This week on USED VICTORIA a pretty persian runner caught my eye. I would definitely negotiate…but I think it’s lovely. Pic is the link as usual
If you want some help making the place you live a place you love…contact me. I can help!
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Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. So here’s a shop list for those of you #yyj mid century loving decoristas who want to create this Em Henderson look locally for…ehem…ALLOT less. See below for the thrifty shop list (cause that’s how I roll) and a single shot of the inspiration pic again cause it’s just that cool..
Shop List
- Blue Couch – Full House Modern
- Gold Cocktail Table – West Elm
- Colourful Assortment of pillows – Etsy
- A La Plage, A La Piscine collection by – The House of Gray
- Antique Brass Bar Cart – Crate and Barrel
- Flying Pig – Urban Barn
- MCM Leather chair – Used Victoria
- MCM Dining chairs – Used Victoria
- Blue Lamp – Target (or a can of spray paint)
- Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree – Garden Centre
- Leather Pouff – The Cross
- Light Fixture - CB2
- Ben Ourain Rug – West Elm - or see my DIY tutorial here
Inspiration: Emily Henderson’s recent LA Project.
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I’m a little obsessed with rugs these days. 
In fact, at the moment my house is an eccentric…and I admit not all that attractive…. patchwork of various rugs and runners to aid our old man dog as he surveys his territory. Tell me you wouldn’t do anything for this face!?! I’m a slave to that smile.
So here’s something that caught my eye on Used Victoria this week…a beauty for sure! You like?
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It’s a good thing I’m going away for a few days because my obsession with this rug is bordering on unhealthy…how many times a day is too many to look at a rug online? …..wait don’t answer that.
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Like most design enthusiasts I have a mad crush on Moroccan everything and in particular a style of rug that originates from the Middle Atlas Mountains in Morocco; the Beni Ouarain. These wool carpets are named after the Beni Ouarain Berber tribe who make this distinctive diamond and geometric pattern on natural ivory sheep’s wool. There are many Berber tribes who pass down traditional carpet weaving traditions, but this particular style has gained super star status in western design owing to its simplicity and endorsement from some of the biggest names in design. I love it too.
Take a look at the rug I just finished for my guest room, and how I made it.
I used black thread for this project although it takes on a navy blue look which is just fine by me 
Here’s an example of a beautiful hand made Beni Ouarain rug form Morocco. Props to the amazing women who still craft these rugs by hand, but this was a quick budget friendly fix that’ll hold me over until the rug budget gets an infusion of cash.
What d’ya say? Think you might try it?
I’m going to make a couple more for some nursery projects I’m working on.
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Those skittles TV ads still have me shaking my head. But I DO Lov’em. I’m still exploring rugs this week so let’s continue with these colourful carpets! I’ve been looking at them applied in grown up spaces and I like what I found…
Specht Harpman via Houzz
Robert Kaner via Houzz
HMA Architechts via Houzz
1. Rugs on Time 2.Safavieh 3. Safavieh via Fab
4. Spectrum via The Rug Company
And for those of you who think I’m nuts, or colour blind, or both. Here’s a multi stripe rug in a cooler palette that I also liked!
Robbins Architechture via Houzz 5. Dash and Albert Rug Co.
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Hey, did you know I LOVE Tori Amos. Yep…love her long time and I would post her Raspberry Swirl video for your entertainment but let’s just say…it’s not everyone’s taste:) Now, swirl patterns is something we can all agree on. I’ve been in love with this Paul Smith Swirl rug from the Rug Company for awhile now and thought I’d share some great pics of it used successfully in grown up rooms. Obviously any of these bold bright beauties would work well in a children’s space but they’re not cheap and I’d shed a few tears if a Kool-aid accident happened so let’s look at them masterfully applied in real,…and yes cool, places with nary a child’s toy in sight!
Paul Smith Swirl
Jason Martin Interior Design
Budget Friendly Version from Overstcok.com
Another Swirl from Kravet…awesome
Koo de Kir via Houzz
And if you can’t commit…which I totally understand …you can opt for a pillow. Pillows make everything better!
