Styling a Bookcase

The most striking offices always feature a well-styled bookcase, wouldn’t you agree? It’s the best way to make a grand statement and create that inspiring and intellectual atmosphere that an office craves. So why is it that bookcases often become either a catch-all for little trinkets or just an empty eye-sore? Try these tips to give that bookcase a face-lift and take it from drab to fab. LAYER ART If you are having a tough time filling those bookshelves, try layering in art to fill the negative space and add depth. You can also mount artwork to the front of a bookcase for unexpected dimension and interest.

GROUP YOUR BOOKS If you are an avid reader and need all of that space for books, you can make a strong impact just by grouping them by size or color. Line your books up vertically, create horizontal stacks, or mix it up for a more relaxed look.

INCORPORATE ACCESSORIES An office is the perfect place to display your favorite treasures. Whether it’s the souvenir you picked up on your last big trip or a gift you received from someone special, integrate items that are meaningful to you. Adding in accessories with unifying features (color, shape, etc.) is a great rule-of-thumb to follow to introduce variety without it feeling too cluttered.

Holly A.'s Picks

Now that a third of the population is trickling its way back to school, let's talk student success.  A successful student starts with a beautifully styled desk, and I'm mostly sure about that.  If you're not a student yourself, chances are, you know one; but didn't someone once say that we're all students of life?  I bet that happened.

A well functioning desk consists of a few key ingredients:  Lighting, a tray to corral the knick knacks, a scented candle for easing the research paper nerves, a coaster for caffeine, a notepad to scrawl the fleeting thought, a rad jar for pencils and such, and something organic to soften the seriousness.

If you're in the mood to create student success, stop by either of our store locations.  We've got the prettiest ingredients for a perfectly styled desk.  Your research paper will thank you.

Styling a Desk

How much more productive could I be if were to love my office space as much as I love my bedroom?? As with any space, presentation is key. I want my desk to welcome me home and beg me to spend time there.

COMFORT Let’s face it, you might be spending a lot of time in the office. Why not make it a space where you can get cozy, prop up your feet, and really get down to business? Use a rug to anchor the desk, and a footstool to make your space extra welcoming.

INSPIRATION At Alice Lane, we believe that being surrounded by loveliness helps us exude loveliness. Inspiration is all around us, so try harnessing some of that into the space where you’ll be when you’re in need of it! A charming light fixture, or lovely object is always helpful in keeping the juices flowing.

We also believe in the old fashioned pinboards. We change them out any time we find something innovative or lovely. This is a good way to keep our minds wide open.

CLEVER STORAGE Last, but certainly not least, is storage! Keeping a happy desk means that there is a home for each item. Keep a tray or lovely cup to store pencils, stapler, etc. Drawers will help harness the papers and other things that don’t need to be on display.

Remember that any space in your home should make you feel welcome. Make it your own. Enjoy being creative in your space!

[photos from Style Me Pretty, The Every Girl, Alice Lane Home Collection]

Lindsey's Picks

Adding a seating area in a home office can be an effective way to create more space for real conversations and quiet meditation. It can even make mundane office work seem a little more enjoyable. Whether it's a chair in a cozy corner with a smart reading lamp or a lush sofa with room for friends, any office space can benefit from the perfect pillow and can make any piece look like a million bucks. Visit either of our store locations for a wide selection of pillows and office accessories.

Pink Peonies on Alice Lane: The Reveal

It had been a about 14 months since we presented Rachel Parcell with her closet design so we were pretty excited that installation day was finally here. The space was beautiful, built-in, mirrored, and the perfect sophisticated shade of pink. All of the little details we had drafted had come to life. The beautiful white shelving with mirrored backs were the perfect backdrop to house such an exquisite collection of fashion. The little gold knobs were all perfectly placed on each drawer of her custom, free-standing island.

I have to admit, I got caught up in it all. I felt a little like I was walking into a closet for SJP in an episode of Sex In The City. I was surrounded by couture labels, bold fashion like neon purses paired with patterned jackets and heels for days!

That genius shoe room idea did not go to waste on Rachel Parcell; she had the shoes to back it up. Her collection is exquisite, and so is the closet! The leopard print carpet was the hero of the room. If you are trying to decide if you should put a patterned carpet in a special place, like a stair runner, media room, or closet… the answer is yes. It’s like wearing a great pair of designer shoes, they’ll carry the rest of the outfit without trying too hard.

