High Point 2017 Highlights

We had a whirlwind trip to spring market in High Point, NC.  It is always a whirlwind, because no matter the number of days we stay, one cannot see it all.  It is both exhilarating and exhausting.  The inspiration is plentiful, and we have so much fun meeting up with our design friends from around the country.  

The highlights of this years market are almost too numerous to summarize.  One of the most pronounced occurrences was the used of mixed metals in everything from accessories to furniture. This doesn't evoke an industrial vibe like it has in years past, but a focus on a marriage of old and new materials.  I loved the mix of metals and raw woods, and natural stones like quartz and even semi precious minerals.

• Mixed metals, in all finishes, less shiny, more antiqued
• Clean sleek furniture lines: simplicity and elegance
• Mixed wood tones, in many raw and natural finishes
• Geometric shapes in wall paper patterns and textiles
• Oversized 'statement' hardware on furnishings
• Bold color, grays are warmer, neutrals have hints of warm color in them
• Earthy tones, tawny browns- not your 70's earth tones
• Lucite and glass 

• Texture in everything including artwork, lighting, rugs-all across the board
• Natural fibers; raffia, wicker, rattan, leather
• Mid century modern style
• 1970's shapes and forms- a bit retro
• Global influences from India, Africa, Spain, Morocco, Cuba, etc.- gathering cultural vibes
• Hand block printed textiles and small authentically crafted prints
• Artisanal creations in all lines
• Large art and textiles framed as art
• Found objects and antique finds for accessorizing

This is just a small hint of all that was going on at market. 

                                                                                                                                  

We came back with tons of inspiration and fuel for client projects!

Check out #highpointmarket and #hpmarket2107 on Instagram for more fun snapshots. 

Next post I'll describe the process of the art by the amazing Tracy Hiner of Black Crow Studios. 

Happy Spring!

Rugs as wall art

Something caught my eye on Instagram this week, an oushak rug as a wall feature by the Kellogg Collection.  Turns out that shop is sort of local to me (and in DC and Richmond) in McLean, so I'm dying to go see them.

I love these walls with rugs hung on them, to create a special vignette.  (all by Kellogg Collection)

Then I'm looking at our favorite online shelter mag, DOMINO, and see Katie Lee's home in the Hamptons 

and I'm dying.  I love the vintage bedspread hung on the wall behind her bed, which likens itself to a rug design.

Lee's style is so fun and eclectic and she collaborated with pal Nate Berkus on alot of the interior.

How about a gorgeous kilim as a wall feature?  You can see some gorgeous rugs at one of my favorite online kilim shops: Kaya Kilims. This could be gorgeous behind a bed and a fabulous inspiration for a color scheme.

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You may have a huge stairwell wall that begs a large graphic, how about a rug hanging? 

Ideas to ponder!

Toxic rug pads? No more!

One of our decorating obsessions at Powell Brower Interiors is RUGS--timeless, classic, antique, turkish, oriental and uniquely designed rugs. We have not been obsessed with rug pads, until now...

Did you know some rug pads can be TOXIC? yikes

"Roughly 90% of all rug pads come from overseas.   They are chemically rich and toxic breeding grounds for odor causing bacteria and VOC emissions.   In addition, the petrochemical oils in pvc pads can often dissipate into the floor, permanently marring and discoloring your floor finishes over time,"  according to W.McDonald at RugpadUSA.com.

Admittedly I did not know alot about rug pads and have been guided by cost in the past, like most consumers. I have used the cheap plastic( synthetic latex) open grid type ...until now.

I have found that same grid mark impressed onto my hardwood floors and it is not easy to remove. Little did I know this type of rug pad is most often toxic, disintegrates and doesn't last.

Enter RUGPADUSA's Premium Lock felt rug pad.  These kind folks were generous enough to ship us a felt rug pad for review, and man, are the blinder's off and I'm getting educated about rug pads!

This is their top recommended rug pad for orientals, natural fibers, and flat weaves on hardwood floors.

It is  USA made with 100% felt on top and natural rubber on the bottom. The layer is heat pressed together with no added glue or chemicals (low VOC's).  Use as shown on hardwoods, tile, concrete, etc. or flip it over with rubber on top for application of an area rug on top of wall-to-wall carpeting.

They have a 20 year warranty, no odor, free shipping, free custom cutting, and free returns!  No that's customer service! Plus they have a Trade account program for designer's.

