The owner of BRIC Language Systems' has recently hired me to decorate their office at Alley NYC.  While the Alley's shared spaces are very well designed and decorated, their office is a windowless box. In an effort to make this a place he and his employees would enjoy coming to each day, I put together a plan to bring some life into the room.

BRIC offers online and face-to-face language training and travel services. Their staff is based world-wide with headquarters in NYC. I wanted to capture the spirit of the company in the design, as well as their love for travel. There were also a few practical needs; including a standing desk, keeping costs low, and not damaging the walls.

The space currently has 3 desks, oak floors and white walls. My goal is to bring warmth into the room without causing it to feel crowded, as it is quite small. My proposed layout can be seen below.

The Plan

The next challenge was to fill the walls without damaging them. With the companies unique worldwide culture I decided to use a black world map decal that can be easily removed on the largest wall to the left. I am then creating red stickers that they can use to mark spots they have traveled to.

Below the map I am going to have an array of frames to display photos they have taken on their travels.

On the back wall I planned to have two more decals created with their company logos above the standing desk. He also works for Tricam Industries so we wanted to highlight both companies in our design.

Finally, I selected accessories to add detail and texture to the room.

With this plan we are staying well under the $1,500 budget. I am looking forward to posting the before and after pictures for you soon!

Xx Allie

So you're thinking about going to Cuba? Having just gotten back, all I can say is don't think just book! I didn't know what to expect when we left for our trip. I had read all of the blogs, done all of the research, however nothing can fully prepare you for how different Havana will be from any other travel experience you have had in the past. 

Vintage cars in Old Havana.

Flights: Cuba Travel Services is a great source for booking your trip from NYC or Miami, as they have direct flights from both starting points. We flew direct from New York and our flight went very smoothly. They recommend you get there 3 hours early on both legs of the trip, which we found unnecessary, but better to be safe than sorry. That being said, the Havana airport does not open until 7 AM, so getting there at 5:30 AM for a 8:30 AM flight like CTS recommends was definitely not worth it. 

Street in downtown Havana.

Money. There are two currencies in Cuba: CUC and CUP. You will hear that you can use both CUC and CUP and while this is perfectly legal they exchange at extremely different rates and the locals do not like accepting the CUP. If someone tries to give you change in CUP, request that they exchange it for CUC (pronounced cook).

CUC is pictured on the left, CUP on the right.

There will be two prices everywhere: one in CUC and another in CUP. As a tourist, you will always pay the CUC price, so simply ignore the CUP price. They tend to match up, but with 1 CUP being worth significantly less than 1 CUC  (1 CUP is .37 CUC) the CUC price is obviously more expensive. 

Before you leave exchange dollars for euros through your bank in the US and bring WAY more than you think you need. Your US credit cards will not work anywhere, as US banks have not yet been allowed to send money to Cuba, so if you run out of cash you're in trouble. We brought 1,500 euros, as well as 1,000 USD as back up. This was more than enough to get us through the trip and pay for our hotel with some to spare. 

Internet. You will be able to connect to the internet in your hotel, but it will be spotty. Don't expect wifi hotspots like in many countries. Because of the lack of wifi, print everything you need prior to leaving. This includes flight information, hotel confirmations, an attraction guide, and restaurants with their addresses. Also, let your loved ones know you will be off the grid, there's no need to have anyone worrying. 

Cannon inside the Castillo De Los Tres Reyes Del Morro.

Accommodations. I recommend staying at a hotel in Old Havana, specifically the Hotel Saratoga, Hotel Parque Central, or Melia Cohiba. We stayed in the Melia Habana, which was very nice and had a great pool, but was a 10 minute taxi ride away. 

Many of the hotels will charge you per person, not per room. Make sure when you book you list how many people will be staying there, so you know exactly what it will cost. You should bring cash to pay for your room on top of your spending money. They will ask you to pay upon arrival in cash. 

You can also stay in a Casa Particular, basically a B&B. This is a budget friendly option and you can find them on Air B&B if you book in advance. 

Barter. Whether it is a cab, a meal, or a beer always barter. Local Cubans know you are a tourist, so they are giving you an elevated price. For example: when we first arrived we were paying about 15 pesos for a cab to Old Havana from our hotel, by the time we left we were paying around 8 CUC. 

The beautiful buildings across from the capitol.

Explore.  Our favorite thing to do in Cuba was wander the streets of Old Havana and pop into the different bars with live music. The locals are so welcoming and happy to have you, so talk and get to know them. 

The history in Havana is also quite incredible. Make sure to not leave without seeing all of the different sites. Tip: On the weekends there is a cannon show at the castle at 9 PM. Be there on time or you will miss it. 

Food. You probably read that the food is lacking and to bring spices or hot sauce with you. We found that the Cuban food was delicious when eaten at the right places. I do not recommend trying anything but the Cuban food. We sampled a pizza and it left a lot to be desired. 