We brought in loads of accessories, fashion books, and trays for the install. I think accessorizing can, and should, be useful. Trays are brilliant for grouping alike items such as perfume bottles and sunglasses so for the island top we used a tray full of clutches, a large white ginger jar filled with white blossoms, and fashion books and jewelry as accessories.

We styled Rachel’s desk top with a Mary McDonald lamp in the faintest shade of pink.  I could picture Rachel sitting in the evening with the lamp on writing about her latest adventures or editing photos. We left a simple glass tray on the desktop to use as a catch-all. We loaded it up with Rachel’s things that were already floating on her desk - giving items a common place to rest makes them seem more purposeful and less random.

We couldn’t resist using pink peonies on her desk. We love to use flowers – fresh or artificial - because they give the room life! In structured spaces filled with straight lines and symmetry it’s nice to get the organic shapes of something natural to loosen things up.

A great trick for accessorizing shelves is to face a large object toward you pushed to the back of the shelf (artwork works great); it attracts the eye and then you can start to play with the objects in front. In this case we used shopping bags, fashion books, designer shoe boxes, and purses. It’s also good to group common things together - it might be a color scheme, like black and white, or common shapes like perfume bottles.

In case you were wondering, this room smells like Jo Malone. Rachel had English Pear and Freesia burning on the island and it was exactly right.

When we left the closet looked like a boutique loaded with fashion week favorites. We were so pleased with the detail, quality, and function of it all, but the most important part? Rachel was thrilled!

(Photo on left by Kathryn Brookshire Brown)

What’s a girl to do after a day like that? I’ll tell you. I went home, took off my shoes and started to reorganize my shoe shelves. I put my prettiest pairs at eye level and I felt better already.

[photos by Weston Colton unless noted otherwise]

Cottonwood Craftsman

We've been teasing you all with this project for a few months now, and we're excited to finally reveal the home! We collaborated with Upland Development on this head-to-toe home renovation. You won't believe the difference!

Pink Peonies on Alice Lane: The Design

I admire people that passionately do what they love and make a career out of it - and Rachel Parcell takes fashion seriously! When the opportunity came to design a closet for the famed Pink Peonies blogger, I enlisted Christy Cook, Senior Designer, to dream and scheme with me. We imagined the perfect place to put together an outfit, a space where Rachel could showcase her beautiful shopping finds, comfortably work at her desk, and talk about what she loves while being surrounded by it. An office, inside a dream closet! That’s what we’ll do!

The space could be anything we wanted it to be! Rachel and Drew had just sold their home and they were starting to build again. We had the square footage to make Rachel's dreams come true so we borrowed a little space to create a shoe room. A shoe room!! I can hear music playing…and see twirling dresses!!

Lucky for us at the first presentation Rachel was all yeses! We pitched custom millwork painted white with mirrors lining them. Adding sparkle to every wall in the closet would reflect light and all of the beautiful treasures layered in front of them. We drafted built-ins for hanging clothes and boxes above them for for purses, special shoe boxes, and beautiful shopping bags.

We left space in front of the picture window for a free-standing desk where Rachel could sit and write her blog. Flanking the windows with built-in shelving gave us more space to display fashion books, purses, and rows and rows of sunglasses. We envisioned tailored roman shades lined with pink silk layered with a sheer organza fabric with embroidered polka-dots. All would be set atop a leopard print wall to wall broadloom carpet. For the space in-between we drew up a free-standing island filled with pink velvet lined drawers where Rachel could house all of her statement necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and watches. We had the craftsman make the surface of the island with an inset glass top so all of her jewelry could be seen from above. And the cherry on top!? A glass chandelier made up of 3 rows of layered glass rods that looks like pink fringe hovering over the island. I don’t know who was more excited - us or Rachel!

Stay tuned to see the final reveal!

[photos from presentation by Heather Telford]

The Office Walls

As wallcoverings have made their triumphant return some may still struggle to find the right place for the patterns we love. A few perfect places that could be covered with a bold floral print or sophisticated grass cloth – the powder bath, the master water closet, the living room, and the office.

The office is a room that can whistle a different tune than the rest of the home. So whistle it loud and proud! Here are a few things to consider when choosing that perfect paper.

