Summer 2016 – A BLOG ON COLORFUL LIVING

Outdoor, Outdoor Rugs, Summer 2016

Try Our Refreshing Coconut Citrus Mint Cooler

July 25, 2016July 22, 2016by Company CLeave a Comment

Coconut Citrus Mint Cooler

Summer is in full-swing, and if you are hosting friends and family during the next few weeks we have the perfect refresher that pairs nicely with summer’s lighter fare.

Coconut Citrus Mint Cooler

What You’ll Need: 4 cups of coconut water ½ cup of lime juice ¼ cup of sugar (optional) 2 cucumbers sliced very thinly ¼ cup of chopped mint leaves

How to Make it… Combine the coconut water, lime juice, sugar, cucumbers, and mint leaves. Let the mixture chill for at least one hour. Serve with a garnish of mint for the perfect RX to beat the heat.

CoconutCooler_3 — Watermelons Outdoor Rug

Enjoy! Our Coconut Citrus Mint Cooler looks revitalizing because it is! Coconut water is a natural way to restore electrolytes and hydrate when it’s hot……and did we mention this recipe pairs perfectly with silver rum? Add at your own discretion!

Decorating Tip!
Pairs well with our Watermelons Outdoor rug!

Jute Rugs, Rugs, Summer 2016

Jute Rugs are a great choice for any location

July 18, 2016July 13, 2016by Company CLeave a Comment

We developed our hand-hooked jute rugs for those who do not want the heavy look and feel of thick, densely tufted wool pile. From a design perspective, the look of our jute rugs is light, clean, and ideal for any region of the country.

Yarn Balls of Hand Hooked Jute Rugs — Hand Spun & Dyed Jute Yarns

Our hand-hooked jute rugs are nothing like the scratchy heavy mats that welcomed you through the front door when you were a kid. These rugs are soft underfoot, and perfect for any interior location.

Our hand-spun and dyed jute yarns ensure color vibrancy, and bring our designs to vivid geometric life. Nothing bland or monochromatic in our jute collection!

Naturally stronger than wool, hand hooked jute rugs are a great choice for all your interior spaces.

Pillows, Rugs, Summer 2016, Uncategorized

The Inspiration Behind Our Water Lilies Rug

July 11, 2016July 11, 2016by Company CLeave a Comment

We understand how Monet could become so obsessed! Water lilies have been a source of inspiration for centuries, their floating beauty offering a sense of calm, and an opportunity for reflection. Their colors and aquatic environment create dream-worthy moments, and were the spark of inspiration behind our water lilies hand-made rug and decorative pillow.

One of the earliest plants to ever flower, water lilies are considered the “missing” link between flowering and non-flowering flora, and have a number of interesting traits that species the world over share:

Water lilies live only in fresh water. Ideal conditions include a depth of 18 to 24 inches, and relatively still conditions making ponds, streams, and the edges of deeper lakes their ideal habitats.

Long stems anchored in the soil beneath the water attach to large leaves, or pads, and furnish nutrients to the plant. These lily pads create a floating canopy of green designed to collect sunlight for photosynthesis while providing shade for fish, and a resting spot for frogs and dragon flies.

The lily flower develops underwater, and when ready to open, emerges between the pads and floats on the water’s surface. The flower opens in the morning and closes at night for three days, then dies. Other water lilies in more tropical regions will replicate this same cycle and duration, with the difference being their blooms emerge at night as the sun goes down, closing the following morning.

Summer 2016

Great Gift Ideas For the Summer BBQ

June 29, 2016June 14, 2016by Company CLeave a Comment

Think of a BBQ as a luncheon or dinner party where shorts are the perfect attire. And while the event is casual, a gift of thanks conveys your appreciation for the time your hosts have invested in ensuring you have a great afternoon or evening. Great gifts are thoughtful, creative, and reflect the spirit of the gathering while not creating more work for the hosts. Here are a few items that are inexpensive, and help to make an outdoor evening a breeze for the hosts.

Bottle Opener(s) – These are great gifts, and extensions of the hosts’ taste. And there never seems to be one handy, does there? From fancy monogrammed to dollar-store common, this is a gift everyone will use and your hosts will appreciate. Hang a fun bottle opener from a collection of craft-brewed seasonal beer and you will be the guest of honor!

