Tone on tone carpets strike a cord with us, especially those that are sunned and faded. A seemingly completely washed-out rug may appear absent of design from the light side from a distance.

However, a walk just a few steps closer to one end and the story may change. Go around from that end to one of the nearest corners, perhaps the hint of an intricately woven pattern may be slowly exposed.

Continue circling a corner to one full side, the design and tones may pop a bit more. Go all the way around another corner 180 degress from where you were, standing at the other end of the carpet, you see the full contrast and maximum depth of colors. Light is now being absorbed into the tips of the cut wool pile, and you are seeing full saturation.

If you are able to distinguish the subtle differences in faded earthen colors and pastel tones at the first corner rounded, you've probably already connected with the piece. To some, there is nothing to be seen.  In a true tone-on-tone rug, these soft, subtle differences will be detected by keen color awareness within the first few seconds. If the subtleties can be perceived that quickly, you are identifying well with the rug!

It never ceases to amaze us how shimmering gold or predominantly ivory carpet has almost completely changed based on the unique character of hand knotted rugs. A soft lemon-beige may transition into a saffron-gold. A silver grey may transition into a dark charcoal black. A few delicate faded and blanched pastels such as a pale seafoam green or soft baby blue are clearly delineated as a livelier oxidized copper, or shade of near aqua. The carpet looks like it was kissed by the sun on either side, and it is gorgeous!

Decorative carpets evoke a feeling or emotion. We select all rugs in our shop because each has a place in our decorative dreams. 

For us, a faded or blanched carpet brings us to a calming place. Rugs softened in tone have a relaxed way about them. Sometimes you just need a hint of something to get the full sense of it: Like water with a hint of lemon instead of a full-on lemonade. With a tone-on-tone carpet, you get the true sense of a color: How might a shade stretch when diluted in saturation? To what extent may pigment be drawn down before you lose the essence of the shade.

Identifying and embracing with the sensation of connecting to a shade or even adjacent shades (such as just one area of a rug) is part of the process of finding the right rug. The appreciation may just start with the love for how two colors seem to co-mingle as they buffer each other around an intricate design as outlines thin and thicken. Perhaps that identification is just in small hand-size area. It almost does not matter if the rug has a medallion or is an allover design, you may just find many areas where some field and outlines just have a harmony about them.

We look forward to introducing a few room size rugs in the upcoming weeks. These carpets draw upon the character of tone-on-tone with soft bursts of wooded browns and pastels in "sun kissed" fade.

 

David + Melissa

I chatted with an antique business owner recently and he said something that really struck me -- he said while he likes putting old rugs in his windows for display, he would never choose a traditional motif rug -- like a Sarouk or Kashan. He looked physically ill even talking about these types, for him it was tribal all the way. We each have our own tastes and preferences but I really and truly do believe that "traditional design" Persian rugs are very underrated. They can feel grandma-esque if you have the plastic covering over your couch to match but if you pair your traditional rug with modern or eclectic decor, it no longer looks so traditional or old lady but actually takes on a very cool and playful presence. A handmade rug is a work of art so it has to mix and match well with your style and other art but just as you would pick out pillows to have pops of color or interesting lines and shapes, your rug can be the perfect inspiration for a multifaceted kind of room. I read an article where they compared a classic oriental carpet to a classic Chanel suit -- they both truly never go out of style!

 

Here are my picks for awesome pairings of traditional rugs with hip and/or non super traditional decor.

 

 

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Now off to decorating my own house!

 

xoxo,

Melissa

After a couple weeks of traveling all over Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama to see family, photograph a wedding, and shop for some ONH additions of course, I cannot even begin to express how good it feels to finally be home! Even though we journeyed high and low and made tons of new connections, we wound up acquiring only one new piece for the shop. But what a piece it is! While it awaits being photographed, I find myself daydreaming about it constantly. It is a unique size vintage light red Lilihan rug that is just so incredibly sweet and stunning at the same time. If we had a space for it in our home, naturally it would be belong to me but alas, it does not have a perfect spot in our dwelling and it awaits someone else falling in love with it! But needless to say this rug has gotten me thinking about the types of carpets and designs in general I am consistently attracted to. Oddly enough I like the traditional type of designs -- that of the Kerman and Sarouk rugs. I like geometric and tribal as well but I am always oohing and aahing over those dainty and feminine more traditional varieties. And red, always with the red. A good blue is always nice but man, does that red speak to me in the home. I don't if it is the bold or if all of my other decor is light and so I yearn that pop of color, but I simply cannot get enough. Seems I am not alone either as many people are drawn to adding the vibrant red to their home decor. Here's a look at some great interiors with red rugs + accents as well as my pile up of some awesome rugs with red of our own. 