HIS OR HERS Where else can you let your hair down if you really want a feminine floral, a masculine tailored stripe, or metallic-leafed wall? Think about the person who uses the office and gear the design toward his/her tastes.

UNDERSTATED OR SHOUT-IT-FROM-THE-ROOFTOP The office is often closed off from the rest of the home and can handle something that may zig when the rest of the home zags.

"Ahem…. HELLO! Look at me!" This paneled mural wallpaper will knock your socks off.

Or choose a classic, timeless grasscloth that will be there for the grandkids.

[photos from Elle Decor, Elitis, and Alice Lane Home Collection]

Jen's Picks

Task lamps make a smart difference in any office space—like serious work is actually happening. They help your office look the part and can actually help you act the part! With adjustable arms and the ability to focus the light on the job at hand, you can sink deep into your task. Task lamps come in a wide range of shapes and sizes so they easily fit into any space. Come visit one of our stores to experience some of our favorites.

[photos from La Dolce Vita, Poppytalk, and Pinterest]

Our Art Sale is going on now!

Freshen up Your Living Room with Greenery

Are you looking around your living room and thinking, “what can I do to help this room have a little more life?”  Well, look no further than out the window.  Bring a little of the outside in!

A decorative tree or green plant will instantly breathe a fresh new life to your living room.

Don’t have time to run to the floral shop before your guests arrive?  Cut some simple stems of leaves from the tree in the backyard and place them in an existing vase or container.  It can be done in seconds!

Do you have beautiful flowers in your yard?  Cut a few stems and enjoy them inside.  The loose look of “I-just-cut-these-and-threw-them-in-a-vase” type arrangement will totally work well.  Don’t be afraid!

So, grab a tree, some branches, or some flowers to help your living room ‘live’ a little more!

[photos from House Beautiful and Elle Decor]

Floor Model Sale

Michelle's Picks

When you visit either of the Alice Lane showrooms, you will likely hear a designer or stylist use the phrase “it’s all in the details.”  It’s a motto we live by.

Often, the details of our designs are best showcased when we surprise clients and visitors with unexpected placement of larger furniture pieces.  BookCASE in point—this brushed nickel beauty (Julia Chichester Bookshelf | $3762.50) guarding a timeless gray mohair chesterfield (Parker Sofa | Wesley Hall| $3338.50).

The unexpected placement of the bookshelf behind the sofa draws the eye to accessories and details featured in the room grouping.  In this case, the BIG BOYS allows the details to shine. (OPTIONAL final line:  It’s all of the details at their finest).

Take a Seat

Feeling bored with your living room? Here are 3 tips to freshen things up.

MIX UP THE SEATING Imagine the guests you entertain in your living room - whether it's grandma who needs a firm chair or the kids who love an ottoman just their size. Wouldn't it be great if everyone had a seat that was just right? Mix up the seating silhouettes and everyone will have a place they can feel at home.

PULL FURNITURE AWAY FROM THE WALLS Your living room doesn't have to feel like a junior high dance with the chairs hanging out on one side and the sofa across the room on the other. Let everything mingle in the middle under the disco ball, er chandelier.

COZY UP THE CORNERS Don't neglect the corners of your room. They need a little love too. Show off a pretty buffet or a spicy chair to liven up the room's pulse.

[photos from Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, and Lonny]

Floor Model Sale

Layering Rugs

Like a good outfit, a room with layers is always better.  Today we’ll be talking briefly about how to layer your rugs and the different reasons why this is the best idea next to the iPhone!  You’re welcome.

SIZE Bigger rugs are ALWAYS better but sometimes the rug you love doesn’t come in a 9’ x 12’ or a 10’ x 14’. This especially is where layering is heaven sent!   You can have a piece of wool carpet or a jute/sisal carpet  cut and bound as a base layer to go underneath your smaller, favorite love rug.  BOOM!  Your room looks bigger and better AND you look really cool for pulling off such a fashionable trick.  (slow clap)

 

TEXTURE I remember the first time I walked from a hard surface onto a wool hand-knotted rug and finally onto a long haired white cowhide.  My little toes didn’t know what to do with themselves so naturally they just curled into the cowhide and stayed for a while.  Texture is a huge part of design and I love when we can literally feel that from the ground up.  Layer your textures!