Citronella Candles – These back-yard staples are available in a variety of taste levels when it comes to their packaging. From fabulous and detailed to galvanized buckets, there are so many options accessible because theses candles really help to keep mosquitoes at bay. And while no one may admit it, everyone loves the smell if only for its ability to conjure memories of childhood summers.

Pitch in – Offer to arrive early if extensive set up is required, or stay later to ensure that the cleanup is accomplished. It’s a great way of saying thank you, spending quality time with family and friends, and often times the work detail is just as much fun as the party!

Always bring ice – There is never enough. Never.

Outdoor, Outdoor Rugs, Summer 2016

Learn How Outdoor Rugs Add Punch to Any Party!

June 13, 2016May 31, 2016by Company CLeave a Comment

Most social gatherings inevitably end up in one of two locations: the kitchen, or an outdoor space like the deck or patio. And the perfect rug for either location is a polypropylene hooked or flat weave rug.

Just Beachy Outdoor Rug

Khaki Stripe Outdoor Rug

They come in a variety of designs from simple and understated to bold conversation starters. But don’t be deceived by their pretty appearance. These rugs are gluttons for punishment and withstand high-traffic with ease … welcome traits in a busy kitchen or on the deck. And spills? Why waste a worry when your beautiful kitchen rug can be cleaned with a garden hose.

Unfurl one on the deck, call it a dance floor, and have the best summer ever with friends and family. And to get the party started, kick off the festivities with a refreshing Watermelon White Wine Sangria.

Accessories, Draperies, Summer 2016

Get Ready For Summer With These Five Tips

June 6, 2016May 31, 2016by Company CLeave a Comment

Be ready to welcome those summer breezes into your home, and some sunlight, too. Warming days means it’s time to get windows ready for summer draperies. Here are five tips to help you get any room’s windows ready for the season.

Send the heavy draperies on vacation. Now is the time to remove heavy fabric and insulated draperies, and have them cleaned to be ready for next fall and winter.
Prepare for breeze arrival. With draperies down, inspect for dust, and any other reminders of winter such as cobwebs. Open up the windows and check tracks and guides for loose dirt, debris, and any lingering insect guests. Once all the treasures your windows have been collecting for the last six months have been vacuumed up, you are ready for step three.
Clean the breeze delivery system. Vacuum the screens using the dust brush attachment, moving left to right over the screening, and then repeating top to bottom.
Make the glass sparkle. Now is the time to wash the windows, inside and out. This project is best tackled on a cloudy day, or when direct sunlight is not hitting the window, to avoid streaking. The internet has an abundance of cleaning solutions and methods to investigate. Be it paper towel, wadded up newspaper, or a squeegee, you will know which method is best for you and your window type. Squeegee always wins the speed test, FYI. Steps two and three leading up to washing will ensure that dust will not be delivered onto clean windows when the first balmy breeze blows through your screens.
Lighten up. Be it for privacy or to diffuse the direct summer sunlight, it’s time to put up light and airy summer draperies. When the first breeze of summer blows into the room, the lightweight drapes will do a happy dance to thank you for all your effort. And you will be pretty happy with yourself, too!

Outdoor, Rugs, Summer 2016

Top Three Tips for Selecting the Perfect Outdoor Rug

May 30, 2016May 31, 2016by Company CLeave a Comment

If you planted your containers and hosed off the outdoor furniture this week-end only to find your deck or patio still looked tired from a long winter, consider an outdoor rug to perk things up. Roll out the perfect outdoor rug, and you will create an instant room. Polypropylene hooked and flatweave rugs have become popular pieces for indoor high-traffic areas such as family rooms, kitchens, breezeways and entryways. We forget that their original intent was outdoor use! Here are some tips for selecting the just-right rug for a deck, porch, or patio that needs some extra attention.

Sealegs Accent Rug

Check, Please Outdoor Rug

Summer Pillows

Chromatic Plaid Outdoor Rug

Fortissimo Outdoor Rug

Determine placement. In an outdoor open space, unfurling a rug will immediately delineate space. Many of the rules that apply to interior rug placement apply. But outdoors, the concept of walls has less impact and the rug itself will help to define larger areas. Outdoor dining areas will still require the table and chairs (at least the front legs) fit on the rug to look grounded and be serviceable. Same scenario with an outdoor seating area where at least the front legs of the furniture should touch the rug. On smaller decks or porches, a great look is three inches of floor exposure around the rug’s edge creating a bordered effect. All these considerations will impact the size rug you select.

