Category Archives: Flooring

A Zoom In on Texture

20 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by in Accessories, Flooring, Inspiration

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

cream, gray, Neiman Marcus, rugs, texture, white

I am fascinated with texture; the visual and especially tactile quality of a surface.  While I may be quiet with color, I celebrate texture.  From the smooth silkiness of glass and a zillion count sheets to the organic roughness of rock formations and sea shells to the visual play of graphical details in a textile.  So when I found the zoom feature in the rug section of the Neiman Marcus website, I had a textural feast!

The floor is often an overlooked landscape in a room, so why not make it visually and tactile-ly pleasurable.  This surface is an opportunity to sculpt a story that may not be pleasing on a seated surface, but could be heaven for your feet!  When you have a moment take a zoom around your room to see where you can add texture.

Image Source:  Neiman Marcus

If you like this post, then you might like these:
The World’s Coziest Rug?
Popham Design Tiles
The Coziest Tiles

Sneak Peek: Nautical Stripe Staircase Makeover

15 Thursday Mar 2012

Posted by in Before & After, D.I.Y., Flooring

≈ 7 Comments

Tags

Benjamin Moore, DIY Paint Projects, Nautical Stripe Paint, Nautical Stripe Staircase, Nautical Stripes, Painted Stair Risers, Staircase Makeover

My front hall staircase is what can best be described as blah. I don’t have a problem with the beige paint color, but because we have a classic Cape style home, the staircase is essentially enclosed in the center of the house. There is no beautiful railing (I despise the railing) or light flowing through so needless to say, it needs a major makeover. I’ve been trying to decide what to do for a while. During this same while I was trying to figure out where in my house to paint nautical stripes (because I just can’t get enough of them and I’ve never seen them painted anywhere before). And then the light-bulb went off in my head that the staircase would be the perfect spot as I do majorly love painted stair risers!

The nice thing about doing this on stair risers is that you’ve already got a bottom and top straight line to easily work off of. My risers are 6″ high, and my tape was 1 1/2″ wide. I actually measured the stripes on one of my many sailor stripe shirts to get the proper ratio. And as such I needed a 3/4″ navy stripe to make it work. After I put the top and bottom pieces of tape on, I eye-balled it (because I’m impatient) to center the third piece and get the proper size stripes (and my eye-balls worked just fine I think). You can see there is a small piece of molding between the top piece of tape and the stair tread. That was also painted navy, and to be honest, one of the reasons I laid the pattern out in this order is because I was concerned that once I got the stripes painted that I would want to paint the treads as well so I figured the navy could just be carried over onto the tread if need be.

So I applied the three stripes of tape as well as one on each side so as not to get paint on the molding. One problem I ran into is that I really loved these green stripes. I was tempted to just get the Exacto knife out and trim the tape ends and have green striped stairs. And if you’re in a rental, it seriously might not be a bad option!

But voila! I went ahead and painted them anyway. I used Benjamin Moore’s Old Navy. Unfortunately, my tape did not create quite the clean lines that I wanted despite the fact that I bought the one the paint store told me to. There are definitely some spots that need touching up, but there is also something I like about it not being perfect. I’m certainly far from it so why does my staircase need to be. And regardless, every time I turn the corner to head upstairs I’m still surprised by the new look, and pleasantly so. It really makes the space so much more interesting.

But this is just the beginning. That railing has got to go and I’ve got some objects that need to be hung in my new nautical staircase. So stay tuned….

And don’t miss more stripes tomorrow. Amy has also been painting stripes in more than one spot in her house!

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Stripes, Stripes and More Stripes!  DIY Stripe Walls
Les Toiles du Soleil:  A Striped Haven
Translation:  Sailor Stripe Shirts as Room Decor

Translation: Sailor Stripe Shirts as Room Decor

13 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in Accessories, bedding, Bedroom, Flooring, Inspiration, Kids, Living Room, pillows, rugs, textiles

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

French Sailor Stripes, Garnet Hill, Haus Interior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Land of Nod, Nautical Home Decor, Nautical Inspiration, Nautical Stripes, Roche Bobois, St. James Shirts, stripes

I don’t know if it’s the salt air wafting in my windows or the ships on the horizon when I gaze out the window, but somehow sailor stripes (the ones found on a classic St. James shirt) have become part of the fabric of my existence. I absolutely can’t resist them. My favorite is the combination of navy (but of course) and white, but I’ve also been known to fall hard for red and white, red and navy, orange and white or yellow and white. And while the nautical stripe has been a staple on the pages of fashion magazines for the past few seasons, we don’t often see it translate into home decor. I have a project to bring these stripes to life in my house that I’m hoping to be able to reveal very soon, but I wanted to find sailor stripes for the home that don’t require quite the same level of work as the ones coming to my house are going to need.

