I love conversations that start with "I saw these in Paris and fell in love with them". That was how my conversation started with my friend Charles from Michaelian and Kohlberg today. He saw these rugs on a recent trip to Paris and had to have them in the showroom. I agree, I think that they are stunning and quite unusual. They are primitive rugs from Iran, quite different to the Persian rugs we are used to. The simplicity of the palette (all neutrals) is great and I think especially suited to California. It's hard to see in the photo's but there are some great details on the edges too where it drops from a deep pile to almost a flat weave. If you are in the area, drop by and check them out, I am sure you too will fall in love.

It's funny how some things can set your mind buzzing. I was out shopping yesterday with a client, and we stopped by one of my favorite Antique stores in Los Angeles, Eccola and there on the floor was something that I had never seen before, an actual Giraffe skin rug. It was beautiful. I have to say that I have always been afan of natural skins on the floor, as well as the Giraffe pattern, so you could imagine how excited I was to see it. It is still available here is the link http://eccolaimports.com/itemdetails.php?id=248904

http://www.kylebunting.com/ideas-floors-cowhide-leather-rugs.shtml

Patchwork leather rugs are pretty easy to come by, but the ones by Kyle Bunting are fresh and beautiful. With a broad selection of colors and patterns, each one is a custom piece that is totally unique. These rugs are not cheap, but I love the fact that Kyle posts a collection of rugs that are on sale on his site. I have bought a couple of these and the quality is great, so it's a good place to look if you are on a bit of a budget.

http://www.kottlersafrica.com/products2/images2/zebraskins2/90%20(2).JPG

Cow hide rugs are one thing, but can you really beat the beauty of a good Zebra rug. Luckily zebra's are being farm raised now, so it's sort of politically correct, well at least acceptable to have them now. I have bought rugs from Kottlers before and have been very happy with the range, as well as the service. My favorite Zebra is a chocolate brown and ivory, rather than the stronger colors of the black and white.

http://www.edelmanleather.com/magiccarpets.htm#

As many of you may know, we are currently working on a room at the Pasadena Showhouse of Design, the oldest running showhouse in the country. The room my team is doing is a garden room, which should be beautiful, but when it came to the ceiling panels, I wanted something a little unique, that had some sheen and sound deadening qualities, I thought that cow hide might be perfect. I went to Edelman Leathers as the quality of their tanning and coloring is beautiful. I can't wait to post images of our "furry" ceiling.

http://www.bearskin-rugs.com/polar-bear-rugs-c-62.html

Now this is probably going to be a polarizing choice, no pun intended! But I love the beauty of the polar bear rug. If you could imagine a modern white interior, with contemporary furniture, then draped on the floor, this stunning rug. I think it would be quite chic, although I might be alone in thinking that.

Madeline Weinrib Rugs

I have to admit that I cannot take credit for this post. My friend Casey Roy, a very talented designer from San Antonio mentioned Madeline on her Facebook page a couple of days ago, so I had to go and check it out, and sure enough, another treasure!

Madeline Weinrib, does a lot of textiles, fashion etc, and some beautiful rugs, but the ones that totally caught my attention were the denim ones. It makes me want to go out and buy a beach house real bad! While there are no prizes for the imagination of the names, the rugs are really quite pretty, sort of like Levi Strauss in Gees Bend!

Rugs--The Tough Buy

There are many pieces of the puzzle when creating a room but, for me, one of the most important is an Area Rug. Nothing is more central to creating warmth, style, and color. And quite often, nothing is more complicated to purchase. There are so many choices that I thought I would give you some basics to start your search~ Ashleigh

Construction Methods
Rugs can be made in many ways with a myriad of fabrics and textures, yielding a variety of looks.

Hand Knotted is an ancient skill consisting of tying thousands to tiny knots to the weft threads on a loom which are then secured by the warp threads. It requires great skill, patience and artistry and yields a one of a kind and long lasting investment. Machine loomed versions can resemble the unique look and longevity of handmade at a fraction of the cost.

