Pouf Possibilities

Shannon and I love poufs...oh the possibilities.  We love poufs paired at the base of a fireplace for some cozy extra seating, or wedged under a children's play table as safe place for the littles to perch.  We love one at the end of a chair as a foot rest, or a handful of colorful poufs scattered around a low-table in the backyard for a festive fete.  We talk about them, we blog about them, we have them in our homes, and we try to limit our "over-buying" of them the same way we try to limit our "over-buying" of pillows (unsuccessfully).  

Here are our Top Picks (Most under $200):

1.  We would use this striped pouf as kid's seating in a playroom, or peaking out of a rustic coffee table for extra seating.

2.  This pouf is a darling splash of color and texture.  Layer a few of these on Fouta towels in your backyard for the perfect place to lounge and sip on a watermelon margarita. 

3.  This is a great neutral pouf that adds texture to an otherwise colorful, or patterned space.  A pair would look great in front of the fireplace of a home with a casual or beach vibe.

4.  This mongolian fur pouf is luxe and stylish and under $200.  It's a great way to indulge in this cozy trend without breaking the bank.

5.  This batik pouf is gorgeous with it's washed out colors and timeless appeal.

6.  A perfect complement to other patterns in a room...don't be afraid to mix and match.  This one is a great addition to a mountain home, or would also be a stylish foot rest for that wingback chair in your family room.

Take a look around the place you call home and see if there is room for a little texture, color and pattern in the form of a pouf!

What's Your Style?

People often ask Shannon and me what our favorite "style" is.  And at the risk of sounding annoyingly diplomatic, it is hard for us to define one style that is our "favorite".  I think why we feel so passionate about interiors, and exteriors...(and even clothing for that matter) is because we truly love and appreciate so many different aesthetics.  Shannon and I share a very similar style, which encompasses a variety of different genres.   But even as business partners whose styles are very aligned, we definitely have (and celebrate) our differences.   I am a little more excited about a monogrammed pillow than she is,  while she appreciates a funky side table a little more than I do.  

That being said, we've thought long and hard about this "favorite" look question and so we are prepared to give you our answer.  If we could pick only one style to live in ourselves, it would be a combination of modern, rustic and bohemian.  

 The above image is a stunning representation of a room that is modern while still oozing comfort.  The wood ceiling, and the wood beams that frame the door in combination with the natural floor covering offer a rustic vibe while the art and the shape of the chairs and the minimal furniture assemblage are clean and modern.

This bathroom.  Simple, modern, clean and oh so stylish.  We love the bold use of dark iron, complemented by the white subway tiles.   The natural wood shelf adds a rustic element so that the result doesn't feel too cold or harsh.  The design and color palette are modern, the warm wood and iron are rustic, and the brass adds just the right amount of glamour.

This kitchen is another dreamy space.  The herringbone floors are stunning, and are especially noticeable against the rich black cabinetry.  The antique mirror gives an old world feel, while the Platner chair is decidedly modern.  Salvaged floors, exposed beams, industrial lighting, and a mirrored backsplash styled with rustic cutting boards, edgy chairs and shiny appliances make for one beautiful space.

And there you have it...our favorite rooms are rustic, modern and slightly bohemian in style.  Adding the bohemian element is easily done with flooring and  textiles choices.  Add a kilim, a vintage oushak or a Beni Ourain rug to a room to instantly lift any pretension and often times add depth and color.  Add a sheepskin throw or a batik pillow to soften a square edged sofa.

We'll share a few of our top places to buy modern, rustic and bohemian pieces:

Finding Perfection in the Imperfect

What's the difference between Barbie and a Supermodel?  A crooked tooth, a distinctive mole, a super-short haircut.  Barbie is beautiful...and perfect, but for one reason or another the Supermodel seems more interesting.  I'd rather go to a movie with her (hopefully a pre-screening of a Cannes favorite), I'd rather eat with her (assuming she eats) and I'd rather go to one of her friend's parties (hopefully in some edgy loft in Chelsea...haha).  

But, all stereotypes aside, Shannon and I are drawn to rooms (and love designing rooms) that are beautiful, but not always perfect as it is traditionally defined.  While we love matching nightstands with a beautiful lamp on each one flanking a luxuriously dressed bed...we also love a less tailored, more unexpected approach to this set-up.

In the Sonoma project, the vibe is eclectic, vintage and relaxed.  Having perfectly symmetrical bedroom configurations would not feel authentic, nor interesting.  We purposely hung the vintage artwork we found from sites like Chairish, and stores such as Stuff and Past Perfect in an off-kilter way.  Two or three pictures on one side of the bed, while only one on the other.  The same imperfection was applied to night-stands.  Maybe one is a desk with a lamp and books, while the other is a side table with a different lamp and leaning artwork.  

The result is look that is less contrived, more lived-in. Less meticulous, more comfortable.  Less perfect, yet possibly more memorable.  

A similar approach was used in the sitting area above.  Traditionally, you might see two of the same chairs opposite one another, but it felt more cozy to mix up the textures and woods by adding another element. The same goes for the black floor lamp amongst the sea of brown wood legs.  There are times when things that "don't go", really go quite well.