Then I came across these French Stripe Sheets from Garnet Hill last week and thought they were just about the perfect way to add sailor stripes to your life. And they are available as sheets (even for the crib!) and duvets so that you can make them as much of a focal point as you like.

Land of Nod also offers this Nautical Sheet Set which would do the trick.

These DIY striped headboards are pretty phenomenal as well, and I love the orange piping on them.

Or perhaps you favor something a little more portable like this striped kids play tent…

which also comes in red and has a coordinating floor pillow available.

Although I have to say that a handful of these sailor stripe pillows on a crisp white couch would just be perfection.

And for the table, Kahler’s Omaggio Vase would do the trick.

Or you could go much more highbrow with a look like this one by Jean Paul Gaultier for the ELLE Decoration Suite. To. Die. For. Sure it might not be super comfortable, but it sure gives me some inspiration on how to create some standout pieces with the same feel but more function.

Or there is Gaultier’s collection from his collaboration with Roche Bobois. I would do just about anything for that rug!

Oh, how I will never tire of the classic French sailor stripe. Stay tuned for a new way to use them very soon. I’ll give you one hint…it involves paint.

Image Sources:  Whoorl, Garnet Hill, Land of Nod, 4 Men 1 Lady, Brown Paper Packages, Brown Paper Packages, Haus Interior, Gretel Home, Trendland, Trendland

If you like this post, then you might like these:
Stripes, Stripes, and More Stripes!  DIY Stripe Walls
Floored
Who Knew Navy is the Color of Neutral? Oh Right, We Did!

The Coziest Tiles

27 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by in Flooring, Shops We Love

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Apartment Therapy, flooring, FLOR

Remember Amy’s picture of the chunky winter white throw?  Or Sarah’s find of the chunky braided rugs?  Well they must have been channeling Flor’s most recent design feat, Sweater Weather rug tiles!  These chunky, cozy rug tiles are in the familiar cabled sweater pattern and available in five colors to suit any decor.

Sweater Weather tiles are another addition to one of my favorite modern design concepts, rug tiles.  Flor launched in the Spring of 2003 with a booth at the New York Gift Show shortly after where I saw them for the first time and fell in love.  Not only can you choose the number of tiles to create your perfect sized rug, you can choose pattern, textures and color to create art on your floor.

Just Plain Folk tiles

Sophistikat tiles

Custom cut tile pattern

And, if you are in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Houston or Atlanta then check out the Flor brick & mortar shops.  They are colorful, interactive and quite inspiring.

Image sources:  Flor, Flor, Chicago Home Magazine’s Design Dose, Decor Pad, Flor, Apartment Therapy

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Kilims: From Rugs to Mugs

10 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by in Flooring, Kitchen, Living Room, Tabletop

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Jasper Conran, Kilim Mini Mugs, Kilim rugs, Wedgwood

In our house, the arrival of Fall/Winter means it is time to get cozy. I prefer a neutral, calming palette as a base that I can transform with pops of color depending on the season. So after the leaves fall off the trees and the outdoor landscape starts to dull with the cold, we pull out our Kilim rugs; my husband’s Kilim rugs from Egypt are colorful underfoot, yet easy to change when it suits me.

As you can see, Kilims are perfect in many spaces.  Used as an area rug in a living room, a runner in a hall way, or for color in a kitchen.  Since a Kilim is a flat weave rug – no pile – it is durable and can be folded away for compact storage.  I love all types of rugs, and I am certainly not a rug expert, but I recommend adding one into your home.

If a rug is too much of a commitment, then how about Kilim Mini Mugs?!  If you loved Jasper Conran’s navy dinnerware creation for Wedgewood, then check out his modern interpretation of ancient Kilim carpets.  The Kilim Mini Mugs below are available in five vibrant hues, each with a different tribal motif, yet classically finished with platinum edging so they can be mixed with all of your fine dinnerware.

I love the Kilim Mini Mugs (not really all that mini with an 8 oz. capacity) so much that I am going to put the espresso and tea pieces on my wish list!  These also would be perfect wedding gifts, hmm . . .

