Rugs: The Beauty of Boucherouite

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Vivid colors, exotic patterns, hand-woven design – all of these can be found in Morocco’s boucherouite rugs.  The “rag rugs”, created using scraps of various materials, are perfect for these Spring and Summer months.  Whether hung on the wall or laid on the floor, the boucherouite rug is a bright and colorful home accessory.

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While many rugs from Morocco and the Middle East have histories that are centuries old, the boucherouite rug was developed in the 20th Century.  The time period is likely responsible for the funky patterns, and wild colors that you can see in each design.

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Truly upcycled pieces, the word “boucherouite” comes from the Arabic phrase meaning torn and reused clothing.  Weavers in the Berber culture used a mix of materials to design these fascinating multi-colored creations that are almost too beautiful to walk upon.

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Now, in the 21st Century these patchwork pieces of art are making a comeback.  The fun and eclectic designs add color and whimsy to modern white spaces, and are a complement to colorful interiors.

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One of the most spectacular things about boucherouite rugs is the variety of colors that can be found in each piece.  Here, ruby red, coral, navy blue and brown all come together to form a colorful design.

BB blog pic 6You can discover these carpets in a variety of unique patterns.  The slanted stripe design here adds interest as the various colors come together.  Choose a boucherouite with a one-of-a-kind pattern to create a statement in a space.

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These carpets are nothing if not graphic.  Geometric shapes like diamonds and stripes can be found in many boucherouite rugs.  Look for shapely geometrics that are absolutely on trend in interior design.

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Though intended for the floor, these intricately created rugs are fun and fashionable works of art.  If you don’t feel like walking on it, mount your boucherouite rug on the wall for a cool artistic feature.  You can even layer one behind the bed and create a one-of-a-kind headboard.

By Jeanine Hays (www.aphrochicshop.com)

Rugs: Fabulous Spring Florals

This Spring in both fashion and interiors floral patterns are making a strong comeback.  Bold, bright blooms, dramatic floral prints, and romantic foliage can be seen in the windows of fashion brands like J. Crew, Liberty and Ann Taylor.  And in a nod to the 70s, blooms are showing up again as hair accessories for ladies looking to set a romantic mood.  Today’s florals are much more modern than those that were all the rage in the 70s.  Since the decade of the flower child, 21st Century floral patterns have grown to embrace neon shades, watercolor illustrations, and oversized designs, creating accessories with a fresher, more contemporary look.  There are some beautiful ways to bring this runway-ready style home, especially when it comes to classic rugs.  Whether looking at Chinese Deco Rugs, or Ukrainian carpets, florals can have a powerful impact in your interior this Spring.

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J. Crew collaborated with British Store Liberty to bring their iconic blooms to the U.S.  With a unique painterly quality, these floral patterns are soft and elegant.  In bright hues of yellow, hot pink and turquoise, the vibrant color palette takes florals from dainty and dated to modern and striking.

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Florals have also take on a rock and roll edge this season.  Pair them with unexpected shades like jet black for contrast.  Fashion designer Araks Yeramyan was featured on the J. Crew blog wearing this sheer black top with a bright yellow and hot pink floral design.  The combination is truly daring.

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To bring that same elegance to your interior, pieces like this Chinese Art Deco rug will do the trick.  The floral scene is very modern and radiant in striking shades of tangerine, emerald and pink.

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For something more romantic this rug from the Ukraine looks as if dozens of roses have been spread across the floor.  In pink and red it is the perfect accent piece for lasting romance.

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When looking for ways to bring flowers to your space, be on the lookout for bright floral patterns in unique colorways.  This Chinese carpet looks like a magical garden in shades of lilac and mint. Below is another fantastic Chinese Deco carpet that would brighten any room.

