Summer is a great time to make home improvement and design changes. This summer we'll be featuring a series of short newsletters that highlight some interesting design ideas that are affordable, quick, and also green. We'll help you save money on the latest design trends for all your favorite spaces.

Greetings from sunny and hot Scottsdale and sunny and humid Fairfax. We never dreamed that when we opened our second office in Scottsdale, Arizona this year that the hot Arizona spring weather would be more comfortable than the Virginia springtime temperatures.

We can’t seem to escape the heat so we are spending our time indoors designing cooler spaces for clients on both sides of the country.

We hope that you have been following our travels and design news on our blog Dramatic Fusion. You can access the blog directly from our website: www.mcgoughinteriors.com.

Over the past few months we’ve talked about our personal home remodel, small ways to spruce up your home, and we are now writing a series on full-scale remodeling and how to work with contractors. We welcome your comments and ideas for future blogs.

This issue of Interior Insights features a design element that works in any part of the country, high-quality, hand-crafted rugs.

Rugs have become such an important design element that we've secured some amazing design partnerships with several high quality suppliers. We are offering savings of 25% to 60% off retail price. Whether you like traditional Chinese and Middle Eastern designs, contemporary and nature-based Tibetan designs, or Southwestern styles, we are able to find the perfect pieces in a variety of sizes.

I love using Oriental rugs in my home designs. There are thousands of styles and sizes to choose and they can be used in many different ways. But before I talk about using rugs as a design element, let’s talk a bit about Oriental rugs.

An authentic Oriental rug is one that is handmade. An Oriental-designed rug is one that is machine made. Both can be made from wool or silk threads that are either dyed with synthetic colors or with natural vegetable dyes. There can be a difference in quality and styles but depending on where you want to place the rug, its size, and use, a machine-made rug may be a better choice for you than a handmade rug.

The term Oriental is a catch-all term for rugs. Rugs are described by their specific geographic location. I love the patterns of Tibetan rugs but there are many beautiful varieties from China, Cyprus, India, Iran, Turkey, and even Vietnam. Just as each region of the world has its own designs so do the rugs that are made there.

Over the years, I have brought new rugs into spaces but I have also incorporated many antique rugs that clients have had hidden away. A concern I often address is that a particular rug’s patterns and colors don’t match the rest of a room’s décor. I want you to put those concerns aside. My design philosophy is based on fusion. This means I combine patterns, textures, and furnishings to complement spaces. The reason this works so well is because you get to enjoy pieces you love – like an old family rug.
 

Design with Rugs

Rugs add depth to many spaces and often serve as a design anchor joining seemingly different colors and patterns into a finished space. In Arizona and other hot climates, it’s common to have tile and stone flooring to help keep the dust and sand at bay and to keep the house cool. An area rug softens the floor, adds color to a neutral space, and it adds texture. On the East Coast and in areas with cool seasons, rugs add color and warmth. And yes, it’s great to put an area rug over a space with wall-to-wall carpeting. Rugs can also provide a quick fix to cover worn or stained carpeting or to protect a heavy traffic area.

Decorating With Tibetan Rugs

I have been working with a Tibetan rug supplier who has given me access to high-quality handmade rugs of all sizes. Many people are not familiar with Tibetan designs but they work everywhere. I find that the traditional patterns and colors have a contemporary feel with stripes, circles, and bright colors. You'll see some of them pictured here. You can also choose rugs with more nature elements like leaves and flowers. These rugs work in both formal and casual settings.
 

Does your room need a finishing touch or a soft design element to refresh the space? Give me a call and we can talk about “covering it up.”
 

Until next time,
Maureen
 

Beautiful Patterns and Colors for Any Room