Crazy or brilliant?
I somehow missed the fact that the patterned rug that appeared on the cover of the May 09 Elle Decor was actually just dye hand-applied (it appears to be sort of thrown/sprinkled) on top of a solid ivory wool rug, in a pinwheel pattern.
I can't decide if this seems a truly great idea, or if it would just look like a fit of insanity with a sippy cup full of grape juice (the homeowner, Alexandra Wentworth, admits she came up with this DIY solution in an effort to camouflage stains). I kind of think I would like to try this. The idea is really growing on me...and in this case, I love how the pattern turned out.
Images by Simon Upton for Elle Decor.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 01:44AM
Though I'm not a huge fan of rugs (prefer bare floors), I love what was done to this one. I dont think this would be something that I would do though. I dont have a steady hand and I fear that I would totally screw it up. If it was a rug I was going to throw out, I may consider it.
I agree that it does make her seem more normal to have to compromise and I appreciate her creative approach to masking the stains!
Duet - the sofa is #3068 by Lee Industries, and is covered in Millefoglie viscose blend velvet by Brunschwig & Fils.
i like the softness of the rug. i also can't take my eyes of those sofas. their shape, color + material are perfect. i love them! and wonder where they came from.
becca! That's hilarious!!! I think I love the rug even more now ;)
i love it. it's playful and adds energy to the room.
i think i would keep the idea in the photo - i love how it's been captured but actually doing it myself wouldn't look as good in person i feel.
I will admit to having watched Oprah "Live on Friday's" when Alex Wentworth (George Stephonopoulous') wife was hosting with O mentioned that this was here house on the cover. The whole starfish idea came about because George wouldn't let her buy a new carpet for the photo shoot and she had to do something to cover up all the dog pee stains! So she started to paint a design on the carpet & voila...this is how it turned out. In some small way, it makes me like her an awful lot & I feel better about my own animal short-comings. (Floors scratched to hell....)
hmmmm. i think that in this perfectly styled room, it looks quite lovely. but since life can impose a cruel reality on even the tidiest of spaces, i'd say you're right: it will end up looking like a spill gone awry.
And there I was, thinking what a cool starfish rug it was...! I agree, I would be too much of a perfectionist to try this, always looking at that bit that didn't come out right, and wanting to touch it up. But maybe if it was that stained, she had nothing to lose? I would love to see this close up, I wonder if it looks like a DIY job when you get a little closer? It certainly looks great from here!!
I love the idea of this, but I think my perfectionism would kick in and I'd be forever loathing that one spot that didn't come out exactly like I wanted it to ;)
But you could totally pull it off, L... maybe test out the idea on a smaller area rug to see how it goes? (And I'd probably avoid purple - because you're right - it seems like grape juice gone mad ;)