Finally. Someone sweeps in and demystifies the great rug dilemma that has stressed out so many over the years. Come to find out, all the sleep loss, vent sessions, and rug returns were totally unnecessary because Real Simple tells us that it’s basically a no-brainer.
From color to size, their February issue featured a terrific spread, Choosing the Right Rug for Any Space, that I found complete, informative, and so easy, even a caveman can do it (drum roll please). Let’s face it, most rugs don’t come cheap. None of us care to unload our wallets for our very own magic carpet, only to find out that it looks out of place and is hardly magical. From color coordination tips, to pattern and materials selection, and of course size (because it does matter), Real Simple solves your rug issues once and for all.
Click here to read the full article, and by all means, tear it from the February issue or print out the online article. Even if you’re not in the market for a carpet right now, chances are you will be someday, so save this information for a future date.
Rug-spiration images are below for you to enjoy. The article lists resources for all rugs shown in these images. Click on any below for a larger view.
I’m in love with this bedroom, right down to the creamy little deer head. All that texture and those soft hues paired with the rich neutral wall color is a fantastic pairing. Don’t you think? I’m not sure about the height of the side table though, I always suggest that a side table should be the same height as the mattress. I guess everyone has their own idea of what is right or wrong.
Love this medallion rug, don’t you? Great colors. I’m a huge fan of the sofa table in the back, flush against the wall. Makes for the perfect display space and great place to add extra lighting.
Look carefully at the dining room above and the rug color… Then direct your attention to the image below. It’s the same room! Well, almost…
Change the look completely by adding a different color rug. See how powerful color really is? Notice the different mood created by the crimson rug above (rich, warm, traditional) and the teal below (more playful, mood enhancing, a little on the cooler, contemporary side).
(images for decor8 from real simple)
Contemporary Cloth would like to extend an offer to decor8 readers, valid today through Feb 24th, midnight EST. 10% off all fabric! Please make sure you mention decor8 upon checkout. Hopefully this discount will get you started on all those fun Spring projects for the home! I am dying to start sewing again, I feel my skills becoming more and more rusty as I neglect doing it. Enjoy the discount, here are some of my favorites below, all available at Contemporary Cloth (I especially love the raindrops pattern in the middle).
Note: Contemporary Cloth is a decor8 sponsor, but they’ve not paid me to promote them in this blog post. I’m writing about them for one simple reason: Savings, people! If a sponsor wants to offer readers a discount, I see no issue blogging about it from time to time.
(images from Contemporary Cloth)
What makes Apartment Therapy stand out, is their major community vibe and all those frequent home tours, don’t you think? I absolutely love how they focus on real spaces and so many of their readers jump right in to be featured.
Sometimes though, I look at spaces people sing the praises over, and think of how cold they feel. It seems like so many of us are buying things we see on blogs or that our friends like, that we’re forgetting to cherish what we already have and just mix stuff in. Some homes are starting to look like people had no real history in them, like they just gutted and did a fresh slate makeover.
What do you think about this approach? Dumping the past and starting from scratch?
I think it’s almost like some dwellers survived a fire, their home burnt to the foundation and they were forced to start anew. You can look at their pad and pick out everything you see, crediting it to this or that store, or as something you’ve spotted a hundred times already in blogsville. Unless you are 18, you shouldn’t feel like you have to start from scratch. Look at Domino magazine as a perfect example. What makes the homes featured in their pages so envied? They feature real homes that were built over time. It’s a good lesson for us, decorating shouldn’t be an overnight process.
Here Alicia, aka Posie, papered her closet door. Sweet.
Take a refreshing step back and look at the fabulous slideshow of Alicia’s home over at Apartment Therapy SF. Even though it may not be the look some of you prefer, there is a lot to learn from Posie. Collect. Build. Blend in.
Alicia’s serene dining space.
Make decorating fun, not some stressful gottagetitdonein6months kind of thing. There’s no hurry, but if you make it into one, the result will not fully satisfy you. You’ll constantly second-guess your choices, after spending loads of cash and tons o’ time. Build your nest from many resources, tap into tag sales and antiques stores. The most beautiful homes sometimes took 5-10 years to get that way. Unless you plan to die soon, no hurry!
View from her kitchen window. Love the card mobile.
Great mix of vintage and new pottery. Key word here: vintage. You know, something old, something new, something borrowed, something Adler…
Remove cabinet doors and have a little fun with fabric or paper.
(images from alicia p. via at:sf)
I love this Mamma chair available at Baby Geared. Look at the sensual curves. For a mere $6,000.- it can be yours, sugah mamma.
Ah. The ultimate eye candy. Fortunately, Baby Geared has tons of products that we can afford, for both kids and adults, so make sure you click on over and pay them a visit.
(image from baby geared)
I’ve been obsessing about medallions since the 80′s, when I first saw them as a wide-eyed little girl. We took a field trip to Charleston, South Carolina to tour the mansions there, and I couldn’t stop looking at the ceilings, decked out with chandeliers, ornate carvings, and ornamental medallions. I was dazzled then, and my affection for ceilings has only increased over time.
Often the ceiling is a major problem in a space, commonly overlooked by homeowners and renters alike. You’d be surprised to know how many people never look up, and hire professionals to ‘diagnose’ their space issues, shocked to discover that their ceiling is one of them. Serious. I know calling it the fifth wall sounds cheesy, but people, it’s the truth.
When reader, Gabby Girl, wrote in concerning her hunt for medallions, I knew she’d emailed the right geek for the job. “I wanted to know if you knew where to find a rosette similar to the photo I have included, but with a center cut-out for a light fixture, attaching it to the ceiling. I am certain I saw something like this in a Domino Issue but I cannot find it anywhere!”
Gabby is right on; Domino did write about an amazing resource and the prices at this place are so affordable, even a cheap skate can afford one (some are as low at $30!). The company is called Architectural Depot. Of course, they’re reproductions, if you want the real deal, you’ll need to tap into your local salvage yard and then, hire a pro to install it (they often weigh a ton.)
Here’s some additional medallion resources on the web:Statue,Balmer,Fire River,Go Ceiling Medallions (lots of beautiful corbels and moldings, too.), and Cumberland Woodcraft.
HOW TO INSTALL: Plaster medallions are quite heavy and may require a professional to install, but lightweight versions in plastic, wood, or polyurethane foam are easy to DIY by simply cleaning the surface with soap and water, allowing it to air dry, then applying urethane adhesive, position the medallion dead center,it and either nail or screw into place. You want to fill the holes with spackle, paying close attention to gaps along the edges, especially if you find your ceiling is a bit uneven (common in older homes). Once dry, lightly sand where you’ve spackled and use a wet cloth to rid the medallion of dust particles from sanding. Air dry again, then apply your favorite color of oil or latex-based paint. If you have a white ceiling and white light fixture, have some fun and paint the medallion a bold color, like black, or keep it neutral with grey, cream, or plain white. You can even handpaint the medallion with many different colors, if your has a floral motif, you can paint the flowers and leaves in your favorite hues. Have fun with it, and if you go outside of the lines, no worries – you won’t see it from the floor.
Tip: If you spot a medallion you like, but the hole is too large (or small) for your fixture, opt for medallions without a hole and ask someone to drill a center for you that fits perfectly.
Psst: You haven’t lived until you’ve visited Charleston and Savannah, in my opinion. But then again, I’m from South Carolina, so I’m a huge fan. If you’re ever looking to stay in historic Charleston, here are some of my favorite inns to stay at. And remember, whenever you go, look up!
(images from arch depot)
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