ordering a custom rug

I thought I'd give some tips from my experience ordering a custom rug. The whole process really is quite simple, but I did a lot of research and a lot of careful consideration prior to ordering.

Before anything I calculated the distance from the wall that the carpet would be by googling "How far should an area carpet be from the wall". This led me to a lot of pages including Apartment Therapys helpful post on the proper distance for spacing things. Most rules said that 12" - 18" was the proper spacing from wall to carpet. But when I measured that out, it felt that the carpet was going to look like a postage stamp. So I decided to leave 9" between wall and where the carpet would start.

More photos and some tips after the jump, if ordering a custom rug is something you're considering.
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Client Master

 Hello there, hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend.  I wanted to share this master bedroom I designed recently.  Calm and serene with lots of texture to add warmth and interest to such a clean space.

Image Marianne Strong Interiors, Photography Beth Hontzas Photography

Embellished Onesie Baby Girl Dress

Our good friends, Lara and Eddie, (Savannah's Godparents) just had their second baby a little while back.  They have a little boy named Luca who is three and decided to wait to find out the gender of the new baby until the birth.  Since I am such a planner, we found out what we were having with each of our three children, but I give a lot of credit to those who can wait for the surprise at the very end! When I found out they had a baby girl, Francesca Marie, I knew I had to whip up something for the new little lady.

For some reason when my friends have new babies, it makes me want to try to sew something new. Most of them know the kinds of dresses that I like to sew for The Cottage Mama, but it's always fun to sew something different and more unexpected. For Miss Francesca, I made a little dress out of a pink organic cotton onesie. It is size 3-6 month and I thought it would be really cute layered with tights and a sweet cardigan for the cooler weather.

I've been really into using the rolled hem on my new serger (yes, I've got new machines and I can't wait  to tell you about them). I cut a couple strips of fabric and finished the sides with a rolled edge. Then I gathered them and sewed them to the onesie. I added a strip of pre-gathered, cream colored eyelet trim as well. And finished the dress by hand sewing three little pink buttons on top.

The skirt on the onesie is also finished with a rolled hem. I absolutely love the line 'Woodland Trails' from Riley Blake Designs. It's just the perfect shades of pastel for a sweet baby girl.

french family suppers and flowers in eggcups

 Family supper with a couple of friends as a bonus.

 Simple food, pretty table,

loving the egg cups I bought at a fair yesterday, 
used to place single flowers down the table centre

how I love gentle summer evenings

living room updates

I made some major progress on decorating the living room. Although I still have a ways to go before I can do a full "Before & After" -- I feel like this room has found its groove. Between adding a new area carpet, hanging some art, and a new blank canvas (that is going to be painted to replace my old painting) things are finally finding homes, and the room is feeling warm and cozy.

The biggest investment in the update was the rug. A decision, and a search that has taken 3+ years.  Why did it take me so long to decide on a rug? Our room is an awkward size and standard rug sizes meant I was either getting one that was too small, or too large. After measuring the perfect size it turned out we needed essentially a 9ft x 9.5ft carpet and after 3+ years came to the conclusion we just needed to go custom. Custom always terrifies me because it can't be returned. (and is generally more expensive)

Because I'm a creature of habit,  I picked the exact same stripe wool carpet that is on our stairs. It's perfect. It's not inexpensive but it can come with us should we move, and it can be cut and bound to a new size in another house - which means it has a longer life span. I also picked it because of the durability. Within 24 hours of having it, Mak (the Cat) barfed on it. Because it is wool it cleaned up easily (but it also helped that I had this).  The stripes mean that it has some style, but is classic and doesn't compete against everything else in the room.

The artwork is a mix, which I will go into another day - but I just wanted to post the updates.

xo Linds

Ps., The gallery wall hanging took me 4 hours. I'm not kidding you. It was the most stressful experience of decorating to date.
Pps., Yes - the blank canvas is resting on water glasses. I did this to envision placement of art. Don't judge.

blue shutter loot shoot

Friends here for dinner last night, same again this evening.  Up early for fairs, children left right and centre.  Happy dogs.  A happy weekend.  Not much text, but I hope you like the pictures.

This week, Thursday actually, sees the start of my Fall Brocante Tour, when I'm looking forward to welcoming a group of guests  coming specially to find their own loot!    It will be an action packed four days, and I'll be sure to show you what we get up to!

Maybe we'll find some stuff like ....

old enamel street signs ...

calendars, silver trays and buttons ....

silver egg cups that wonder about being mini flower vases....

wonderful old wicker cutlery trays .... with the cutlery ...

old pins or skittles, bleu blanc rouge!

egg basket, blue shutter and vintage olive oil cans  ..  so chic!

tureen and old wooden spoons ...  and much much more!

Quiet Time

Sometimes you pray for things and His plan you cannot immediately see.  Sometimes they are answered so clearly it makes you pause in awe.  I have had a lot of the latter moments lately and I am thankful and humbled.