In the Bathroom | Art + Rugs

Over the weekend I met a client at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago Spring Sale with hopes of helping her find a few affordable pieces of art for her living room. Although my client didn't end up buying anything I came home with a lovely abstract floral painting by Mika Horibuchi.  Usually when I see something I like I know if it's going to work...

I hung the painting in my guest bathroom the second I got home and sure enough it looks great but since one purchase often leads to another, now I'm thinking I need to replace the sisal rug that currently masks the unfortunate tile floor with a worn, muted kilim or persian rug.  I think adding a vintage or antique wool rug to a contemporary bathroom is a beautiful way to add contrast and elegance. Just look at the pictures above and tell me you don't love this look?!?  I'm already on the prowl for one on ebay so if you have a great vendor/store to recommend please do tell!

(and a new rug will most likely lead to me needing new towels...oy!)

Currently Coveting | Over-dyed Vintage Rugs

Isn't this living room rug absolutely gorgeous?  There is not one rug from the ABC Carpet Color Reform collection that I would not love to have magically appear in my apartment.  These vintage carpets, which have been neutralized then over-dyed a solid color, make a striking background and really liven up any space.  Below are some examples of my favorite over-dyed rugs available at ABC Carpet, Loom Rugs and Ebay...amazing, no?

ABC Carpet Color Reform

ABC Carpet Color Reform

Loom Overdyed Vintage Rug

Angel Rugs via Ebay

Image: Thomas Loof for Architectural Digest May 2011

Le Style Castaing: Leopard Carpet

I couldn’t agree more! I'm in the midst of reading The World of Madeleine Castaing and have decided that in 2011 I'm going to take note from the great French decorator and say yes to animal print! For Maison de Lèves, her dreamy Directoire-style country house, pictured above, Castaing selected an exquisite palette of turquoise, black, white, deep red and leopard!  In theory, leopard print wall-to-wall carpet might seem overpowering, but its small scale and restrained palette make for a surprisingly understated element. And the best part - It's as practical as it is pretty!  According to the author, Castaing used leopard print carpet throughout the house because it was good for disguising muddy footprints. 

Although Castaing died in 1992, many of her favorite rugs,manufactured by the French firm Catry Tapis, are still available for purchase through Stark.  Now my darling readers, do feast your eyes upon a selection of Madeleine's drool-worthy wild interiors....

Castaing greatly admired the taste of Napoleon's consort Josephine.  Napoleon and Josephine lived at Château de Compiègne and each had their own apartment which were renovated and furnished between 1807-1809. The leopard carpet here, in empress Josephine's dining room, to my mind proves that leopard was, is and always will be timeless.

Josephine's dining room served as inspiration for Madeleine's use of similar carpeting at Lèves and on her other projects. One of a pair of stools embroidered with Madeleine's initials, above, sits on top of Leopard carpet in the Salon de la Rontonda. 

Another view of the salon at Lèves, which Madeleine redecorated with a fabulous leopard carpet and her signature turquoise- such beautiful contrast!

Images via The Style Saloniste