Hey all! If you’re new around here, you may not know that every other month I host a pop-up shop in Seattle at my studio (along with several others) that we call Six Stories; Six because there are six of them throughout the year, and stories because each one tells a new ‘story’. Well, our […]
Hey all! If you’re new around here, you may not know that every other month I host a pop-up shop in Seattle at my studio (along with several others) that we call Six Stories; Six because there are six of them throughout the year, and stories because each one tells a new ‘story’. Well, our […]
It goes without saying that cabinets are the foundation of any kitchen remodel. They are the one thing you really don’t want to screw up, the item you are most likely to spend your time agonizing over, and definitely the place where diving into the details really matters. Also – measuring, measuring measuring. It can all […]
I am a bit of a rug “collector” with about 30 of them in my home – 12 are actually in use and the others rotate in and out of storage. I grew up with wall-to-wall carpeting so I guess that’s partly the reason. Rugs feel like home. But they also have some unexpected benefits besides enhancing the overall space and I’ve partnered with Lorena Canals to explain these benefits and to talk about easy rug care.
Rugs change an entire room. The right one can impact the space visually, we know, but can also add warmth, pattern, introduce a new shape, break up hard lines, add color, create cozy vibes, and provide absolute comfort.
But there’s more.
four more unexpected benefits from rugs:
1/ A rug can provide a financial benefit in cooler climates by lowing heating costs in the winter because they insulate a room by keeping heat in the space. I notice that when my drapes are open in the winter, the sunlight warms up my wool Berber rugs and the wool retains the heat all day.
2/ Rugs have acoustic benefits too – if you live above neighbors, it can help reduce sounds and vibrations, making life for those living beneath you much more comfortable. This is great if you know you’re a “hard walker” (my former neighbors are small people but they walk so hard that my ceilings would move whenever they were in motion – they have no rugs, just 100 years old wooden floors… Some rugs would have made my life so much nicer during those years. Also, rugs can act as a buffer to reduce sound in your own home as rugs absorb vibration and noise all around you, from bass that comes from your speakers to conversations, and of course movement like dancing, walking, and the occassional toddler meltdown.
3/ Rugs divide larger spaces so they make “sense” and perform better. A large room can double as a dining and living space simply by adding a rug beneath the dining space and another rug beneath the living space. This visually creates two “rooms” even when walls are not present. If you don’t believe me, try it with and without your rugs. You won’t believe the difference!
4/ Rugs act as a foundation for your overall room design. They can create a fixed area in which to arrange furniture on and around to ground the space and make it feel finished. For instance, let’s say you have wood flooring and an empty room where you intend to create a living space for hanging out and entertaining friends… For instance, with a sofa, coffee table, tv, etc. A rug beneath the furniture will ground everything – it will visually group your pieces so the overall look feels unified, connected, and “finished”. The rug becomes the foundation upon which all other things are arranged. This creates balance and harmony.
Now let’s discuss rug care, as this topic comes up often, particularly if you have pets and/or children.
What happens if your dog has an accident or your child spills there juice? In most cases, you’ll need to have the appropriate cleaner and tools at hand to return the rug to its former glory. Or, it may need to be visited by a professional cleaner or be sent out for cleaning.
Imagine if you could just toss it in the wash…
Normally, this isn’t an option due to many reasons. It may be too big or the colors can bleed. BUT there are rugs that you can wash in the machine because I have a few of them and they are by Lorena Canals.
Lorena Canals rugs come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors and some are even created for outdoor use. For the past 20 years, the brand has evolved to become one of the most beloved and best-known brands for washable rugs – in both cotton and wool. I have two of their rugs in my home, the Steppe in my hallway leading to our sleeping rooms, and the Pine Forest (140×200) in my son’s bedroom. He loves to play on it, it’s comfortable yet the pile is not too thick for legos. His former rug had a thick pile and he kept losing lego pieces in it which eventually ended up in our vacuum cleaner. Not fun!
How do I wash my Lorena Canals rugs? I’ve washed both (separately, without anything else) in my washing machine on a low setting, delicate, and then hung them on a rack to dry for two days. I usually throw them in the dryer after they’re 100% dry from the rack to “fluff” them up a bit with a few fabric softener sheets (low heat, 10 minutes) before placing them back on the floor.
