K is for Kilim Rugs

I’m currently lusting after kilim rugs. Similar to my love for ikat fabric, kilim rugs have such cool patterns and add some spice to a space. They’re typically tapestry-woven rugs that can be either decorative or serve as prayer rugs. They are made in both Persian cultures and Balkan cultures.

I really want a brightly colored one that could go in either an office or a hallway. I’ve also seen the fabric used to cover a settee that was used in an entryway. Brilliant!

Photo from Courtney Lane

Photo from Masika Wa

J is for Jute Rugs

Area rugs make a space feel cozy and comfortable, and I’ve found that the most durable material for a rug is jute. Similar to sisal rugs, jute is a natural fiber that is spun into long threads and woven into a rug. The natural colors of jute are stone, khaki, and tan, so jute rugs are a great way to bring a space together without adding a clashing color (it also adds great texture to the look of your room).

My favorite place to find rugs is overstock.com. Remember, no matter how much you order, your shipping costs are only $2.95 for your entire order. I love this rug with its beige border and tightly woven design. This one is also great!

Photo from Designlovefest.

Apartment Tour, Part Three

It’s now time to show y’all my favorite part of my apartment…my bedroom! I think every bedroom should serve as a restful, calming place where one can escape the hustle and bustle of every day life. I had an idea of what I wanted my bedding to look like (sumptuous sheets, fluffy pillows) and I worked tirelessly to make my idea come to fruition!

My headboard was made by the same amazing upholsterer who re-upholstered my seat cushions and armchairs. This green fabric was used to make slipcovers for my couches in college, and I knew I wanted to have green and white as the main color scheme in my room.

Headboard and Bedding

The bedding was purchased from Pottery Barn and it was actually not at all as expensive as I thought it would be. I found the bedding in the clearance section on PB’s website, but I was having difficulty purchasing it online. I called the Customer Service number and spoke with a lovely woman who told me that bedding was a part of their “call in” specials, and I would get an additional 15% off my order for calling in! I had no idea that Pottery Barn did this…they do it every day on various items (furniture, bedding, wall decor, etc.). The duvet cover, two standard shams, and two European shams were all purchased for just under $200.00, including shipping.

My lamps were a Christmas gift from my mom. She found them at a funky thrift store in Tampa. The lampshades were purchased at Lowe’s (their selection of lamp shades is great!) The side tables were found in my grandfather’s storage unit and were carefully restored by a furniture restorer in Tampa.

Side table and Lamp

The trunk at the end of my bed served as my coffee table for three years of college and now holds all of my old issues of the New Yorker. The rug is very special to me because it was in my mom’s first apartment that she lived in after graduating from college. It was then used in my nursery when I was a baby, and has now become a part of my first apartment. Though my bedroom is carpeted, I think the rug adds great color and texture to the space.

Chair, Rug, and Trunk Area

The chair was a part of my patio set during college, but I wanted a chair on which I could place dresses and clothes when I was getting dressed. I spray painted the chair a soft lime green and had a yellow and white striped cushion made to fit. The painting above the chair is of women walking in high heels and it says, “Fashion.” It was purchased at Hobby Lobby.

A Stitch in Time: Behind the Bargello ‘Flame’ Stitch

I have recently fallen in love with Bargello needlework, a design that is also known as a “flame stitch” pattern. I think I like it because it looks like a faded version of Chevron stripes.

Photo from Decor Arts Now

I’ve recently purchased two chairs with this pattern to be used in the veterans’ home. The first is an easy chair with shades of blue, navy, and purple. The other is a rocking chair with a peach and coral color pattern. They’re so pretty and I think they add such spunk to a space!

Chair to be Used in Nautical Room

I did some research about Bargello needlework and found that the name “Bargello” comes from a set of chairs in France that had this pattern, thus it has been known as Bargello since then.

Photo from Rittenhouse Needlepoint

Traditional designs are very colorful, and use many hues of one color, which produces intricate shading effects. The patterns are naturally geometric, but can also resemble flowers or fruits. This is a difficult stitch to master because of the layering required to achieve the multi-hued look.