Tufted rugs are produced by pushing yarn up though a mesh foundation with a needle or a gun, glue backed. The yarn is either cut, creating a cut pile rug or left intact called a looped or hooked pile rug. Machine made tufted rugs are the norm and rarely can be distinguished from handmade.

Flat Woven rugs have no pile as they consist of only weft and warp threads---they are literally flat but can be very soft when made of thicker fibers like wool felt. Because of their construction method, flat rugs do not hide debris, wear more quickly than others and slip unless one puts a pad underneath. Nevertheless, their relative inexpensive nature lets you replace them with little or no (financial) guilt!

Materials
There are five major categories of materials from which rugs are made from. They vary in price, durability, style, texture, eco-impact, and appropriateness of use in certain climates. The Rugmark Foundation is an global non profit organization devoted to ending child labor in the handmade carpet industry. From their website you can find a retailer of certified rugs by designer or style.

Wool rugs come in an enormous variety of colors, all of the construction methods and resilience to last a lifetime. The most desirable wool comes from Tibet and New Zealand---the colder climate causes the sheep to produce more lanolin, which enhances the fiber's strength, texture and stain resistance qualities. While being relatively soft, wool rugs are water, stain and soil resistant and also is mold and mildew resistant. All of these wonderful qualities do lead to higher prices---you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 for a 6x9 machine made rug to upwards of $20 000 for a handmade designer rugs. If your budget can withstand the hit, a wool rug is an investment which can stand the test of time.
Michaelian & Kohlberg is a trusted vendor that carries both modern and traditional handmade rugs and they have a closeout section (web based) which gives great value for money.

Cotton rugs are lightweight, inexpensive and casual. They are most commonly found in a flat weave but cut pile rugs have been coming out in the market in a wonderful array of colors. If you are looking for a rug to imbue texture and color without wearing out your wallet, cotton is an environmental and economical choice. Smaller rugs can be put in the washing machine or hosed down & scrubbed, treated with common household detergents and they are biodegradable so when your mood, finances or whims change, So Can Your Rug!
I particularly love the color and vibrancy that several of these rugs woven or tufted rugs from Anthropologie provides.

Natural Fiber rugs are anything and everything from sisal (agave leaves), jute (stalks of corchorus herbs), seagrass (from the stems of tall marsh plants), coir (coconut husks), hemp (stalks of cannabis plant), abaca (from the leaves and stems of banana plants) and even paper! The construction methods are becoming more varied from the standard flat weave and interesting patterns and textures come onto the market all of the time. As a neutral ground, natural fiber rugs provide a great backdrop for both modern and antique furniture and are often used as a "summer" option, giving your heavier rug a rest. This fiber can be rough under foot so are best used in places where one does not stand for long periods of time (like in front of the sink!). Additionally, jute and seagrass cannot be used in humid parts of the country, as they absorb moisture and can develop mold and mildew. For all the reasons why not to buy a natural fiber rug, there are many wonderful reasons why this material is a great choice--they are inexpensive, ecologically sound, and their natural tones mean that they can be used in just about every room in the house!
I just installed this rug in a home that Mark decorated; it is amazing for both the color and the texture---and a steal! Crate & Barrel

Synthetic fiber rugs can mimic the highest price of natural materials and still provide affordability, style and durability. Unfortunately, the amount of energy required to make them, their relatively unbiodegradable nature and the fact that they are generally made of petroleum products make them a no go for many devotees of the new environmental movement. They are cheap, readily available in just about every style and there is no wait to suffer once you have made your choice.
I really like the versatility of FLOR rugs but they can only be used on a hard surface so don't make the mistake of laying them over your existing wall to wall carpet.

