Fun game: let's pick a parlor rug
I woke up at 4:30 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep. So I made a super rough Photoshop mockup of the parlor and tested different rugs in it. The things in this room I actually own: the loveseat, light fixture (though it's not hung yet), curtains, and chairs (though they're not reupholstered to look like this yet). I'm on a blue kick because it looks good with all the brown woodwork, and I love bold graphics. A navy rug? But which one?
Above: it's loony and I love it! This rug has little orange squares in it which tie in with the orange womb chair in the adjoining living room. If we leave the pocket doors open and you stand in just the right place, you'd be able to see them both at once. But I think I'm too chicken to buy this one, and I wouldn't want the eyeballs of visitors to pop out of their sockets. Plus it's pricey.
Or take it down 6 notches and go with asymmetrical rectangles. By the way, I always first type "asymmetrical" with two s's and then it looks like ass and I realize something is wrong. (Just an aside. Or asside.) This rug is navy with a pale gray background like the walls.
Maybe stripes? A bold move. Navy and ivory.
Royal blue instead of navy, in a chevron.
What to do, friends?
Update: I've loved all of your votes and comments and thoughtful suggestions! I've decided on #3, the stripes, and I've ordered it. That one is by far the best price, too. But it turns out it's going to take 8-12 weeks to arrive. What, are the sheep not even shorn yet? So if I find something better in the meantime, I might cancel that plan and go with something else.
Update: And... I cancelled the rug. I don't want to wait that long. I'm plotting my next move.
97 comments:
Just have to let you know about that last rug (it's from RugsUSA, yea?) I just bought it thinking it was royal blue/navyish, but it definitely reads more purple in real life. I was pretty surprised actually at how different the color really is. I can take a few IRL photos for you and send em if you'd like. Other than that I do really like the rug!
Wow, that is VERY good to know. I don't want purple. Ruled it out already!
I like the first the best!
A bold soul! Fabulous!
I love the second one. For some reason the asymmetrical rectangles and those chairs and the colours together remind me of the Disney Alice In Wonderland, when she is falling down the rabbit hole and there are all the frames and whatnot. Plus I generally think it is a better idea to have a big pattern to anchor the smaller/busy patterns going on elsewhere in a room. Those chairs are going to be amazing with that sofa!
Chevron! It's a nice look without being too much.
definitely #2, it's the only one that lets your eyes relax.
My first thought was... ooh, I hope you got your curtain rod up straighter than that! Ha! But I see it's the window that's crooked. ;)
I agree with Aimee and choose #2, although it has nothing to do with Alice in Wonderland. It's just the easiest on my eyeballs... I don't want them popping out! Bet you're not surprised at my choice, are you? :)
(Chevron's on its way out soon, y'know.)
What's with the 4:30?! Too many rug shopping thoughts buzzing around in your head?
Mum
My vote is for #2, the asymmetrical rectangles. A nice, comfortable fit with the other items. But you are right - it's not the boldest for sure.
I'm voting for rug #2 too. The others compete with the rest of the stuff in the room. 2 seems quieter to me. Good luck with the decision. Or is that decission?
I know everyone is saying #2, but I LOVE #3! Those stripes just do it for the room I think!
3, 3, definitely 3!
I also like the first setup but I agree that it might give occupants a headache after a while. So I'm going with the second one. By the way, I love your blog. It's the first I've ever followed and most of the time, reading it just makes my day! Thank you.
I'm torn. I'm not normally a big mixer of patterns, but I'm really drawn to #1. But it might be too much after a while. I also really like #2. I love your new house by the way. So much character! I love dark woods.
I love one. I have bold graphic rugs in my house (just bought a new one for the den) and they just make me happy.
Number one for sure. You know you l ike it best - and it has orange in it!
I vote for number one
Definitly number 3 for me
I am a big fan of stripes so I would go for #3. Could you do the same simulation for my living room? :)
the third one, plain stripes. Hands down.
