Festive Dinnerware

Cranberry Red. Hollyberry Red. Bright Red !

that's the color of the festive Fiestaware for the holidays. Can you picture it on a Christmas table setting with gold chargers?
Just the accent piece for holiday dining. Fiesta, the first solid color dinnerware made was designed by the Homer Laughlin China co., in West Virginia. The line was introduced in 1936 and quickly became very popular. Now enriched with brilliant red holiday place settings,it's a smash hit again. Macy's has a great selection.

Tips for setting the table with panache:
.A dinner plate should center in a 24 inch square;bread and butter plate on left
.Flatware :forks to the left ,knife and soup spoon to the right
.Stemware : to the right of the plate above the knife
.Napkin to the left of the fork
.Centerpiece low and dramatic

Carpet Tiles

NO MORE GUMMIES

Who knew? carpet tiles have made the big time—in GQ no less.

A recent issue of the magazine showcased the fast flooring as drink spillable, since they can be replaced easily following an accident. They’re great for partying as they can be detached and cleaned leaving the rest of the rug intact.

No more gooey-gummy residue when they are replaced either, unlike earlier styles, these are self-stick. Modern carpet tiles require less time to install and no special tools. A quick re-do for any room, these up-to-date tiles of many colors and fibers can be applied easily to almost any surface…even up the walls.

How GQ!

Designer Emma Gardner

Emma Gardner is driven to create beautiful things and designs based on her own fresh aesthetic. Born in Japan, reared in NYC and now living in rural Connecticut, Gardner's muses reflect this journey. Primary influences include Asian art, urban fashion, pop art and natural forms. All of this is then fused to create a uniquely modern look that works with various interior styles and materials such as concrete, glass, wood and steel.

Gardner's recognized contribution to the contemporary design conversation includes enlarged and feverishly colored floral patterns, kimono designs pared down graphically and updated with contemporary color and construction combinations and familiar organic shapes taken out of context and repeated to create something hypnotically new.
For more information, visit: www.emmagardnerdesign.com

828 Rugs Unveils Watercolors Collection

Bold brushstrokes of autumnal color sweep across 828 International’s new Watercolors Collection. Inspired by American and Indian artworks, this artistic series features one-of-a-kind looks that blur the lines between modern and transitional styling. Special dyeing techniques and hand-carved details further distinguish the color depth of each abstract design.

The Watercolors Collection is hand-tufted in India of premium wool. Included in the initial launch are eight patterns that are offered in sizes 4x6, 5x8, 8x10 and 9x12. You can learn more about 828 Rugs by going to 828rugs.com

History of Area Rugs

Remember Lawrence of Arabia? A National Geographic moment: drifting, blowing sand, clomping camels, and nomad camps in the background constructed of “Eureka” - area rugs !

Picture a tent covered inside and out with colorful, brilliantly woven compact designs. Some of them are blowing in the gentle breeze…perhaps a flying carpet? Or at the very least spot a carpet bag, the model for early luggage. Well - maybe not Gucci or Louis Vuitton.

These beautiful coverings for housing, floors, tables, beds and more, were originally crudely woven reed rugs and animal hides. As time passed designs evolved and a finely woven, colorful rug often became a family’s proudest possession because of versatility and exquisite detail.

Rugs from Turkey, India, Persia, Belgium and a number of other countries, in both the Asian and Western weaving traditions, are as popular today as they were necessary for the lifestyle centuries ago.

Intricate and elaborate, woven with wool, and some with polypropene for durability, this type of floor covering will last a lifetime and is a wise investment.

You might cover your floors like a Sultan with “Sultanabad” an exotic design from the Turkish Kashmir collection. The Safavieh brands reflect both antique and historical reproductions as well as contemporary and designer rugs.

Say you envy the traditional styles but find your paycheck will only permit the more economical modern classics. No problem. Either selection is readily available today in prices from under $100 to over $1,000.

Weaving Indian Rugs ( Video )

Here is an interesting video that we put up on YouTube.com. It was shot in India and explains a little about the craft of weaving rugs in India. Although the video feels a little 80's with it's Casio like soundtrack it is non the less, a good place to start learning about hand made Indian rugs. Enjoy!

Tamarian Tibetan Rugs

Tamarian Carpets has always been one of our favourite boutique weavers. Their hand knotted Tibetan rugs take up to one year to weave and they always use organic vegetable dyes to create an antiqued effect. Tamarian rugs aren't cheap but relative to anything else hand made we feel that their rugs are a bargain. You can see their new collections at www.tamarian.com