Heaven Underfoot

You know The Knotty Rug, right? If you live in KC you have at least seen their clever and attention getting ads. This store, in my opinion is the best place in the area for rugs. The selection they have of beautiful wool and silk rugs from around the globe is really unparalleled.

We take our clients there for rugs if we cannot meet their needs with our rug selections. They have recently expanded the diversity and have a decent selection of more contemporary rugs. I went with a client the other day and we found at least 6 viable options for her contemporary settings.

And if these pictures aren't enough to get you in there you should also know they are currently having a great sale!

Can I design a room around this rug for someone, pretty please?

Moroccan Rugs are ALL the rage.

This one is just plain pretty.

This looker is from Afghanistan, a place that is apparently becoming more and more
difficult to obtain rugs from.

All images my own.
-Jaclyn

Art lovers are in love with KC

The Country Club Plaza in Kansas City will be celebrating its 80th Annual Art Fair next weekend! It is such a fun weekend with hundreds of artists from all over the country exhibiting their art as well as live music and food from all of the best restaurants in KC.

The art fair on the plaza started during the Great Depression to try to attract shoppers back to this shopping area. Now more than 250,000 people attend this annual event!

1932 Plaza Art Fair (source: www.countryclubplaza.com)

Today's Plaza Art Fair - (google images)

The art fair reminds me that KC is one of the most exciting cities if you love art. When it comes to fine art most people automatically think of NYC, LA or Chicago but KC is one of the most populous cities per capita for artists. More than 6,000 artists live in the KC metro area! There are a number of top ranked art schools and the best part is artists' works are so easily accessible to the general public. What I love about it is that there is an excitement in the city when the Plaza Art Fair approaches because everyone knows they won't be disappointed and it is just a fun-filled weekend.

I also look forward to First Fridays in the Crossroads Art District. The first Friday of every month all of the art galleries and stores are open late. You can walk around the area enjoying the art, outdoor entertainment, local street vendors and then eat at a local restaurant and cap the night off at one of the nearby bars. I love The Cashew for drinks and The Rieger Hotel has an awesome menu plus if you are lucky you can sneak down to the Manifesto, a tiny bar that serves the best cocktails. It is overall such a fun way to spend a Friday night.

In the West Bottoms on the first weekend of every month all of the antique shops opens its doors to the public with cool new finds. And last week, Westport had its own art fair featuring local artists exhibiting an array of crafts, jewelry and paintings.

The nicest part is that the KC artists are accessible to you and I. You don't need to be a Rockefeller to afford an original creation. And some of the local and visiting artists do have international clout!

My husband commissioned a painting from local artist Charles Podrebarac for our anniversary. Podrebarac is a cartoon artists and did an impression of our two beloved dogs. It is so awesome to have an original, personal painting in our home. It makes me smile every time I look at it.

Here it is...

My dogs Ellie and Manning - a depiction of their personalities

-Ilyssa

A Moment of Serendipity

A few weeks before my August trip to New York I received a beautifully wrapped package in the mail. Thick brown craft paper, beautifully addressed, sealed with a stamp. On the inside a catalogue tied with a piece of purple leather.

The catalogue

There was a note attached: Jaclyn, You have a great eye, if you find yourself in New York I would love to show you my collection. -Jenn

Well, how serendipitous I thought, I will be in New York in 2 weeks! And after a quick glance through the catalogue, I knew I would be making time to visit the studio of Room 125.

Jenn's collection is the result of having been in the antique and vintage industry for several years. After a few bittersweet experiences of finding the perfect piece, to only then be purchased and never seen by her again, she starting archiving and photographing favorites.

She now has a beautiful and carefully curated collection of objects; some original antique negatives, some are hand colored engravings and some are objects she has had photographed and drastically enlarged.

The Studio

Prints from original antique negatives

A small cuff link or pin that was blown up in size

Hand colored etchings

All photographs my own

Visiting Room 125 with Jenn was a highlight of my trip and I can't wait to have the opportunity to place some of her art in just the perfect home. View the entire catalogue here. (click on the purple catalogue link in the bottom right corner of the home page)

Time to Undecorate

I'm really loving our latest arrival, Undecorate, an inspirational design book by Chrisitiane Lemieux, founder of the fabulous DwellStudio bedding line we carry here at Urban Dwellings.

The spaces featured are creative and unconventional and highlight the art of collecting, living stylishly yet unpretentiously, and creating interesting and stimulating interiors that are as unique as each homeowner themselves.

It's hard to put a finger on what makes each of these homes so great. It isn't so much how refined or "designed" they are; in fact the opposite is true. Most are funky and unpolished, and maybe even a bit disheveled.

But as Deborah Needleman, former editor of my long, but not lost love, Domino magazine (I still have all my copies!) writes in the preface, "At Domino, when we were on the fence about whether to photograph a house for our pages, we would ask ourselves if it seemed like it would be a fun place to be invited over for a drink. Oftentimes an interior might be tasteful and well-executed, but it seemed to lack a crucial something."

She continues, "That ineffable something is vibrancy and energy--or you might call it love, or quirk, or personality."

Well, I couldn't agree more. I am constantly striving to bring that excitement and personal touch into my own home and the homes of the customers I work with here. It definitely takes time and patience, but when it all comes together, it is a great feeling.

Pick up a copy of Undecorate at the store or here.

-Amanda