They say that, as life events go, moving is among the most stressful. Combine it with having a two-year old and expecting a second around the time of the move and you have the perfect storm. You’d think this combination would be untenable yet we see it all the time. How to best navigate one of life’s most challenging times? GET HELP! We met with these particular new clients, a young couple moving to Chappaqua from New York City, last April. They had just purchased a new home and planned to close in August. Yes, they had a two-year-old and, yes, they were welcoming their second child a month before moving day. To complicate matters, their new home would need some renovation, particularly the kitchen, family…
Alison Friedricks Interiors Welcomes Bonnie Feifer
Alison Friedricks Interiors is growing every day, thanks to you, and as a result we’re pleased to announce that Bonnie Feifer will be joining our team. A resident of Chappaqua and mother of two, Bonnie is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology where she developed her passion for color, texture and fabrics early on. You may recognize her from Wallauer, where she spent the past 5 1/2 years helping clients with color palettes, window treatments, wall paper, upholstery and even furniture, lighting, flooring and accessories. Bonnie likes to get involved in all aspects of the design process and is fluent in every style. She believes that strong communication is the key to a perfect end result and her ability to tailor a design…
Interior Design Couple’s Counseling
Originally posted at Family Home Guide What is this all about and how does it apply to you. If you are a home owner and you are married or living with a partner, I am sure that you have had more than one argument over the interior design of your home. In fact, when buying a new home or remodeling an existing home, fighting with your partner about what color to paint the walls, what furniture works, flooring, window covering is inevitable. A home is very personal, it is our retreat from the outside world, a place where we entertain and raise our families. When two people come together, and combine their lives in a dwelling, they both are going to…
Easter (and Passover) Decorating Ideas
Excerpted from HGTV HERE Banish winter blahs and brighten up your home indoors and out with fresh flowers, cheery spring colors and whimsical Easter-themed touches. Add a cheery pop of spring color to your foyer, living room, kitchen – or anywhere. Chalkboard spraypaint and inexpensive terra cotta pots are all you need. Once the bulbs have finished blooming indoors, plant them in your garden so you can enjoy their flowers for many springs to come. How to make spring chalkboard pots. Why stay cooped up inside when dining outdoors in the spring is such a treat? Weather permitting, carry the dining table outside and enjoy your Easter dinner in the sunshine, surrouded by trees, bushes and flowers just breaking into…
10 Ideas to Freshen Up for Spring
It’s time to freshen things up! We have endured a long cold winter, but spring will be here before you know it! Perhaps you’re moving to a new home and you’re searching for easy ways to put your stamp on the place… Good news: we have spotlighted a few easy ways to update your home, from the walls to the backyard. Many of these updates are DIY projects for an afternoon or a weekend! However, don’t be afraid to enlist the help of professionals, especially if you plan on doing more than one project. There’s no shame in taking time to select what you want, then letting the experts give you a hand (especially if projects involve specialized areas such as plumbing or…
Who Doesn’t Love A Good Makeover?
Who doesn’t love a good makeover? We are obsessed with them these days! From fabulous new facades to a side table turned into a cake stand. With this obsession in mind, Alison Friedricks Interiors scoured countless blogs to discover our favorite furniture refreshes. Enjoy! 1. It’s all about gold accents right now! This revamped table from House of Fifty shows that little details go a long way. 2. Two Favorite Trends: two-tone and overlays. This Ikea-hack dresser from Sarah Hearts combines the two. 3. More Ikea upgrades! This one, featured on Armelle, gets a new look with fresh white paint and eye-catching hardware. 4. Recycle! We are always pleasantly surprised when people turn basic items into creative pieces. This toddler…
Dining Nooks!
With Thanksgiving only weeks away here are some delicious ideas for beautiful home dinning. If you’re like us, choreographing a delicious meal is only part of the day’s equation. Peter Pennoyer Architect As we all know, it’s not only about the food. Those family meals are where stories are swapped and bonds are forged, days are analyzed and plans are made. Windsor Smith Design That’s why where we eat those meals is oh-so important. Who would want to zone out in front of the TV when you could sit around this beautiful spread and savor? Thibault Jeanson Photography via House Beautiful When creating the kind of atmosphere that everyone can enjoy at the end of the day, few things are…
15 Top Decorating Myths – Debunked (part 2 of 3)
We hope you enjoyed the first set of our Top Decorating Myths in last month’s newsletter. Here are some more tips that will help you create your perfect home. Enjoy! 6. Don’t mix patterns and prints! And we say, why not? There’s no better way to add color, texture and to infuse your own personality than by adding various patterns together. Yes, stripes, checks, florals, plaids can all live together harmoniously! In order to do this successfully, however, you will need to stick to your chosen color pallet. Whether you’re working with blues and greys, pinks and greens or black and white, you absolutely can mix fabrics and patterns. 7. Stick to one focal point Why? We are not one…
15 Top Decorating Myths…Debunked (part 1 of 3)
Over the years there were certain rules of thumb that one thought one had to abide by in terms of creating one’s perfect home. But fashion and decor, like the times, too must change to stay current. In many cases what’s old is most definitely new again, unless you’re talking about the rules of decorating. There are two trains of thought here – rules are meant to be broken, or there really are no rules when it comes to decorating anymore… 1. Small rooms must be white, or a pale neutral color It was once thought that white or pale spaces would brighten up and make a small room seem larger than it is. And while this is in part true, the…
Do’s and Don’ts for Lighting
At first glance, lighting an interior space seems like a simple task, but it always ends up being more complicated than expected. You might run into these common challenges: Finding a fixture that is both aesthetically pleasing and functional How to utilize light to set the mood Deciding where and how to install fixtures. To get you going in the right direction, here are my top design do’s and don’ts for lighting design. Don’t Install Recessed Lighting Everywhere It’s often assumed that with enough can lights you’ll get light everywhere – not true. Unless they are adjustable or wall wash fixtures, can lights typically don’t shine sufficient light on vertical surfaces, which is where the eye perceives light. Too many…
