Antique rug shopping- Heriz rugs are where it's at!

Today I was at Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta doing vintage and antique rug shopping. I found a ton of beauties and learn a great deal from the sellers. I have to remember that the folks selling antiques are not just trying to "sell" me the piece, but they are helping me to make an educated purchase. I should get this since I sell vintage and antiques, too. And, I want my customers to be excited about the item and the cool things that I know about it. But, it feels different on the receiving end. (another educational moment) However, I learned a great deal from the rug merchants I worked with and I look forward to doing business with them again.

 Heriz rugs were mainly what I was looking for for my client. They are typically a busy pattern with a center medallion and generous borders.

Heriz is actually a place in Iran... maybe we should go back a little further in your history lesson. These types of rugs are called Persian rugs and Persia is an older name for Iran. You will remember the regional name from your ancient Greek and Roman history lessons. It is north of the Persian Gulf. Heriz is an area in the Northwestern corner of Iran near the Caspian Sea.

So, back to the current time. Persian rugs are typically named for the city, or regions, that they were made in, since the resident rug weavers in each city developed the city style. Heriz, Tabriz, Kashan, Isfahan, Qum, etc. are all cities in Iran and names of Persian rugs. Each with distinct looks... well, they look distinct once you really start looking. At first, they are all red rugs with lots of pattern.

Heriz rugs are know for being durable and long lasting... like lasting-generations long lasting! Their durability is from the high quality of the wool from the sheep in the area. The naturally high levels of copper in the water produce very good and durable wool.

They are typically brick red to light red with blues a little greens, and ivory.

On the back of the rug, you can see the weft and it should look irregular. To me, it looks like the slubs in silk dupioni.

According to one of the rug merchants that I spoke with, Persian rugs have a further style breakdown that are classified, basically, by the colors that are popular in the regions that they are expected to be sold in. Persian rugs can be further classified as Persian Persian rugs and these have a more monochromatic color palette, they are the least expensive. Persian European rugs typically have light blues, creams and gold added to the monochromatic palette. Persian American rugs have many colors in them and are the most expensive.

This is the one I brought back to Birmingham. A beauty from the 1930's, I love the William Morris type colors in the rug! 

A different rug merchant reminded me about embargo's on Persian rugs. His vintage rugs were purchased pre-embargo. The current rug embargo started in the Fall of 2010 and allows no rugs to be brought into the US from Iran, though you are free to buy and sell the ones currently in the US. The previous embargo (1986-1999) was a bit looser. So, vintage Persian rugs, made in Iran, are a bit rarer than Persian rugs that are made to look the same but are made in and coming out of Asia. And I dare say, they are higher quality and will last longer.

Other things to note about vintage rugs in the variation in colors. These rugs are typically vegetable dyed. You will need to inform your professional rug cleaner that they are vegetable dyed. They will probably recognize this, but better safe than sorry.

Vegetable dying produces a beautiful variation in tones of the same color. You can see it in the dark banding on this rug. It goes from dark navy to black to a black brown. This variation gives the rug a desirable softness that is often mimicked in newer rugs, but never can attain the look of the real McCoy.

Lastly, you will need these few tips for maintaining your rug. Get a good carpet pad. I mean a good one, not from the hardware store, from a rug store. It will make the rug last longer. If the rug is in a sunny spot, turn it every couple of years. And, get it professionally cleaned by your local "Oriental" rug dealer, not a professional carpet shampoo-er. The folks at the rug store clean them by hand with brushes and a special soap. Steaming and chemicals can damage the wool and shorten the life of your rug.

Most importantly, enjoy the amazing, dedicated handwork that went into producing your vintage rugs. The original sale of your rug might have feed a family for a year! It is important work and deserves respect.

Like wading in water... Spring mornings

This morning, I was reminded of my maternal grandmother's phrase, "like wading in water." 

 It was used to describe an early morning walk through dew covered grass. And, it was the reason I could not go out and play on many early mornings in the late spring and early summer.

