Take The Rug Away And The Whole Room Becomes A Room With A Hole

Lake Washington Residence - contemporary - living room - Castanes Architects PS

This image comes from a Houzz ideabook posted to Facebook. The hosts at Houzz are inviting comments in response to the question, "What inspires you about this space?"

Interestingly, a quick review of posted replies, showed just one that specifically mentioned the rug as being inspirational. Most of those who chose to respond were impressed by the wall of glass to the outdoors, and the lightness it imparts to the room. Very nice indeed; without question.

But we invite you to really think about how this room works, and just how significant the rug is. Think about how this room appears at night. Think about how the room would look and feel without the rug to hold it together; to anchor the white monochromatic color scheme of the interior.

Can you see that without the rug the whole room would look like a room with a hole in it?  

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151469898203806&set=a.247844258805.137673.129309818805&type=1&theater



Real Rugs Make Nice Rooms Nicer

The hand-knotted rug is a cool enhancement to this space. It anchors the conjoined rooms; holding them together and softening the entire picture. It makes the living room comfortable and inviting, and contributes much to making this a "Nice Room". BrandonRugs.com

Comfortable Design Is a Balancing Act. Rustic Splendor Shows How It's Done.

The subtle, understatement of the rug is a noncompetitive anchor and enhancement to the splendor of the room. Anyone could be comfortable relaxing away the entire day in this well designed room.

http://pinterest.com/pin/82824080618039051/

Interior design is like tailoring: ‘Classic’ looks good forever!

Naomi Gregory - Interior Designer

Naomi Gregory, one of the South West’s [England] best Interior Designers, gives a professional's take on how to style the interior of your home including some great tips on the use of oriental rugs in your home:

“Consider purchases for your home in the same way you would those for your wardrobe.”

Following fashion fads is all well and good if you have the resources to be able to discard your clothes and buy a new wardrobe again each season.  But for those who wish to spend their money wisely, classically tailored pieces in good fabrics are a far better investment.

So too with your home.

When I plan a scheme, I start by thinking about layout.  I like to create social spaces, by grouping furniture in a way that encourages conversation and interaction, preferably around a focal point.  (A piece of art, a stunning chandelier or a fireplace all make good focal points.  Symmetry is also important as it creates a sense of balance and calm in the space.

I then consider the key items that are the building blocks of the scheme; in a living room for example these would likely be sofas and armchairs.

For these key items I choose classic styles that will stand the test of time – nothing too flamboyant. I recommend upholstering in colours chosen for longevity and to coordinate with the wall-color.  And to anchor the furniture arrangement I use a large rug.
The rug is a great starting point for your colour scheme. I recommend choosing a multi-colour rug.  This means that there is more than one colour which can be picked out in cushions, curtains and accessories and allows you to easily update your design scheme in the future.

Oriental rugs are perfect for this providing a classic and timeless centre piece that wears well, tolerates family life and injects some warmth and personality in to your scheme.  I believe that we should be surrounded by the things that we love and that make us smile so choose a rug that you fall in love with and will enjoy using for years to come.

Picking out colours from your rug, (and here you can afford to be ‘on trend’ and select the colours that are most fashionable at the moment), find cushions, throws, bowls, vases and accessories that match your scheme.

Sticking to these basic principals you can be sure to create a successful interior scheme. 

This article is adapted from a post originally published by Oriental Rugs of Bath (England) in their blog, and can be accessed by the following link: http://orientalrugsofbath.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/interior-design-is-like-tailoring-classic-looks-good-forever-oriental-rugs-of-bath/