A Few Words from: Jessica

/

This is what Alice Lane is to me - a place to be lifted out of the ordinary. A place of inspiration. Where you can identify with an item, or a spark goes off... and you think - That is me! or I could live like that. Or I'm going to try that when I get home. Charm and make believe don't have to be so far off. We have to have these moments that make us feel capable, happy - Come out and play! Find yourself in here.

- Jessica

[photo by Nicole Hill Gerulat]

* Don't forget to enter our giveaway! Leave us a comment here to enter.

Greatest Alice Lane Moments

/

Over the past 3 years we have had some amazing moments here at Alice Lane. Everything from appearing in magazines to having a film shot here that Jessica had the opportunity to be in! Our own Alice Lane star! Take a look at some of our favorite moments.

We were voted one of the best places to shop for gifts! What an honor - especially within our first year!

In their Summer 2010 issue, Utah Style & Design featured us in their Pacemaker section!

Last summer, we had a scene shot at the store for the film, "Midway to Heaven" directed by Michael Flynn. Jessica was cast as client of Michelle Money's, whose character was an interior designer.

Jessica appeared on the cover of Business Q magazine last fall for Utah Valley's "40 under 40" article.

That same fall, Alice Lane was chosen for the cover of Utah Style and Design featuring our beautiful blue plastered wall. The article inside was all about how to use hides.

]

Alice Lane hosted the Blogger Holiday Social for the biggest local bloggers with Kirsten of 6th Street Design School. It was a big hit and such a great time, getting to know all of the other bloggers in person!

In February of this year, we were asked to participate in an American Express photo shoot... The day was full of make-up, hair, flashes and smiles.

Matthew Mead was hosting a little party for NieNie and all of her sisters and friends for an article for his magazine and decided to have it here!

Alice Lane hosted Nicole's Classes book signing with Nicole Hill Gerulat and Mike & Alma Loveland. There were sweet treats and mingling galore!

Jessica had the opportunity to rub shoulders with the talented Thomas O'Brien and Suzanne Kasler at Market!

So many amazing events and moments! Thanks to everyone for your support and friendship. We look forward to seeing what the future holds!

AND don't forget to enter our giveaway! Going on here...

Birthday Celebration

/

Last night was the kick-off of our big birthday bash! With a few of our favorite sweet treats and favorite people, the evening was a delightful celebration.

Jessica and Adam - the perfect hostess and host!

Mmm... these candles are to die for! The packaging is so pretty and they are the perfect scent to take us into fall.

Thanks to everyone who came and shared this special time with us!

Make sure to stop by the store today and tomorrow. Our party is still in full-swing! Cakebites, cookies, flavored waters AND our giveaway for TEN DESIGN HOURS plus a few of our other favorite things. Come in to enter - this is an in-store giveaway. The winner will be chosen at the end of the day on Friday! If you aren't local, we DO have a giveaway going on on our blog! So leave us a comment here to enter!

A Few Words From: Natalie

/

For our birthday month, we've decided to do a few little posts by the designers here at Alice Lane - What inspires them and design advice.

When working on spaces with our clients, we try to find a color palette to match the client's personality. Using neutrals as the main pieces in the room makes a great canvas for adding color to your space through pillows, ottomans, art, and accessories. The impact is incredible.

- Natalie

[photo from Elle Decor]

Funniest Moments in Alice Lane History

/

Oh where do I start? Everyday at Alice Lane is a fun day! Those of you that have worked closely with us know that we are a good time and when I was asked to write this post the floodgates opened and so many memories came to mind! The American Express shoot wardrobe malfunction! Late night installations! Tired girls on late night flights! All of these moments are typically marinated in Diet coke and laughter and added to our regimen of Alice Lane funnies.

Please enjoy these obnoxious pictures as they speak way, WAY louder than words ever could!

- Suzanne

Giveaway Time!!! - CLOSED

/
Introducing our Birthday Giveaway! We have included a few of our favorite things in this little giveaway. The architectural pillow, Parisian glass tray, candle snuffer, a box of long wooden matchsticks, and one of our newest introductions at Alice Lane are Voluspa candles. Their scents are divine! This one is Goji & Tarocco Orange  - isn't the packaging stunning?

