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Capel Rugs Introduces More Genevieve Gorder

October 26, 2012 by marshlara

Quote from Genevieve Gorder

Thoughts from Genevieve Gorder

Ooooohhhh! I LOVE Genevieve Gorder! Her smile is infectious. I loved her when she first started out on HGTV. She was so accessible to “normal” people like me. She has a firm grasp of practical design implementation yet her head is forever up in the clouds of innovation.

The folks at Capel Rugs must feel the same way. Of the many HGTV designers being sought after for licensing their own design styles, Genevieve Gorder is among the top.

At HighPoint Market, we got to see some of Genevieve’s latest interior design work for area rugs.

Natural flat-woven rug design from Genevieve Gorder

Warm colors liven up any room

Natural flat-woven rug design from Genevieve Gorder

Geometric patterns pair well with classic and modern pieces

Natural flat-woven rug design from Genevieve Gorder

Bold color choices make a statement

Her flat woven rugs made with natural fibers are perfect paired with reclaimed wood furniture or classic pieces alike. She utilizes bold as well as traditional colors and her patterns are fun and innovative. We’re impressed!

Posted in home decor tips & tricks, home office ideas, incredible artists, rugs | 3 Comments »

How Do You Make A Hand-Tufted Area Rug?

October 26, 2012 by marshlara

My eight-year old daughter, like many children, has a very curious mind when it comes to how things work. She has been known to take apart the dishwasher for example. So I can’t wait to show her these photos of how hand-tufted area rugs are made!

To hand-tuft a wool rug, loops of wool are pushed through canvas that has been stretched on a frame. The canvas has the rug design on it which can accomodate a complex pattern since each tuft is done individually. Take a look at this partially tufted wool rug:

Detail of Tufted Rug Outline

Check out the design on this partially tufted area rug!

Half complete tufted rug

This shows the entire area rug when it is half complete with the tufting process.

It is fascinating to me to see the detailed pattern on the canvas that the rug maker then uses during the tufting process. Hand-tufted rugs are great for high-traffic areas and generally last between 12 and 20 years.

Hand-tufted area rug stretched canvas

Here you can see the canvas stretched on the frame.

In terms of impact on the interior design of your home, hand-tufted area rugs deliver a huge bang for the buck. Not as expensive as hand-knotted rugs but still having intricate patterns and details, these types of wool area rugs provide a more budget-friendly alternative.

I’m already envisioning my eight-year old hard at play on a hand-tufted rug for her Polly doll’s house.

Posted in home decor tips & tricks, mixed bag, rugs | Leave a Comment »

Texture Talk: Reclaimed Wood Furniture

October 26, 2012 by marshlara

Ever look at the interior of a home and say to yourself, “Wow… this should look really great, but something just isn’t right here?” There’s a gut instinct response that is sometimes hard to put into words. And then, little by little you notice it. Everything matches. Like…everything. The chair fabric matches the pillow fabric. The wood type and style for the end table matches the dining room table. The living room curtains match the kitchen paint. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not into the “matchy-matchy” look. Home decor should reflect your personality and quite frankly, I’m just not that put together. One of my favorite quotes is, “I think my life would be easier if I could just get my selves to agree on something.” (Brian Andreas of Story People)

So imagine my love of pairing seemingly contrasting items for a surprising home decorating idea. For example, pairing soft textured fabrics with the rough feel of reclaimed wood.

Reclaimed wood table

Soft chair…rough table. Love it!

Try this: Take a look at the reclaimed wood table below and find something visually appealing in your house that would not be an obvious pairing.
Reclaimed Poplar Wood table from the Shandong Province

Reclaimed Poplar Wood table from the Shandong Province

Fun, isn’t it? I bet you actually came up with several items. When you free yourself to look at a broader range of options for home decorating ideas, the combination possibilities suddenly grow.
This is especially true of reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood touches a cord with us on many levels. There’s something about making something useful again that is appealing. It seems to embody the circle of life and ground us in Mother Nature’s worldview. Once a rarity, reclaimed wood furniture is becoming more and more accessible. Don’t let the industrial look of it scare you off. It just may be the piece that allows your other pieces to really shine.
Industrial buffet cabinet made of reclaimed wood

Industrial Buffet Cabinet Made of Reclaimed Wood

So the next time you see a home decor item that appeals to you don’t say, “Oh…but I don’t have anything that will go with that.” Stop for a moment and allow yourself to expand your design thinking! You’ll be surprised and happy with what you discover.

