On trend: Kilims

I've been noticing and admiring the use of kilim rugs in interiors lately. Middle Eastern in origin, these traditionally woven wool flatweaves have graphic patterns and tribal characteristics. They look great in just about any type of interior, but I'm particularly loving them in more clean, sleek, and modern spaces because they add just that right amount of global-boho chic to liven it up.

A Stockholm apartment looks gorgeous with the addition of a neutral kilim rug.

We currently have a handful of pillows made from vintage kilim rug pieces for sale in the shop:

They'd be a fun way to interject a bit of color, pattern, and texture into a space.

I find these antique kilim rugs from Apadana to be so pretty and surprisingly modern feeling. The aged patina makes them even more desirable to me.

I've also been spotting kilim motifs all over in fashion right now. How great are the Chuska loafers from Anthropologie? I think they'd look effortless with skinny black capris and a denim shirt come Spring.

And check out these beautifully beaded statement necklaces, available through the Seattle-based boutique Totokaelo. They definitely invoke a kilim-like pattern. I can see these being worn with a simple maxi dress or a flowy top.

xo, Amanda

First image, NY Times Style Magazine, Nov. 4, 2011. Following two are my own. Remainder are vendor images.

Rethink Reupholstery

Being located a block away from an antique mall, and having fabric swatches hanging in the back of the store, we get a lot of people asking if we offer reupholstering services. Also, because of the nature of our design business, we get just as many asking for reupholstering advice (e.g., "How much yardage do you think a chair 'yay' big would need?")

Of course, we don't reupholster here at our retail shop, as this arduous task is clearly best left to the skilled professionals with a workshop and years of experience. However, what I can offer is some insight because it seems that there are many misconceptions about the reupholstering process. There is a great interview of an upholsterer's perspective in this month's issue of Real Simple magazine (February 2012) that got me thinking about the subject.

Here are some quick tips:

1.) Reupholstering furniture probably won't save you money. In fact, it could cost you more when it's all said and done. Buying a "steal of a deal" from the antique store may not always be so great if your goal is to spend less than you would on a new piece. Once you factor in the cost of your piece, the cost of fabric and labor, it may be a wash. Other factors that you should consider are: the need for any new painting/staining, repairs/reinforcements, or new cushioning/springs -- all of which could send you over the edge.

2.) Good quality fabric is expensive. Manufacturing fabric is a labor and resource intense process, especially if it is anything worth putting on a piece of furniture. Buying enough yardage to cover an occasional chair or sofa will be costly.

3.) Reupholstering is not a DIY job. Unless you are looking at something like a little bench seat or a small inset cushion, upholstering should be done by professionals. It is a skilled trade and one can easily tell the difference between a good and bad upholstery job.

That said, there are many great reasons to reupholster antique and vintage furniture. For one, mixing in older furnishings adds character, depth and style to your home. Antique and vintage furniture can possess certain qualities that newer items seem to lack. I myself have had pieces reupholstered for my home, and we occasionally sell refurbished items in the store or have pieces reupholstered for design clients, and the results have always been well worth it. Giving a second life to an older piece is creatively rewarding and inherently eco-conscious. As an added bonus, utilizing antique and vintage furniture will make your interior unique and enviable with one-of-a-kind treasures.

xo, Amanda

Image from House Beautiful magazine. The homeowner chose to leave the backs of the chairs sans upholstery :)

Not Your Average Granny

Riddle for the day: What's pink, orange, and floral all over?.....

Granny Chic of course! And not the typical granny house you've spent countless holidays at, this one is infused with pops of color, quirky accents, and lots of texture. Let's just say, it's not your average Granny, unless your Grandma happens to be Betsey Johnson (a huge influence in this post today). So bust out that afghan and pour yourself some tea, this is going to be a fun read!

My inspiration for this post comes from an amazing handmade gift I received over the holidays.



Adorable right?! It's a cross-stitched, family portrait, that my Mother made of my significant other, our four-legged son, and myself. I'm pretty sure I squealed with delight when I unwrapped this. Immediately I ran home to hang this on the wall, and ever since, I've found myself attracted to anything needlepoint, cross-stitched, bright, or floral.