Image Sources:  Dose of Design, Design for ManKind, Vignette Design

If you like this post, then you might like these:
White for Winter and Beyond
Who Knew Navy is the Color of Neutral?  Oh Right, We Did!
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White for Winter and Beyond

09 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by in Accessories, Dining Room, Flooring, Furniture, Inspiration, Tabletop, textiles

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

back splash, Benjamin Moore, farrow and ball, Kitchen, knit, Restoration Hardware, snow, white, winter, wood table

We have been lucky in New England and have had a mild winter season so far.  Our grass is still green and there are even bulbs peeking their heads through the not yet frozen garden beds.  But soon, I hope, snow will be falling.  To me there is nothing better than snow to get us through the dark days of winter.  Snow is cold, yes, but it is also fluffy and serene.  A snow covered tree gives me the same feeling of comfort as a chunky knit blanket.  The color white can make me feel calm, tranquil, at peace.  In our homes, it can be a way to give new life to a once dull piece of furniture.  It can brighten up a dark corner and can showcase an incredible textile.

The kitchen is a great place to introduce a white pallet.  It can quickly become cluttered and messy but by using white, a kitchen can feel airy and clean.   When we moved into our home, the kitchen was already white.  With one side of the room being mostly glass the white walls reflect the light and keep it bright and warm all year long. When updating the wall color I chose two shades of white on my cabinets and walls to add depth and interest.

With white as a backdrop, the kitchens above demonstrate how texture becomes the focal point.  The blue tiles glisten and have a tranquil water quality to them, while the rustic wood table and blue cabinet in the next shot expose their patina and raw edges, all while maintaining an orderly and calm environment.

Here is another example of texture becoming the focal point.  Over at my friend Jennie’s house the kitchen and open dining area are unified with white paint. The use of a beautiful Persian runner and a wood dining table define each space and yet it still feels airy and open.

Have we inspired you to paint your walls white?  Here are some of my favorites:

Farrow and Ball "Great White"

Farrow and Ball "Cabbage White"

Benjamin Moore "Navajo White"

The World’s Coziest Rug?

11 Friday Nov 2011

Posted by in Bedroom, Flooring, rugs

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Chunky Braided Wool Rug, Nautical Rugs, Restoration Hardware, Winter Rugs

It’s officially sweater season even though here in the northeast we’ve been enjoying some unexpected 65 degree days. But ever since I laid eyes eyes on Restoration Hardware’s Chunky Braided Wool Rug I’ve wanted to wrap myself up in it. Doesn’t it look cozy? It would be amazing in a bedroom or cozy den. This rug (I’m partial to the cream color-seems nautical) plus a fire, cup of coffee, good book, and down filled sofa I could sink into would just about equal a perfect Sunday afternoon. Ahhh, winter weekends.

If you like this post, you might like these:
A Zoom in on Texture
The Coziest Tiles
Kilims:  From Rugs to Mugs

Over the Rainbow Floor

27 Tuesday Sep 2011

Posted by in Flooring

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Ceilings, duct tape ideas, Kate Spade, painted floor, stripes

I die! This painted floor is from Kate Spade’s Palm Springs store. They got pretty fancy by doing the border, but it would be quite stellar as a standard stripe too. I’m re-doing my mudroom, and boy would I love to yank out the tile that’s in there and do something like this. Of course, my OCD might not be able to handle it when it got dirty. Perhaps on a ceiling would be better for me. I bet you could achieve the same effect with less work if you used duct tape (which comes in every color of the rainbow now) for a similar look on a canvas to add a pop of color to a room. I’ll let you know if I can figure a way to work this into my home.

Image Source:  Rebecca June

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Color in the Conch Republic
Translation:  Sailor Stripe Shirts as Room Decor

18th Century Colonial Renovation: Move In Day!

31 Friday Dec 2010

Posted by in Bath, Before & After, Flooring, House Tours, Kitchen

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

, Bath, Benjamin Moore, , flooring, Kitchen, tile

I can’t think of a better way to end the year than with being able to answer the most commonly asked question of the year, “Have Meg & Kurt moved into their new house yet?” with a resounding “YES!”. The movers came on Wednesdsay and while there is still a lot of unpacking and a few final items to take care of, they are very happily in their new house after over 14 months of renovations. Before we go too far, you might want to take a peak at the beginning of this 18th Century Colonial Renovation to refresh your memory on what it looked like in the “before” pictures.

The most dramatic changes on the front were the removal of the front porch and the addition of a double sided staircase as well as new Hardiplank clapboard.

