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)

A Rug Roundup: Doris Leslie Blau’s Year in Review!

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As the year is coming to an end, it’s time to reflect on what an exhilarating year it has been.  It is quite the honor to have had Doris Leslie Blau antique, vintage and custom rugs placed in so many impeccably designed rooms by fabulous designers, as well as being featured in many of the top media outlets. Below is all the wonderful press we’ve received in 2012! We look forward to seeing you in 2013!

Michael J. Fox Home

Architectural Digest featured Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan’s home designed by Gomez Associates. Doris Leslie Blau’s antique and vintage carpets were placed in their home.

Promenade winter 2012

DLB’s Persian Malayer carpet was featured in the article, “Fine Art for the Floor… Whether Modern or Antique, These Beautiful Rugs Transform a Room.” Our very own Nader Bolour was quoted in the article, “It’s like putting a soul into a body. The eye always goes to the floor when someone enters a room.”

NY Spaces Special issue 2012 inside

DLB’s custom rug was featured in NY Spaces page “Artful Furniture and Home Accessories.”  Doris Leslie Blau’s rug was titled, “Tibetan Beauty.”

Elle Decor Nov 2012

DLB’s Persian Sultanabad rug was featured in Elle Décor’s  Arts and Antiques page, “For the Adventurous Collector.”

Trad Home Fall 2012

Traditional Home featured a dining room designed by Mary Douglas Drysdale; the carpet is a Doris Leslie Blau Aubusson carpet.

AD Oct. 2012

Owner Nader Bolour’s Starburst designed rug was featured in Architectural Digest’s article, “Most Wanted… From Simple Pleasures to Ultimate Luxuries.” To quote the article, “The exuberant black and white design of Nader Bolour’s Starburst rug for DLB evokes the tactile brushstrokes of abstract expressionist paintings.”

Veranda July-Aug 2012

Doris Leslie Blau’s Brown Stripe rug was a featured rug in Veranda’s “The World of…” page discussing flat weaves.

AD Sept. 2012

In Architectural Digest’s article, “A Plum Assignment,” interior designer Jamie Drake’s designed room featured Doris Leslie Blau’s custom designed Lily Rug.

Architectural Digest August 2012

A Doris Leslie Blau Persian Tabriz was used in a Carey Maloney designed room in Architectural Digest, August 2012.

Atlanta Homes June 2012

Atlanta Home featured a Lindsey Coral Harper designed room with our Eskayel Madagascar rug. Lindsey said, “My jumping-off point was the carpet. I wanted to do a rich jewel-toned room, glossy from floor to ceiling. So when I found the inkblot carpet from Doris Leslie Blau, I flipped! It looked like a Rorschach, so I thought that my room could double as an in-home shrink’s office.”

Interior Design Magazine May 2012

Two Doris Leslie Blau custom rugs, the Madagascar and animal skin flat weave, were featured in Interior Design magazine’s article, “Painterly Strokes that are Artfully Placed.”

Metropolitan Home April 2012

In the article “Lighten Up,” Doris Leslie Blau’s cotton Dhurrie carpet was a featured rug. To quote the article, “Forget plush
pile carpets, thin is in. Today’s most desirable carpets are graphic flat weaves.”

Cover Magazine Spring 2012

Our Madagascar Eskayel custom designed rug was a featured rug in Cover Magazines “Rug Revolution” edition.

Elle Decor April 2012

Elle Décor featured DLB in their “Happenings” feature. They shared Doris Leslie Blau’s custom-made collection of hand-knotted jute sisal rugs. The collection was said to“Come in various voluptuous colors with a solid, self-contained cotton border, give delight to the senses.”

In Style March 2012

In Style featured fashion designer Nanette Lepore’s living room designed by Jonathan Adler with a custom Doris Leslie Blau peacock carpet.

Elle Decor March 2012

Elle Décor featured Doris Leslie Blau’s custom Ikat-style rug. “The rug has an overscale motif in hand-loomed hemp.”

W Magazine Jan 2012

W Magazine featured one of our Eskayel designed rugs in the article, “Six Room-Making Rugs.” The rugs were said to be “A series of ethereal, Rorschach-esque statement pieces.”

Thank you for joing us and supporting us on our journey through 2012!

The Dalai Lama Sits on a New Tibetan DLB Carpet

His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama, spoke at the Mind and Life institute XXV conference on contemplative practice and health. The conference took place on a Doris Leslie Blau new Tibetan design rug. It was the ultimate honor to have the Dalai Lama sitting on our contemporary rug while discussing his morals and methods for a better life. We believe that his positive energy and good karma has seeped into this carpet and has spread throughout the DLB gallery. Now, not only will our new rugs and antique and vintage rugs be beautiful pieces of artwork that lay on your floor, but will now bring you and your loved ones tons of positive energy!

Dalai Lama at Mind and Life Conference

The new Tibetan rug is made of wool and silk and was inspired by Swedish mid century textile.

Interior Designer Irene Turner said, “Oh my goodness… great energy in that rug! Who will be the lucky recipient of it?”

 

Behind the Rug Design: Doris Leslie Blau

Since he was a young boy, Nader Bolour has immersed himself into the world of rugs. He got his start by washing and vacuuming rugs and carpets in his father’s shop and was immediately in awe by what he was seeing. Once he realized his passion for rugs, he purchased Doris Leslie Blau and has been committed to searching for the most unusual and striking antique and vintage rugs and carpets as well as having a beautiful collection of samples for customization and contemporary rugs.

Read more at Dering Hall

Continue reading

An Orange Burst! Antique, Vintage and New Rugs That Will Brighten Your Day!

Connie Lee

Connie Lee, Director of Antique & Vintage rugs

By Dorian Bernstein

I was instantly inspired to showcase some of our diverse rugs, in which orange is the primary color, when seeing Connie’s blood-orange sophisticated yet funky ensemble. Orange has this warmth effect; a feeling of comfort and elegance if used correctly.

Connie shows off her perfectly put together orange outfit. Below are some new, antique and vintage rugs that are beautifully constructed and have the color orange merely enhancing their beauty. Continue reading

The Antique and Vintage Rug Connoisseur.

Knowledge Under Foot, Connie Lee of Doris Leslie Blau.

In a recent blog post by CJ Dellatore, he discusses the arduous task of living in a digital world while maintaining exemplary customer service, but with DLB’s very own Ms. Connie Lee, the task seems effortless. Connie is presented as knowledgeable and passionate and puts even the toughest customer at ease. Not only has she sustained superb customer service but has also delved into the wonderful world of social media where she has made her online presence widely known and well respected. Continue reading

The Versatility of Designing with Oushaks

We were planning to have a 1 day photo shoot to photograph many of the Turkish Oushak rugs in our inventory and I decided it would be more interesting to make the photographs 3 dimensional by adding furniture to the images. So I went around to several of the Antique dealers that are located in our building – the Interior Design Building- and asked to borrow some furniture. The following images are an eclectic mix of periods and styles illustrating the versatility of designing with Oushaks and also the spirit of collaboration. Many thanks to the dealers who graciously loaned the furniture pieces featured.

Demiurge New York Editions Mongolian Chairs and

Bauhaus Cocktail Trio Tables.

 Raymond Han Oil on Canvas “Standing” available through Demiurge New   York.

Shown with Doris Leslie Blau Vintage Turkish Oushak Circa 1940 Item # BB5091 Continue reading