Be smart in choosing rug pads that are eco-friendly, made in the USA and the right choice to protect your rug and floor investment.  Please consider RugpadsUSA as your rug pad source!

Have a great week!

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Hi-Lo Rugs

Are you as obsessed with rugs as we are? In searching for an 8' x 10' neutral Turkish Oushak or similar style rug for a client, I came up with these beauties.

This rug from Dering Hall is priced at $27,000.  I know it is probably truly amazing and authentically vintage, but it is our job to help our clients get what they want within their own budget.

We do believe in spending your major decorating dollars on less trendy things that will last you a lifetime, and this rug could certainly be worthy of that.  But, with stealth shopping skills, like we prize ourselves to have, we can find you awesome rugs at a fraction of the cost, like these here:

This one from Shades of Light is $5899.00 for an 8 x 10.  Here's one from Garnet Hill for $2998.

This 6'x 12' from Shades of Light is 50 % off at the moment at $2100.

Ebay and Etsy have alot of choices like this one from WeMakeRugs, 8' x 10' for $999.

  

Rugs are like art for floors. 

 Well-made rugs with timeless designs are keepsakes for generations in your household. They save your carpets and floors, add warmth, layers and pattern to your decor, and extra sound proofing, not to mention color and sophistication.

Don't forget to start with a design plan first to avoid buying mistakes!

Galley kitchen and rug deliciousness

Top award for galley kitchen design in my book!

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One Room Challenge : Week 2 Update

Happy 4th of July, all!  


Here we are at the end of week one and I feel pretty good about the progress we've made on our One Room Challenge. 

I decided on the paint for the ceiling and the walls.  

We hammered it out all day Sunday.  I'm loving the Smoked Oyster by Ben we used on the ceiling; it's one of my favorite chameleon colors - it changes with the light.  It's reading pretty red in this pic, but sans Instagram, it's a medium-gray brown purple.  I'm not going to show you the full ceiling yet, as we have a little surprise detail we added that we're saving for the reveal.

We finalized the textiles for my master bedroom.

I pulled the trigger on this rug.  

While feeling quite smug for all the decisions I had made,  and doing the right thing by getting the 8x10 versus the 5x7 rug, panic started to creep in as I stared at the backs of my eyelids last night.  My lovely, albeit crass, bulldog loves nothing more than a good scrub on my bedroom carpet. My new Beni is white.  It's gonna take a beating compliments of Wilma Applesauce ... I should have gone with the zebra cowhide!  My cowhide in the living room is Wilma-proof and can handle whatever she throws at it.  Do I have time to do a switcheroo?

Lastly, I took my large pendant I've been saving for a rainy day to our local lampery (yep, it's a word) and had them hardwire it so I could have my electrician hang it from my ceiling.  As with all rooms in my house, there is no existing over head light so I've slowly had to add them as I finish each room.  

What's left:

-order the fabric for the drapes and send it off to our workroom, along with the fabric for the shade.  

-recover Wilma's steps (an ottoman) for our bed 

-strip paint from antique corbels

-order glass to top the corbels with for a shelf

-decide on new lamp shades

-paint the trim and doors

Be sure to check out my fellow bloggers' progress for the One Room Challenge:

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 

Alison - My Little Happy Place

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

May you and your families enjoy a wonderful, safe holiday!  

-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

Do you Serge Leysage?

I love my rug from Serge Leysage. I bought it years ago from a fabulous shop in Tysons Galleria - Art with Flowers.  Have you ever been there?  This rug is still my favorite of all their designs. It was a little pricey ( $100 for a 2 x 3') but it amps up my hall bathroom, and is so soft on the feet, washes well and is as good as new!

The company started in France in 2005.  You can find them in specialty boutiques and online, but in person, the colors and designs will WOW you!

Traditional, contemporary and everything in between...Keep your eyes open for these beauties during your travels!  They are well worth it.


~Nancy

What's on your list?

I must admit, before Bethany and I started our blog in November I really thought my house was well on it's way to being finished as far as decorating goes.  Then I get to see what all the bloggers are doing, and all of a sudden I am uber-inspired! Everything I do leads to something else, as you well know..... once you add one thing, then another part of the decor needs tweaking..

I'm like a little tornado, undoing something in every room or changing something, and not quite finishing it.  

[FOCUS Nancy!]