Photo from Satin Moon

DIY: Chevron Rug

My love of chevron stripes has been very well documented! I told y’all in an earlier Four Things Friday post that I would be using the tutorial I found on Pinterest to make my own chevron striped rug. Well, here it is! I hope this inspires y’all to make one. It was so easy to do and turned out great!

I purchased this imitation sisal rug from Tuesday Morning for $9.00.  Because the rug is small, I only got a sample size of the yellow ($2.94). I got a quart of white paint (about $10.00) because I reasoned I will need white paint for a project in the future.

The Start

Next, I cut tape and arranged it in the zig zag pattern characteristic of chevron stripes. You can use either duct tape or painter’s tape to make the stripes. I used duct tape because my painter’s tape was nowhere to be found! I think it worked just as well, though.

These stripes took forever to make sure they were even!

I like sponge brushes for this project because it allows you to get into the grooves that are characteristic of a sisal rug.

After making my stripes and taping over the border of the rug (to protect it from paint splashes), I painted the areas not covered in tape the bright yellow color. I let it dry for about two hours before taking the tape off.

The painting process

After letting the yellow dry, I took off the tape and taped around the bare spots where the chevron lines were (kind of in a reverse chevron, if that makes sense). I then painted the chevron stripes white so that they would “pop” against the bright yellow.

The entire project took me about 6 hours (with drying time included). I think it turned out well and it was inexpensive to make!

Rug: $9.00

Paint: $13.00

Grand Total: $22.00

Voila, the finished product!

Z is for Zebra Print Rugs

Photo from Pinterest

What was the world like before there were zebra print cushions, chairs, and most importantly, rugs? I love a good zebra print, especially if it’s a zebra rug! I have visions of using a zebra rug in my living room one day to add an eclectic touch to my more traditional decor.

I’ve seen a zebra rug paired with an all-white camelback couch with light pink pillows (emphasis on lightpink; hot pink would look like Snooki exploded in your living room) and Lucite chairs. In my opinion, this would be glamorous perfection.

Photo from Pinterest

I’ve been scouring the Internet for places to purchase zebra rugs and I’ve found some good ones. They’re a bit pricey, but I think they’d be worth the investment because they’d add such a punch of pizzaz to a space.

This one is available on Overstock.com (this place is amazing!) for $91.99. Remember, shipping is always only $2.95 no matter how much you order!

This one is available on Kohl’s.com for $99.99. (Price depends on size).

This one is on West Elm.com for $99.00. (Again, price depends on the size of the rug you choose).

I hope y’all fall in love with zebra print rugs like I have!

R is for Rugs

Photo from Pinterest.

Rugs draw all of the design elements of a room together and make the space feel cozy and connected. Most designers advice that you work from the ground up when decorating a room, so it’s important to choose your rug wisely. Determine amount of traffic your room is going to experience before picking out a rug. For example, if you have pets or children, you’ll want something durable such as a sisal or jute rug. In a bedroom, I’d pick something plush like an Oriental rug, so your feet have something soft to land on when you first get out of bed.

Photo from Pinterest.

If you live in a small space and need to designate specific areas, such as a living room area from a dining room area, area rugs are the perfect solution. They create a separate space without having to build a wall or put up a bookshelf.

For tips regarding rug placement, check out HGTV’s helpful guidelines here.

C is for Chevron

I have always loved these amazing stripes, but never knew their “official” name. Now, I know and I want to spread the word! You can find these stripes everywhere these days! From walls to pillows to rugs to purses, chevron stripes make everything instantly chic. They update anything (a wall, a door, a rug), taking your space from drab to fab without a lot of money or time spent. These are a couple of decor pieces that incorporate my beloved chevron. In a few weeks, I’ll be teaching y’all how to make your own chevron rug…so get pumped!

Chevron Rug in Dining Room. Photo from House Full of Pretty by Jenny.

Chevron Art above the Mantle. Photo from Made By Girl.

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