Ikea Crush...just maybe?

I wonder how many of you out there have Ikea products in your home?  Do you?  If so, are you happy with the quality of them?  I am just curious because I am quite intrigued with...

the Ikea Black and White Stockholm Rug!

Let's just see how it looks...

At first I thought it was only to be used in more 'contemporary' design styles....but, No!  

A bit more informal styles here but I love the black and white rug with this wall color.

Here it is with a mix of styles...it works just about anywhere, ya think?

BUT...

There is competition...with this Zebra rug (by itself - not layered as shown above)...

With a 'look' sort of like this but with an infusion of some color too!

I think either of these black and white rugs would look good with any style or any color.  Maybe these should be some 'go to' rugs for all of us to consider!

So dear readers, what shall it be?  The Ikea Stockholm rug OR the Zebra rug?  What do YOU prefer?  What is YOUR experience with Ikea products?  Do YOU have either of these rugs in your home?  I'd love to know!

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Image Credits:  Pinterest, ElementsofStyle, Decor Pad

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!

Tips for" Softening" your Rooms - Recap

I'm back...honestly I have to say, it's so hard to be faithful to blogging when all my time is tied up being faithful to client projects. I know that those of you who have a design business out there can surely relate, right? I tend to get caught up in all the "details" of each design project...for hours each day! Believe me when I say this...there are tons of details in this business!  Some people use to tell me that it "must be nice to be a designer and work with all that pretty fabric and accessories all day long"....uh hum, yea right!  It's not just about the "pretties"....that part is great, but there are so many other aspects of it behind the scenes that nobody ever sees...or perhaps can even fathom.  But, I do promise to pop in here with the blog as often as I can...so please keep stopping by.

For a few weeks we've been talking about ways you can 'soften' your room.  For a little recap of a few things, today we will take a photo of a room that I used as an example of a 'hard and cold' room in the beginning of this series...and we will add to the room what elements we've discussed so far.

Here was the room...

Same room...with a little help!

Elements added:

*Window valances (only shown on part of the windows here)

*Rug (added one in the Great Room towards the back-right side of photo!)

*Pillows (can be used in Dining Room chairs and in Great Room)

*Greenery and Florals (used on table, countertops, and in Great Room corner)

It's simply amazing how just a few extra 'touches' can totally transform a room into soft and cozy! What element do YOU think added the most to this room?

More on "Room Softening" later!

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Ta-Ta!

Tips for "Softening" your Rooms - Part Three

Good morning dear readers!  Can you believe it is Monday...again, so soon?  Time flies when you are having fun!  Did you enjoy your weekend?  We surely did.

Today we are on Part Three of how to "soften" your rooms.  If you missed the first two tips then you can go here and here to catch up before moving forward if you'd like. 

Isn't this a gorgeous room here?  I love the colors and the mix of chairs - an eclectic look that works.  But, what is it that this room could use to 'soften' it a bit?  Let's see if YOU can guess Tip #3.  Any ideas?

Or this room...we certainly have Tip #1 in place so what else would do the trick in here?

If you guess RUG...then you are absolutely correct!  Bonus points for you today!!  Tip #3 is using a RUG to soften your room.  It not only softens the look and makes it feel more inviting (thus less cold and hard!) but it helps with toning down the echos in your room.  I've especially noticed that when you have hardwoods or tile sound bounces all around...so, for this reason too...a RUG is nice.

I'm sure you can tell that this room has the first two tips in place...and the rug too.  Can you imagine this room without a rug?  It just wouldn't be as "soft"....not to mention the sound issue.  A rug also helps to tie your area together which you can certainly tell in this photo that this large conversation area is now defined by this rug.  It anchors the room.  "Simply Irresistible" I think!

Here we have a neutral rug (with pillows and floral in place too) that does just the same thing (softens the entire room) even though no color is involved.  It also defines this space well.  Can you envision this space without a rug?  It would be COLD and HARD!

And yet another example where Tip #1 and Tip #2 are in place...but the RUG softens it even more...lovely!

I'm telling you the truth...a rug will do SO much in your room.  You need to really take a look around and see where YOU could benefit from adding one to your decor!  You won't be disappointed.  Here is a lovely colorful room with all previous tips displayed wonderfully...but this rug is cream of the crop in 'softening' in here!

Even if you decide you'd much rather pop a color instead...it will still accomplish the "softening" effect.

Another great example of all three TIPS put to good use...FLORALS-check, PILLOWS-check, and RUG-check.  Wouldn't you say it's no longer COLD or HARD in here?  It IS "soft", cozy, and inviting.  These last three photos are rooms using rugs we carry...some of the new introductions here...aren't they all great?  

If YOU need help pulling together rugs and/or pillows for your rooms in order to carry out these TIPS then please let us know.  We'll be glad to design a plan for you! We can even include our new rug intros...there are many choices to go with any style or color scheme!

I hope by now you are well on your way to "softening" YOUR rooms...are you?  Stay tuned because this isn't all...we have more tips to share.

Thanks so much for stopping by...

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Image Credits:  Traditional Home, House and Home, Feizy, County Living, Veranda

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!

Paisley...Making a Come Back

Hello readers!  It's been awhile. I wanted to share a bit of interesting High Point Furniture Market trends with you...do you remember PAISLEY?  I certainly do!  Well, I'm here to let you know it's making a come back...in 2013.  Take a look at what one of our vendors released at market.

Now, I bet you remember this pattern, right?  This 600 year old (yes, that's right, 600 years!) paisley symbol is back. Here are some of the new products...

