Designers are notorious for being the most indecisive clients. It’s probably because we can’t stand the notion of having to pick just one thing when we know there’s a myriad of options out there. I always thought I would know exactly what I wanted when it came time to decorate my baby’s room. Boy, was I ever wrong!
Paint comes last (that is, it should)
When working with clients, I always advise them to select paint colors last, after the permanent fixtures of the space have been decided on: furniture, art, rugs, lighting, etc. I tell homeowners there’s a wide range of paint hues available to match or complement your pricier items like area rugs. However, it’s a whole lot harder to find a rug, after the fact, that will work perfectly with your wall color.
So what did I do? Not listen to my own advice, of course. Too impatient to wait until I found the “perfect” rug, I went ahead and painted my baby’s room a brilliant shade of turquoise (similar to Reflecting Pool SW 6486). Let me tell you, searching for a rug that complemented the turquoise and added cohesion to all the other pieces in the nursery was a monumental undertaking.
A colorful pattern beneath your feet can add a wonderfully cozy, tactile and personal touch to any space. I like to think of rugs as wallpaper for the floor.
Rugs: the underappreciated color statement
I’ve always felt that rugs get short shrift when it comes to injecting color in a space. Why do the pillows, drapes and vases get all the attention? A colorful pattern beneath your feet can add a wonderfully cozy, tactile and personal touch to any space. I like to think of rugs as wallpaper for the floor.While exhaustively poring over online rug retailers, I was increasingly frustrated by the lack of inspirational modern designs. The market appeared to be seriously lacking in alternatives to “traditional” area rugs. But just when I was ready to throw in the towel and purchase a generic, mass-produced rug from a “big box” store, I struck gold … and fuchsia, tangerine, lime, periwinkle and, yes, turquoise. Gorgeous, saturated colors woven into a wild, unique, whimsical pattern. The rug came from a small studio out of New Hampshire, called Company C.
Images provided by and used with the permission of Company C and Rachel Perls. Sherwin-Williams colors include: Bee SW 6683, Capri SW 6788 and Lounge Green SW 6444.
A wild cacophony of color and pattern
As Company C puts it, “color always comes first.” They combine their saturated palettes with design inspirations from all over the globe to create one-of-a-kind rugs. Whether they’re attending international textile trade fairs like the Heimtextil in Germany or high-fashion runway shows in Milan, Company C’s designers work hard to be on the cutting edge of trends, and to incorporate those influences in their design lines. For instance, during a trip to Paris a few years ago, they were seeing the use of copper everywhere. So, back in the studio, the Company C designers mixed copper with wine, pewter, green and peacock blue, to create an art deco–art nouveau look for their Shimmer rug collection.
In addition, from season to season, Company C updates and evolves its collections, pairing seemingly discordant colors and patterns to create unique new looks. Semiannually, anywhere from two to 16 rugs are introduced, as old collections are discontinued to make way for the new seasonal line. While some rugs only last a season, great sellers, like the Kensington, have been around for more than a decade.
Everyone has a different connection to a rug that “speaks” to them. In my case, Company C’s use of vibrant colors and bold, oversized graphics appealed to my personal aesthetic. The perfect rug for my baby’s room turned out to be Sarasa Pool. It’s sophisticated, but not stuffy. Whimsical, but not immature. Bright and bold, but not “in your face.” I can happily spend hours staring at its mix of juicy, vibrant colors and exuberant shapes while rocking my baby.
And while I could have made things much easier on myself by selecting my perfect rug before painting, I might have ended up at Company C, regardless.
Do you have a fun story to share about how you found a particularly wonderful rug for yourself or a client?
Post your reply below.
Rachel Perls is an architectural color consultant based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to holding a fine arts degree, Rachel is professionally trained through the
International Association of Color Consultants, where she also serves as a committee chair. Through a multidisciplinary approach to supportive design, Rachel helps clients realize the full potential of color in both residential and commercial spaces. Be sure to check out her nationally recognized blog,
Hue, dedicated to color.
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Rachel, I could not have said it better! You hit the spot with the focus on color, and looking for a rug that really speaks to who you are and your personal style. As a designer of contemporary hand knotted artisan rugs, I can definitely appreciate that; I find the excitement of creating each new design an exhilarating process. The many ways of customizing a rug beyond simply color-changing and making a custom size is very much like creating an entirely new design.
I actually have a rug story that I weave into a design class I teach (ah, no pun intended) I was searching high and low for a rug for my family room; and through the process discovered a great way to shop; determine your price, your content (depending on what you’re shopping for-)the size and the style/colors. If it fits all the criteria, it is the right piece! I found my perfect rug after a few tries-and learned that sometimes you can be a little flexible..I agree Rachel that a rug can add warmth to the space-I love mine!
I LOVE Company C rugs! They are so refreshing to incorporate into a space because they are an unexpected alternative to the mass produced pieces. Some of my favorite rooms that I’ve done have a Company C in them.
I know what you mean, I am right now going through the exact same thing, although not with a baby’s room. I am looking for a wall to wall that’s neither a solid nor a traditional style and it’s very challenging. Thanks for sharing:) Lisa
what about Flor tiles?
An inspiration point is definitely key. It can be a rug, a fabric, artwork. But I’ve found that of these 3, a rug usually plays the most significant role in choosing all other aspects.
Some clients dismiss this advice with unappreciation, but they will generally regret their decision in the schem of things.
So true. Especially because rugs take up so much real estate in a room. There’s often more unobstructed floor than wall space, so rugs make a huge impact upon the look of the room.
I have known these clients for years. They are passionate about fine art, music and literature. They have a wonderful penthouse
overlooking a lake and forest in Howard County, MD between Balt & Washington, DC.
The inspiration for the rug was an acrylic painting of their beloved Columbia Wilde Lake and waterfall in bright spring colors of salmon, azure blue, vibrant greens and ochre.
The rug for the breakfast area had to have smooth weave for dining chairs to glide across, great quality for lasting durability, the vibrant colors of the painting comensurate with the mood of this sunny morning room, and a touch of whimsy.
We carry several beautiful rug lines at Ellicott Interiors, but I found the perfect one in Nourison’s “Sixteenth Century.”
Contrary to its historical name, the rug was
lively and bright, fun with rosettes of color,
in a smooth tight micro-hook weave in beautiful New Zealand wool.
It is perfect for that space and now that wonderful sentimental painting is accompanied by it’s lively companion underfoot.
The rug sounds just beautiful. I was intrigued, so went online to see some examples
and speaking of Ellicott Interiors- when I lived in B’more, I believe I checked out your lovely store. Small world, right?
[...] As I scrolled through her blog posts I realized she is an architectural color consultant, blogger, author and mother. “I created this blog to catalog and share my color-related findings. From [...]
Loved reading the delightful and colorful article. I am teaching a course this June at FIT in NYC on Rug Techniques / SXH 525 Professional Design Techniques for Area Rugs. We will go over color, fiber and how to select quality and styles. Not only for the Interior Designer who needs more know how for custom but the consumer who wants to purchase a special piece and needs some education. It’s Thursday evenings, 4 sessions: (55A) June 16, 23, 30, July 7, 2011 space is limited. Please contact me for more info, I will send you a registration form and all.
[...] noticed that Rachel Perls on Sherwin-Williams STIR blog posted a very interesting article about the under-appreciated color potential of rugs – I had no idea that the colors in a rug were so important to pay attention [...]