Or an ornament for the upcoming season!
Fa la la la LA! Next Up, STRIPES!
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One of my most exciting projects at the moment is the re-decoration of a newborn baby boys room and that of his toddler sister. As often happens, Baby Mamma and I started out talking about the boys room ,looking at some options and then we added the girls room to the project too. I love that!
Today I ordered some art from Art.com and Etsy which are invaluable sources when working with out of town clients. Using sites like these I can show exactly what I like for their room and they can choose yay or nay. I also like them for the affordability because in a baby’s room you are realistically choosing pieces that are likely to change in the next couple years.
You can click below to see how the boys room started with a request for an Orange and Brown scheme and then morphed into something a little less Orange and Brown
Here’s a couple other favourite things that I will run by Baby Mamma soon and see what she thinks
One of these Candy Lamps I found at Fab.com?
Or this Flokati Rug from IKEA that would make floor time more cushy.
Contact me if you would like help making the place you live a place you love
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My lovely and talented friend Jenn is renovating her house in Whitehorse and has posted on her blog that she and the mister are in a dilemma. They love bold bright designs but they are having trouble pulling the trigger and painting their wood stairs. Below is the inspiration pic they both loved and their actual staircase (avec chien).
Jenn’s Inspiration The World of InteriorsJuly 2009
Jenn’s Actual Stairs
There is a case to be made for the colourful stairway. However, I think the verdict might be that it works better outside in the bright colour palettes shown here.
Nice open spaces and large scale walls help these steps take a cheerful tone rather than a jarring one.
So what to do? You want some colour, but maybe don’t want the forever commitment that comes with painting your stairs. A couple of options include:
- Paint the Risers Only (Less commitment – still keeping some of the wood tones).
- Stain the wood, or bleach it so you still have the wood look but a totally different feel.
- Add carpet strips or runner to get pop of colour without painting.
- Paint or wallpaper the walls with light and bright colours and patterns and leave the steps wood.
Lets go through the options:
1. Paint Risers Only. I like this idea. White is a classic choice. … (side note their home is influenced my mid century design and they love white)
Houzz
Although you could go with a colour, a combo of colours, or even an ombre graduation of colour as shown here. Tip: use a semi gloss or gloss paint. No eggshell for this treatment.
Pinterest
2. Stain Dark or Bleach for an all over non-colour change. Keep in mind that stain is not just light or dark brown anymore. There are some new gray stains that look very cool and create almost a barn board effect. (may look awesome on that beadboard I see at the landing.)
Both from Houzz
3. Carpet Strips or runner for hit of colour?
Pinterest
Tip: My dog is getting older and having trouble with our wood stairs so instead of a full runner, I bought three of the same rug from Winners and sliced them to the depth of each step. After cutting I zig zagged the edges with my sewing machine so they would not fray. Ikea has some great options that are inexpensive so you wont feel bad cutting them up..And the third one…well its just pretty and I like it, but I would not slice and dice it.
4. Paint or wall paper treatment on the wall without painting the stairs. How about these from Marimekko? Or any number of stripe or chevron patterns you can dream up with paint!
I also love this wall panel set by Keith Haring
So there are a few options to bring in some bright happy shapes and colours into your stairway. If you were to ask me…my vote would be for white risers stained tops and a graphic wall treatment.
Hope this helps Jenn! I have to get to your house soon!! I already love it!
Anyone else have any thoughts on treatments for stairs?? What do you like best?
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On time is a big thing for me…I like to be on time (even early) and I certainly appreciate it from others. So when I recently had clients order their large Persian rug from Rugs On Time I crossed my fingers and toes. It worked! These folks have great (Canadian) Pricing, free shipping and free no hassle returns if you don’t like what you see. You can’t do much better than that, and for peeps who live in remote locations without great rug shops the shipping and excellent online photos on a website like this are a terrific option.
A couple that caught my eye recently were this handsome Mashad….
His chic city cousin the contemporary hand knotted…
And this little fella would be great in a kids playroom or bedroom
So check them out… they might have something for you. I can say my clients had a great experience and as a result I’ll use them again.
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