COLLECTION I’ve always wanted to say “I just have so much art, looks like I’m going to have to layer it!”  Same goes for layering your rugs.   When you layer, it helps your home feel like it’s been curated over time.   It adds depth and like I always say, it illustrates YOUR story.  Where you’ve been and what you love. Collect rugs.

Let the layering begin!

[photos from SF Girl by Bay, Pinterest, Traditional Home, House Beautiful, World of Interiors]

Show n' Tell - Pierce Master Bedroom

This master bedroom was a joy to design and the Pierce’s were equally as lovely. Our goal for the space was to keep it fresh and pretty as well as provide soft seating for the whole family. I began with these sketches so they could envision the picture I had in mind for their space.

And here is the after:

One of the most striking features of this room is the vaulted ceiling. It was the perfect opportunity to use one of my favorite design tricks: layering tall art behind the headboard just barely dipping below the top of bed. This pretty Paule Marrot art draws the eye upward and connects the space between the bed and ceiling. I paired these tall and slender alabaster lamps to balance the scale of the art. Instead of two nightstands, I opted for a desk and graceful chair on one side. It’s a place to sit and type out a quick email or write a list and plan the day ahead.

Another favorite moment is the footboard settee at the end of the bed. It has a subtle pinstripe and visually graduates the rug to the bed. It serves as a comfy perch for slipping on a pair of shoes or a sleeping spot for young children. On the other side of the room I layered in extra seating beside and underneath the console to provide a spot for every member of the family. It’s somewhere they can comfortably gather together and hang out.

Lighting in a Living Room

True to its name, a good living room should be our favorite space to LIVE in – a place of gathering, a place to fill with laughter, and with heart. Such a special place surely deserves some well thought illumination! And because this room tends to be multi-functional, its lighting plan should be equally multi-leveled. Below are some expert insights on thinking through your living room lighting:

LIKE BEY SAID - YOU PUT MY LOVE ON TOP In an ideal situation, we like to see a living room ceiling with both recessed cans as well as a statement making fixture (and given the choice, we’d take that gorgeous chandelier!) But, sometimes you gotta Tim Gunn-it and “make it work!" No matter your current situation, an easy update is to change your regular old switch to a dimmer. This will give you the ability to flood the room with light (perfect for those midnight cleaning sessions!) or to take it down a notch for an evening of entertaining.

IF YOU BUILT IT THEN YOU SHOULD A PUT A SCONCE ON IT At Alice Lane Home Collection, we never pass by a built-in bookcase or cabinet without looking for a way to light it up. Our preferred method is to place sconces on the header or side rails for a super stylish, but also functional feature.

WHO RUN THE WORLD? LAMPS The final frontier of our lighting universe are lamps. Providing not only soft, ambient lighting, lamps should be considered also for their visual impact in a space. A sculptural floor lamp with a large drum shade compliments an accent chair and side table. A pair of colorful table lamps bring balance and interest to a sofa grouping.

[photos from Elle Decor, Domino, Pinterest, One Kings Lane, and Alice Lane Home Collection]

Lorri's Picks

Miles Redd said, “Life in the 21^st century means taking the best of history and making it work for you today.”  Our answer (or at least one of our answers) to his statement is the London Sofa by Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams.

The London is a classic piece with English arms and turned legs. She has a nice deep seat and as you select your favorite fabric she transforms into a piece perfect for you.  Plush and comfy in velvet, contemporary and fresh in neutrals, or masculine and regal in leather, the London Sofa has a way of being both timeless and “now.”

With her tight-back and rolled arms this lady is a beauty from any angle and, even better, for the month of July our floor models are up to 35% off! Come on in and have a seat or better yet take one home for yourself!

Floor models start at $2,042.

Show n' Tell - Ensignal Headquarters

When you walk into a circa 1900 building in downtown Springville you’re not expecting to see a contemporary space with an English red phonebooth floating in the stairwell. Well, when Ensignal got their hands on one of the oldest buildings in the city it wasn’t exactly what you see today. It was old, run down and was being used as a ballet studio. There were no interior walls but the bones were incredible and the original windows were key in creating a space for this growing phone distributor. I introduce to you the “new” old building and home of Ensignal!

 [photos by Eliesa Findeis]