INTERIOR INSPIRATION
BY KATE KINGSTON
Kate Kingston, Managing Director of Kingston Shaw, an award winning
interior design company with offices on the Wirral, London and Dubai,
shares with us the latest trends for creating the perfect home.
RUGS TO RICHES
3. Design
So you have decided that your space needs additional flooring, there is
something missing, so you decide to buy a rug! Be careful dear reader
purchasing a rug can be a complicated matter, the right choice can make a
room feel connected and brought together or the wrong choice can disjoint
a room and leave you with an expensive trip hazard! Fear not, with a couple
of rules and some ‘insider’ information, we at Kingston Shaw can help you
make the right choice and you can relax with on your investment.
First up you need to ask yourself,
do you want the rug to be the
focal point or to compliment your
existing scheme? I am a big fan of
layering so if I had a beautiful rug I
would be more concerned with its
texture and shading than looking
for a marked design, however in a
neutral room, there is nothing better
than a bright and colourful focal
point on your floor, just ensure that
the scale is right for your space. For optimum style remember that
darker floors make your room look intimate and pull focus inwards,
whereas lighter colours on the floor will give the impression of space
and freedom
4. Shape Up
1. Choose The Right Material
Sisal, Jute, Seagrass and Wool all have their merits and your choice should be
based on where the rug is situated ie. kitchen, bedroom, living room etc. and
who will be using it, adults, kids, pets, below is a brief guide:
•
•
•
•
Sisal is the most durable of all rug and
carpet materials, it is ideal for heavy traffic
areas and because of its texture is ideal for
creating a rustic or coastal look in your
home.
Jute tends to come in natural hues and is
surprisingly soft but also durable, perfect
for children’s play areas and living rooms.
Seagrass tends to amongst the rougher of
the textured natural materials and lends
itself to heavy duty areas like hallways and
conservatories, not ideal for bedrooms or
living rooms.
Wool has no drawbacks as far as I am
concerned. It can be dyed and therefore the colour options are endless,
it is warm and durable so ideal for all areas of the house except possibly
the kitchen, although adjacent in an open plan kitchen/living room
wool rugs can still be used. Choose from short pile to a full shag!
2. Size Matters
Whoever told you that lied! It
always matters. Measure the area
you want to install the rug and
ensure that the furniture either
sits on the rug or completely off
it, half on, half off will become an
unstable hindrance. If you are using
rugs to zone a room, then ensure
that the rugs are a similar size and
complement each other, otherwise it
will just look like a badly organised
souk. A word on using rugs in the bedroom, if your budget doesn’t stretch to
using a full rug that all the furniture sits on, then consider using two runners
either side of the bed, this way it adds texture and a pop of colour without
breaking the bank!
60 wirrallife.com
As much as size matters, so does the shape of the rug that you
purchase! As a general rule of thumb the following should be adhered
to:
•
Circular - Perfect for smaller spaces, and for emphasising the
shape of furniture, a circular rug below a circular dining table
pulls focus to the table by inadvertently narrating the area.
•
Square - Ideal for zoning a room in a large space.
•
Rectangle - Traditionally used in larger rooms and great for full
coverage.
5. Secure It
When you have selected your rug there are two important things you
need to bear in mind. If the rug is on a hardwood or tiled floor tape it
down so that it doesn’t move, but also that the rug itself doesn’t curl at
the edges providing a trip hazard. If the rug is situated on carpet then
ensure that you have a rug matt underneath so that it retains its shape
and anchors the rug to the carpet.
If you are feeling adventurous, why not consider the following:-
•
Inserting your carpet into the existing flooring to create a
seamless finish
•
Using an outdoor rug on the patio
•
Designing your own rug
•
Using rubber or leather