Places For Chatting

“A comfortable chair is the most hospitable piece of furniture one can own” – Charlotte Moss Whether creating a relaxing seating area in a master bedroom, a lively keeping room off the kitchen, or an office setting, a comfortable place to sit is so important! When arranging a furniture grouping, the way you place your sofas, chairs, and tables has a direct effect on the way the room is used and enjoyed.

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When choosing a layout for a bedroom, keep it inviting and comfortable. You want a space that you can relax in and cozy up with your favorite people. In the above bedroom floor plan there is a settee, which is the perfect place to sit with a laptop, have morning tea, or even a landing spot for your duvet to rest when it’s too warm at night. Flanking this with a cozy chair and reading lamp creates a perfect end to the day.

Keeping Area

 

Keeping area grouping

When putting together a keeping room or sun room, it’s always great to introduce several different chairs with a main sofa. This eclectic mix allows guests to feel welcome and comfortable; able to pull up a chair and chat without the formality of perfectly matched pieces.

Whichever grouping you choose to incorporate into your space, always pick something comfortable that you love!

Favorite Chair

This is one of my favorite chairs. I love the details of the tufting, and once paired with the ottoman it's a chair you will never want to leave. We have it in store now, and it's part of our sale!

Regular Price: Chair - $2,127.50 | Ottoman - $840 Sale Price: Chair - $1,702 | Ottoman - $672

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[Room shot found here]

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How-to: Accessorize your sofa and chairs

When it comes to adding personality to your sofa, we find it's best to start with a simple and neutral fabric or leather for the base. This allows your pillows do the talking. _MG_7643Mix up the textures and sizes - The length and depth of your sofa will determine the number of pillows. With a long and deep sofa, 3 pillows is prime. You don't want to overcrowd the sofa. If the sofa is smaller, stick with 2. Use different textures. Here, we've used a velvet, a linen, and a sequined pillow to add a little pizzaz. We started with the largest pillow and worked from there. We recommend using down fillers rather than polyester inserts. They stay looking great for a long time and even more importantly, they are are more comfortable!

_MG_7656Use a lumbar pillow in lounge chairs - Doing so will add a bit of back support and fit just right in the chair. If the chair has a taller back and is deeper, go ahead and use a 20" square.

_MG_7602A chair doesn't always need a pillow - Some chairs, like this beauty, doesn't need any accessorizing. That tufting goes all the way down the seat of the chair and is interesting enough to stand on it's own. There's no need to cover up all of that beautiful detail. 

_MG_7628Add a throw to the back of a chair or sofa - With the transition into fall, adding a throw will make a setting feel cozier and is also very functional. Fold it up neatly and drape it over the back or throw it over the arm of the sofa for a more casual, laid back approach.

 

Oh, the places you will go...

Whenever I travel, be it across the ocean or right here in our backyard, I’m constantly taking pictures because I want to remember every single moment!  The landscape, the colors, the culture, and the people are my very favorite souvenir, so why wouldn’t I plaster it on my walls at home?   Your art should tell your story--where you’ve been and where you dream of going! Untitled-4-01

One of our dearest clients has traveled the globe extensively and just happens to be handy with a camera.  I was looking through her online travel journal and it hit me, why on earth have we not used any of these images in her home?  I am correcting my wrongs and am designing a stairwell gallery with some of her favorites from around the world to remind her of where she’s been!

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Someday I want to explore Machu Picchu in Peru and collect amazing fabrics and rugs in India.  I dream of going to Paris and living in London.  I’d like to sketch the pyramids in Egypt and see the water in Australia.  I could go on and on but the truth of the matter is we CAN go to all the places we dream about. Art can take us there!  Below are some of the people and places I dream about and I’m grateful to the artists that made this trip possible.

SUZANNEBLOGPICKS-011. Peruvian Sketches - 22"x18" each - $275 each // 2. Greek Isles - 59.5"x30.5" - $1,075  // 3. London Train Stops - 50"x88" - $3,218 // 4. Paris Cafe - 23.5"x73.5" each - $3,500 // 5. Piazza San Marco - 40.5"x48.5" - $425 // 6. Egypt Sketches - 17.5x18.75 each - $262.50 each // 7. Indian Batik - 41.5"x54" - $1,575 // 8. Paris Map - 31"x31" each - $3,000

All of these pieces can be purchased at our store. Take advantage of our Art Sale going on now and receive 20% off!

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How-To: Gallery Walls

A gallery wall can be a window into the homeowner's soul - featuring art that they have carefully and lovingly chosen, mixed in with photographs or sentimental pieces from their lives. Choosing these pieces may seem like an overwhelming task, but it doesn't have to be. Typically, if you are choosing pieces you love and that mean something to you, they all seem to come together. Here are a few tips for choosing and hanging pieces: 247416573248495448_e0PFXSuF_c1. Start with the largest piece and work from there.

Screen Shot 2013-08-23 at 9.32.33 AM2. Clear the floor in front of the wall that the art will hang on and try different arrangements to see which you like best before hanging. If it helps you visualize, use painters tape to outline the size of the wall.

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gallery wall 12$!600x3. Keep in mind that the wall will be more collected looking using pieces that are different sizes and with different frames. For a series that goes together, keep the frames the same.

contemporary-living-room-new-york-new-york-201110-4_1000-watermarked4. Mix it up with paintings, illustrations, sketches, and photographs. A sculptural piece or mirror could be a great, eclectic addition as well.

contemporary-dining-room-mr-architecture-decor-new-york-new-york-201202-2_1000-watermarked5. Keep in mind, there is no specific formula for creating a beautiful wall. So enjoy the creative process, and let your personality be reflected in your display.