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Dare to go floral, and check out these flowery rugs at Doris Leslie Blau just in time for Spring > (http://www.dorisleslieblau.com/index.php?params%5Bsearch_text%5D=floral&go=%A0&section=search_results)

By Jeanine Hays (www.aphrochicshop.com)

Rugs: Inspiring Art Deco Design

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In just a few days, Hollywood will be releasing The Great Gatsby.  The film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Carey Mulligan is an adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel written in 1925.  A celebration of the jazz-era style of the 20s and 30s, The Great Gatsby promises to be filled with beautiful Art Deco style.  From the fashions to the architecture and interiors, at every turn we can expect to see the geometric forms and bold outlines that Art Deco is known for.  Once an exposition of the modernist decorative style that emerged in Paris in 1925, the glamorous style featuring luxe palettes of black and gold and cool zigzag designs can still be spotted in the skyline architecture of cities like New York, Chicago and Detroit.  Art Deco is making a comeback in 21st Century design, and you can discover it in a number of home accessories including the luxurious Art Deco carpets that are just waiting to bring a bit of 1920s glamour to your home.

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Known as the “Cathedral of Finance”, the Guardian Building in Detroit showcases the beauty of Art Deco design.  Geometric patterns in striking primary hues were painted on the building’s ceiling to create a stunning cathedral effect.

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Art Deco isn’t shy when it comes to luxury.  This building in black and gold, like the Empire State Building and the Chrysler in New York, is a monument to the time when this architectural style was supreme.

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Inside the EmpireStateBuilding a brass mural features many of the geometric lines you can expect to see in Art Deco design.  Rectangles upon rectangles make up the body of the building, and a mix of linear and zigzag shapes completes the mural’s design.

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This abstract rug features the beautiful geometric lines that Art Deco design is known for.  In a neutral color palette the mix of shapes doesn’t overwhelm the rug’s design, but instead enhances it.  Pair a rug like this with linear black furnishings to create a strong Art Deco statement.

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This rug was actually made in the 1920s when Art Deco style was on the rise.  The wavy gray chevron pattern was a popular design at the time, and still fits within today’s design trends.  A striped border adds even more geometric detail.

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Art Deco style was first spotted in Paris.  This French Deco Rug shows the beauty of the design that was coming out of France at the time.  A mix of cool shapes creates an attention grabbing-rug in soft hues of brown and ivory.

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The geometric motif on this Swedish rug is a subtle showcase of Art Deco design.  In more subdued tones, the strong graphic lines stand out in this neutral rug design.

Explore the beauty of Art Deco style by taking a look at the Art Deco rug collection at Doris Leslie Blau > (http://www.dorisleslieblau.com/deco-rugs/)

By Jeanine Hays (www.aphrochicshop.com)

Introducing – The Exclusive Bunny Williams Rug Collection!

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Doris Leslie Blau has always been committed to providing you with the highest quality rugs, in both design and material. Over the past few years, we have also introduced many designer rug lines, featuring renowned rug designers, interior designers, and architects, each bringing their own unique custom rug designs to contribute to our extensive designer collection.

This week is a very exciting week, as we continue to strive to bring you the highest quality rugs, along with fresh new designs.

We are happy to present to you the exclusive Bunny Williams collection for Doris Leslie Blau. We are honored and ecstatic to be presenting Bunny’s first ever designer rug collection.

Prolific American interior designer Bunny Williams has spent the past 25 years designing beautiful and personalized interiors.  Her home decor line, Bunny Williams Home and her series of home decor books have been influential in showing us how to make every house feel like a home.  Adding to her growing collection of home decor products, Bunny has released a new collection of rugs with Doris Leslie Blau.

As a true reflection of Bunny’s truly magnificent design work, the Bunny Williams designer rug collection includes an eclectic and expressive mix of hemp pile, cut pile, silk/wool blends, aloe/wool blends, looped pile and flat weaves.

The colors within the collection range from tone-on-tone neutrals and muted blues and greens, to rich blues and deep hues, seemingly borrowed from the sea itself.

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The collection was inspired by Bunny’s love of rugs – the pieces she uses as inspirations for a room’s design.  “Rugs are the magic of every room.  For me, they are where I begin every project.  I choose a beautiful rug then select paint colors and fabrics that complement it. For years I have come to Doris Leslie Blau because I know they have rugs, both old and new, that a designer can really build a room around. When I began working on my own rug collection, there was no hesitation in my choice to collaborate with Nader and Doris Leslie Blau,” Says Williams.