Design and pattern. Based on your space’s needs, it’s important to determine whether the rug will be a focal point in your outdoor living area, or if it will be placed to complement existing furniture and outdoor upholstery and pillows. As a focal point, an outdoor rug should be bold and bright to define space, and accent solid colored furniture and cushions. As a focal point, the rug is where your eye will land first and welcome you and guests into the space. To simply define spaces on an open deck (ex: to separate a dining area and a conversation area) rugs featuring neutral colors and simple patterns play best, and are also well-paired with bold or graphic outdoor pillows.

Outdoor rug color plays an important role in the overall feel of the spaces you are creating. While important to the overall coordination of all the elements in the outdoor space, color intensity has more impact than you might think. Choosing a lighter colored rug will reflect an open and more airy feel. This may help to make a smaller and darker porch feel more spacious. Darker colors create a cozier feel, and may make a larger deck or patio feel more intimate.

Bedding, Summer 2016

Five Tips for Preparing Your Bedroom for Summer!

May 23, 2016May 31, 2016by Company CLeave a Comment

Spring-time drizzle and gray skies will soon give way to warm breezes and rustling green leaves. While we wait to open up the windows, it’s the perfect time to say “so long” to winter and welcome summer bedding into your bedroom. Here are a few tips to prepare for, and transition to, the balmy nights to come.

Lighten up, and pack up your winter worries. Use light and bright accents to add extra pop to your summer-weight bedding after you store your heavier blankets and coverings for the season.
Give the bed a clean sweep. Before you make the bed, be sure to flip and rotate the mattress while laundering mattress pads and mattress covers. Vacuum the mattress using an upholstery attachment before returning the washed and thoroughly dried mattress pad, then make the bed in your favorite summer sheets. Try adding a patterned quilt and shams for light-weight warmth and visual interest.
Accent the room for the season. Remove candles which evoke a sense of winter’s low light (and flicker like a source of heat) ,and replace them with your favorite vases and cache pots for fresh flowers.
Let the sun shine in. Wash the windows, and replace your heavy insulated draperies with sheers that let the summer light in.
Get ready for your best night’s sleep in months!

Pillows, Rugs, Summer 2016

Four Quick Tips to Bring a Nautical Look to Your Home

May 16, 2016May 31, 2016by Company CLeave a Comment

19524K-ICEBLUE-ALT3 Nautical looks return perennially letting us know summer has made its anticipated comeback. From US Olympic uniforms and fashion to home décor, the look is universally popular because of its clean, crisp, and classic feel. Whether sea-side or in the city, the nautical look is an easy to love…and just as easy to introduce in your home. Here are five quick ways to evoke a surf-side feel.

Layer on the stripes. Stripes are the foundation of nautical fashion, and striped accent pillows are the fastest way to add pop to upholstered furniture or any seating area.
Feature white and blue rugs. When it comes to nautical style, white and blue are the power couple. Add in some cool gray, and you have the makings of the perfect coastal color palette.
Express yourself with motifs. Whimsical Motifs express who you are, and start great conversations. Our Sealegs accent rug will add character to any room.
Hand-tied detailing. Hand-tied knots served sailors for generations…and add visual interest and texture.

Passionflower Rug

Starboard Pillows

Check, Please Outdoor Rug

Sealegs Accent Rug

Dream in Full Color, Pillows, Rugs, Summer 2016

Learn About Pantone’s Day Dreaming Palette!

May 9, 2016May 9, 2016by Company CLeave a Comment

Pantone, the color standard specialists to the creative industry, announced nine key color palettes that will be significant in home and interior design elements throughout the remainder of this year, and into 2017.

Little did we know, our all-new Water Lilies rug is the embodiment of the Day 10199-MULTI-ALT2 Dreaming palette, described as “a series of pleasant thoughts that distract our attention from the present”. Featuring Serenity (pale blue) and Rose Quartz (pale pink), Pantone’s co- colors of 2016, this home design palette reinforces the significance of pastels in interior design including paint hues, accents, textiles, appliances, and of course…rugs. Punctuation colors included in this on-trend palette include Blue Glow, Nile Green, Plein Air, and Yellow Iris.