A single paisley teardrop on this lovely organic pillow cover.  I just love these!

These rugs are available in two earth-tone color ways and have the paisley along with a detailed key border...stunning!

Not only is this paisley print awesome, but so is this Moroccan style arch on these ottomans!

More pillows...

This beauty is hand-knotted from pure mountain wool that is hand-spun, hand-dyed and sheared to create this aged patina look. 

This "Blossom" collection is from the early paisley fabrics that was woven in Britain for clothing and home decor.

Even their best selling pillow top bench got a make-over with this new paisley fabric.  Don't ya just love it?

The secret is out...more paisley for 2013...both in home decor and fashion trends.  Are YOU ready for some paisley pattern?

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Image Credits:  Safaveih

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!

Things I LOVE...Day #19

Things I love...to share with you on this lovely Sunday...hum!  I think it will have to be...AREA RUGS!  I do indeed love area rugs because they "cozy up" the space, add another layer of color, and define the spaces (such as conversation areas). Today I'll share a few of these "loves" with you from Serena and Lily.

Leaf Deco Frame Rug in Blue (available here)

Leaf Deco Frame Rug in Green (available here)

Don't YOU just love the framed out rugs?  A few other color options are available as well, but I thought these were stunning.  These are 100% cotton dhurrie rugs that are handwoven in India.  

Here is another dhurrie rug that is sure to pop some inspiration into a room in this Pumpkin color (available here) .  I love the knotted fringe too! 

Here is the blush color...ah...you KNOW I love this one (available here).  Such a soothing color way this is.

Now this one takes its geographic design from a mix of the traditional herringbone and chevron patterns...called the Feather Rug (available here).

Here is the Orchid colorway in the same rug (available here).  "Simply Irresistible" to me!  How about to YOU?  Like it...or love it maybe?

If you'd rather bring in a little different personality into a room...why not try this beautiful Natural Flora Crocheted Rug (here).  This all over crocheted pattern is sure to cozy up any area or nook.

The Chevron Cross Rug in Marine (here) is an updated and more modern look of the traditional chevron pattern that we see so much of.  This one is actually a 100% wool rug too and is sure to bring a great bold look into any room...and yet not overpower it.  It is available in several other colors as well. 

There is such a wide array of area rug styles available today so finding that perfect match for a room shouldn't be to hard.  Now, can you see why I have a love for...AREA RUGS?  

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Sunday!

Photo Credits:  Serena and Lily

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!

Spice it up a little!

You may ask..."spice what up a little?"  How about spicing up a very beautiful and TRADITIONAL home with this...

This rug made me smile today!  One of our designers has a lovely home which is quite traditional.  She has been wanting to make some changes and had asked me to help her.  I was thrilled!  I selected "this" Vera Bradley rug for her formal living room, yes, I said "formal" living room.  It is now in the room with a newly re-upholstered blue velvet sofa...sort of like this...not exactly, but blue  like in the rug...oh, and beautiful pleated arms.  I saw it today and it...made me smile.  I LOVED it!  It is bright and cheerful and changes the look of the entire room.  We don't have to move out any of her "traditional" pieces, but we are indeed spicing it up a little!

You may ask, why would you put a bright and vibrant rug like this in a traditional home.  My answer would be "to spice things up a bit".  She even admitted that this really is her style...but she just hasn't brought it out in her home...until today!

I thought we'd pair it with some lamps maybe like this...

or this...

...pulling colors that are in the rug.


Then, we will fill the sofa with some "popping" pillows to top it off. (Selections not made yet.) What a fun "updating" project! Maybe she will even let me sneak in some pictures of the project after we are done!  More later...I hope!


Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Photo Credits: Vera Bradley, Traditional Home, Robert Abbey

Adding Boldness with Rugs

With rugs being a big hit for us at market this year...new styles, new patterns, new color-ways...I thought I'd share some bold statements these rugs can make to your rooms.  

Isn't this glamorous?  Look at how an otherwise dull room, with just solid colors, now looks when this circle rug is added.  It's actually not adding any color, other than gray which is a neutral, but it's the pattern that says "Wow" to this room now.  I just love it...how about you?

Look at how this room is pretty serene in the color pallet...everywhere except for the backs of these chairs and...the RUG!  What a grand addition it makes to this room.  We just recently installed a complete dining room design for a client where we used chairs similar to these and then punched up the room with a bold and striking rug.  "Simply Irresistible"... I do believe!!

Look at this bold greek key rug design that adds the pizzazz to this dark, rich room.  Even though it doesn't add in other colors it still enhances the look and feel of this room. It is what adds the "wow" factor into this space. 

And this chic bedroom...ooh-la-la!  Even though it does have other bold statement items in it (like the headboard, draperies) look at what this rug adds to it.  I love this design and of course, the color of it.  This was also a popular pattern at market this year.

Even your outdoor areas can benefit from a rug that is bright, bold and beautiful...and even a basic stripe can do the trick.

As you can see...rugs play a critical role in room design. Not only for the impact it gives your room, but also in creating coziness and helping define conversation areas.  Take a look at some of our vendor lines...

So with these inspirations in mind...what kind of rug do YOU need in your home?  Do you need color, pattern or just one to unify a conversation area?  If you need help pulling together your colors and fabrics to a rug that would do wonders in your room...let us know.  We offer a variety of design services that could benefit you and help you make your dream room...a living reality!

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Photo Credits:  Coastal Living, Company C, Shop Ten 25

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!