Leopard Rug!

Have you guys seen this rug at West Elm?  I like it.  Wouldn't it make a great runner?  It comes in 2.5' x 7' (and it's only $129.00)!

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Anthropologie Ikat Rug

This awesome ikat rug served as the color inspiration for a recent project of mine.  My client needed a chic media room that would be comfortable for everyday living, hip enough for a party, and masculine enough for March Madness watching.  When I showed her the rug, she loved it and so did her husband.  Score.

image from anthropologie

It reminds me of something you might see at The Rug Company. 

This one from Anthropologie is 5' x 8' and only $498.00.  Not bad, huh?  Get it HERE.

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Kilim in the Kitchen

Kilim's are flat woven rugs, generally used as prayer rugs. The word "kilim" is Turkish, but originates from the Persian "gelim" which according to wikipedia, is most likely of a Mongolian origin. So, basically, the kilim gets around... from Eastern Europe on throughout Asia.


The funny thing about kilims is that due to their design, they technically aren't meant to last forever and ever; they break down faster than their more durable cut pile cousins. But, even still, these are pretty tough rugs. In a kilim, the warp (vertical threads) is nearly invisible, while the weft (horizontal threads) does all the work. Threads in the weft are brightly colored and are woven into beautiful geometric patterns. The threads from the warp are visible only at the ends, tying off into a fringe.


So, I am a big fan of vintage woven kilims. I mean, they never get old, they never go out of style. They look awesome in a kitchen. Effortless, really. As if you were like, "Hmmm, in this kitchen I will just throw down this old comfortable woven rug. This will keep my feet warm from that cold floor. My family inherited it from my world traveler uncle who brought it back from Turkey. Yes, it's one of a kind. It doesn't have to match anything, I'm just going to use it here." It's a good thing.


One more thing: because kilims are a flat weave (rather than a cut pile), crumbs can be easy removed by shaking it out, or vacuuming. So, a flat weave is a good thing in a kitchen. I mean, with a cut pile, where do all the crumbs go? They just drop between the fibers and... DISAPPEAR. Scary thought, isn't it?





I know we are talking about kitchens here, but kilims aren't a bad look for a bathroom either...




There are some great kilims on ebay right now. Happy shopping!

OH! And, inspiration for this post came from two favs of mine: Jennifer (The Newlywed Diaries) and Jenny (The Little Green Notebook).
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