"She perched on the sofa which was upholstered in a faded antique tapestry"



My favorite part of a novel is the scene where it's set.  It seems like in the books I like to read the characters are sitting on some delicious sofa upholstered in faded antique fabric.  Imagining the rooms is one of my favorite parts of the story.   Here are some faded things that could be right from a novel..

This Karastan rug "Persian Garden" could go with either of these faded romantic sofas.

I have noticed quite a few rooms with old books used as accessories. ( Even Ralph Lauren's house.)

I found this faded antique fabric on Etsy. It would make the perfect throw pillows for the room above because it has the same colors as the books on the top shelf of the bookcase. 

This wool Stanton carpet would be lovely with the fabric pictured above.  (The actual scale of each is reversed due to the photos)  The creme pattern is  dimensional like crewel work, and the linen colored wool is very natural.

This is one of the new rugs we have at the showroom. (Karastan Shapura "Arabella")  I love the faded look of it. It just feels like an antique.  It would be wonderful with this faded velvet sofa that I found on an auction website.  The sofa is brighter than the rug, though it is faded as well. Happy Decorating, Atharva

Branches, Trees, and Woodland Themes

Looking through " Home Furnishing News" today I saw this ad.  It just took my breath away, it was so beautiful.  Spending more time outside lately is so inspiring.  At home we have a vase of tree branches, a rock with moss on it, and a hornet nest under glass as our center piece.  In another home that is full of fine art and antiques, I saw bare branches tucked in every where.  Behind the buffet, grandfather clock, and in the powder room.  The contrast was surprisingly pleasing. 

This room has a branch motif wall paper.  It is a commitment to use this, but picture how comforting it would be to have something like this if you didn't have the real thing near by.  Or it could be used if you love nature so much that you want to continue a natural theme inside and out.

This Chandra rug by Thomas Paul might work in the house above.

This fantasy dining room has some great design tips.  Emphasis on lighting is important and creates romance and mystery.  This room shows how to bring out the beauty in the rustic and natural by enhancing it with the shiny and decadent.  A pop of green provided by the moss finishes the look.

This nursery has a woodland theme. Birds perched on white birch tree branches gives a little of that outside feeling.  The rug below would be fun with this room, and pick up the green in the bumpers, and at the window, as well as the white of the crib.  The rug photo here is enlarged, but in real life it would actually scale to this room nicely. I love how this room is fun, yet not like the typical nursery. 

Below right is a good example of how to decorate with branches.  This is a rustic mantle, but a more formal mantle would work just as well.

Another Ad.  They must know how we love the feel of the outdoors.

Happy Decorating, Atharva