Custom Cool Bespoke Rugs

I'm always on the lookout for custom rug options. I bookmarked Custom Cool a while back after seeing their store featured in a fall issue of Elle Decor, but for whatever reason I didn't delve into their site until recently. After hundreds of clicks, I'm now very well acquainted with their creations and I couldn't be more excited about this new resource.

Here an interior shot of their adorable store in the Hamptons...

Image via Elle Decor, photo by Eric Striffler

As you might have surmised from their name, Custom Cool creates custom rugs, pillows, and other accessories for the home. Their hand-woven rugs and kilims are made with top-notch materials like silk, Pashmina, Linen, Nettle, and New Zealand and Himalayan wool. And best of all, they amazing designs. There are ikats, geometrics, florals, and fresh abstracts...and all can be ordered in any color combination. My mind is spinning after seeing just a fraction of the gorgeous options...

This photo was taken in Nepal, where some of the rugs are made. This fab design is called Opaque...

And here are some of my other favorites from the site (you will see them as you click through the different color palettes)...

 This photo is from a Facebook album of shots for their catalog. That chair is so cool, isn't it?

Here are a few of the exquisite, handmade Custom Cool cushions...

Whew, lots to look at and believe it or not, that's only a fraction of what you can see on the Custom Cool site! 

What do you think of Custom Cool's creations? I really like their designs and the whole concept of being able to customize every facet of a rug. Well-made rugs are expensive so you might as well get exactly what you want and need! I also appreciate that Custom Cool is GoodWeave certified (i.e. no child labor is used). 

The only slight downside to CC is the price point and the lead time. The prices are not out of line though, because they reflect the premium materials and expert craftsmanship that make each piece so special. In the long run, the higher level of quality and durability will offset the initial cost. Also, the long production/delivery schedule (2-3 months) is very typical for custom, handmade rugs. So if you have the budget and a bit of patience, definitely consider using Custom Cool. To me, they are a much needed alternative to Madeleine Weinrib and I'm excited to have them as a resource!

Dotted Fabric Love

I saw a Hotel Maison sofa on Horchow, called the Parker Sofa, that reminded me how much I like a small pattern for upholstery...especially when it's a dot print. The dots are fun and mod but subtle enough to not detract from the sophistication level. On the utilitarian side, the dots are great at camouflaging spots or stains too!

The fabric on the sofa above looks like Hable Construction's signature print, Beads, but I'm not sure if it actually is. Here is the Hable Construction Beads fabric in Green Bean as seen on a fab Apartment Therapy home tour... 

Image via Apartment Therapy

I absolutely adore both of Hable's dot prints, Checker and Beads, but they wouldn't work well in a formal setting. Here are more examples to give you an idea of the range of styles of dotted fabrics that are out there:

From a Domino 2007 issue, here's China Seas from Quadrille Rio (and Nairobi) in action...

So, what are your thoughts on using dots on upholstery? Love it, hate it? I think it's a great way to use pattern on a large piece of furniture without committing to a specific style or color palette. As some of the images above illustrate, dotted fabric is so versatile and can be paired with geometric, ikat, animal, and floral prints. 

If you don't love the idea of covering a whole sofa or chair with dots, then consider it as an accent fabric. If that sounds appealing, check out Hable's super cute ready-made pillows. They sell them in linen, cotton, and outdoor fabric. Here's the Lemon Beads/Oyster pillow paired up with a floral and an ikat....

Pomegranate0101 by Spoonflower seller Eva_the_Hun
Hable Construction Lemon Beads/Oyster Pillow
Fabricadabra Silk/Cotton Ikat Pillow Cover

Fabric Report - LL Textiles Debut

I'm pretty darned excited about LL Textiles, the new line of fabrics designed by Lauren Liess. I had the pleasure of meeting Lauren last year and she is just as sweet as she is talented. So besides being pumped about having LL Textiles as a fresh fabric resource, I'm thrilled for her on a personal level! It's quite an accomplishment and I know it has been a labor of love. Read more about it and enter to win 2 yards of the brand-spanking-new fabric on Lauren's blog, Pure Style Home.

The collection is an eclectic mix of styles. Traditional, modern, folksy, and ethnic prints combine to create a comfortable, effortless, lovely tone. The color palette is mellow and versatile and the textiles are 100% linen. The price point is the only minor buzzkill - at $120 per yard they won't fit into most budgets (at least for large upholstery). I'm sure the quality is outstanding though! Although I haven't seen samples yet, I'm impressed with the way everything looks...

Here are two of my favorites, Magnolia in China Blue and Filigree Chevron in Blue:

Shown here is Live Paisley in Indigo and Small Wild Chicory in Denim, other favorites of mine...

While the yellow colorways in this image aren't my favorites, I LOVE the Jack Russell model :)

Squircles is a fab geometric print, it's perfect on the ottoman here...