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The collection features cultural designs that have a timeless appeal.  From modernist takes on chevrons, ikats and Native American designs to Moroccan-inspired patterns, each rug can be used to add a cultural touch to your home

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This Wednesday, April 17th, we will be celebrating the release of the Bunny Williams collection with a launch party here at Doris Leslie Blau. Please join us between 5:30 and 8pm ET for a drink and a chance to view this gorgeous collection first-hand. We look forward to meeting you!

Explore Bunny Williams’ Bespoke Collection for Doris Leslie Blau > (http://www.dorisleslieblau.com/bunny-williams/)

Thanks to Jeanine of Aphro Chic and Maddie of Thriftary  for this post!

Design Trend: Rorschach Prints on Rugs

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There is a new design trend popping up in home decor.  Ever since Jay-Z Decoded was released in 2010, the famous Andy Warhol rorschach print that decorated the book’s cover is now popping up in the world of fashion and home decor.  In fact, abstract rorschach prints, or ink blots, are suddenly appearing in home decor as art prints, paintings, and are even being featured on today’s hottest wallpaper, pillow and rug designs.  The unconventional rorschach designs have a unique appeal that’s hard to pin down.  Maybe that’s because we all see something different when we look at them! Each design presents us with a dazzling array of attention-grabbing shapes that are both organic and intriguing.  And as the trend develops, we’re starting to see these mesmerizing designs in the homes of today’s top designers, and bloggers.

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Textile designer Amy Butler is known for her beautiful prints.  Her love of intricate patterns is just as apparent in her home where innovative prints continue to hold a special place.  Here, rorschach prints make an appearance as framed art above Butler’s buffet.  Classic in clean black and white, they are quite sophisticated works of art.

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This homeowner was so inspired by the cover of Jay-Z Decoded, that she took some DIY ingenuity to recreate the Andy Warhol rorschach print for her own home.  Positioned above the fireplace mantel, the painting is a stunning statement piece.

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And Shaleah from the home decor blog, The Gold Jellybean, also decided to test her DIY skills to create a rorschach print to hang above the bed in her master bedroom.  The ink blot painting has been used to tie together the room’s ultra-modern black and white color palette.

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In the world of textiles, rorschach prints can take center stage as beautiful rugs in interiors.  Eskayel’s collection for Doris Leslie Blau features the company’s famed rorschach prints as rugs that create they eye-catching patterns that these ink blot prints are known for.

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Though the classic ink-blot test is a strictly black and white affair, what make these prints so perfect for textiles is the variety of colors that can be used to create a stunning artistic statement.  Best of all the effect is the same whether you choose to decorate your walls or your floors. Here, this rug in yellow and gray takes the ink blot concept to a whole new level in vivid color.

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Even in a more neutral palette, each rug offers soft and distinctive designs that are sure to enliven any room that they are placed in.

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Explore the rorschach trend for yourself and dazzling ink blot designs inside the Doris Leslie Blau Eskayel Rug Collection > (http://www.dorisleslieblau.com/eskayel-rugs/)

By Jeanine Hays (http://www.aphrochicshop.com/)

CHANEL Couture – For your Living Space!

If you are at all interested in high fashion, I am sure that you are no stranger to the elegant and edgy musings of renowned fashion designer, CHANEL. Created and inspired by Coco “Gabrielle” Chanel, in 1909, CHANEL started as a small clothing boutique in Paris in 1910. The style and inspiration of the CHANEL brand has evolved from a classy, simple, every-day wear line to a full spectrum fashion dynasty, including everything from ready-to-wear collections to couture. Whether you are a designer, or a design enthusiast, so much can be drawn from the life and work of Coco Chanel, as it is carried on today through one of the most well known and respected fashion labels, CHANEL. They have set trends among peers within their industry, as well as designers everywhere. Rug design, does not count as any exception.

Because of the classy and modern elements incorporated into CHANEL designs, this inspiration carries over to the Rug Design realm very beautifully. Below are a few examples of surprising design correlations between CHANEL‘s Spring/Summer 2013 couture line, and some of our very own vintage & designer rugs provided right here at Doris Leslie Blau.

