Do you ever wonder...

When the bottom is going to drop out for natural fiber rugs?  Don't get me wrong - I have them, I love them, I use them in almost every project.  But will they will be a thing of the 2010's like shag was to the 70's?

We recently started a new Living Room Project where we did not use one (gasp).  I also recently removed my braided jute rug from my living room because a certain pup-sicle I know was way too tempted by it's chunky edges.  While we're such fans of the layered component, we've heard some common complaints along the way:

• They get moldy (wish we could post the pic...we couldn't believe it!)
• They aren't soft to walk on ('beauty is pain')
• They aren't tough enough to stand up to animals (you got me there)
• Why should I buy two rugs? (can you afford a $10k+ Persian? This is much less expensive, trust.)

The cuties over at Kelly Market recently did a nice roundup of neutral rugs (that aren't sisal or jute).  Now here's mine.

(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)

Stay Put - A Rug Tutorial

I recently acquired a oushak yastik for my side entry door; one I had been dreaming about for months.  Previously, I had one of those indoor/outdoor numbers there and it slipped around, bent, obstructed the door, and just plain didn't do its job at all.  So when I laid this new one down, a lightbulb came on overhead.

I saw this tutorial on Pinterest a while back and decided to give it a whirl.  Of course, it hails from Martha Stewart - woman is a genius.  So before I put it out for use, I pulled out my caulk gun and got to work.

I used some leftover silicone caulk that we had from our bathroom reno to seal off the edges of the tile.  It worked like a charm.  I just dispersed some [uneven] lines across the back of the rug and voila!

My straightness skills aren't as locked tight as Martha's, but who can tell?  I don't know why I didn't do this sooner.  I suffered for years with that previous mat that just kept jamming up when we opened the door.  Now - smooth operation.

 Clearly Seamus enjoys it.

Update : I've had the rug for a week now and sadly, it's not staying put as I'd hoped.  If I don't embed the caulk into the back when I lay it on, the string will come off when the rug is stepped on, moved, etc.  But if I do embed the caulk lines into the back, then the lines dont stick up off of the carpet enough to adhere to the floor.  What I thought was genius is turning out to be totally lukewarm!

rugapolooza

I'm always in the market for a rug.  For a client or for myself, it's hard to tell.

etsy has become an invaluable resource for rugs, in fact all of these gems are from there, and I'm totally digging the only on the upper right (don't you go snatching it up now). 

  

Upper Left | Upper Middle | Upper Right

Bottom Left | Bottom Right

One Room Challenge : Week 5 Update

This second-to-last week of the One Room Challenge has been the toughest on our end.  We're juggling a few client projects and tried to get some things accomplished on my master bedroom but there just aren't enough hours in the day.  My eyelids are alternating opening and closing while I write this.  

The accomplishment that deserves top billing is that MY RUG CAME!  Upon arriving home from a day trip this afternoon, an oversize and lengthy package hung off the front of my patio.


The story of the rug is one of several eye rolls and bittersweet ending.  


I ordered the rug back in June.  I got an e-mail that it shipped.  Two weeks later, it hadn't arrived so I tracked it.  UPS said a label had been created but nothing was scanned in.  Hmmm.  I called the company I ordered it from and they said 'oh, wait, it's back-ordered until August.'  So I thought real hard and thought real hard again and decided, it was worth the wait even if my reveal didn't include the new rug.  So I kept it on order.  Then, earlier this week, I got another e-mail update from said company explaining the rug had been pushed back to the end of August.  I tried to call Sunday to cancel the order, but they were closed.  So I finally got through on Monday and was told, 'oh, your rug is en route.'  How can this be?  Whether it was or wasn't, their system was showing it was on its way so I couldn't cancel.  Meanwhile I had made the painful decision to order the zebra cowhide in its place and had grown quite attached to the idea of the switch up.


 My head was volleying back and forth between this

Or that.  This or that.  This or that.

Regardless of my indecision (a lifelong ailment and true detriment to my pocketbook), I was thrilled to see the rug on my doorstep this afternoon! The following items were also crossed off of our checklist this week:

• trim painted
• purchased the mats for the frames
• dropped fabrics off at the workroom to be transformed into curtains and roman shades
• got nowhere with the corbel project and are stuck on how to proceed
• became discontent with the cable cover idea (versus dropping the cables behind the wall) for TV
• ordered ribbon to adorn my lampshades 

Isn't this ribbon amazing though?

Weeks 2, 3 and 4 were far more productive for me.  But let's hope the other ladies made more tangible headway!  Head on over to check them out:

Beth - Chinoiserie Chic

Lauren - The Cottage Mix

Sherry - Design Indulgence

Lindsay - Everything LEB

Barbara - Hodge:Podge

Kim - Kim Macumber Interiors

Lisa - Lisa Mende Design

Tiffany - Living Savvy

Jessie - Mix & Chic

Linda - My Crafty Home Life 

Danylle - Nana Moon

Nicole - Nicole Scott Designs
Julia - Pawleys Island Posh

Jennifer - The Pink Pagoda

Lindsay - The Pursuit of Style

Emily - Rue de Emily 

Lindsay - Sadie + Stella

Lisa - Trapped in North Jersey

-Bethany

If you are looking for help with your home, we'd love to work with you! Contact us for a listing of our services and prices. 

