Fake It

I've always had a bit of an issue with those animal skin rugs you see EVERYWHERE. I fully admit they look striking and glamourous and everything but, well, I just can't get over the fact having one means you have a dead animal on your floor. 

Which is why it was good to find this rug by Missoni Home. 

They've give the idea of having an animal hide on your floor a great twist. 

They've kept the traditonal shape of an animal skin but made it a much more colourful affair by using mutli-coloured stripes to replicate the pattern of a zebra. 

I think this is much better idea. After all, you want to feel comfortable when walking on a rug, not guilty about treading on what was once a beautiful beast roaming the land. 

Zig and Zag

Yesterday, I lamented the fact I'd been struggling to find a suitable rug. 

Well it would appear, for the time being, my search is over. 

I love this rug from the SS09 collection at Marks & Spencer. Proving that despite the British high street being in decline, it still knows a thing or two about style. 

I love the pattern, I love the colours and I love the fact that it's 100% wool and affordable. 

I was forced to acknowledge the effect this evil recession is having on interiors the other day after homes magazines in particular have suffered in the last six months. 

But you know what? People still need to make their homes looks nice , so it's important they can still buy affordable, attractive products. 

Rug Shopping

I would have never believed it but rug shopping is a fairly traumatic process. 

In fact, I put in on a par with shopping for an outfit for a wedding - you know what I mean. You have exactly what you want in your head but try as you might you can't find it anywhere. 

Much like buying a new dress, rugs are either too expensive, too cheap (and they look it), too big, too small, not the right colour and generally don't tickle your fancy. 

It's a crying shame that the UK version of Urban Outfitters have limited their interior stock to be just that, limited because our friends across the pond have got a much better deal. 

Urban Outfitters (and that's a link to the US site by the way) have got an array of homewares including a positively mind boggling choice of rugs. 

I love this Giant Drops one. I love the retro pattern that kinda gets you thinking, is it may just a bit too 70s? 

So until Urban Outfitters UK sort out their act, I'll be wistfully dreaming of a rug haven...

My Old Deer

Through the amazing power of Twitter (follow me @alextoso) I'm following more American design blogs than you can shake a stick at. 

It's all good though, I'm finding out about design companies I've never heard of and picking up loads of tips and ideas. 

One of the design companies I've come across is Twinkle Living.  And what a lovely company it is. Started by Wenlan Chia, it does fashion too but what really caught my eye was Wenlan's whimsical interiors accessories. 

Like for instance, this antler head rug. I've always kinda thought that antler heads are really impressive, very majestic but never wanted part of a dead deer on my wall (if you're even thinking about this - go to Richmond Park and I bet you all the money in the world you'll change your mind) 

With this beautiful rug, I don't have to. 

Like Pebbles On A Beach

I'm slightly worried that the heads to my posts always seem to be song titles. 

But I just couldn't not resist using Paul Weller's classic for this rug (from Eco Age) , it seemed so appropriate and just popped into my mind. 

I admit it might not be to everyones liking (and it comes with a hefty price tag to boot) but I think it's really clever. 

Made up of 100% wool "pebbles" which are then stitched to a base, it makes me think Brighton Beach. 

All I'm wondering is just how comfortable is it to walk on...

Birds Of A Feather

It would appear despite my attempts to wean myself off the amazing Thomas Paul, I've failed miserably. 

I set myself a rule when I started these blogs: You must not feature too many products from one designer/manufacturer. 

And while I've almost stuck to this religiously, my downfall is definitely Thomas Paul. 

First, his wonderfully cute Russian doll cushion, then his Seahorse design and most recently his Seed rug. 

Well, I apologise but I just had to show off (are you allowed to show something off when it's not your design?) Thomas's Feather rug. 

I love the vibrant purple and peacock feather design which combined make for a truly beautiful rug. 

Right, now I've promised myself that I'll try not to visit the Thomas Paul website and have deleted the URL from my favourites bar - trouble is there's this well-known thing called Google and I'm not sure what to do if I find myself starting to type Thom...

Punked Up

Q: When does a rug become a work of art? 

A: When it's been created by one of most successful and revered fashion designers of our time. 

I love this rug, it's by Vivienne Westwood for The Rug Company. 

But hang on a minute,  imagine what someone would think if you told them you'd just bought a Union Jack rug. 

Personally, if someone told me that, I'd imagine brash, bold, full-on colour and would be slightly concerned. But if they told me, they'd bought this rug, now that would be a different matter. 

I adore its faded glamour, the way it looks almost like a watercolour canvass. 

Sadly, I don't have the pennies for it at the moment but it's definitely going on my wish list, with all the cushions and chairs. 

Wow, that wish list is fast resembling a wish book...