Favorite Things Friday

Abydos Small Vase // Avant Garde in Skyblue // Benissa Lamp // Lexi Blue Villa Pillows // Palais Neon Green Villa Pillows // Suri Light Blue Villa Pillows

Inspired by the natural beauty in agate stones, this compilation is cool and calming. Fresh on our showroom floor, the Benissa Lamp is a blue like no other. Silver and acrylic details lend this lamp to high-class styling, perfect for a bedroom space. The Abydos Small Vase would be lovely styled in a trio on a dining room table. Always a favorite, the quality of Villa's down-filled pillows is remarkable and the go-to for summer reading comfort.  These are no whimp-y cushions, my friends. In durable fabrics and trendy patterns, there is something for everyone at a phenomenal price point. The Avant Garde is a beautifully sculpted wool rug that adds color and a clean feeling to any room.

Have you connected with Rug & Home on Instagram? Get behind-the-scenes updates, showroom shots, and new arrival previews in a snap, like these Indoor/Outdoor pillows from Transocean. I'm loving the Agate-inspired swirls. What will inspire us next?

By: Samantha Palacio

3 Tips for Styling a Small Bath

If you aren't blessed with a spacious throne, there are still several tried and true style tips to help you maximize space in this must-have room. If this room is the only of its kind, it's especially important to maximize the floor that you've got for ease of use and making routines as seamless as possible. Three of my favorite ideas for maximizing space and making the bathroom a room you will happily pamper yourself in:

1. Go vertical. Maximizing vertical space is especially important in this space where you've likely got things (i.e. cosmetics) that little hands don't need access to. Keep necessities at arm's reach and go higher with less frequently used products. There are many stylish alternatives to dated medicine cabinets these days so shop around for something that catches your eye. Reclaimed wood shelves for the rustic soul, lucite for your contemporaries, or maybe a slim bookshelf for the traditionals.

The Vargas Cutwork Decor Bowl is a beautiful selection for a bangle collection.

2. Organize & Sort. Simple wall shelves and well-designed accessories can even conceal your inventory. Personally, I love pretty bowls (for q-tips), vintage trays (jewelry, glasses, and sunnies), and sturdy baskets to house my accessories. Towels are well-hidden in Sea Grass baskets.

3. Bold Wall Color. Personally, I prefer to go BOLD in wall color, and choose an understated rug when styling a small bathroom space. Contrary to most belief, the bold color when paired with good lighting, can make the space feel more personal and like an extension of your home. Let's face it, ladies, most of us shower longer than 2-3 minutes and if you're using this space to get ready, your spending some time here. Why not make it pretty as well?

By: Samantha Palacio

8 Gift Ideas for Mom

Family Circles Bronze Figurine // Alex Brass Frames S/3 // Amethyst Geometric Square Plates S/2 // Aramis Mosaic Coasters S/4 // Loloi Azalea AZ-03 // Counterflory Recipe Book Holder //  Marisa Graphic Ottoman  //American Rug Craftsmen Panoramic 90002 

This year we're celebrating Mom with a gift that will outlast the holiday. Offer her something she can enjoy year round like this Family Circles Bronze Figurine. This contemporary take on the bond of family love will surely touch her heart. Mom can display treasured heirloom photos in these Alex Brass Frames that are reminiscent of their Antique silver counterparts. Pretty glass trays to stash her baubles or keys are both decorative and functional.  A thoughtful gift - these coasters will help protect her furniture but are also beautifully done in a mosaic pattern. Give Mom something to brag about with this colorful Azalea rug from Loloi. She is sure to be the envy of all her friends with such a bright and cheery space. Working moms will appreciate this recipe book holder making it easier to whip up a favorite dish without damaging Grandma's recipe. Every mom could use a comfortable place to rest her feet. This versatile Graphic Ottoman is not only a place to prop her feet, but will double as a side table and even a vanity stool. Hip moms will love this trendy Panoramic rug for it's contemporary vibe in bright and cheerful colors.

By: Samantha Palacio

Making Changes with Karastan

When you think of Karastan, you may envision the colorful, traditional style rugs that they have been known for, for nearly 90 years. Karastan unveiled a fresh line of new designs, custom dyes, and shag style rugs at the Atlanta Market this January and we are proud to be supporting National Karastan Month here at Rug & Home. I'm here to tell you that these new arrivals are not your grandma's rugs! Moroccan inspired  designs, lush family room shags... Karastan has opened up to a whole new market of rug buyers and we are thrilled for the opportunity to bring you the change.

About Karastan

Karastan takes pride in the easy clean up and longevity of wear. Have you heard of the "Wonder Rug"? In the midst of a Great Depression, Karastan introduced a 12x15 rug to the 1933-34 Chicago World's Fair. Here they invited 5 million people to trample this rug and they did it again 5 years later to total 13 million people gracing this tree of life pattern with muddy footprints, and many stories. The words: "If this rug could only talk," come to mind here. Look at this amazing before & after clean up depiction. If you are as intrigued as I am, read more about the story here. I promise it won't disappoint. 

