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Teen bedrooms need colors and designs that are fresh and exciting. Benjamin Moore’s 2010 Color Pulse palette titled Ingenuity is about passion, creativity, free-form perspectives, redefining, renewing and re-purposing. Ingenuity colors are sporty with names like: Salsa, Mesquite, Mauve Bauhaus, Yellow Finch, Seaweed, Bronze Metallic, Hummingbird, Midnight Navy.

Most often a re-do of a teen bedroom starts with bedding. How about a rug to create a splash of energy as a starting point instead. Here are some colorful rugs using bright colors and unusual shapes to jump start a teen bedroom design:

Next Steps:

1. Let your teen weigh in on a rug of their choice.
2. Select an accent color from the rug.
3. Head to the paint store for paint samples to test on the wall. Remember color intensifies so go a shade or two lighter.
4. Use the accent color behind the wall with the bed
5. Find bedding in a solid color from the rug but different than the wall color.
6. Consider monograms on bed pillows.
7. Involve your teen for art like posters, photos.
8. Add a shelf to show mementos, stuffed animals, awards, ribbons, and such.
9. Find a funky, colorful lamp.
10. Fill in with fun, low-cost novelties like beanbag chairs in jellybean colors.

Tags: Area Rugs, color, teen bedroom
Posted in Ideas and Inspirations | 5 Comments »

The category for this Top Ten list is area rugs. For most projects I customize rugs to create a design specific for my clients. Many companies produce custom quality rugs in a range of prices and sizes. So here are my current Top 10.

1. Stripes work in so many areas, from the entry to the library.

Odegard Tibetan multi stripe

2. Endless Knot with a new contemporary design by Susan Eslick.

Endless Knot by Susan Eslick

3. Zollenvari Gabbeh- One of a kind from semi-nomadic villages in Iran

Zollenvari Gabbeh from Southern Iran

4. Dolma - Geometric rugs work well in family rooms and anchor seating.

5. New Moon-a dazzling pattern for a hallway runner.

New Moon Runner

6. Rug Art creates unique minimalist modern rugs.

Rug Art from Vidal Sasson

7. Stile BK-love the color and concentric circles

Stile BK combines techniques of kilim, sumac and knotting

8. Paola Lenti- fabulous contemporary rugs from Italy

Paola Lenti is a leading Italian design company

9. Emma Gardner Design - I love the whimsy of her rugs this one especially.

Whimsy from Emma Gardner

10. Laphi is my all time favorite company for custom rugs design.

Lapchi uses textile patterns from the 14th to 17th centuries

Please let me know which of these 10 rugs speaks to you. I enjoy your feedback. Faith

Tags: Area Rugs, interiors, Portland, Seattle
Posted in Ideas and Inspirations | 5 Comments »

William Kennedy, an art loving client and Facebook friend, recently shared his favorite photos of 2008. When I saw this image I was thrilled. You see, I love textiles in general and rugs in particular. When I discuss custom rugs with my clients I am eager to share how the process of rug making works and the design opportunities. Sharing this photo of the natural dye pigments is an opportunity to show the beginning of the process.

Necessary of course are the sheep, llamas and alpacas who add the wool to combine with the dyes for yarn. The yarns unite the artisan weaver and the designer to create motifs for the myriad designs. Subtle variations in colors in combination with intricate designs result in richly vivid details. The themes and images deliver a treasured rug to be shared for generations.

All the dye options you see in the photo are natural. Dyes like those shown in the photo are used by Peruvians to make textiles, belts, ponchos and wall hangings as well as rugs. Central to the heritage and customs of Peru are weaving and everyone weaves in Peru. The designs pass from generation to generation along with the techniques. Thus rug and textile making is preserved for the future.

William, his wife and two sons, explored South America and this photo was taken in Peru. I asked William and his family to comment about their insights from visiting Peru and seeing the textile process. I hope you will enjoy hearing their first hand impressions.

Next, I asked Brad Andonian, of Pande Cameron in Seattle to join in as a guest blogger. Brad represents the third generation of family ownership of this highly regarded rug importer. With locations in Seattle and Bellevue, Pande Cameron proudly serves metro Seattle as a leading resource for fine imported rugs.

Tags: Area Rugs, artisans, color, customs, decorating, heritage, interior design, interiors, natural, peru, Textiles, wool
Posted in Ideas and Inspirations | 1 Comment »