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, September 29th and the winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday, September 30th, the last day of our Birthday Celebration and sale. Please leave your email address so that we can contact you! Good luck!

Celebrating 3 Years!

/

I always get a little sentimental in September...It is our birth month here at Alice lane. We opened our doors just 3 years ago! September 2008! What a milestone.

If I only knew what I do now - Everything I ever anticipated about the business is almost entirely different than I would have thought. IT IS BETTER! It is a dream come true each day to come into work and be able to rub shoulders with such talented people that bring their A game and give it all they've got. I work with the brightest creative minds in the business.

We EAT, SLEEP, DREAM design - and come to work with an even better idea than the day before. We love design so much we are oozing with excitement. We don't try to play it down. We are design geeks!

Stop by this month and talk to any of my geeky staff! Ask them questions - get their opinions on anything design related. You'll see what I mean by oozing!

We are having a couple of BIG things to celebrate in honor of our birthday!

Open to the public! We will have way too many delicious things to eat and drink and the design staff will be on-hand to work with anyone in-store. Not only will we have an in-store giveaway but our blog giveaway will start tomorrow! So make sure to check back and enter!

I have also reached out to my biggest vendors to offer you 20% off custom upholstery throughout the entire month. So NOW is a good time to start that project and have it all in to entertain by the holidays!  We'll look forward to seeing you soon.

Many thanks for your patronage and support over the last 3 years!

- Jessica

[photo on left by Nicole Hill Gerulat]

How-To: Collections

/

Collections - We've all got them and sometimes feel as though we should be on an episode of "Hoarders". Fear not my dear, there so many ways to put these collections to use. We always say that you're decor should speak to you, it should be a reflection of who you are. These little collections are how we will tell the story.

RULE #1: Group like objects together. Repetition is important. Collections should be kept together, on a shelf, on a wall, on a coffee table.

RULE #2: There should be some sort of balance within each collection. In the first photo with the antler plaques, they are balanced out by the lamp, creating a very asymmetrical and interesting design. But in the above photo the antlers are very organized and carefully placed.

I love fashion and interior design magazines. Domino was one of my favorites and I have a whole archive of them... but for awhile they sat on a closet shelf. They are so colorful and interesting that stacks and stacks of them make a great coffee table display.

Souvenirs from vacations should be displayed. These items make the home feel well-traveled and intelligent. A collection of masks can be hung on an office wall. Or little sculptures and treasures can be displayed on shelves, mixed in with artwork.

This collection is definitely one of the favorites that I've seen. Kate Spade has these little gold boxes displayed on her coffee table.

What kind of collections do you have? And how do you display them?

[photos from Rue, Lonny, and The Selby]

Book Report

/

I just bought this new book, Colin Cowie, Chic, from legendary lifestyle expert, Colin Cowie. It's a handbook for living well in the twenty first century. I love the sentiments Cowie shares throughout the pages of his book. I have to share! It's made me think differently about how I live!

He writes, "My home is my refuge, my playground, my base of operations, my pride and joy. I use my living room sofa, my dining room table, my very best china, my crystal stemware, and every single one of my favorite things as often as possible - And I do so with pleasure and gratitude that they are mine. The people who created the beautiful objects we have in our homes did so in order for us to enjoy them. (Just think of the stories vintage silver would tell if it could!)"

I can't count the number of residences I've walked into that have no essence of real life or welcoming energy, no feeling of who lives there, no sense of joy or communion. Very often flat lifeless, picture-perfect shells to be admired rather than lived in and savored. For me, that's completely missing the point. We all deserve to live well and live our very best life possible.

We recently went to check in on a client of ours. Her home is nearing the end of completion. It was so rewarding to see her really living in her spaces. To see her newfound lifestyle paying off. Her home was inspiring to us - and we did the design! It fits her like a glove. She uses her spaces! And they look even better now that they've been broken in. You could flop on any of her upholstered pieces and just be.

