Help Selecting a Rug...

I have a client that found this great photograph above.  We are going to have it made into a painting.  I know a great graphic designer that is also an artist.  She will take the photograph, make it look like a painting on the computer, have it printed on canvass and then add oil paints.  It is much less expensive than a piece of original artwork, but will certainly look like the real deal.  Anyway- I am asking for your help in finding a rug for her.  I have some below- I want to know what your favorites are.  The sofa is a forest green- solid color. 

#1.  Chandra Rug. I loved the colors that some of the new Amy Butler rugs had.  They bring in the forest green, and are so fresh and fun.  What a great statement. 

#2 Poppy Fields by Amy Butler

 #3 Temple Garland by Amy Butler

#4  Stripe Rug.  I wanted to give her a variety of looks as well as prices.  This is made of Derclon.  I am a wool snob myself, but synthetics are looking more and more like wool all the time.  This is also going to be about 1/4 the price. 

# 5 Lyrical Rug.  Here is another less expensive option, this one made of polypropelene. 

#6  This is a vine blue/green tufted wool rug from Dash and Albert.  It falls right in the middle with pricing.

Just a little reminder what that picture looked like...

#7  This is the Coventry Rug by Amy Butler.  I love how it brings in a punch of the gold from the bottom of the photo.  Certanily one of my favorites.

#8-  Just in case I am totally scaring Carey, here is a conservative stripe that would also work just fine.  Also from Dash and Albert.

#9  The Lyrical rug from above came in two colors and both actually work with the color pallet from the photo. 

So- there we go- After hours of searching, these were my favorites.  Anyone out there have a favorite of my favorites?  Have any other rugs to show her that I didn't list here?  We'll select drapery fabric after this that can help to unify everything.

Lauren's Anthropologie-esque Kitchen

Open Shelving Style Kitchen Uppers

Hi Christine!
I just found your blog! It's amazing! I just bought my 1st house, and I move in on June 1st. Right now, all I have are pictures of is from how the owner has it. So, none of my furniture. My taste cottage/eclectic (I love Anthropologie-esque stuff and vintage/antique).

The house itself is 100 years old and cottage looking from the outside. I love older homes- and I love that your interior is going to be consistent with your exterior. Anyway, I have time to paint and do other things during the month before I move in, and I'd love some help.

First of all, I'm trying to figure out what to do with the walls in the kitchen (maybe more white, instead of brown??). I would not go white unless it was white beadboard- just painted white would be too dull. The tile on the floor is a gray tone. I'm also not sure about the countertops (maybe wood? but would the gray floor look weird with that?). Wood counters are a classic. You could always bring in some gray in the backsplash to help tie in the flooring. I put a picture in below of a hand painted tile from Country Floors that has some white and some gray- you could absolutely use a tile like this on the backsplash and add a wood counter. Repeat the wood somewhere in your room- like your furniture. I also feel like the fridge looks bulky where it is, but I'm not sure what other option there is. Just replace it with a counter depth refrigerator. You pay more for less square footage- and it killed my husband to do it- but after bugging him for about 2 years- I got mine- and love it. From a design standpoint it is the best solution- and if you run out of room- just clean out your refrigerator- you don't really need more space. (coming from a mother of 4) I also thought about changing the hardware on the cabinets- what do you think?? I don't have a real good look at the hardware.... it is hard for me to say- but in general I'd like to see something with more contrast. Anthropologie has some really great hardware to check out- I like their button knob.

Check out I am cutting your e-mail in half- I will finish it with an additional post and just focus on the kitchen in this one.

Thank you soooo much. This is the best blog ever. ANY advice is appreciated!!!!
Sincerely,
Lauren

Well Lauren,

Congratulations on your new home! I'd like to add a few more thoughts to what I said above. I would have one dining set in the center of the room- and no additional furniture. The arrangement the previous owner has is really not good. If you are interested in making any structural changes or additions- consider adding a display area above your cabinets- where there is space- like in the kitchen above. Or you could take down all of your upper cabinets- and have a more open feel like in the photo at the top of the post.

Over your dining room table- remove that horrible ceiling fan and add some charming lighting. I found this glass jug pendant from Shades of Light- I would do a little collection of three of them- hung in staggered heights.

Add some Roman shade or cafe curtains on your windows. Find a fun vintage fabric like the one below from Amy Butler. Your curtains and backsplash will bring in your character.

I would put beadboard on the wall- floor to ceiling would be perfect- painted white. Then add a vintage plate collage to the larger back wall.

Consider some retro chairs like you see in the red and green kitchen photo above- paired with a simple wood table that brings in the colors of your counter- and adds warmth to the stone floor. The addition of the retro will give you more of an Anthropologie feel- and not too country.

Any more ideas for Lauren? Anyone seen any cool vintage Anthropologie-esque kitchens lately?

Amy Butler Beach Towels

Heading to the beach? Amy Butler just introduced a new line of beach towels. These really make me want to get rid my Lightning McQueen ones. ;) I love her prints- and am glad to see her branching out more and more. I really want her to come out with a more durable upholstery fabric line. Her bath towels have been around- but I thought I'd show you those as well- I love using more than one color together.