Nancy and Bethany

Home Goods strikes again!

Mom and I have been eyeing these gray and white striped rugs for a while - they make a great statement on your floors and are the perfect accessory based on the relative inexpense. 

We've included them in a design project, we've seen the variations from Dwell Studios, Frontier, Dash & Albert and the like, and we've even contemplated them in our own homes. 

But Home Goods sealed the deal for us the other day when we found this pup for $49!  They were already pretty affordable as it is, but you can't beat that price for a 5 x 8!

And look who has the same thing listed today for $329!  Now if only we could find a place in one of our houses for it... (as is often the problem with a great deal... you may not always need it).

-Bethany

THE REVEAL

When some of you suggested I bit off more than I could chew, I thought 'nah, I can do this'.  Well, I do have another day job, a huge beckoning yard AND I didn't factor in mistakes, so this was a great learning experience for me. 


Here is my breakfast room BEFORE:

Here is the AFTER:

(alright I seriously need to makeover cabinets and counters next, maybe a pendant light ASAP )

 I do want to know how to make all these things, so I took on the challenge and the deadline. (which was the hardest part!)  So many of my rooms are not 100% finished, so this made me realize all the little finishes I need in some of my other rooms, cause IT REALLY MAKES AN ENORMOUS DIFFERENCE! (duh)

One of the big challenges was my faux roman valance over the kitchen sink.  I watched a few online videos and researched directions, but getting those folds straight and aligned without sagging was tricky, to say the least.  AND, in my blinding effort to forge through this I accidentally cut the extra length off my shade on the width end (and made it 42" wide) not on the bottom of the shade. So I had to piece another width to the side of the valance so it would span 54" and then add another piece of lining to the back all seamlessly so no one would notice.  I think I pulled it off.  My husband helped talk me off a ledge at midnight one night 'cause I was bound and determined to get it installed in one day.  It took me one whole day to make a little valance!

                      Here area my Danish modern (MCM chairs that are 40+ years old) BEFORE:

DURING:

Here they are recovered in Primitive Stripe Navy, Natural AFTER:

Here is my light fixture  BEFORE (I upgraded 5 years ago to stainless and never was thrilled with):

and here is my new fixture, AFTER:

The  trim fabric ,Sumter Ikat Sky, was added to white panels from West Elm,  BEFORE:

    DURING:

with assistance from the cat:

                           

 AFTER:

              

My kitchen window BEFORE, sans valance:

  DURING: ( see big mistake here)

with faux roman valance AFTER:

Add the Jill Rosenwald "Fallon"  rug:

Here are some more pics from our own photo shoot:

Total cost of makeover = $406.

light fixture $89.99

Drapery panels: $40.00

2 yds. Trim fabric: $17.96

2 yds. Seat fabric: $121.45

Scotchguard $7.99

Rug $129

Thank you Linda, the founder and fellow "undaunted dozen" for joining in this challenge and pushing us to finish a project!  Can't wait for Spring Into Action, Part 2 -- no time soon, please!

Kerry at Design du Monde

Suzy at Saved by Suzy

Tiffany at  Living Savvy

Laurie at Traditional & Modern

Cathy at Room Rx

Carrie at Hazardous Design

Lisa at A Room with A View

Sam at The Junk House

Becca at from Gardners 2 Bergers

Jean at Flower Hill Design

    Linda at My Crafty Home Life

xo Nancy

P.S. There is no solution for a crimped shade. Im ordering a replacement for $40.

Project Update : Bathroom

The projecto de bano is coming right along.  It felt a little like putting 'lipstick on a pig' - prettying first, reconstructing later but the progress has been a refreshing change in the Brower home.

Inspiration Pic:

                                                                    Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Bethany on Pinterest

As it is today:

Paint is Naval by Sherwin Williams

A play on Osbourne & Little's 'Best In Show' wallpaper was stencilled on the ceiling.  A few changes were made to reflect our breeds of choice.

New used Persian Lilihan scatter rug to warm the toes

Settling on the right mirror was exhausting (remember this post?) but I finally found this guy at Greenfront last weekend.  It's the perfect compromise between Venetian and traditional.

                                                                         Source: rugsusa.com via Bethany on Pinterest

I am still looking for the perfect garden stool to put next to the tub and a new light fixture for above the mirror.  Here are my current thoughts:

                                                                       Source: shopcandelabra.com via Bethany on Pinterest

                                                                      Source: homedecodirect.com via Bethany on Pinterest

And then comes the legit work of laying herringbone slate floors and installing a new toilet and vanity.  


A bit backwards, dontcha know :)

-Bethany


PS - Please contact us if you are interested in consigning any decor bloopers you have lying around your home.  We're running low on our own design mistakes in our basements, and are actively looking for new items to offer on our FOR SALE page!!