From Formal to Casual and the English Manor Style.

What I call the "English Manor Style"  is a style where formal shapes are used in a casual way, and a few primative pieces are mixed in.  I like it because it encourages using all of the rooms in the home and not saving certain spaces for "company".    The more casual fabric and pieces that are enhanced by living (some vintage) work great for this style, yet make it more liveable.  Those of us with traditional taste and active families take really well to this style.  In the last few days I have had two different couples looking for a more casual rug for their family room that will work with the more traditional rugs and style of the other rooms.  This must be a common theme, because Karastan's spring rug launch featured just such a rug designed specifically for this purpose.  In their "English Manor" collection they added the rug below made with the same colors and materials as the rug above, but with a more casual look.  This would be a perfect rug for the family room that adjoins the kitchen.  It's more casual and fun, yet transitions nicely to the other rugs in the series.  The bottom left picture is how I envison "English Manor Style" for today's living. I can imagine using the English Manor rugs in this home in just the way I have described.    The image on the right has wonderful elements that would be perfect for the English Manor look.  Overall, the room is probably too crowed for the way most of us live today.  I just loved all the items individually, so I had to include it.