to detail from the moment you enter the reception room. From the pink toned oriental rug, Murano chandelier, antique convex mirror above the sofa, leather and metal rocker, you feel like you could grab a drink and settle in right there!


But heading up to the guest room you can see why the hotel is so appealing. Wide, carefully restored plank floors, Hudson River Valley paitings hung on subtle striped wallpaper, and beautiful light steaming in the big windows make you anxious to see how much prettier the rooms could get. They do! I love the the color of the guest rooms (Lenox Tan Ben Moore) and the tone on tone window treatments. Gorgeous Frette linens on the beds and aren't Boston lights on the walls great?? And the bathroom houses a gorgeous nickel clad clawfoot tub on top of Pennsylvania bluestone floors.

Downstairs houses the Delmonico Room named after famed chef Louis Fauchere who worked at the legendary New York City eatery and then opened the Hotel in the mid 1800's, attracting many famous vistors over the years. Inside the Delmonico room is the gorgeous StudioPrinkworks wallpaper Pauline in Smoke and chocolate brown leather banquettes with salon style photos of the hotel's storied past on the walls. I love the vibe







But I've got to say the best part of our evening was heading down to the basement's Bar Louis, with much more of a casual vibe with a great menu and bar. We sat down to a huge photo of John Lennon getting a smooch from Andy Warhol. So engaging. But when Isabel Bogadtke from the hotel stopped by to check on us, we struck up a conversation that carried on the rest of the evening in between her doing a fabulous job overseeing both the hotel guests and the restaurant. Isabel hails from Germany and found herself at the hotel with her boyfriend Christopher Bates who happens to be the Executive Chef. Isabel has worked extensively in the hospitality industry as well as vineyards which I had NO idea what hard work that is. She spoke of how you basically are up round the clock for several months of the year for harvest time to get the job done. And now at the hotel Isabel is experimenting with vegetables grown at a near by farm to fuel the two restaurants and engaging the community to experience all the hotel has to offer. I love that she and Christopher were bringing in the local preschool kids the next week to offer them a free lesson in table manors and to sample different foods to broaden their horizons. So terrific. Later in the evening as we settled in for dinner, she then treated us to a few of the hotel's specialities as well as a cocktail consisting of jalepaneo infused tequila.agave nectar and passionfruit. Um yum. I cannot wait to try to recreate it this summer, wickedly good! She made our night so memorable, thanks Isabel!!

In the morning we woke up to French pressed coffee in the gorgeous sun room off of the Delmonico Room. Do we have to leave???




We headed out to quaint Milford to check out the local shops. My favorite shop when I'm in town Up River Home was closed for vacation. So mad! But we hit some of the local antique shops and wait till you see what we bought for James for his first birthday! I share that in a later post. If you have a chance to get to the Fauchere, I highly recommend it. It's such an easy drive just about anywhere in PA, NY, and NJ. Treat yourself!

Weekend Ramblings

Well we didn't get any snow from the monster storm that has been travelling up the East Coast. I'm happy and a little bummed at the same time. Jerard's work becomes tricky and dangerous, so the fact that it didn't is a good thing. But I would have loved to have put the kids on a sleigh around the yard. Not once this year, and its February! Pennsylflorida.

Anyhow, some little tidbits. Did you know the amazingly talented Lulu of Lulu DK fabric and wallcoverings plus is now writing a blog? I still remember walking into a bedroom of the Kip's Bay Designer House ages ago to find her Chant fabric on a roman shade. I don't think I've ever been the same! I love the picture below of her working on the floor of her New York City apartment. It sort of amazes me she could do this in a white shirt. It would be all over me. That is why I'm not Lulu. I'm dreaming of her Sunshine Wallpaper in Chocolate or Black for my powder room.






















Also, isn't this little guest room Barclay Butera carved out of his apartment fabulous? If you didn't have a dedicated space for guests, you could do this ingenious space with some bookshelves and great accessories.
















I also stumbled across this great blog Delight By Design























Have a great weekend!

A Bit Under Water

Be back soon!