And really, who can resist the charm that granny-chic can bring to any room?

Needlepoint Heart Pillow by Jonathan Adler. Adorable!

This afghan adds so much pattern, texture, and excitement to this modern bedroom.

Needle point wall decals, love it!

High gloss white floors with granny-chic decor.

While this look is adorable, personally, I find it looks best in small doses. The juxtapostion of the look with modern, sleek, interiors is what makes my heart skip a beat. Little hints of something vintage and feminine can bring warmth and coziness to any space, along with adding a lot of spunk and personality! Don't be afraid to add a little crochet to your space, your Granny would be proud.

-Katie:)

Photo credits:

first image, my own. Second image from jonathanadler.com.Third image, harperkingsley.com. Fourth image, storybookwoods.typepad.com. Fifth image, creativeinfluences.blogspot.com

Spare, But With Purpose

Below is a copy of the article by Jaclyn that ran in this past Sunday's KC Star Magazine. Enjoy!

Photo by Roy Inmann

By JACLYN JOSLIN

Special to The Star

Do you have a guest room that rarely gets used? Or would you like a spare room to be functional for you on a day-to-day basis and accomodate guests when necessary? Many of us only have guests once or twice a year and having a room that is not functional for other purposes for the majority of the time seems like wasted space to me.

Here is another good question to answer: do you use your guest room as storage space for things that you don’t know where else to put? Before moving into my small apartment, I had a guest room that held junk. Honestly, when I went to move I uncovered things I had not looked at in years in the guest bedroom closet. I had to ask myself: what purpose are these things serving me? If I am not using them, not even looking at them for years at a time, it is hard to justify holding on to them.

Now I am a big proponent of editing and an even bigger proponent of not collecting junk. Too many of us hold on to things that were either given to us, or at one time were useful to us, but no longer fit our lifestyle. It is OK to let these items go, in fact it is a good thing. The items could be useful to another person and it is important to not let things stagnate in your life.

I like to move my accessories around every few months. I will take everything off my bookshelves to dust and be sure to not study the arrangement too closely before dismanteling. Then when I go to put it back on the shelf, I purposely try to put items back in a different spot. If pieces end up not fitting back in, I will look for a place elsewhere and if it still has no home, I know I need to evaluate keeping the piece or putting the item back into circulation.

The pictured room is a perfect example of having a beautiful space that is functional and comfortable for guests or for everyday use by the homeowners. There is no clutter, only well selected pieces that serve a purpose, have a timeless appeal to them and most importantly, the homeowners love them!

In this particular home, the owners already had one complete guest room, but there was still another small spare room. It could have been outfitted with another bed that would have taken up most of the floor space, or we could make the room a bit more useful for their everyday living. We chose the latter by putting in a chair and a half with a twin sleeper. A pair of Moroccan poufs in front are great for kicking your feet up on while sitting in the chair reading, and are easily moved to pull the sleeper out.

The room also sports a wood-and-iron side table with a few minimal accessories. That way it is not bare, but also leaves guests a spot to place belongings or a drink. The pharmacy floor lamp is perfect for sitting in the chair reading, or when the bed is pulled out. The small dresser that fills the semi-awkward niche is kept empty so that guests have a spot to put belongings when visiting. This is important! Resist the urge to fill dressers up with clothes that you will never wear or other junk that you do not need. Pillows and bedding for the sleeper are kept in a small closet. Along the other wall there is a bookshelf for holding a few accessories and books, making this room a quiet reading retreat when company is not in town.

I find that most people underestimate the energy that inanimate objects hold. It is easy to operate out of guilt or laziness and think that you should hold on to something because it was a gift or because it is just plain easier to let things sit and not think about the purpose it is serving you. By clearing out your extra rooms or any portion of your home (basement, attic, closets, etc.) and only keeping the functional and decorative items that you love, you will be amazed at the space you create in your life for other good to come in.

Reach Jaclyn Joslin, interior designer and owner of Urban Dwellings Design in the River Market, 412 Delaware St., at info@urbandwellingsdesign.com.