It’s been awhile since I’ve given you an update on the design happenings around our house, mostly because real life has been trumping much of our progress on the design happenings around our house! That said, I have definitely been dreaming, scheming and planning not only for the completion of Project Ugly Duckling and Project Debonaire Young Sir, but also for Project Nursery. With 12 weeks of pregnancy left, the nesting instincts are kicking in hardcore, and this designing mama has a lot to get done! Noah’s room has to be finished before we can get to the nursery transformation as we have to move him out before we can move in and get the work done! Our marching orders are clear and these pregnancy hormones are saying it can’t happen fast enough!

WHERE TO START?

So, where to start you ask? I decided to begin where I advise all of my design clients to begin: with the rug. Rugs and art are really the two major influences I love to use as the jumping-off point because they offer so much direction on how the room design should evolve. Colour palette, pattern, mood – all of these can be established with a great rug and/or some great art. Beyond that, unless you have the time and budget to have a custom rug made, it is much easier to match fabrics to your rug than the other way around. Just think of the thousands of skews of fabric there are out there compared to the number of rugs you’ll find in your searches. If the tone is off just slightly, you can inevitably find a substitute fabric much more easily than you can find another rug that has everything you’re looking for.

So, with my mission firmly in hand, I headed off to see Allan at Kaarma, my favourite rug supplier. {He’s currently working on a new website which I will definitely share with you when it’s done!} I’ve worked with Allan for many years sourcing rugs for clients, so he knows me well and takes incredibly good care of me. {Read: Allan treats me like GOLD.} There is so much to be said for nurturing great relationships, no matter what business you are in. Taking the time to really know the people you do business with – to hear their stories and to share some of your own – makes the whole process so much richer and more meaningful. That’s definitely the kind of relationship I’ve built with Allan over the years and I’m very grateful to know him.

So, when I sat down with Allan to discuss options, I started by showing him a few pieces I had seen that caught my eye:

I knew I wanted something in the grey tones with an organic feeling to it, but perhaps not as pattern specific as the Ikat rug above and not as cream as the first one. {Baby boys, after all, have a tendency to pee rather creatively during diaper changes and a cream rug will likely not be so forgiving of such adventures!} I also loved the feeling of old-meets-new in designs like this…

…but I felt this might be a bit heavy. Simple, classic, organic and not too fussy. That’s what I was after.

THE WINNER

Naturally, Allan had just the thing and I fell instantly in love when he showed me the winner. So did Noah who was with me at the time and immediately said “I love that one, Mom.” The kid’s got great taste. I somehow think his current dream of becoming an architect might just fit him like a glove. But I digress. The winner, you ask? This beauty right here:

These photos were taken at the end of the day and I haven’t tweaked them at all, so the rug looks darker than it is in person. It is a very soft, dove grey with a slightly blue-ish undertone, and the organic pattern is a soft greyish-cream, perfect to compliment the cream base and grey watercolour birds of the Thom Filicia for Kravet linen for the drapery. The rug also has a dark and a light side {as with any high quality wool or silk rug} and I will place it so that you see the light side when you enter the room.

Folks, we’re off! Starting point established. Scratch that – super exciting, classic yet modern, last-a-million-years-and-still-look-gorgeous starting point established. Can I just say I am beyond thrilled?? Like giddy! I am going to love spending time in this room.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Up next? The search for the perfect chair. I feel a bit like Goldilocks with this one. I need something that’s not too hard, not too soft, just the right style and {most importantly} just the right price. This mama has approximately two dimes to rub together on this project! I’m headed to High Point Market for a quick weekend of inspiration overload, so perhaps I’ll spy something there? One can only hope!

In the meantime, Graham will be painting the freshly panelled hallway and perhaps even sanding and staining Noah’s floors while I’m gone. {Let’s just say the quotes I’ve received thus far have been nuts-o for one small room – poor Graham!} Can I just tell you how incredible my man is? Loving, makes us breakfast every morning, coaches Noah’s hockey team, works with fierce determination and integrity in his incredibly busy day job AND renovates our home on weekends like a superhero. I should give this guy another baby or something. Like seriously. He’s the best.

THIS WEEKEND

I’m headed to High Point super early tomorrow morning, so I won’t be sharing anything for Foodie Friday with you, but I have no doubt I’ll have inspiration a-plenty to share when I get back! My main reason for going is to attend some amazing industry seminars on the business of design, including the ELEVATE sessions put on by my dear friend Lisa Ferguson and her Decor Mentor team. This woman is seriously amazing, and such an advocate for elevating others. I love the way she is positively influencing and transforming our industry. She inspires me beyond words, and I am so excited to learn and grow!

Wishing you an inspired and restorative weekend, friends!

xo
s.