Safety. We felt safe throughout our entire trip. We did have one encounter with a local who gave us directions and then requested money in return. Unfortunately this was at the end of our trip and we were running very low on cash, so we couldn't afford to give someone money for just telling us to go left. After we apologized and began to walk away they followed us for several blocks. They never did anything, but it was very scary. 

Packing. There are three different types of outfits you will need in Havana, detailed in my last post. Pack light so that you don't need to check your bag. The check-in process is very different from a normal airline, so the likelihood of losing your bag is high. 

Finally, have fun and be safe! Havana is an amazing city with so much to offer, so get booking! 

Xx Allie 

With Cuba recently opening to the US for travel, many Americans are booking their trips to see the wonderful country before it gets spoiled by things like Starbucks and McDonalds. My husband and I just got back and we absolutely loved it (stay tuned for my next post on travel tips)! With very few people having gone, you may be wondering what to pack? Well, here's your guide! 

1. Pool Day: With the beach located about 30 minutes from Havana we spent a lot of time at the pool to cool off. I am obsessed with the floral Gucci Sunglasses and Marysia swimsuit! 

Sunglasses: Gucci, Bathing Suit: Marysia, Purse: Cole Haan, Shoes: Christian Louboutin

2. Sightseeing: There are so many beautiful sights to see in Cuba. The two I loved the most were Hemingway's home and Old Havana. Since it is extremely hot you will need to be in something lightweight and comfortable to walk around in. 

Shirt: Jcrew, Shoes: Shopbop, Shorts: Shopbop

3. Night on the Town: For a night of salsa dancing and mojitos think vibrant and fun! I love mixing pink and red. Tip: Keep the makeup and remaining accessories neutral and minimal. 

Dress: Cedric Charlier, Shoes: Christian Louboutin, Clutch: YSL

In conclusion: think color, fun, and breezy. Have a great time in Cuba! 

Xx Allie 

Needless to say, we love our bulldog Hanley, so when we began planning our wedding one of the first items we thought of was how to include her in the festivities. There are many ways to incorporate your dog into the big day. Here are just a few of the ways we did: 

1. Use zazzle.com to create a custom stamp for your invites.

We used this adorable picture for our save the date.

2. Include your furry friend in the pictures. We had Hanley in our wedding and engagement photos. 

3. Have them walk down the aisle. Our bulldog is easily one of the most friendly pups in the world, so she did have to stop and say hi to just about everyone. That being said, it was extremely cute and made everyone laugh. 

Strutting her stuff down the aisle.

4. Have a dog inspired cake topper made! Seriously, how adorable is this?!

In the end pets are our family, fur babies, and extremely important to us, so include them in your special day anyway you can! 

Do you have unique ideas to include your pet in your wedding? Share them with me! 

Xx Allie 

I have found that my main design pet peeve is when someone purchases an entire set of furniture to decorate a room. Not only does it make your home to look like a showroom, but your guests walk in and don’t see any of your personal style.

Example of a room when an entire set is purchased and used together. Set can be found at Rooms to Go.

Don’t get me wrong, I understand why it is a common pitfall. It makes design easy, quick and often times affordable. That being said, you will create a far more appealing space if you use just one of the pieces (maximum 2) from the set and combine them with furniture from other sets, stores, yard sales, thrift shops, etc. 

There are a two guidelines I like to go by when combining furniture:

1. Don't use the same type of material in the same shade or color for all pieces.

2. Do find subtle ways to tie the materials/colors found in the furniture together.

For example, the hardware used on the set above is made of wrought iron, so it would be nice to combine the nightstands with a wrought iron bed, similar to the one below from Overstock.com. (P.S. that bed is only $300!)

Wrought iron bed that would blend well with the nightstands from the original set. Found on Overstock.com.

Next, remember that accessories will help to add different textures, bring things together, and break things up. Notice the wicker basket, glass lamps, and painted nightstand shown above. This will make the room look well compiled, but not monotonous. Which brings me to my next and final point: don't be afraid to add a pop of color through painted furniture. 

I love this coral chair! It adds contrast, while still tying the space together by adding similar shades in the accessories throughout the room. 

Moral of the story is: don't go the "easy" route. Design is meant to be fun and take time. The best masterpieces were not built overnight. Your home is an expression of you, so make it say something great! 

Xx Allie 

I cannot believe that it has almost been 3 months since our incredible wedding day. I am honestly one of the luckiest girls in the world. Not only did I fall in love with the most amazing, kind, genuine, fun, and respectful man; but I was able to have my dream wedding.

I had no idea how much work goes into planning a wedding. Thanks to our amazing team, they took my wildest dream and turned it into a reality. I don't think this post needs many words. I will let the pictures do the talking. 