Finally, Silk rugs make up for a extraordinarily small proportion of the number of rugs sold in the market but in terms of prestige and price, it is a power house! Most rugs are handmade and consist of mostly silk with a bit of wool for elasticity and durability. The beauty of these rugs cannot be surpassed, both for the amazing look of the material in addition to the undeniably rich feeling you get underfoot. Many people choose to hang these rugs as art, as walking all over ones investment of thousands of dollars leaves both footprints, wear and tear and cleaning these beauties is neigh on impossible.
Purchasing a silk rug is highly advisable if you are visiting India, Turkey or Egypt. Notwithstanding that, The Rug Company has beautiful offerings and can make any of their designs in Silk, just for you!

The Size of It
So once you are sure of the material and construction of the rug of your dreams, be sure that the size you are looking for really works in your space. However your furniture is arranged in your room, keep this in mind---Your rug should be large enough to go under the front legs of all large pieces or, if you want to show off your beautiful floor, then it should be small enough that NONE of the furniture legs sit on it...and don't forget a rug pad!

Resource Day: FLOR

I know I say this every week, but I love Thursday's and today is no different. I spend all week trying to decide what great resource I should talk about from one week to the next. Today I chose FLOR carpet tile. Well, it's actually a lot more than just a tile, it's a whole modular floor system, that can be used for area rugs, wall to wall or just as an opportunity to add a bit of spice to the floor.

I really like to use them in areas where it is difficult to imagine using a regular carpet, like in the children's playroom above, it's the perfect solution. If one of the kids spills paint or whatever, you don't have to freak out, just pull up the offending tile and replace it with a new one! Or for that matter you can take the dirty tile outside and hose it down.

I am currently using them in an office remodel we are working on, where the owner has dogs. So should there be any accidents or whatever it's easy to replace one tile at a time.

Installation is easy too, there are these nifty little adhesive stickers that hold them all together, that makes keeping it all straight and together a breeze. Speaking of breeze, they now offer an exterior collection too, which I have yet to use, but think is such a natural extension of the brand. As you can create very fun, interesting rugs for the outside that are easy to keep clean and move around.

One of the problems with a system like this, is that with so many choices it's hard to make a decision about anything. Well if you go to the FLOR website, they have a whole section dedicated to ideas for rugs etc that you can just download, so it makes it a lot easier. You can tell, I love these guys, I thinks it's a great product, that's not expensive and made really easy to use. Let know if you think the same!

The Unexpected Element....

Decorating a room can be an intimidating task. Where do you begin? Or more importantly when do you know you are finished? One of the most common questions that i am asked, is how do you make a room that is co-ordinated and put together, but at the same time, does not look like the pages of a catalogue. One of the hallmarks of my design work is that it is totally a reflection of the people who live there and has an almost effortless looking, undecorated style. If I were to narrow this down to one thing I think I would call it the "unexpected element". It is that one thing in the room, that, on paper probably doesn't work, but in execution gives the room a bit of a shake up and stops it from feeling too "done".

As an example take a look at the image above, it is a home Library that i did a few years ago. The color palette is very neutral and the story is really all about the texture of the room, but then, out of nowhere comes this rug in magenta and orange. It gives the room a confident, just thrown together kind of feel, it is the unexpected element.

Here are some tips on how you can introduce this into your designs, and bring them to life even more:

• Pick a piece that can stand alone from the rest of your design, a rug or an occasional chair are perfect pieces for this kind of approach.
• While you want it to stand out from the rest of the room, pay close attention to the other design elements of the piece. For instance, if you are using a piece in an off color, pay close attention that it ties to the room in scale and texture. Or if you are using something that is over scaled, make sure that the color works with the other pieces in the room.
• A piece can become unexpected by using it in an unusual location. For instance, using outdoor furniture inside, or a great French antique chair in a bathroom. It is the context that can create the tension that makes the piece interesting.
• One or two of these elements in a room is usually more than enough to create the desired effect, more than that and you start looking like a random assortment of cast-offs.
• Mixing periods is also a simple way to create this sort of visual texture. I just designed a Dining Room with a great old antique table and then paired it with a classic modern chair, the Brno Chair.

Remember the key to making this work, make it look effortless! Happy Designing!

