It’s a little after 3.30am and off for another epic day in the store. The builders are gone and now it’s just a case of unwrapping lots of new products and getting everything sorted and out. Not totally finished with the build there is still the back to do, but you can’t even get to the back it’s a little crazy. School is fully booked so the two M’s are in with me and Gem today (that should be fun) not so sure I need two unpacking managers sticking noses into everything but I guess the more hands the easier right? Yesterday when I whizzed back to collect them at the school gates ‘the report of the day’, from their teacher, Mung’s was a dream, Maud a little vocal !
Have to be super quick as I leave any second and sitting here in pjs without a coffee even! So rugs we’re talking rugs this morning, yes this early, as it’s never, repeat never to early to yabber about them. One of the most transformative things you can do is lay a rug on your floors; it transforms a space to a whole other level. The trick is no matter how small the pattern try if you can to have some sort of pattern going on as I find it enlivens the space way more then if you opt for one solid colour – which is a little to carpet like for me.
If you happen to have more than one rug going on in a room as I do, restrict the colour palette and then you can mix far more easily. Oh and ignore on those rules about should the sofa be on, off, to the side of the rug blah blah blah. If you like the rug (for me they are one of the hardest things to find) buy it and make it work, as Tim Gun says in project runway. That is what I do. So a small but cool rag rug skims a floor in front of my kitcehn units, a long runner skims the other side of the kitchen, a zebra hangs out in the TV nook, tribal rugs are elsewhere and I’m just talking the basement. Forget measuring, umming and arring if you love the rug buy the thing and make it work.
Talking of work a super quick coffee and then I’ve gotta fly.
Happy Thursday!
Love this, animal print rocks!!
Dear Abigail,
I just recently discovered your blog and wonderful writings on it. Now, I have “some” catch up to do with all those archived blogs ( OK, I used to be a geek, lol). First thing when I’m in London I will visit your store. Your stories are such an inspiration and you have one devoted reader from Croatia.
Thank you for your very kind words
Rugs are so difficult. Every time I spot a great one in a magazine, I scroll down to the product info and (1) discover it’s by The Rug Company, then (2) pass out at the price.
Good luck with the refurb – can’t wait to see it! Love the zebra rug in this pic – do you know where it’s from by any chance? Thx
The Zebra rug really stands out there! I like it
Hey there Abigail…..
Love love love the wallpaper with the bold blue floral on the left in this image. Who designs this and how can I get it!
Big big fan btw!!!
Christina
I don’t know thousand apologises
Abigail…did I read correctly…3.30am ? Far too early!
(completely unrelated comment) Please can you post on when your next Retail Masterclass will be held…I am planning a trip to London and would dearly love to attend one….Thanks
Jules, Dubai
Yes regrettably it was 3.30 am. All new class dates will be on the new website which launches Wednesday trying to sort that out today
3.30 am it was indeed! New class dates will be on new website which goes live (finally this Wednesday) so it will be up there then. Its on my schedule for today to sort out new class dates
Hi Abigail
Thanks for the tips on rugs – definitely agree they are hard to find, unless you have squillions of cash!
I hope you don’t mind me asking – I’ve recently painted some walls in my living room dark (hurrah!) and I love it (hurrah hurrah!) but I’ve also gone dark in my stairway and it suddenly feels a bit oppressive. I think because it lacks natural light there, plus I need to add loads of art on the wall to bring it to life. But do you think I need to add extra spotlights overhead to lift it, seeing as I can’t add lamps etc on a stairway?? I’m considering painting it back a lighter shade so please save me from this task!! What kind of lighting do you suggest in hallways when there is little room for consoles / lamps?
Many many thanks for your help
X
I have recessed lighting in ours and the walls are black. I also have a super skinny console with a few lamps on it which helps, if you can’t do the console lamp thing not to worry. in ours, the landings all the way up just have just go recessed and it works fine – maybe you need a few more of them and then anything with colour like art as you say or the odd little rug. On all my landings I’ve plonked something (as teeny tiny as my landings are) – so a bright yellow chair, a jug of large faux flowers, a large money box pig – it kind of breaks up the single block of colour
Big big thanks, hugely helpful!! X
More than welcome x
I have nominated your blog for the Inspiring Blog Award. Go you!! You can read about it here http://anitabrowndesignstudio.wordpress.com/2013/03/03/inspiring-blog-award/ Keep up the good work!
So kind of you thank you
First of all I want to say excellent blog! I had a quick question which I’d like to ask if you do not mind. I was interested to find out how you center yourself and clear your mind before writing. I’ve had a tough time clearing
my mind in getting my thoughts out. I truly do enjoy writing however it just seems like the
first 10 to 15 minutes are usually wasted just trying to figure out
how to begin. Any suggestions or hints? Cheers!
Regrettably I am the worst person to ask on this subject as with me words, stuff and ideas just sort of pour out. So when it comes to the blog there is no centering or clearing of mind – its out of bed, coffee in hand, write. I am sure there is alot of constructive ideas on the web however.