Hard to believe a rug can retain such radiant luster after 80 years! I think this is a beautiful depiction of quality you can expect of this manufacturer. Karastan strives to match the quality and craftsmanship of its counterpart - the handwoven one-of-a-kind treasures we sell here every day. Down to the fringe and bright colors that mimic its more costly cousin, you would likely be fooled unless not a trained rug connoisseur. 

Did you know that by purchasing Karastan you are supporting domestic jobs? Karastan is a North Carolina-based company bringing local jobs and revenue back into our home state. You can feel good about your purchase both aesthetically and domestically. No pun intended. 

Go Green

Karastan uses renewable ingredients such as wool and "renewably sourced polymers" committing themselves to the environmentalism bandwagon. The science behind the making of handwoven rugs produces a positive footprint on the environment with longevity reducing energy consumption. To break it down - much like wool hand-knotted's, these rugs can be passed down or sold off once your family has tired of the look. The endurance of a Karastan rug insures less filling of the landfill and happy homeowners all around. 

By: Samantha Palacio

5 Office Spaces to Love

In today's digital age, most homes require a home office of some sort whether it be a space to work from home, a place to pay bills, or an area for children to study. Even in the tightest of spaces, you can carve out a little niche to make the daunting task of paperwork a little easier.

1.

The simple wall-mounted surface in this Scandinavian design takes up little space and allows for storage at the floor and with shelving above. It's simplicity and function at its finest. 

2.

Carve out a nook in a kitchen or closet for a command center. Use wall space for notes and inspiration or add shelves for office supplies and storage. Colorful and functional!

3.

A drop down desk concealed in a cabinet. Great storage in an unused corner of a home!

4.

Some simple 2' x 6' boards create a standing desk in this home office at a Beautiful Mess. This alternative would work well with just a small section mounted such as in a studio space. This would be ideal followed by shelving to the ceiling for maximum storage.

5.

An office on a stair landing? Brilliant use of normally underutilized space! This setup houses tons of storage and eliminates the need for an extra room just to craft. Perfect, again, for small space living. 

Want to see more office ideas? Connect with us on Pinterest and view our "Office Spaces" board for inspiration. Do you have a note-worthy office space? Send us an Instagram of your space @rugandhome and we may feature YOU on our Facebook page!

By: Samantha Palacio

Top 5: Color in Unexpected Ways

In home decorating, it's perfectly acceptable to 'think outside the box.' We've compiled a list of Top 5 favorite ways to unexpectedly add bold color to your space and why they are so fresh. 

1. The unexpected pop of lime green accents this space very well. This dining space is cheerful and light alongside the exposed brick. You can easily imagine enjoying many citrus-flavored meals in this gathering.

2. Where do I begin in this space? While this decorista kept to a flowing color palette, there are lots of color pops to notice here making it difficult to look away. What makes it unexpected you may ask? The unique use of window sills to display artwork and greenery. If you are fortunate to live in a home with windows ledges, these are a perfect opportunity to display accents in unexpected ways.

3. I will likely never tire of this simple pop of color drawn onto the walls in this space. I have seen several amazing renditions of geometric patterned accent walls, but the simplicity of lines is very eye-catching here. I can't decide if it looks like my child drew it on or it's an eccentric wallpaper.
Either way ... love it!

4. Iridescent shower tiles. This photo needs no explanation, but if you have to have one: how can you not love this? It's gorgeous and surely trumps traditional shower stalls!

5. Forego a stair runner and paint your risers in desirable hues! Accent the foyer with a coordinating rug for bursts of color in the entry. This falls at number 5, but it certainly no less of a favorite!

By: Samantha Palacio

Understanding Dyes

To get you up to speed on the dyes that are used when making rugs, we've compiled three categories of types. Keep these in mind when shopping for quality and brilliance of color:

Natural

Natural dyes have been used for centuries to create beautiful and striking colors. Historically, they've come from plant sources, and they typically do so today. For example, reds are often created from dried madder root, blues of indigo extracted from a variety of plants, and yellows from the Mediterranean herb, weld. Secondary colors then come from mixing these primary colors. Shades of brown can also be created naturally, from items like walnut husks.

The natural dyeing process can be a complicated one. As a result, pieces that are naturally dyed can be more expensive than those created with synthetic dyes and are usually highly desirable. While the unique colors created by natural dyes can be closely imitated with synthetic ones, colors from natural dyes do vary slightly, giving you a one-of-a-kind piece that can never be exactly duplicated!

Synthetic

If you don’t want to stretch your budget too thin, rugs colored with synthetic dyes are great options, as it’s nearly impossible for the naked eye to tell the difference between a synthetically dyed and naturally dyed rug. While prices vary, a synthetically dyed rug usually costs about 30% less than one that’s naturally dyed. Synthetic dyes are also bold and bright, and they allow a manufacturer to create rugs with consistent coloring.

A Mixture

Because certain natural dyes are not readily available in all areas, rugs are often dyed using a mixture of natural and synthetic colorants. Rug makers use what materials are available to them that will give the best color payoff for you to enjoy!