Resource Day: Rugs

Anyone who reads this blog with any regularity will know that I am all about putting together interiors in an organised and thoughtful way. Start with the backgrounds, move onto the major furniture pieces, consider lighting, then decorative elements etc etc. To me, one of the most important elements in preparing the backgrounds, is selecting a good rug. I tend to buy two types of rugs, inexpensive, textured ones for rooms where I am limited on budget, or I use them as backgrounds for better quality rugs in a layering effect. The second type of rug I buy is of a very high quality, either Antique or handmade. In my mind it is almost impossible to mimic the beauty of a rug made by hand, and I consistently keep going back to one company,Michaelian and Kohlberg. They are a multi generational company which is based in New York City, but are available throughout the United States. The breadth and quality of what they offer is staggering, from subtle vegetable dyed rugs from Tibet, to reproductions from China, to a not to be missed group of textures from India and Turkey.

Some of their best rugs are comprised of very subtle use of color and texture, unfortunately, these do not show well on screen, so go to their extensive website and you will get a better idea of what they offer.

www.michaelian.com

The patterns that I am showing today are some of their more graphic ones. I especially love the second image, it is part of a collection inspired by the quilts of Gee's Bend. These quilts are famous for their erratic beauty and I think the spirit has been captured perfectly in these rugs.

So, check these guys out, I hope you will be as big a fan as I am.

Answer Day: Lighting

I received a question during the week, asking me to share some thoughts about how best to light a room, and what kind of fixtures were best to use. I like this question because I have very definite feelings on the subject, and I hope you will find this illuminating (sorry I couldn't resist).

Fundamentally, there are two types of light, one that falls on vertical surfaces (walls, artwork etc) that provides depth to a room, and light that falls on horizontal surfaces (floors, tables etc) that provides drama to a room. You can use different types of fixtures to provide the different types of light. For instance, a recessed ceiling light will provide almost exclusively light on horizontals, while a wall sconce almost all the light falls on vertical surfaces (remember that when people are in the room, you are usually vertical, so this kind of lighting is good for rooms where you entertain, and is considered flattering).

So the short answer to the question, is that you want to create a mix of different light sources, so that the room has a good dynamic feel.

Here are some tips you might find helpful:

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  Start with the light on horizontal surfaces, use it to create a visual path through the room, it will stop the space from feeling too chaotic.


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  Fixtures that provide this kind of light include recessed lights, ceiling lights that are very close to the ceiling, not hanging low, and table or standing lamps with opaque shades.


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  Remember that the ceiling is usually part of the horizontal surfaces in the room, make sure you place some lamps in a way that will get lighting up there too, it will make a huge difference.


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  When adding lighting onto vertical surfaces, pay attention to where people are going to be sitting and standing, you don't want light falling directly in your eyes.


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  Try and create one or two focal points on the walls around the room, that can be lit a little brighter, this will make the space feel larger and provide some depth.


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  When there are other spaces leading off your room, be sure to pay attention to their light, you don't want black holes!


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  Lastly experiment with bulbs of different wattage and color, it can make a big difference too and enable you to create warmer and cooler spots more easily.

I hope this brightens your day :)

Fireplaces

Fireplaces have an incredible ability to anchor any room that they are in. I have even been known to add a mantle to a room without a fireplace, to create a visual anchor that would otherwise be missing. In the same way the perfect pair of shoes begs the question, what purse? The perfect fireplace calls out for something on the mantle. Too many times I see over done, over scaled and all together just too much on top.

Here are some guidelines to make the perfect mantle:

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  In some circles, too much is just enough, this is not one of them. Remember that a lot will go a long way, don't be afraid to put too little, you may just find that it's just right!


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  A Fireplace will always appear to be important, so you can add a little whimsy in this spot without looking foolish, like the seahorse in this beach house I recently did.


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  I am all about creating a home that speaks about you, this is the chance to make that statement, find one of your favorite things there, like this sunburst I found at a yard sale.


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  You don't always need a mantle shelf, sometimes just the texture of a beautiful wall is all you need.

Keep the home fires burning!