Posted in eco friendly, home decor tips & tricks, mixed bag, vintage furniture and decor | Leave a Comment »

Book Smarts: What’s on Your Wall Shelves?

October 26, 2012 by marshlara

Vintage looking books tell a story on your wall shelf

Vintage looking books tell a story on your wall shelf

One of the things I love to do when I visit someone’s home is peruse their wall shelves or book cases. Not only do I discover my friend’s interests in books, I gather information about the things in their life they find important. Do they have books of a certain genre? Do they display a collection of items? Is there balance between spaces on the shelves where my eye can rest vs. spaces that contain something?

As you know, we just returned from the High Point Furniture Market and one of the coolest new implementations of a tried and true home decor idea was using covered “books” as design elements on wall shelves. Two displays from a vendor booth really caught our attention. These decorative books tell a story that will captivate.

Eiffel Tower Vintage Decor Books

A little Paris in your home!

When deciding how to place items in your bookshelves, the style of the shelving unit itself plays a part. Are your bookshelves more in line with vintage furniture? Or are they sleek with a modern appeal? How can you play with items of meaning to you while giving a nod to your own interior design aesthetic?

Wall shelves and book cases harbor endless possibilities when it comes to home decor. Whether you have your personal reading collection, decorative books, or display cabinets of your favorite treasures, each item you choose to place on your bookshelves should be thoughtfully selected.

Personal library floor cabinet

Posted in home decor tips & tricks, home office ideas, vintage furniture and decor | 2 Comments »

Vintage Furniture on FIRE…not literally

October 25, 2012 by millandleaf

Just having returned from the High Point Furniture Market, it seems to be a great time to recap on new lines and evolving lines we found.

Vintage furniture was high on the list of “up and comers.” The “Restoration Hardware look” was found at multiple vendors. Some vendors had to to “rough up” their existing sleek style, while others who have done this classic styling for years, suddenly became more relevant.

Check out the our top picks in vintage chairs:

Super comfortable, with a vintage industrial look.

New designs on a century old pattern.

Who wouldn’t enjoy a pint on one of these perches?

Vintage sofas abound from multiple vendors. Love the tight tufted look.

Looks great in fabric or leather!

Or if you are really into vintage decor, grab one of the three hundred year old looks in a candlestick chair or antique desk. Incredibly rich in finish and style, but can still mix with modern furniture in the right application.

Pair this authentic repro with a reclaimed wood or glass table.

Reproduction Antique Desk – with dovetail joints and all wood drawers, this piece will last another 100 years!

The old adage, “History tends to repeat itself” might be a good thing here. The most popular styles in years past, were the ones that outlasted the rest!

All these quality pieces will be available in 2013 on Mill and Leaf. Don’t be a stranger!

Posted in mixed bag, vintage furniture and decor | Leave a Comment »

Upholstery Artistically Defined

September 24, 2012 by millandleaf

Lately while prepping for the High Point Furniture show in NC, the focus at Mill and Leaf has been searching for the best furniture collections we can find. In our “upholstered search” I stumbled on an artist who has been using vinyl and thread for years to create (upholster) common objects other than seating! Check this out…

Vocho (yellow) – 2006 – Vinyl, thread and car parts

Texas 3-d artist, Margarita Cabrera views fabric (in this case vinyl) in a whole new way. Who doesn’t love a yellow Beetle.

Her earlier work, of a 80-inch, baby grand piano is my favorite. You can almost hear the crescendo of the music, though this upholstered piece has never been played.