These mornings have a "movie in the South" feel to them with golden light streaming through new leaves and a dew so heavy, it's like wading though water.

Inspiration- Neutral dining room

Today's design board is a nod to the neutral color palette lovers. Neutrals are a great way to play with pattern and built a hierarchy with scale and theme. Hierarchy, you say? Yes! Just like a diagrammed sentence, Manslow's hierarchy of need, or a Venn diagram, there is a visual hierarchy in place in all rooms. Building this hierarchy with patterns, colors, size, scale, texture, or a mix is what makes a room great. When you eliminate some of these options, like color, or pattern, it is easier to see the built environment's hierarchy.

For this space, I added one color that is different from the rest- a green buffet. It is the top of the hierarchy, because you see it first. It is the lead singer in the band. The next is the arabesque wall paper, it is the most graphic (greatest contrast in tones close together) pattern and it is the tallest and biggest item in the room. The hutch is the tallest furniture in the room and breaks up the wallpaper, which would be overwhelming with out the visual breaks of the hutch and the art. The art provides a place for your eye to rest from all the pattern. It ranks third. Lastly, are the table and chairs, they are why you are in the room. You are naturally going to gravitate to them and you will physically interact with them, so there is less reason, design-wise, to make them the star.

Laurl Designs boards can be found here.

Another hierarchy to think about is the senses. You see the space first, let your first sense get the top billing for all the reasons listed above. Then, you hear the space. Is it loud or quiet? Carpets on the floor, drapes and other textures change the noise level in a room. Fine dining has carpets, texture wallpaper, tablecloths and sometimes draped interior spaces. They are very quiet. In fast food places, there are no soft fabrics... I'm not counting the dust mats at the doors. You want your space to sound like fine dining, not McDonald's or like McDonald's, you will be leaving the space quickly. Last sense in a space is touch. The things that you would touch in a space, the chairs, table, possibly the buffet, should have textures that are interesting to feel. In this space the chairs are cane and linen, the table is zinc topped, and the buffet is painting wood. These are all interesting textures to feel and contrast with each other.

Then there are the smallest of details, the brass tray that moves the light around the room, the pretty buffet lamps that add a warm glow and the antler chandelier which add an unexpected element in the space.

If you are interested in any of the items on the board, you can find there here!

The early week's scores- shopping for tables

As you know from my previous shopping post, I scored on some lighting from a local company that is moving to a new site.

Well... I kept thinking about the tables that I saw at the sale...

and how pretty they were...

 and how there might be still some left at the end of the sale.


So, I went back yesterday and grabbed this handsome table at the left.


Then there were these pretty gold tables with antique mirror tops. Grabbed a pair!



And, I thought, "while I am here..." my famous last words as they always cost me money! I picked up a lamp and a sisal rug.



All I need now is the perfect space, or spaces, for all this great shopping! If you need a space redesigned, or one of these pieces, contact me!

New items in the shop. Great ideas for Mother's Day!

With the sale of some great items, it was time to re-arrange, add, and spruce-up! I've been adding tea cups and saucers, sweet little porcelain bowls, and leaded crystal bowls. More items arriving daily!

Great items for Mother's day!

This weekend's scores- shopping lamps and lighting

This weekend's shopping started on Friday... well, really Wednesday, but I spent more on Friday. So, maybe this really it's weekend shopping, but my shopping week. Either way, I scored.

A national furniture brand is based locally, and is moving locations. So, they had a stock reduction sale open to the public, the door opening coincided with a down pour that spawned tornadoes in other parts of the South.

I let the crazies- who stood in the down pour- clear out before I go there.

People arrived at 7:30!

I strolled in at 11:00-ish in a drizzle and still racked up.

This tall drink of water to my left, mine.

This good looking swinger, mine. Though it needs new candle sleeves and covers.

This Lucite based gliver guy, mine... twice. They just need shades.



This vintage look, broad shouldered fella, mine. I'm thinking flicker bulbs.

If you would like any of these for yourself, please contact me! Though I love them all, I will be adding shades, and fixing flaws in order to sell them. If you are in the Over the Mountain area of Birmingham, I can probably deliver!