Thank you to all who made this day possible. Especially our wonderful families and friends! 

Xx Allie 

Wedding Planner: Wendy Joblon
Photographer: Corinna Raznikov
Videographer: Artistic Wedding Films
Florist: Stoneblossom
Tent Decor: Exquisite Events
Vendor: Dedham Country and Polo Club
Catering: Dedham Country and Polo Club
Cake: Dessert Works
Brides Dress: Reem Acra
Bridesmaid Dresses:  Amsale (Colors are Champagne & Truffle)
Band: Eye 2 Eye

A good friend recently asked for assistance in decorating her new dining room. Her (soon-to-be) husband and she purchased a beautiful home in Columbia, SC just a few months ago, which looks as if it fell out of the South of France *sigh*. Her dilemma was that the home has a modern interior, but they have two gorgeous heirlooms they wanted to include in the space that are very traditional. The traditional pieces are a beautiful glass and mahogany display cabinet and a equally divine side board. Can't be done? I don't think so! 

First, I took to the web to find inspiration and came across this design by Alex Papachristidis. 

Design by Alex Papachristdis, Photo credit Thomas Loof

I loved how the space focused on the traditional furniture, but was given a modern feel through the velvet chairs and structured rug.  Because the pair already incorporate shades of navy throughout their home, I thought it would be a great touch to include a different shade of blue in the chairs, while tying in the navy through the piping.

My style board.

My next step will be to take to the streets of Manhattan and scour the best consignment shops. Since we were going to be recovering the chairs in the blue velvet and painting any wood white we wouldn't want to be spending a fortune on them. 

*Tip: Since it will be difficult to find a complete set at a consignment shop, don't be afraid to mix and match the chairs. Remember they will be recovered and painted, so as long as their styles blend it will look great! 

Stay tuned to see what I find and the final product! 

Xx Allie

When traveling I love bringing mementos home with me. Not only is it a great way to remember your trip, but it adds a touch of your unique life to your interior design. I mean who else has a carved skull of a Yak from Tibet hanging in their office? The only problem is that it can also add a struggle, as unusual items tend to be difficult to incorporate alongside your every day pieces. 

The yak skull from Tibet displayed in my husband's office.

With my husband's business being based in China he had the opportunity for some extreme travel before he moved back to the states. On these trips he brought back some very unique accessories. When we first moved in together I found it difficult to find spots for his crazy finds in our home. I thought they would all be banished to his office/man cave. However, after playing around with our furniture, art and his travel purchases I realized that they add a fun and exciting addition! 

Foo Dog from China acting as a bookend for the cookbooks in our kitchen.

The first tip I will offer is to take a unique piece and use it for another purpose. While this foo dog was meant to be used for decorative display, here it houses the cookbooks in my kitchen. Adding another dimension to this otherwise simple space. 

Next, ensure your travel purchase is combined with more commonly seen decor items to help them blend into your home. If you place everything you have collected over the years in the same spot it will begin to look like an eclectic yard sale rather than a meticulously designed space. Here I added a wine carafe from our honeymoon in Turkey to our bar. Bonus: it also adds a pop of color! 

Turkish wine carafe displayed on our bar.

Finally, have fun with it! I am constantly moving items around and playing with new ideas. When it comes to unique pieces, think outside the box. 

Happy designing!

xx Allie

When Ryan and I began planning our honeymoon our first thought was to explore somewhere neither of us had ever been. After looking at a world map and scratching off majority of it between the two of us, we narrowed it down to Turkey and the Maldives. 

After planning an entire wedding I was pretty planned out, so we sought out an incredible luxury travel firm, KK Travels Worldwide, to help us design the perfect getaway. 

We started in Bodrum, which ended up being one of my favorite stops on the trip. Just look how beautiful it is! 

The dock off of the beach club at our hotel, Amanruya.

We stayed at the Amanruya. A gorgeous luxury resort that offers completely private cottages, each equipped with your own pool!  

Our private pool. Look at that view!

Our cottage. Notice my husband opening our first bottle of wine before we even unpacked.

The designers of the hotel, Turgut Cansever, Emine Ogun, and Mehmet Ogun, did such an incredible job. The interior of our cottage made me want to go home and immediately redecorate. The touches of dark wood on the mostly white interior added such an gorgeous contrast. 

Next, the bathroom made of an entirely white marble was designed to resemble a Hammam, or turkish bath. 

The white marble bathroom, designed to resemble a hammam.

However, while our hotel was perfection we loved the town of Bodrum even more. With amazing bars, live music, fish restaurants, and private boats called Gulets to take you touring the coast, there was always plenty to do! 

Jumping off of our Gulet into the Aegean Sea.

The view from the Bodrum Castle.

The spread of fresh fish and mezze all prepared right on our boat!

Needless to say, we will be going back... 

Xx Allie