The beach towels are made with 100% organic cotton and measure 39 by 70 inches.
At just $19.99 each, they're a great deal.
Her bath towels are $12.99 each. Hand towels are $8.99 apiece, and washcloths are $5.99.
They're all available at Bed, Bath and Beyond and Butler's shopping site.

Any Amy Butler fans out there?

Color Repetition

I suppose it is easiest if I am just honest. I am a bad shopper. In fact people like me, should not be allowed to shop without bringing people like you along.

Item to be shopped for today: Bar stools. Sturdy ones. The last set my children have managed to…. destroy. So, I don’t want to go overboard on price, as they may just destroy these – but I will pay enough to buy sturdy ones.

The trick is… this room is boring!! No color! Sometimes I introduce color into my kitchen simply with placemats, etc. But, do you have a better idea? Maybe some fun RED bar stools? Or blue, or anything fun that can bring in some style / color? Or should I keep it simple (and inexpensive) and bring in color and style another way?

Attached are photos of the table as is, as well as a few other of my house, to get you an idea of what my current color palate is, etc. The walls are a very light blue with dark wood.

- Kim

Dear Kim,

And I say this for everyone- your photos need to be in a jpeg format for me to post them. ;) Please re-send.

For the benefit of everyone- her kitchen was all dark espresso cabinets- with a dark table- and light blue walls. She had dark brown woven wood shades.

Yes- Kim- you are right- you do need some color. The blue has to be repeated- you can't just have it on the wall- and nowhere else- it is too detached. These barstools are on sale from Pottery Barn right now. I would get some fabric- have some cafe curtains made- and use a color from the fabric in the stools. I think I would use a pattern like green one- and then trim it in a pattern like the small print at the top- to add more pattern and color in the area. Then I would use the green barstools.

Repeat your colors again with table linens and accessories. Also add a rug or runner in front of your sink area- like the one in the post from Dash and Albert. This repeats your blue and green- as well as some red- repeating your sofa color in the next room.

The top pattern is from Amy Butler- and the stripe is Waverly.

Thanks for writing in!

Christine

Sheena's Kitchen

Dear Christine,

I love your blog. I really, really do. My family and I just moved into our first house and I need some serious design advice. (my husband just peaked over my shoulder and asked, "does she do that for free?" I said, "Yes! She really does! Isn't that awesome?!" ) Anyways, my kitchen/dining room/living room need some help...

A couple of dilemmas-

There is too much wood in the kitchen. The cabinets, the floor, the kitchen table. I'd like to paint the cabinets and the kitchen bench white, but I'm not sure if it would go well with the black counter tops and black appliances. Would you paint the kitchen table white too? Or would that be too much white? Could I get away with NOT painting the cabinets? I love country/cottage/farmhouse style, and bright colors. My favorite color is a limey, viney green, which I would love to incorporate in the kitchen. Turquoise is beautiful too. (I don't know if these are colors would look good, I'm just saying. I LOVE green.) I'm want to choose colors and items that I won't have to change for a while. I love patterns too, but don't want to choose something that will be outdated in a couple of years.

Ahem. So. Too much wood.

Then there is the kitchen back splash. I'm just not sure what would look good with black counter tops. I really liked the pictures in your recent post with the bead board back splash. I've been dreaming about a green tile back splash too, but I'm not really sure how that would look. Maybe white or teal subway tile?

Last, there are built-in shelves running the length of the living room and above the kitchen range. I'm confused about these shelves. Am I supposed to put decorations up there? I'm worried about hanging stuff on the walls AND putting things on the shelf. I don't want it to look cluttered, or create competing focal points. What do you think about adding some architectural details above the shelves...such as beadboard or stonework. (ha! like I could afford stonework) Brick wallpaper, perhaps?

Anyways, I know that is a lot to cover, so whatever you can get to would be much appreciated!

Thanks again,
Sheena

Dear Sheena,

I want to add some style to your kitchen. There is simply nothing happening in there right now.

1. Window Treatments. All you have is hard surfaces. This room needs some fabric. If you are concerned about it going out of style in a few years- simply avoid your trendy color combos. Go for something more unexpected. I selected one for you below from Amy Butler. The black background will do wonders in helping to pull your counters into the pallet rather than being the lone black item in the room. It will look more like you chose them specifically to go with your fabulous cafe curtains.
2. Don't limit yourself to just one pattern in the room. Pull in some color and softness with a rug as well. The rug below is from Dash and Albert. I love how they go together - but not too matchy. Put it under your table- or in your work area. (not both.)
3. For pattern #3- look to your light above the table. I would hang a patterned drum shade like the one below from Shades of Light. You said you love green, right?
4. You need new lighting in the adjoining entry as well- go with something totally different like a metal lantern. Don't' try to have a matching set of anything.
5. So- should you paint your cabinets white? I would paint them green. I like the kitchen below with the green lower cabinets and white shelves above. I would take out the entire upper cabinet that is over the peninsula- and all of the dry wall above it. Totally open it up. I like your idea of a cream subway tile backsplash- and also your idea of bead board above the shelf area. Add black hardware.
6. One of the nice things about painting- is is allows you to make some changes to your cabinets. I would add a nicer hood- like the one below- or even a more simple one made of beadboard- like the ones in this post. The hood should aways be the focal point of the kitchen.

Good luck with your changes! Don't skip any steps! Do everything I said.