Ticking Stripe + Filigree Chevron, both in black and oatmeal...

Pierced Porcelain is on the bed here. I love that there is a chic little Greek key border that lines the selvedge on both sides of the fabric...

Circtangles is another great pattern, it reminds me of vintage labels... 

My final favorite is Queen Anne's Bouquet, it's a quirky, vintage-looking floral... 

So what are your thoughts on the collection? Which prints do you like best - the florals, geometrics, ikats, or stripes? What do you think of the color palette?

Brunschwig & Fils New Fall Collection, Les Alizés

I'm excited to share images of Les Alizés, the latest offering from Brunschwig & Fils. B&F is an esteemed textile house that is over a century old and was acquired by Kravet this year. Judging by this new collection, it seems that Kravet is doing a great job of translating B&F's rather traditional style into a more modern context without eroding the integrity of the brand.

Les Alizés, which means trade winds in French, is a nod to merchant ships' trade routes to the Far East and the resulting influence that the Ottoman Empire's vibrant prints and exotic designs had on the Europe. The collection contains fifteen re-imagined patterns from the B&F archive. The result is a set of fabrics and trims that are both current and classic. Have a look...

Drapery: Samarkand Cotton and Linen Print, Dusty Rose/Rust Furniture: Bedford Sofa in Firle Herringbone Chenille, Driftwood and Mira Tape Border, Grenadine/Orange Spice, James Chair in Gulchihra Printed Velvet, Espresso/Berry Tables: Simon Large Table B-1155, K.S. Telephone Table and Coffee Table from Matthews & Parker

Zenobia Linen Print, Orange Spice/Mocha and Tavistock Stripe, Madder/Terra Cotta

Kashmiri Linen Print, Sapphire Blue and Boris Woven Texture, Ink Blue
Pillows and Coverlet: Kashmiri Linen Print, Sapphire Blue, Belluno Cord with Flyer, Canton Blue, Rani Matelasse, Antique White

Headboard and Bed Skirt: Streamers Ticking Stripe, Denim, Boris Woven Texture, Ink Blue

Furniture: Directoire Fauteuil in Foglia Figured Woven, color Canton Blue BR-89764-221 and Boris Woven Texture, Ink Blue, Tables: Avray By Taillardat Cherry with Tooled Leather Top J.M.F. Waterfall Coffee Table: H-218 from Matthews & Parker

Kashmiri Linen Print, Sapphire Blue

Kashmiri Linen Print, Peridot/Aquamarine

Piedmont Banquette in Bellary Cotton Print, Aqua/Taupe Pillows: Hyde Park Stripe, Turquoise and Lala Tape Border, Aqua/Chartreuse, Bayberry Strie, Chartreuse; Tables: Moreau Iron "X" Bench & K.S. Telephone Table from Matthews & Parker

Moti Tape Border, Canton Blue/Leaf, Mira Tape Border, Aqua/Chartreuse, Lala Tape Border, Grenadine/Orange Spice

What do you think of the Les Alizés collection? My favorite fabrics are the Kashmiri  and Zenobia linen prints. I also love the embroidered tapes...these are perfect accents on solid-colored upholstery. I wish they'd shown one on a more modern sofa or chair because I think that could look really cool. Maybe something like this...

Chair from Williams-Sonoma Home

A Little Bit of Moroccan

Moroccan-inspired home decor has been hot for a while now. Usually, I tire of trends pretty quickly, but that's not the case with the Moroccan goods. The authentic items and motifs have been around for quite some time, so it's really not fair to label them "trendy." Much like Chinese ginger jars, many traditional Moroccan home decor pieces are becoming ubiquitous in Western interiors. Rich with intricate patterns and motifs, the outstanding craftsmanship is apparent and very much appreciated by yours truly. In fact, one of my favorite accent tables in our home is a Moroccan piece (at least, I think it is).

The table was my grandmother's so I don't know much about where it came from or when it was acquired. If any of you have some expertise in this area, please feel free to set me straight on the country of origin! In any case, I love the table and especially like the detail on the brass top...

If you're itching to bring some Moroccan zest to your home, you've come to the right place. I've uncovered two great sources for Moroccan furniture and home furnishings...one is E Kenoz and the other is Sheherazade.

E Kenoz has good accent furniture and lighting...

Brass Tray Table

Mother of Pearl Table

Lantern

Pendant Lamp

Candle Lantern

Sheherazade has a wider selection. This is just a tiny sampling of their online inventory...

I LOVE these floor pillows!

Syrian Wall Sconce

Ottoman

Pendant Lamp

Accent Tables

 Chest

Ikat Pillows

Poufs (they have lots of colors)

What is your opinion on Moroccan-style home decor? I obviously like it, however, with all of the rich colors, textures, and details...a little goes a long way!