 

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1. Photo from noctomic.com 2. Photo from RugRag.com 3. Photo from lonny.com 4. Photo from noctomic.com 5. Photo from lonny.com

 

 

I especially love how red can fit in with so many different home styles. It is versatile yet bold. Here's to a colorful week with lots of cozy time in your homes!

 

xoxo,

Melissa

1. Light throw rugs. Whether you are into the tribal rug or just lightly colored rug look, a little minimalistic type of carpet can truly make a space feel welcoming and comfortable. Worn rugs, blanched in color, or simple in design rugs, we have many to choose from but these little Turkish rugs are my favorite for this type of neutral look.

2. Pillows and more pillows! Tribal and neutral would be my pick to match this look!

3. Sketch art next to colorful art. Love it! A light simple drawing next to something that packs a punch of color.

4. Child's chair with character. Just kind of fun in any kind of space is an antique or vintage child's chair. It is small enough that you don't have to commit to it and a big enough of a decor staple that you can put something on it or have it be a focal point of the room.

xoxo, Melissa

Something about an antique wooden trunk gets me every time.  So much mystique surrounding the history.  Classic imagery of a forgotten antique wooden chest just perched in the attic of an old home brought overseas from generations past.  Gets me every time.  As does the pirate's lair with a chest bursting with jewels, gems and gold - what fantastic imagery.  Or, a stagecoach like in the old Western films carrying valuables and solid ingot to the next big town.  Lookout for the robbers!  Any which way, there is no denying the allure of something with such quality and clear purpose - to hold something in safety.  Whether the blacksmithed iron wrapping around top, sides and bottom, or the single wide-plank wood walls, the brass details, the dovetailed joints, the awesome customization and personalization of inscribed names, dates or destinations, these are amazing relics.

Where did these chests and trunks come from - who owned them? How old are they? What is the story? What did they hold? In some cases there is evidence - on many of the antique trunks we have there are signs of previous owners - a beautifully scripted name and date for example flanks the inside of this super old antique wooden trunk:

 

Others like this classic antique wooden chest with iron have little to no information to trace anything:

Even a wardrobe trunk can have information so pertinent and detailed it almost brings you to that date, like the short-but-sweet hand written content check-list on the inside of this Indestructo Trunk.

 

Some trunks have a clear purpose - or at least modifications for an intended purpose.  This old chest has a converted inside lined with Cedar - great for antique linens and wool.

While others just leave you wondering - Rascal must have been one serious Rascal... I of IV!

Whether you love the graphics, relate to the travel and journey, adore the patina and hefty qualities, the idea of feeling safe and secure, we look forward to seeing what amazing antique trunks and chests you select from our shop! 

Enjoy!

 

M+D

 

Oh how life can get so hectic when you have kids, or maybe even when you don't? Everything on the to do list takes weeks to get done, you find yourself with one hour per night of "down time" and well, days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months and everything just feels a little bit crazy, like an out of body experience. In comes a nook space of the home. Not every house has one but you can always improvise and craft one of your own. I remember turning this strange closet type of open space in a small town small apartment into a little reading oasis when I was in my early 20s and it came complete with pillows galore, a curtain slung up as a barrier and while it wasn't actually very pretty, when I look back into my memory of it, it was as bohemian chic as a college girl on a tight tight budget could get. Even if all you have is a bedroom to work with, create one corner into a relaxing nook and have that nook be your safe space when you come home from a hard day's work -- a space where you can cozy up into and just breathe away the stress of your day. So here is to planning a nook space and below is an image I found from Domino Magazine of what appears to be the coziest nook ever -- indoor hammock, hello? And while we do not offer hammocks (yet) in our shop, the rest of the key pieces immediately reminded me of some Old New House beauties so I had to share!

1. Eames chair of course! Whether it is a rocker or not, an Eames chair is cozy and aesthetically pleasing / versatile. It is a win win of a timeless chair.

2. An old trunk with character. Dave and I are huge fans of trunks and chests, especially the more unusual or unique ones. I could so see our early 20th century Indestructo trunk as a coffee table or an accent type of table in a nook any day -- perfect for stacking books / magazines / a plant + treats on top of and storing warm blankets inside of. 

3. Accent pieces like the many featured in this home. Globes, knick knacks, art on the wall, a little table, you name it - we probably have it + below are some of my picks. 

 

4. Mid century style rattan chair. I have recently gotten really into rattan and wicker and while the sheepskin rug concept is not totally for me, I definitely love the look + have been sourcing creamy knits and quilts instead to use as accent pieces on chairs like this one.

Having fun with the inspiration but now I need to go get to work on my own nook -- the ideal area I have in mind is at the moment has been taken over by our animals so it might be awhile!

 

xoxo,

Melissa