She offered us a bottle of sparkling water. I could smell her luxe Voluspa candles burning. I enjoyed so much seeing proof of her in the details - Her beautiful shoes near her dressing mirror, her photos in the frames, fresh fruit stacked high on a pedestal plate near the kitchen window.

We met about the last layers of her home - draperies and art. We can hardly wait to share the photos of her home with you all once it's complete... Here is a sneak peek!

In Colin's closing statements of his book, he writes, "Life is not, and should never be, about doing things "perfectly". Your best is more than good enough, so as long as you do it with uber-amounts of generosity, humility, grace, passion, style, glamour, fabulousness... and of course fun!"

- Jessica

How-to: Organize and Accessorize Open Shelving in the Kitchen

/

Open shelving in a kitchen can be oh-so-glamorous or a complete mess! Last week we featured the spectacular Nemrow kitchen and the shelves were perfection! So what is the trick to the well-stocked but minimal and clean shelves?

[photo by Meikel Reece]

FUNCTION - Always display things that are functional. Plates, bowls, glasses, cake plates, serving dishes... Whatever you use and is pretty, display it! Forget about the knick knacks and put to use the things that can be of use!

[photo by Ashlee Raubach]

GROUPINGS - Group like things together. Create pattern and repetition. If you have all white dishes, then it's simple! If you have some colored or patterned dishes, mix them in accordingly. Try to keep things in categories, you want your everyday dishes to be the easiest to reach and keep the pretty cake plates and serving dishes up top.

[House Beautiful]

[Lonny]

Don't be afraid to use what's on your shelves. It's no different than having closed shelving except for the fact that the dishes stay more organized and you get to enjoy their sparkle all day instead of just at dinner time.

[Elle Decor]

Inspiration in Unusual Places - Back to School

/

It's that time again... Back to school. Fall clothes are where it's at! Patterned tights, warm woolen sweaters, crisp clean button ups... Let yourself be inspired with youthful colors and textures when back-to-school shopping! Shades of pinks and purples. What better way to bring in color than with a beautiful accent chaise or some colorful Warhol prints!

Navy and white stripes mixed with moss green! Perfect for the first day of school or for a funky dining area!

Cerulean Blue was always my favorite crayon color! It adds pizazz to classic khakis and tee. Use it to paint a room for a dramatic effect or just a splash with a piece of art.

Salmon makes a bold statement. Mixed with dark colors makes it stand out even more!

Why not throw in a bit of blush pink to the mix of neutrals? Add a bit of sparkle to really make the room shine!

Mmm... what a unique shade of green. This subtly says "style maker".

This royal blue is a must to every wardrobe. Pairs perfectly with black and white. the artwork and rug give this room character.

The traditional navy, white and khaki. Classic and beautiful.

What is your back-to-school inspiration?

[photos from Elle Decor, Lonny, Rue, and Domino]

This Just In!

/

We love sharing as new furniture pieces come into the store but sometimes we forget the little things... From here on out we promise to share all of the new accessories, dishes, pillows and all of the detail pieces that help tell the story of the room! Aren't these adorable? Ceramic fruit baskets! What a perfect and stylish way to display fruit, whether to keep the refrigerator organized or keep the counters tidy. $15-$30

Mercury glass cake plates are an elegant way to serve a delicious dessert. Take a look at those lovely details on top! $25-$63

Aqua glass dishes will be perfect for the last of summer's dinner parties! $5-$10

This little nugget would be perfect in a nursery or kid's room! $113

These cherry lacquer frames come in three sizes. Perfect in a little cluster or mixed and matched... Pair it with any of our chevron frames! $14-$24

Isn't Rover sweet? Made from recycled papers, he would be perfect for any kids room. See his cousin here in Jack Harlie's nursery. $163

These lovely glass drink dispensers are perfect for the next summer get together. Imagine, a strawberry lemonade or a cucumber mint water! Mmmm...  So refreshing on a hot summer's day! $188/$238

Finally!!! New door mats! A few of our old favorites are back but we've added several other lovelies into the mix! $44

Stop by and check it out!