Anchor a room with a rug

HOMES AND INTERIORS

Got decorating dilemmas? The solution might just be underfoot.

For homeowners, it can be a monumental chicken-and-egg question. Which comes first in a room--the rug or the furnishings? I've thought about this long and hard. After months of wondering, the short of it is this: There are many different perspectives on how to place a rug in a room and on just how dramatic or subdued it should be. Though the schools of thought on the subject are endless, I found that the solutions are specific to your room and situation.

We thought our readers would like to know a few theories of rug decor. In talking with interior designers and homeowners who have a creative knack, we found variations in types and styles of rugs along with three general approaches. You decide what's best for you.

Rug as a Centerpiece

This colorful 9- x 12-foot handloomed wool rag rug was made in Portugal. The homeowner-a former museum curator-spotted it during a family trip and brought it back home with every intention of making it the centerpiece of her contemporary dining room. The result is quite striking.

"The rug was purchased in New Orleans about 20 years ago. We saw it in a furniture shop window on the way out to dinner one night and knew it would be ideal for the room. So we went back the next day to buy it," she says. "Gradually, we transformed the dining room around the rug, first painting the walls a pinkish gray, and then the bright white-gray they are today."

She continues, "We found the vibrant colors of the rug called for something more dramatic than a simple wooden table, so we selected a custom-designed one by Chicago artist Andy Pawlan."

Rug as a Silent Partner

At Ann Huckstep's residence in Birmingham, interior designer Richard Tubb takes a different approach. He believes that a rug should not be noticed; rather, it should only serve to underscore the other elements within a room.

"Put your attention on the entire room," Richard emphasizes. "If you have the opportunity to place the furniture first, select those pieces, and let the rug be the last thing. Sometimes choosing a rug first can be very limiting. It's either too large or, more often, too small. You have greater success if you buy the rug last."

That's why Richard loves the effect of more muted floor coverings in neutral shades, which he says give an instant sense of comfort. "I prefer rugs with just a little bit of pattern," he adds, "especially those made with vegetable dyes that are understated. I don't think the rug should be the center of attention; it should give a comfortable feel to entice the senses."

Rug That Ties It All Together

The living room rug of the Anderson residence in Macon, Georgia, lies on the middle ground. Mary Margarett Nevin, an interior designer in Atlanta, helped the Andersons make use of classic Persian rugs the family already owned before they undertook a home renovation. Mary Margarett says they created new rooms with the rugs in mind, pulling dominant colors and designs from them.

"Because the rug in the living room has a lot of color, pattern, and interest, we wanted it to remain a focal point but not compete with the walls and upholstery fabrics. These rugs are like art. There are always interesting stories behind them. Your eye should easily find a focal point on a rug, rest on it, and then move on to the next focal point within the room," Mary Margarett explains.

"If my clients do not have rugs at the beginning," she continues, "I select fabrics first and then the rugs. If the homeowners already have some floor coverings that they would like to use, then I choose the fabrics based on them."

WORDS OF WISDOM

Go to a business specializing in rugs, and make sure they have a return policy that you are comfortable with. Check to see if you can take a rug out on approval first to see if it works in your room,

* It's not wise to buy a rug just because you like it and might use it someday. Know where it is going to be placed before you buy.

* If you have colorful rugs in the foyer and dining room, try using a muted one in the living room so that the spaces don't seem too busy.

* Coordinate other facets of a room with dominant shades within a rug. Upholstery fabrics that have strong patterns and contain only secondary colors found in the rug lose their impact. The eye is unable to focus on either.

* Deep color gives a sense of comfort. Browns are inviting, and you can see fewer discolorations.

* Every room does not need a patterned rug. A sea grass rug offers texture while not competing with fabrics.

ANCHOR A ROOM WITH A RUG

Pages 134-136: (Page 134) Rubber chairs from Metropolitan Furniture; high-back chairs from Dessin Fournir; table created by artist Andy Pawlan, Chicago; (page 135) interior design by Richard Tubb, Richard Tubb Interiors, Pepper Place, 2829 Second Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233, (205) 324-7613; (page 136) interior design by Mary Margarett Nevin, Guyton Design Group, Inc., 349 Peachtree Hills Avenue NE., Suite AS, Atlanta, GA 30305, (404) 995-0000.

Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Oct 2002
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