I like the eye-popping #1 :o)
I love #1!
#1 if the chairs are done in a different fabric (the color of the curtains or the orange in the rug).
#2 is my top pick! Then #1 would get 2nd place.
Definitely #3, with #2 as next pick. I love bold colour and pattern, but i think your main issue is the mixture of bold. patterns and textures/items throughout the room, but then the soft coloured "fine" blue lounge (sofa?) of the rug as well. The more extreme or irregular patterned rugs tie in with the other items, but don't "make sense" of the blue lounge, which is just sitting there, or if you want to focus on the lounge, then all this other distraction gets in the way. Having the navy blue stripe one, which is a regular pattern and not too big or small in scale, allows you to appreciate both the strong colour/patterns in the room AND the finer blue lounge. Just my opinion with an attempt to give an explanation for it. Roz
I'd go with the first or second rug shown.
asymmetrical rectangles. My humble opinion :-)
asymmetrical rectangles
#1. And I love chevron but I think it's to trendy.
Rug #1 or Rug #2 in that order.
D'oh! I meant to type Rug #1 and Rug #3 in that order!
I vote for #1! It may be conceptually over the top, but visually, it works.
No.1 #2
No.2 #3
No.3 #1
Love #1 and #3!
I like your thinking, Megumi! ;)
And we will enjoy 'our' bedroom, won't we? ;)
Don't know much about design, but a designer told me when mixing patterns to mix the scale. So if you have a small or detailed pattern on your furniture, go for a bigger pattern, less detail on your rug. So, I like #2 :)
I'm not a modern gal at all but I really like the Looney (first rug photo)!!!!
Number one! Number one!
for me it's either #2 or #3
Number 2 would be my pick. It mimics the shapes of the window, almost like a shadow cast on the floor & it helps give the illusion of having a more open &larger room
I vote for #2, the asymmetrical one. I can't say why. I just like it the best.
Chevron is overdone and will soon be on its way out.
I love the first one and I bet you'll regret not getting it if you don't. Or at least wonder often if you should have just gone for it. I would wait on buying the chair fabric though until the rug is in place no matter which you pick, rugs really change the feel of a room.
i think the #2 rug is your best choice.
As for the upstairs, upstairs room, a folded quilt or a "bed scarf" (the word you were looking for) will add so much! AND in your color scheme of red, orange, pink will look TERRIFIC!
love your blog- thanks for sharing!
just a thought... rug number one wouldn't stand out as much if the chairs were orange instead of pink. see where I'm going with this?
I like #3 if you're set on those chair colors. It adds just the right amount of character to the room, not too loud, not looking like trying too hard. Timeless pattern and color combo.
Jenn above does have a good point though. Can't go wrong with more orange chairs! :)
My vote is for assymetrical! ;)
I like no 2. Otherwise it's too busy.
I like the last one!
The second one is my favorite !
I love the first rug, ties everything together beautifully and gives the room just the perfect touch of graphic print without over powering the room.
The first!
# 1 Absolutely!
I like #1, the design has a slightly smaller scale than the others that pulls the space together.
/tuulikki
I say #1 because it does have a tad bit of orange and I like when rooms cross-pollinate with colors. Otherwise I say #3 the navy stripes.
Good luck!
insomnia? right? go take a nap and try again girlfriend -- none of these work -- sweet dreams.
I personally like the 3rd one the best. But I have pretty classic design tastes.
I love the first one!
I vote for the third one - good luck, so much fun!
Oh, I was going for the chevrons till I saw the comment about the colour. I say #1 then. Go bold or go home!
The funny thing is at first I thought the 1st was way off, but after seing the others it seems to be the most harmonius one. The others divide your attention and the room doesn't seem cohesive. I say, get #1, your favorite. It's beautiful.
The asymmetrical rug is my favorite.