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The Persian Tabriz rug (pictured above, left) embodies a whimsical floral pattern, with a vast range of hues, seemingly inspired by the sky and sea. It is delicate, intricate, and classy, much like it’s CHANEL look-alike (pictured above, right).

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Black and white is a timeless combination that oozes of class and sophistication. That is very indicative of both this CHANEL floor length beauty (pictured above, left) and the antique Persian Tabriz carpet (pictured above, right).

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This lovely Cloud Lilac rug (pictured above, right) is light and ethereal, with a dose of femininity. It’s couture counterpart (pictured above, left) also embodies these notions through a similar pattern, color scheme, and unique textures.

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And last but not least, is the edgy + classy use of the absence of color. White often portrays class and sophistication within the fashion realm. That has also carried over into the interior + rug design industry as well. The CHANEL ensemble (pictured above, left) screams modern and fashion-forward, while still embodying the signature classy stamp of the CHANEL brand. The white silk shaggy rug (pictured above, right) also shows edge through texture, yet remains classy because of the simplicity in it’s pure white color.

Much like the timeless sophistication of the CHANEL brand, Doris Leslie Blau offers a wide range of rugs that can add class, sophistication, and edge to your living space, whether it be an every-day or couture area of your home or business.

Decorating with Moroccan Details

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The beauty of traditional Moroccan design is currently one of the hottest trends in home decor.  Pieces from a country with hundreds of years of textile design and handmade craftsmanship are now popping up in contemporary homes, adding rich cultural details, amazing colors, and mesmerizing patterns.  Some of the most popular items are those that also add a bit of sparkle.  Shimmering Moroccan wedding blankets line beds while pierced lanterns add beautiful ambiance to modern bedrooms and poufs of all sizes bring pops of bright color into our homes.  Contemporary interiors that focus on Moroccan details are sure to show all the beauty of the global mix – bringing together modern details and cultural accent pieces to create unique and stunning spaces.

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Moroccan textiles are an exceptional way to add pattern to a room.  With diamond and geometric shapes present in many Moroccan rugs they can be part of a room’s strong architectural details.  And in a minimalist space like this reading nook, a Moroccan rug can be all the detail a space needs.

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The diamond pattern even extends to Moroccan wedding blankets.  These delicately woven coverings were once part of a bride’s dowry. Now they’ve crossed an ocean to be included in interiors where sparkling textiles add to the look of our most comfortable rooms.  They look lovely draped on a bed as a coverlet, or even hung behind the bed frame to create a makeshift headboard.  Like most Moroccan wears, every wedding blanket is made by hand, making each one a unique piece of art.

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One of my favorite Moroccan pieces is the Beni Ourain rug.  Made from un-dyed wool, these rugs are rich in organic details.  In a sophisticated black and cream color palette they have a timeless appeal, and can be used anywhere – living room, bedroom or home office – to a stunning effect.  With hundreds of years of history going into each handmade piece, these rugs are sure to add the depth and mystery of Moroccan design and craftsmanship to your interior.

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Beni Ourain rugs are thick and heavy as they were originally crafted as sleeping rugs.  Weary travelers would wrap himself in the rug and protect himself from the cold.  Now these heavily piled pieces add warmth to stark wooden floors in modern interiors.

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As you look closely at each rug you will see slight imperfections.  That is a result of the tireless handmade workmanship that went into each one of these pieces.  The handmade details give each rug a unique character.

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While many Moroccan rugs are cream and black, you will discover beautiful dyed rugs as well.  This rug in brown and blue is wonderful for adding color and culture to a space.

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Diamonds fill in this rug’s landscape.  The pattern is remarkable, and sure to stand out in any room.

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To add unique Moroccan details to your interior, explore the Moroccan rug collection at Doris Leslie Blau > (http://www.dorisleslieblau.com/moroccan-design-and-weave-rugs/)

By Jeanine Hays (http://www.aphrochicshop.com/)

It’s Time to DECO-rate

What do you get when you combine a few of my favorite things: Paris, the 1920s, and interior design? Well, you get Art Deco of course! So many works of art come from this inspiring time in our creative history, and rug + interior design are no exception to this rule. Many of the most innovative and elegant rug designs to ever exist, stem from this era, and can be found right here at Doris Leslie Blau.