This "imperfect" strategy doesn't work in all spaces, and it doesn't work for all people.  Symmetry is visually soothing, and perfectly matching night-stands may bring serenity to the client each night as they crawl into bed.  But, there are many instances when creating an imperfect space is the pinnacle of style, comfort and chic.  Barbie is perfect, but sometimes we find even more beauty in something a little less perfect.

Friday Buy Day on Monday

We feel terrible that we didn't get to post this on Friday, and we'll try to never let it happen again...can't stand the disappointed texts and emails (:  Although not keen on making excuses, last week was filled to the brim with exciting and productive preparation, meetings and presentations. Couple that with some out of town visitors for us, and some out of the country visitors for Shannon...and the one thing that didn't get completed to our satisfaction was Friday Buy Day. Hoping that by posting this on Monday, it may offer some inspiration at the start of a new week.  

We've been focusing a lot on fashion for the last Friday Buy Days and and we thought it would be fun this week to focus on some fun (small or budget friendly) ways to update your space, or just make it feel a little more fresh for Spring:

First up are these barstools from CB2.  We have purchased similar ones in the past for over $700 each and while these are not exact replicas, they are pretty darn close. We love the cognac leather seat, the whipstitch detailing and the rustic iron base. At $269, these are less than half the price of their similar counterpart and deliver the same rustic chic style.  Add a couple around a center island or replace your current barstools with these stylish seating alternatives to turn your kitchen nook into a fine dining experience.

Another great way to freshen up your space for Spring is foliage. We love flowers in a space, and more economical than replacing flowers each week is investing in a large plant. A fiddle fig leaf plant is always a great choice, with beautiful leaves and a rich green sheen.  They are sturdy plants, and adapt well to most climates making them a great choice for a lasting and low-maintenance alternative to purchasing fresh flowers regularly.  These can be found at your local nursery or at many Lowe's and Home Depot locations.  Typically you can find a nice size one for approximately $180 and they add beautiful dimension and texture and color to a space. 

Another stylish way to freshen a room for Spring is by switching out your pillows. We love a good mix, but be careful not to overdo it. Many of us (we are guilty too) have a tendency to "over pillow" sofas and beds, when a restrained...yet artful mix is always best. We've included some images above of pillows we love...all found on Etsy, and all very reasonable (starting at $70).  

Lastly, a fun and free way to update your space for Spring is to move your furniture around! In the above picture from the Sonoma project, we rearranged all of the furniture to create more space, and a fresh new feeling in the room.  The leather chairs were originally in front of the TV and we moved them by the fireplace, the cowhide pillows originally lived on the sofas and we created a cozy nook by adding them to the rustic fireplace, and the built in daybed was originally covered in pillows....we took most away and added a few larger ones and one lumbar on each side. 

So, go ahead and put your sofa on the other wall.  Take the bench that's in your children's room and add it to the living room as a fun seating option in front of your fireplace. Or, move your daughter's dresser in front of the window where the roman shade and the streaming light act as the only art above.

Choosing one, or a combination of the above suggestions will add a fresh dose of style to your space...just in time for Spring. 

Being Realistic About Our Rug Addiction

Krimsa is one of our favorite rug and pillow stores of all time.  So many special pieces: vintage Beni Ourain rugs , hand-woven moroccans, silk ikats, and over-dyed turkish masterpieces.  We love them all.  And although we wish we could outfit our entire home and all of our client's homes with these glorious pieces of art, the cost of a large specialty rug (or multiple) can often be prohibitive.

And maybe cost isn't the issue.  Maybe you have young children who drop food, track dirt and smash play-doh into your flooring and so choosing an inexpensive, but stylish rug, that is replaceable is a good option for you until the children are a bit older.  Whatever the reason, the bad peanut-butter color sisal rug (we love a good sisal...just not a peanut butter sisal) that you bought because you "didn't want to spend the money" or because it "hides the dirt" needs to go and can be replaced by one of these stylish alternatives: 

We love this Land of Nod patchwork rug.  The blush, grey and taupe color palette is sophisticated while the sisal nubby texture is casual.  Imagine this is in a living area with a charcoal linen sofa, a rustic coffee table, two cognac leather sling chairs where a sheepskin throw casually lives.  Elegant, relaxed, current.

This is a beautiful rug from Joss and Main  The 5x8 is right around $200 and the saturated color and "vintage" style feel very rich.  This piece would be great in a Foyer or layered in a Bedroom, peeking out from under the bottom half of the bed.  In a foyer, it would be great paired with a piece of modern abstract art (Jenny Prinn, Susie Bettenhausen) to balance the more traditional feel.  Add a brass console, or vintage credenza and a cool lamp.  An inviting and edgy entrance.  In the bedroom, it would be great layered over a greige sisial with clean white bedding that is tipped in orange or blue.  Cool and classic.

This dhurrie from West Elm is a great transitional piece.  It comes in three colorways (turquoise, platinum(shown), and iron) has a nubby, natural texture and is hand-woven by artisans in India.  The pattern is graphic and bold, but not so loud that you will tire of it easily.  At around $500 for an 8x10 it is a great price for the visual impact it provides.  We love it in a casual dining room with a rustic farmhouse table, tabouret metal chairs on one side and an upholstered bench on the other.  Add an oversized pendant and you are ready to host Thanksgiving dinner!

We can fill our home with stylish affordable floor coverings TODAY, while day dreaming of the vintage Beni Ourain rug we will own ONEDAY.