I love the first one! Surprising, since I'm not always into bold. I do agree with other commenters who suggest that #1 might work best if the chairs don't become pink/patterned. But of course if "wowie" chairs are going to rock your world, go for those :)
the first one for sure!
Love the asymmetrical. Second choice is the loony one. Good luck.
I like the chevron one!
I really like the first one, but I always like bold graphics like that. Cool look so far!
#1! I don't like the stripes or the chevron, I feel like they are competing too much with the layout of the room, where the crazy bold print just works somehow.
Second choice would be #2, but it wouldn't be as fun. And you'd always regret not buying the one that you just LOVE!
I really like the striped one because it's very graphic without competing too much with the other items you already have.
I'm hoping you put in a few orange accents to repeat the window: pillows? doilies? ottoman/table?
#1 is by far my favorite.
How fun to rug shop!
#2 is the nicest for the room, imo.
stripes. go with the stripes.
I'd channel the asymmetrical vibe for the room...it's the perfect backdrop to allow the lines and patterns within your stained glass, drum pendant and furniture to shine!
I like the asymmetrical rectangle one!
I like the asymmetrical rectangle one!
Asymmetrical rectangles!
I love your blog! So interesting! And lots of cool ideas!
I'm not wild about the big bold patterns with the other furnishings you have in the picture. Out of the given choices I think the first rug is maybe the best because, even though it's pretty busy, it reads as more of a solid than the others because the pattern is smaller. Second favorite is probably the off set stripes.
I would TOTALLY go for #1! Don't be scared!
#2 makes me yawn...
No, no, no. It's making your space look smaller! You have such lovely floors, flaunt 'em don't hide 'em!
why not go with something vintage, faded with blue in it ?
plus
a rug is not only about the pattern but also much about texture.
Love the quirky photoshop images :) My favorite is the second one!
After looking at all of them my eyes come back to #1. Love it.
I like the stripes!
Option 3 with the stripes. Love the navy in the mix
LOVE LOVE LOVE #1! The pink chairs/pop-of-orange-on-rug combo makes me smile.
Also, I'm new to your blog and think it is fantastic. :)
Option 2 - the simple larger fields of color balance and ground the more decorative furnishings.
If I was being super honest I feel that they all are way too busy-just my humble opinion. It can be a very difficult thing to mesh Victorian with Modern. That being said I think you can still have a modern rug if you were to choose one that isn't so busy. West Elm has a couple that may work:
Kasuri Rug
http://www.westelm.com/products/kasuri-wool-dhurrie-t747/?pkey=crugs-flooring&cm_src=rugs-flooring||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-
or
Lagoon Rug:
http://www.westelm.com/products/lagoon-wool-rug-t751/?pkey=crugs-flooring&cm_src=rugs-flooring||NoFacet-_-NoFacet-_--_-
Victorian is a very "bossy" style to begin with. Bossy in that it has very definite lines and shapes that are very predominant. If you add a very "bossy" rug it may be too frenetic.
Like I said just putting my two
cents worth in. Either way good luck with figuring your room out. Look forward to see how everything turns out.
I agree with Megan that a slightly softer graphic effect could still pop but also help blend the victorian and modern elements.
Maybe continue the hunt or think about using a carpet tile system to make a statement and to integrate color.
Love the light fixture! Have fun!
Just a thought...Modern texture might be more interesting than pattern. Hmmmmm... Can't wait to see what you select in the end.
I vote for #2 or #4 - the patterns look more pulled together and less chaotic than the other two. Such a fun room!
Asymmettrical rectangles, for sure.
Where did that settee/ couch come from, it is perfect!
Ordered it from World Market! The Abigail loveseat.
I loved the first one.
Needless to say, #1 is my favorite and doesn't look crazy at all to my eye, but you've seen my house. Glad to see there are other wild ones out there. :)
stripes it is!!! by far my fave!
I really like the first one best. The second one seems too dull, the third one is too bold and overtakes the other items in the room. The first one may be eye popping, but I just love it! Be Bold!
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