Baby Grand Piano – 2005 – Vinyl, thread, metal & wood

The contemporary art lines of the loose vinyl and threads make these pieces scream for attention.

Now…back to looking for well tailored modern furniture. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

 

 

Posted in incredible artists | Leave a Comment »

Fall Inspiration

September 22, 2012 by millandleaf

Austin, TX hiking view

The eastern United States has always claimed the most beautiful fall displays. Incredible interior home decor and exterior home designs have incorporated brilliant fall colors. But closer to the urban pulse, southern fall palettes include greys, muted brown, green and gold. This Austin area creek reflection would be a great jumping off point. No, not into the creek! Jump into a fresh room makeover based on this calm, organic palette. Your space with thank you!

Posted in home decor tips & tricks, mixed bag | Leave a Comment »

Back to School at Home

August 16, 2012 by millandleaf

When parents think of back to school, so many things come to mind. Carpooling or home schooling. Denim or school uniforms. Calculators or crayons.

No matter where your kids go to school, or even their age, one supply that everyone needs is INSPIRATION. Inspired students, from preschool to grad school seem to grab the best from their education. They jump at new challenges and new assignments as they strut their ideas, good or bad.

Anyone who remembers a truly inspired moment in their education, may refer to a particularly animated or knowledgeable teacher. Or access to equipment or facilities they did not have access to at home. But actually you can cultivate “inspired” moments and stimulate yourself or your students to think outside the box in your surroundings as well.

We loved Cortney Novogratz’s post on kid’s design spaces in the home. However, you could take this play idea even farther in an adult sense with a chalkboard wall in almost any room of your house.

Chalk board paint on one wall keeps the conversation going

Spaces that change with the seasons, or even change with the conversation, inspire us to use our creativity more often. Giving your room a “voice” with a magnetic board, posting area or even velcro on pictures that can evolve throughout the year will keep your space and your family or roommates inspired. Hopefully we’ve inspired you!

Posted in home decor tips & tricks, mixed bag | Leave a Comment »

Looking for design inspiration? 

August 7, 2012 by Katherine Gastler

We are in a design rich society. Yet when we need inspiration, we often forget to look around ourselves. The following exercise can be a jumping point for home decor projects, all types of art work, or any creative process involving visual elements. (Even computer or video game design!)

Try this technique for some instant design inspiration:
Grab the nearest objects at hand that you find visually appealing and create a quick composition.

Still stuck? Here are a few examples:

  • Stack fabric/yarn at a store

    Image credit: dragonbrookyarns.com

  • pile spice bottles together

    A nice primary color scheme.

  • cut colors/images from magazines

    Image source: purodeco.com

Then document your “collection” by buying a small amount or capturing your grouping with a cell phone pic.

Do this “collecting process” for the following categories:
“Love the color”
“Love the shape”
“Love the texture”
“Love the style”
Now ask yourself, from the collection of colors, shapes, textures and styles, which ones work the best to convey your design’s purpose? Is the sole purpose to energize, relax, spice up, or cool down the viewer? Or does this design need to have a balance of purposes like calm-energy, or relaxing-spice?

If you cannot find the best colors, shapes, textures and styles from the ones you love, then you may have to adjust, but keep in mind, YOU are the designer. So if the project is for your own use, you should find the design elements from your best loved collection.

When to go pro:
If you have a professional design task (paid for your ideas) then this same technique can work. However, keep the scope of the project and client’s requests in mind as you “collect” your samples.

Happy Designing!

Posted in home decor tips & tricks, mixed bag | Leave a Comment »

Padded Headboards High on Our Radar

August 2, 2012 by millandleaf

Looks like padded headboards is high on the trend line this year. Designers love the choices and fresh looks. But trends do stay long unless comfort and relaxation are priority, especially in the bedroom.
Even Dr. Oz recommends a “sanctuary” for the end of your day.

Our collection of padded headboards, at Mill and Leaf, has been one of our most popular to date.
Check them out in various room settings here:

Posted in bedroom furniture today | 1 Comment »

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