Art Deco rug design is characterized by dramatic yet elegant patterns such as these:

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And also by stunning visual interest and detail.

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If you are looking to incorporate some innovative aesthetics into your home or business, I strongly urge you to browse through the extensive collection of Art Deco rugs that we offer here at Doris Leslie Blau.

By: Maddie Richardson of http://thriftary.blogspot.com/

Spring Has Sprung!

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The air is feeling a little more fresh, the skies are looking a little more blue, and the wardrobe is starting to feel a bit too bulky. Is anyone with me?

The reason of course, is that spring is upon us, and change is all around!

It’s time to turn in those woolen suit pants for a light weight pencil skirt, people. I am a huge believer that embracing the change in seasons by embracing slight changes in your wardrobe, can boost your self-confidence + give your personal styling woes a big kick in the bottom.

In the same way, a slight change in your home can also work wonders for your inspirational woes. I know from personal experience, that changes in the season effect my home interior just as much as they effect what I choose to wear every morning. I want to move things around, bring in some fresh flowers, add some new accent pillows to my couch, inspired by the beauty happening outside my front door.

Though all these interior updates are amazing and can do a mind/body/soul a great deal of good, nothing can transform a space in your home like a new rug.

So in honor of spring, in honor of change, and in honor of you…

Here are some lovely ideas to incorporate some change into your life this spring.

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I hope that you are inspired to change.

Something small or something big.

In my opinion, I think an interior transformation with the help of a Doris Leslie Blau rug is a great place to start.

By: Maddie Richardson of http://thriftary.blogspot.com/

A Colorful Rug Study: Emerald Green

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Lively, radiant, lush, and elegant.  These are all of the words that describe Pantone’s color of the year for 2013 – Emerald.  A luxurious jewel-tone, this rich shade can can enliven any room, and is an excellent choice for making a colorful statement at home.  Whether you’re decorating with a colorful emerald settee, deep malachite curtains, or the latest emerald green rugs, it’s a wonderful way to bring a bit of elegance into your space.

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Color is a powerful accessory. Look for pieces that combine bright shades and deep and intriguing patterns to make a strong statement.  As a larger accessory, a colorful rug featuring today’s trendiest shade can also be the basis for an entire room’s color palette.  This black, beige and emerald green rug does the trick in a sophisticated black and white living room with a touch of emerald.

In addition to creating a color palette, colorful rugs can also be used to set an emotional tone or bring in a cultural touch.  In this Melbourne home, an over dyed emerald green rug adds to the room’s eclectic design aesthetic.  Exploring rugs by color can turn up one-of-a-kind pieces that can add to your room’s diverse color palette.  Here are a few of my favorites in Pantone’s color of the year:

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A modern rug like this one featuring an architectural design can be a great option for a structured room with hard edges. The blocks of vivid greens come together like a city skyscraper.

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This beautiful multicolored rug mixing emerald green, gold and gray rug is a perfect example of a floor covering that will help you build a room’s color palette from the ground up.  In addition to its sophisticated color palette, the mix of geometric shapes present in this piece can help to tie in other patterned textiles – such as pillows – and even works of art to create a room that fits together magically.

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In neutral spaces, look for emerald green to brighten things up.  Beige is no longer boring when emerald green details are introduced. This rug would shine in even the most neutral interior.

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Eskayel’s Festival Feast rug features striking patterns that stand out in Pantone’s color of the year. With a colorful pattern that is unconventional and edgy, this rug would be the perfect colorful accessory for a room filled with modern details.

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This Chinese deco rug is absolutely gorgeous framing bold blooms in an emerald green landscape.  A rug like this brings the outdoors in, and adds a whimsical feminine detail to a space.  Pair it with traditional pieces to create a beautiful room with old-school style.

Explore more rugs in shades of emerald green!

By Jeanine Hays (http://www.aphrochicshop.com/)