Wow-za tile- pre-made mosaic tile

I am working with my sister on her kitchen remodel, which includes tile shopping. And though we both love the tile mosaic look and wow-za factor, it is not practical... or really even reasonably do-able in her space. However, I thought I would share some stellar tile.

Here

Here

Here

Here

Color inspiration- the Grey and Bronze of Adelina Sotnikova's costume

I love the combination of color on the Gold medal winner, in Ladies Figure Skating, free skate costume. Rich dark grey and warm bronze.... Matte grey and sparkle bronze... Pretty silk drapes and bronze hardware... Dark grey linen pouf with bronze nail heads... Soapstone counter tops with copper sink... I cannot decide how best to apply the combo!

Some inspirational riffs on that combo-

Here

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Kitchen inspiration- the black and white kitchen

My sister asked me to help her re-do her kitchen. So, we have been sharing a pin board on Pinterest to banter about ideas. We have different views on what would make a cool Black and White kitchen!

Her contemporary kitchen pick-

From blog: searching for style

My contemporary kitchen pick~

from blog: SF girl by the bay

Her Shabby Cottage kitchen pick-

from blog: cupcakes and crinolines

My Shabby Cottage kitchen pick~

from website: Jennifer Hutton Interiors

The constancy between both of our pins is glass on the doors to exposed shelves.

Glamour in new textiles

Shopping for fabrics today, I kept running across new fabrics that are total GLAMOUR! Sequins in boucles, aurora borealis rhinestones on silk, silvery filaments in velvet. Gorgeous glam! Interested in adding some glam to your space? Glam-ing up the greys? Try these!

How can damask be better... in shiny silver velvet!

Glorious as drapes with the sheen of silk and the glimmer of crystal.

Isaac, you are killing me with this glorious sequined boucle!
Glamorous ottoman, or new item of clothing, I cannot choose.

Drapes or ball gown?

New chaise upholstery?

It is a HOOT!

Shopping this weekend, I ran across this not-so-little HOOT! I love the colors, the style and the attention to detail. The original intent was to be a candle holder, but it look great on it's own. Handmade in Italy for Rosenthal-Netter, it is attributed to Aldo Lossi for Bitossi in the Rimini Blu colorway. I have yet to completely confirm that. He, or she, is such a looker... whOO, whOO, whOO cares. (little owl humor)

Check out the rest of the pictures below.

If you would like to own this 15 inch tall drink-of water, click here to take you to my Etsy store to purchase. UPDATE- sold out... but I am on the hunt for more!

Thumbtack design service

Photo credit: Jean Alsopp

I am intrigued by a new product on the web called Thumbtack. I have long believed that design services, in many ways, can be streamlined using the internet. This service allows you to contact a professional service by placing a project of the site to be "bid out" by professionals. It is a great way to find a designer, or any other service, and have them come to you.

You can see their portfolio, an they will send you pricing info for your project. No strings attached. To find my profile, you can click the link below. I am listed under the catagory:

interior decorator

So stop by and see me, I'd love to begin on your new project!

Tag, I'm it! The best of the tag sales this weekend.

Tag sale, estate sales, etc. They are the best for shopping for special pieces. This weekend's sales netted a great find. And though I will be bringing it to Hanna Antiques this week, a part of me want to re-upholster it into something fun and keep it for myself!
So, I am super excited about this vintage to antique settee below. I would love to see it at the end of a bed for putting on shoes, in a wide hallway for a great reading area, or in a limited space home. The exposed wood provides a smaller profile to fit into smaller spaces. And, it is comfortable. Oh, if only I have a client right now that needed this item!

Note how much space is left in the Prius!

Love to think that I can easily fit a settee into the car. Prius' are the best!

Pretty carved leg, that is lightly bunged- easy fix.

Check out the pretty and simple upholstery! I think it is the second upholstery job on the piece.

Original tied springs and burlap webbing underneath the dust cloth on the bottom.