[Note: Since these rugs have no backing or grip and they tend to move around a lot on my hardwood floors, I bought rubber non-slip rug pads (I get mine at Otto in Germany or you can buy eco-friendly ones here). I trim them usually to fit my rugs perfectly.]
So, that’s a wrap! I hope that you’ve enjoyed my spotlight on rugs today and I wish you a lovely weekend!
Love,
Holly
(This post is unpaid, however, both the Pine Forest rug and the runner were gifted to me and my family by Lorena Canals on the assumption that I would post if I was happy with these rugs after several months of testing and washing them – and I love them!)
Hello dear friends, how are you today? I found a wonderful ceramicist with a lovely shop called Notary Ceramics over on the west coast (USA) where many nice things for the home are sold, but first and foremost – such an exquisite handmade lamp collection! Wow! I’m really in love with the table lamps most of all with the pretty pleated shades – I mean, really! This one is my favorite. But they’re all simply divine. Have a look… But first…
Notary Ceramics, based in Portland, Oregon, is a lovingly curated shop with Sarah Van Raden (shown left) as both the owner and creator of beautiful ceramic objects including lamps, bells, and candle holders.
Sarah also curates a gorgeous collection for her customers of special things for the home that fit her paired-back, clear, clean aesthetic.
After nearly a decade working as a photo stylist, Sarah found her way back to creating pottery – she once took classes during a semester in college. She remembered how much she enjoyed it, and decided to take a class once again – this time at a local art school, “It was filled with people from all ages and walks of life. I instantly fell back in love with clay. I love the way it makes me feel like a child again, carefree and full of possibilities.”
After class, Sarah jumped headfirst into ceramics. She bought her own wheel, saved up for a small kiln, then created a small work area in her basement… Her passion drove her to make the beautiful lighting that you see in this post which has me smitten. All of the photos are styled by her, so she is also able to still use her experience as a stylist. Today, her ceramics studio has evolved into a gorgeous shop and studio space.
Everything in Sarah’s world feels very natural and laid back. There are many natural materials, textures, patterns, and colors. A bit wabi-sabi meets a little Scandinavian on the west coast of the United States.
This post was created in partnership with Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery. Over the last year and a half, if there’s one thing I think we’ve all learned, it’s the importance of creating spaces in our homes that support us in different ways. From carving out nooks for productivity, to finding a space to unplug and […]
Somewhere in the course of the past year, our family switched from eating in the ‘formal’ dining room to our breakfast nook for most meals. Of course, this may have had something to do with the fact that we haven’t exactly been entertaining, but there is something about the ease and convenience of an eat-in […]
Hello dear friends, and happy summer!! I realize it’s been nearly two months since a blog post here, which certainly wasn’t my intention when I decided to take a bit of a break back in April. The past few months have flown by, and when I realized it was July and I’d yet to check […]
It’s one of my biggest passions, to discover and highlight design around the world here on decor8 because I’ve always been fascinated by how “the others” make spaces beautiful – whether in New Zealand, South Africa, Denmark, Spain, or Brazil… I delight in seeing what similarities exist to what’s popular locally, but also the differences found that often fit the culture and surroundings of locations afar.
When I received a press release from Lemon in South Africa this morning, Founded by brothers Kevin and Ricky Frankental, I was intrigued seeing their new Downing sofa and because they are in South Africa, an area of the world that I dream to visit ever since learning about Babylonstoren (I hope to go next year), I had to investigate more.
DOWNING sofa
ASHBY table
Lemon is a South African furniture, art, and interior accessories company. With a new showroom in Cape Town, their focus is to help customers find products that will allow them to create thoughtful spaces which are comfortable, where form meets function, decorative and lovely to be in… AND absolutely practical and useful.
KENT armchair
They are a design house, so they work with designers and manufacturers who are specialists in their fields – from artists and metalworkers to upholsterers and carpentry aficionados. I love many of their wallpapers, the ashby marble table, and the gorgeous kent armchair most of all. They also have some unique and amazing art prints.
ASHBY table
“We design with longevity in mind. The antithesis of mass production, our pieces represent our belief in conscious consumption, the idea that less is more, and that universal beauty has no expiration date. We work with manufacturers who understand this – and who share the same passion for quality and considered design.” It’s very clear that quality craftsmanship is central to their business.