This is how we did ours. Stop by to see it, and ask one of our designers to help you create your own!

Alice Lane Home Collection | Gallery Wall

 

Blog Banner-02[photos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6]

 

When it comes to art... this is the rule:

Untitled-2-01 Don't buy it because "it matches." Buy it because it stirs something in you. And make sure it will give you the feeling that you want your room to have.

We worked on a home for nearly a year with a client, and could never land on the right piece of art to hang above the fireplace. It needed to be huge, and I really wanted an original piece for her space. An ad in one of the shelter magazines led me to a gallery in Atlanta where I fell in love with a piece they had. We showed the art to the client, and it was a perfect match. We say,  "It looks like the Heaven's ruffled it's feathers!" Totally worth the wait.

Alice Lane Home Collection | Private Residence Living Room

Alice Lane Home Collection | Private Residence

On of my favorite designer tricks is to use something bold and loose in a more formal space. It gives the room a pulse and makes it feel young again. It also looks like you hired a designer to help you pull it off!

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The Art Sale is on right now at Alice Lane! I have selected over 100 of my favorite pieces and brought them in for this event. Custom orders are also available at the sale price throughout the event. Stop by and let us help you give your home that feeling you've been craving.

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 [photos 1-3 by Nicole Hill Gerulat, 4, 5, and 6]

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Art Tips, Tricks, and Rules

Traditional+Living+Room+white+sofa+pair+chairs+WIfHtscwZnVl1. Think low. The biggest mistake people make when hanging art is hanging it too high. A good rule of thumb is to hang art at eye level. Keep your height in mind. For someone who is short, eye level is going to be lower than most, so raise that art up just a bit, and vice versa for all of you tall folks. hbx-sofas-murals-light-03-1010-de-7148245

traditional-living-room-aparicio-associates-new-york-new-york-201210_1000-watermarked2. Don't let your art get lonely. Take into consideration how your art will relate to the pieces of furniture around it and the pieces below it. Art should never be hung alone on a large wall unless it is a large statement piece and should be anchored by a chair, bench, credenza, or mantle.

Bedroom+Framed+artwork+mirror+surrounding+Xg6zBPDycKKl3. Use moments from your own life - candid snapshots. These are little treasures for guests to stumble upon in your house and warm reminders of happy memories for you. However, don't go overboard. The more personal the area of the home - the more personal photographs and memories it can hold, like hallways, bedrooms, and dressing rooms.

House and HomeBest-Dec-SIP12-Chris-Tubbs4. Give your art collection your personal touch. Don't be afraid to add a little whimsy or quirk to your home through your artwork. Whether an irreverent postcard or silly picture snuck into a gallery wall, an element of quirk and humor in your decor shows you don't take yourself too seriously. Your home is truly a reflection of your personal taste.

contemporary-living-room-s-russell-groves-raleigh-north-carolina-201211-2_1000-watermarked5. The big bucks aren't needed. You don't need to spend a fortune on an original piece of art to have a beautiful, cohesive gallery wall or even just that one statement piece.

traditional-entrance-hall-paolo-moschino-and-philip-vergeylen-london-england-201204_1000-watermarked6. Layers look collected and effortless. Hang a larger statement piece then layer one or two smaller pieces leaning, over it. Add a sculptural piece of art for another layer. This look makes a traditional space feel looser and creates a great place to keep a collection.

[photo 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7]

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5 Reasons Why We Love Art

item1.rendition.slideshowWideVertical.ralph-lauren-02-office1. Art fills our life with inspiration. This is Ralph Lauren's Madison Avenue office that he has filled with pieces that inspire his work. 9e45314777a169b522856caed757ea1c2. Art gives the room a pulse, a heartbeat. Art can bring such a strong emotional impact. It can determine the color palette, set the mood, and become the focal point.

item5.rendition.slideshowWideHorizontal.moda-operandi-07-conference-room3. The quickest way to introduce personality to the room is by adding art. The art in the conference room adds all of the personality in this room. It's known immediately that this is a place where fashion is celebrated.

4. Art has the unique ability to raise the level of other pieces around it.  Take a beautiful space, with beautiful furniture, add that magical piece of art and it makes the room and the pieces in it.

Living+Room+gallery+wall+art+surrounding+wooden+l4hElgt0oIbl5. Art is an expression of your life and memories. Pieces should be collected, whether from travels, found pieces, heirlooms passed down, or just a piece that you had to have, but something that represents you.

Take advantage of our Art Sale, and get that one (or two) piece that you have to have!

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How-to: Style Your Coffee Table

Whether you are styling your coffee table in your formal living room or in your theater room, there are a few key ingredients that will always work! 1. Pile your favorite books high. Choose books that are meaningful to you as well as ones that look pretty. The larger the books, the better!

2. Display a few of your favorite items in a pretty glass box.  This will keep your favorite keepsakes safe and organized but displayed for all to see.

3. Keep things tidy with a tray. Everything looks neater on a tray. Add books, candles, or any other piece to the tray.

4. Don't forget the flowers. Whether fresh or a really good faux (We have some really great options in-store now!), flowers or greenery always bring a coffee table to life.

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We're Obsessed - Black & Gold Stripes

We can't get enough of our black and gold stripes. Chic and sophisticated, these stripes will always be classic.Throw in some of our favorite Jonathan Adler canisters to add a little bit of humor into the mix. 1. Photo frame - Alice Lane Home - $45 // 2. Canisters - Alice Lane Home - $110 & $145 // 3. Dress // 4. 8' x 10' area rug - Alice Lane Home - $1,500 // 5. Artwork - Alice Lane Home - $937.50 // 6. Purse // 7. Thank You card - Alice Lane Home - $5.75 // Hallway