The sides and back of the house have been re-shingled and the trim has been painted to coordinate with the front of the house.

In addition to the new shingles, the back of the house got a new 8′ sliding door and mahogany decking at both entrances.

Here is glimpse up the very narrow back staircase by the kitchen which received a fresh coat of paint on the walls and stairs. I always love a second staircase in a house. I don’t know why they don’t do that more often in new homes.

Before I go too far, I need to mention that I went in to take pictures the day before they moved in so there were still a few work related things laying around like a dry vac and garbage can in the middle of the kitchen. The kitchen was the one room that received new flooring. The cabinets are Abstrakt by Ikea.

All new appliances went into the kitchen and there are some nice little features like the pot filler over the stove. The one thing that still needs to be decided on here is a backsplash.

There used to be a chimney in this space, but as it wasn’t necessary, they removed it and were able to add this custom built in bar and entertainment unit between the kitchen and den.

This room was considered the dining room, but they will be using it as a den as it is open to the kitchen. The new slider is the biggest addition to this room. You can see in the corner of the room and on the ceilings that there are exposed beams. The one in the corner was partially damaged and needed repair, but they were able to cover up that area with a nice box molding that doesn’t look out of place.

The living room/dining area has a new wood stove and under that furniture cover is a wonderful gate-leg table that fits nicely along the wall when not in use and can be pulled out to the center of the room when entertaining more formally. While you can’t see it in these pictures, the upper part of the walls are covered in beautiful grasscloth wallpaper by Elitis.

The rooms are filled with natural light which makes them so open and bright.

The front entry and stairwell were painted as well as the floors and staircase. Unfortunately, the old floors here were in too much disrepair to refinish, but I love the look of painted floors.

The stairwell from upstairs.

The master bedroom is enormous and very bright.

A new master bath was added off of the master bedroom. The upstairs had only 1 half bath before the renovation, but now has two full baths as well as a full bath downstairs.

The master bath shower. This proved to be the most challenging of their DIY projects, particularly in getting the tile floor level with the drain, but it came out really nice. The glass enclosure has not been installed yet, but will be soon.

The long hallway was once part of each of the bedrooms so that one had to pass through one room to get to the next one. The color is one of my favorites-it’s in my own living room too-Ocean Air by Benjamin Moore, although it looks quite different in this space because there is only one window in the hallway.

The guest/kids bathroom is spacious and soothing. Again, the floors were painted in this space.

An antique vanity adds some more character to the space.

This is the third bedroom. I actually didn’t get pictures of the second bedroom because the final coat of paint was being added later on the day I was there. This room fits a twin bed, and I love the melon color.

While this room is on the smaller side, it is cozy and quiet and a spot one might retreat to for some down time.

On the third floor, the original beams and closet remain with their dark wood, but the floors and walls have all been painted Super White by Benjamin Moore.

I LOVE this! I have always wanted an all white room. This will be an office space and is the one room in the house with clear views to Newport harbor. I also love how they had built in drawers added into the walls to maximize storage space.

So there is the grand tour! I’m sure we will have many more projects from this house to share as finishing touches are made on the decor and things get unpacked. I know this is making for a very happy New Year for this family.

I am so excited about what’s to come in 2011. Just a few of things I’ll be bringing you include a fabulous wedding I’m planning in June, several projects around my own house, a Chateau & Bungalow product line and perhaps the revival of another fabulous product line as well as all the other great things I come across in my travels.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year too and thank you for following me!

~Sarah

Popham Design Tiles

28 Tuesday Sep 2010

Posted by in Bath, Flooring, Kitchen

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Design Sponge, Fretwork tiles, Moroc, Popham Design, tile, Zig Zag tiles

One of my other favorite blogs, Design Sponge, came out with their list of their top 15 tile resources yesterday. And while I’ve fallen in love with many of them before, I was so excited to learn about Popham Design. This is my kind of tile! These graphic patterned tiles are available in multiple sizes and colors so that you can truly create your own unique look.

Here are just a few of my favorites. The Zig Zag tiles (top) can become a chevron pattern, diamond pattern and much more, and can even be done in multiple colors. A great way to create the permanent look of popular rugs in high traffic areas. I also love the Moroc tiles (above) for a more subdued but still graphic look.

And the more intricate Fretwork tiles can create a truly elaborately detailed look in bold or muted colors. I love these tiles for backsplashes, but they would also be really fun on the floor too. Check out their web site and play with the different layout and color options to find your favorites too.

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