My client and I were working on her upstairs loft/bonus room. She had two blue sofas and wanted to keep them in the room. We needed a large area rug and came across this one, online. It had the colors and pattern we liked and would hold up well with her 3 kids. We needed some pillows and simple art to finish the area.
The inspiration for both pillows and art came from the rug. The square-in-a-square pattern was increased in size for the pillows and simple square canvases were painted with the same pattern and colors. They completed the room for very little cost, and repeated the design element from the rug. I find, many times, when I can look to something that exists or has the most pattern or color to work from, the inspiration for the whole room evolves.
This map is on the other wall in the same room. We wanted to bring the blue and green colors to that side of the room, a kids space, so a large map fit-the-bill. We were trying to fiqure out how to frame it or make it look more finished, without a lot of expense. My client called me and said, “come look at the map”. She had purchased 8 inexpensive acrylic box frames. She cut up the map to fit into each box and hung it up. It also repeated the “square box” theme of the sofa area. I loved it…I get the best ideas from my clients.
Inspiration can come from anywhere, anything or anyone. Look at things in a new way. Pick things apart and find what hidden inspiration can be discovered.
1. Hi Cathy,
You are such a talented person and you look for the inspiration in all that is around you. I love the way that your client found the answers that she was seeking for the world map and your decorative ideas that were sparked by the box design.
Thank you for sharing. Your talent supersedes your presence!
Betty
by Betty — 2/29/08 at 2:43 pm #
2. I love this idea. Where can you buy such a nice map?
by jsh — 2/29/08 at 4:52 pm #
3. Thanks again Betty,
This was a fun room for their kids. We needed simple durable fabrics and furnishings. A few more things have been added, but mostly an open space for kids to be kids. The two boys rooms can be seen right off this room so they were painted, one green and one blue, so the colors are again repeated in the line of vision off this room.
Yes, I learn so much from my clients. They really come up with some great ideas.
Good to hear from you.
by Cathy — 3/1/08 at 1:34 am #
4. Hello JSH,
I’m glad you like this idea. The map was purchased online. Google…world wall maps…There’s a number of sites to go to. I’ll ask my client where exactly she got it from, and get back to you.
Thanks for commenting.
by Cathy — 3/1/08 at 1:46 am #
5. Thank you for sharing the beautiful room with us. You are proof-positive that you don’t need a lot of money to have a beautifully decorated space. All it takes is a little imagination and a little hard work. Please don’t stop inspiring us, Cathy.
by Janice — 3/4/08 at 12:45 pm #
6. Hi! I bought 3 cream leather chairs I absolutely love. I need 3 more…any HG shoppers that have seen cream upright leather chairs, they have buttons on the back, priced at $299.99. Thanks! Jenna [...]
by Jenna [...] — 3/5/08 at 11:06 am #
7. Thanks for submitting a comment to Openhouse, the HomeGoods blog.
We understand that you have been trying to locate 3 leather chairs. As an off price retailer, we make every effort to keep our prices low, and our costs down, so that we can pass these savings on to our customers. For this reason, we do not provide a service of tracking merchandise, In addition, we do not have the privilege of ordering specific merchandise from our vendors. To locate the chairs, we suggest that you continue to check with the stores in your area directly. We would be happy to provide you with store locations in your area. If you would like a store list, please call our Customer Service Department directly at 1-800-888-0776.
Thank you,
Katie
HomeGoods Customer Service
by Katie — 3/5/08 at 11:19 am #
8. Thanks so much Janice,
You’re right. Find the inspiration and run with it. More imagination and a little work equals a successful outcome.
Thanks for all of your great comments.
by Cathy — 3/5/08 at 6:01 pm #
9. i would like to see more area rugs
by Stella — 3/11/08 at 8:44 pm #
10. Hello Stella,
Area rugs are great. HomeGoods carries a wide variety that are different in every store and not availible online. You can visit the stores and see what they have or go online and view many area rugs from different companies. Google, Area Rugs.
Good luck.
by Cathy — 3/12/08 at 7:38 pm #
11. I have just had the carpet in my living room removed and had the wood floors refinished. Is there a rule of thumb on the size of an area rug that should be used, if any?
Thanks.
by Linda — 3/20/08 at 10:19 pm #
12. Hello Linda,
Great question! I really don’t go by area rug rules. I go by, how I want the rug to function and look in the space. Sometimes I use a mid size rug (5′ X 8′), and set the furniture around the rug on the beautiful wood floor. Especially if the rug is very interesting. Like art on the floor. I want to see it all. I would use a glass top coffee table on the rug to see more of it as well. ( I’ve done that in my small living room). If you have a bigger space or furnishings, use an 8′ X 11′ approx. ( there are no standard size rugs, they come in all sizes). Depending on the size of your furniture. Set, at least the front feet of a sofa on the rug and all or most of 2 chairs should fit on as well. If you want to fit a whole grouping on the rug, you may have to go up to a 10′ X14′ size. So, it all comes down to, how big the room is, size of your furniture, how much floor you want to see, and most importantly, how you want the room to function and feel…( in photo, we needed a large area rug for the kids to play on…function.) I try to use an area rug to fit the scale of the furniture. Large furniture, large rug. etc.
Thanks for your great question.
by Cathy — 3/21/08 at 12:42 pm #
13. How can I find the world map blue and green.
Thank you.
by SESY — 5/4/08 at 9:54 am #
14. Thanks for submitting a comment to Openhouse, the new HomeGoods blog.
We understand that you have been trying to locate the world map. As an off price retailer, we make every effort to keep our prices low, and our costs down, so that we can pass these savings on to our customers. For this reason, we do not provide a service of tracking merchandise, In addition, we do not have the privilege of ordering specific merchandise from our vendors. To locate the map, we suggest that you continue to check with the stores in your area directly. We would be happy to provide you with store locations in your area. If you would like a store list, please call our Customer Service Department directly at 1-800-888-0776.
Thank you,
Jessica
by HomeGoods Customer Service — 5/5/08 at 9:36 am #
15. Hello Sesy,
We got the world map at an online site. Unfortunately I don’t have the site information. Google…world wall maps. There are a number of sites to look at. You should be able to find what you’re looking for there.
Good luck with the map. It’s a great addition to a room.
by Cathy — 5/5/08 at 6:21 pm #
16. I love the repetition of pattern and color…very clever and unifing.
Great job again!
by Julie — 7/21/08 at 10:23 pm #
17. Thanks so much Julie,
It worked well here. I’ve found that the element with the most color and pattern can be the jumping-off point to the design of the rest of the room.
Glad you picked up on that as well.
Drop in again.
by Cathy — 7/22/08 at 12:39 pm #