Projects on my list:

• Finish the (repurposed) chandelier I got from Habitat Restore.  I painted it, and then put it on hold… possibly for my office?
• Paint the sunroom
• Redo the laundry room: paint and window treatment
• Paint the guest 1/2 bath ( My "equestrian" bathroom: love the theme, tired of the faux finish on the walls.)
• Get a new rug for the sunroom, and finish pulling that together, which of course will mean new pillows! YAY, I love pillows!
• Get rods and hang new drapes in the breakfast room, and pull that room together.. I may need to stencil the white drapes, but I want them up first to "visualize".
• Get matching rug for in front of the sink (Fallon by Jill Rosenwald) & new window valance.
• Make a new bedskirt for the king size MBR bed...( thinking drop cloths to match drapes)
• Get busy on art projects I have in my head, i.e. large drawings of our horses

Here are some rug ideas I'm mulling over for the sun room.  The one I put in the picture belongs in the breakfast area, but I like how it looks with the new reupholstered sofa and art, so here are some choices:

  

Which of these do you think I should get?

                                  1.

Source: rugstudio.com via Nancy on Pinterest

     

3.

West Elm




                                                                                                          4.

                                                            2.

Source: rugstudio.com via Nancy on Pinterest

What do you think?  What's on YOUR list?

-Nancy

Source: westelm.com via Nancy on Pinterest

the holy trinity

Have you ever heard someone talking about something they want to do to their home and you cringe?  I often think my friends think I'm off my rocker when I talk about the outlandish things I want to do to my home.  But if you are a risk-taker, then just go for it and go all the way.  If you aren't, stick to your safe-ground and don't push the envelope. Half-assing it ('scuse my French) will always show.  Do what makes you feel good, and is within your comfort zone.  But if you are looking to make your mark, put all your chips in!

Where people get into trouble is taking some risks in an otherwise low-risk environment. The lack of confidence in their risk will always show through.  The wrong piece of stylized furniture in an otherwise Pottery Barn house.  Or a bad paint color with really classic or traditional furniture. 

There are some rules of thumb to keep in mind when looking to make an impact in your home.  Remember Mom's post on the BRAGG theory?  There are some elements that make or break a room.  We call them the Holy Trinity.  I know, I know… it's just decorating.  But these things can really make you say 'oh my GOD' when done right.

First up - LIGHTING.

This is true of all of these categories, but lighting is especially worthy of spending a bit more money to get just what you want.  Even if it means making sacrifices in the budget for other areas, lighting is supremely important.  Lighting is one of those things that can be extremely costly,  especially if you have a lot of fixtures to replace.  But choosing impactful lighting will increase the allure of your space arguably more than any other element of decor.

Jan Showers is famous for her murano lamps and fabulous lighting in her interiors

Numero dos - RUGS.

So many crazes out there like over-dyed or the Beni Oushak trend.  But whatever you are into, spend a little bit more to get a quality rug.  It will make all the difference in the way it 'wears' and how much impact it has in a space.  Poor quality rugs shed and pill and show wear much easier than ones designed to weather the test of time. And one of the biggest mistakes I see people make with rugs is SRS.  Small Rug Syndrome.  We all make this mistake at some point.  And after a while, it nags at you that none of the corners meet the furniture or the walls and eventually you bite the bullet and upgrade to the bigger rug.  There are far too many 5 x7 and 6 x9 rugs in large lofty living rooms. And maybe that's a function of the number of those size rugs being sold in the big-box stores.  The pocketbook takes a huge hit on a custom or large room rug, but just make sure your rug grounds your room and fills the space its meant for. 

                   Lastly, CHAIRS.

Occasional chairs and dining chairs are some of the most sat in when company calls.  They are also the most noticeable.  And there's nothing worse than an uncomfortable chair.  Saving your pennies for a few more months will be well worth it in the long run when you avoid the Ikea chairs and splurge on the real hardwood framed chairs.  I regret my Ikea Parsons-esque dining chairs every night while we eat dinner.  They always creak and shift and the legs often loosen. Oddly though, the Lucite Ikea chairs I have intermixed are not as bad as the cheap softwood Henriksdal chairs we also have.  A chair is all about sitting.  Sitting should be comfortable.  Not rickety or unstable.  

And when you have all three elements together… BLAM.  There's your impact!

Do you have purchases that you regret not spending a little more on? 

-Bethany