One noticeable thing about their brand is that what they create fits a bevy of interiors no matter what your style. Slick, clean modernist house by the sea, country farmhouse in England, Swedish cottage, German altbauwohnung, or an American condo in Boston. This is really the beauty of timeless, classic design – it is so fluid and can fit to so many lifestyles and homes. Think of blue jeans and the classic white button-down shirt. Timeless.
“As with our artwork, our furniture designs started from seeing a need – we found clients were struggling to source the exact pieces they wanted. This in turn prompted a deep dive into learning about the process of making – with no formal training. We always knew what we wanted to create aesthetically but wanted to do it right, and so we’ve spent years studying the manufacturing processes. Underpinning all of our work is a desire to develop the local industry, boost South African talent, and design pieces that last. “
Lemon Design partners with established and new South African designers to create collections since that area of the world is a “rich resource of raw and often untapped talent and our mission is to support and grow the local industry while building our own.”
I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse today to see Lemon and what they’re creating. Next up on the blog this week, I’ll post a colorful, artists-style home tour from The Netherlands with an interview, a lighting round-up, and a lovely post from my friends on a farm in Barvaria who have created a special recipe for all of you. Stay tuned!
Hello friends, I’m blogging from the airport in Amsterdam on my way to Boston. Before my plane lifts off, I want to share this beyond lovely little 2-room Danish apartment… It’s pastel perfection! Are you ready?
I saw this home a few years ago when I was working in the magazine world, we were thinking to buy it in for an issue of HOLLY. It really stuck with me and later, I found the home on Instagram. I just had to ask if we could please do a little home tour of this Danish gem because it’s such a lovely urban oasis on the top floor of an old building.
The 47m2 space has an open living concept, and it located in the charming coastal city of Aarhus, Denmark. It’s occupied by 27-year-old Louise Herholt, a nursery school teacher, who is clearly a talented decorator and stylist on the side!
I love the exposed beams, all painted white, and the white floors – it’s a bit like a heavenly design loft. What really caught my eye though are the colors – especially the soft yellows and pinks, and the fantastic collection of prints and art all over – I especially like her floor to ceiling art gallery in the kitchen, it’s subtle but striking at the same time.
I had a nice chat with Louise, I’ll leave you with her thoughts on home and her city below, I’m sure it will inspire you.
What do you love most about your city?Aarhus is so special because it has everything a large city has but it is not as big. We have forests and beaches close to the city center. People here are freindly and there are lots of cozy places like cafe’s with a really home-y atmosphere with “grandma” furniture and antique tableware. We also have lovely markets were you can buy groceries and flowers e.g.. I think I just love everything about Aarhus!
What do you love most about your apartment?
The light, exposed beams, the white floor, and the cozy feeling of being on top of the building. Also the view from my windows.
Why pastels?
I like pure color, but it can also suddenly be to much for me… A strong color can become too noisy in the long term so I generally avoid them. I like soft colors, so my home can stay calm but cozy and beautiful.
You have a lot of beautiful prints and artwork, where do you get them all? Mostly from poster shops like Juniqe art shop, and Poster and Frame. I like really the prints they have. I also like to mix them with something old from a second hand shop.
Why do you love art on the walls so much? It makes my home very personal. I think art add that little extra.
Do you have any tips on how to create an art gallery wall that is cohesive and stylish? Make sure that there is harmony between the prints, maybe pick one or two main colours for the prints. And mix the art wall with posters and oil painting or other art.
What is your motto for living? You can always change it again.
What did you learn about yourself and your home during lockdown?
I spent a lot of time at home during the lockdown, so I gave my apartment a little make over. I cleaned up, got rid of a lot of things and made room for new. So I guess I changed my self and my style a little bit during lockdown.
What do you like to do at home?
I like to move my stuff and my furniture around, I can always find a new place for things, placing them where they haven’t been before. My apartment is only 47 square meters, so it’s crazy I can move around that much… I like to take pictures in my home for my Instagram. I take lot of time doing that.
How do you describe your style?
I don’t think I have a specific style. Maybe my style is mostly Nordic, but it’s constant in motion.
Where do you spend most of the time in your home? I spend most time in my kitchen/living room because it’s the biggest room, and when I have company we spend time around my dinner table in my living room.
What are your 5 favorite Instagrammers at the moment?
Just Interior Designs 