Introducing the new Doris Leslie Blau showroom in Washington D.C.

Our custom and antique carpets have a new home in the capital!

Find us in D.C. at 1099 14th Street

Last year, the old D.C. design center was sold to the Bible Museum, that gave all the design focus located there a year to pack up and begin the hunt for new space.

The answer was this lovely 1920s building with 100,000 square feet split amongst 30 furniture, fabric and carpet showrooms. Our neighbors include but are not limited to Holly Hunt, Kravet, Brunschwig & Fils and ROMO, so our new home is shaping up to be quite the design destination.

A few "before" shots for you…

  

The new D.C. room offers a sampling of our wide array of rugs and textile products, from contemporary to bespoke and of course are timeless vintage and antique rug collections.

The finished space

  

Our D.C. gallery director is Madeleine Mitchell, a veteran of The Washington Design Center. She lives in a restored historical house in Old Town Alexandria in Virginia and is especially passionate about 1920s French Deco. "My first purchase when I got married was a 1920s French Deco Rug," she says.

If you're in the area, do stop by and say hello to us!

Okay, so the header may be a bit of overstatement. I don't think the "little celosia orange dress" is going to become a wardrobe necessity anytime soon, but the second season of everyone's favorite Netflix prison show debuts Friday, and while we eagerly await the return of Piper Kerman – worrying what the consequences will be for her beating the crap out of Pennsatucky last year – it's perfect timing to reflect on one of the most eye-catching 2014 Pantone color choices.

 

 

Celosia orange was actually a spring pick for Pantone, but there's enough warmth and magnetism in this hue to carry it through seasons to come.

It's funny because despite the show's title, Piper Kerman doesn't actually spend that much time on screen wearing orange. I think there's something analogous about that and the way celosia orange should be used in design: It's a stunning, potent color and one that can be used sparingly to fabulous, dramatic effect.

You can find variations on this lovely shade that span many design eras and cultures in our rug collection. It pops up in geometric French Deco rugs, Swedish mid century pieces, and in the sumptuous, earthy, high pile loops of our vintage Moroccan rugs.

   

How we all fell in love with Mid-Century Modernism

Our 20th Century carpet auction is happening this Friday at Wright in Chicago. You can read Sight Unseen's interview with Wright Senior VP Michael Jefferson regarding the event here.

Needless to say, we are incredibly excited. And now seemed like a good time to reflect on how and why mid-century modernism burst to the forefront of design dialogue:

Relief from uniformity  

There's a convenience to standardization. It's nice to turn off the highway and know pretty much where the gas station and fast food restaurants are going to be. But there's something uncomfortable about the pervasiveness of repetitive design. As an architect-friend put it to me recently, "There shouldn't be a cookie-cutter floor plan that works for every single person."

The other face of contemporary uniformity is a sleek minimalism popularized by the Apple-iPhone aesthetic. While more appealing than a block of boxy suburban houses, it's by no means a warm or inviting sensibility.

 

Mid-century modern homes have a sense of history and uniqueness because many preceded the big push to suburban standardization. They give homeowners a sense of individuality about their living spaces.

 

Nostalgia

Mid-century modernism approximately spans the years immediately following World War Two up through the mid-1960s. It was a time of renewal in America. People were optimistic about the future and the economy was improving.

Fast-forward to the present where we have a slow-recovering economy and many young people no longer expect to quickly surpass their parents' earnings and success. It's natural that we'd look to surround ourselves with the accouterments of a bygone era.

 

Craftsmanship

Blending cutting-edge design with the revered tradition of great craftsmanship was a staple of Mid-century modernism.

Today, we've developed a new maker culture that emphasizes quality and personalization, and it runs the gamut of gourmet cookies, hand-stamped wallpaper and artisan woodworking. With this new interest in craft, we're primed to appreciate well-made works from an earlier era.

Cultural Import

Mid-century modern design loosely overlaps the era of late modernism in literature and art. It was the era of Faulkner's lush, southern stream-of-conscious narration, Jackson Pollock's abstract expressionism and the intellectualization of poetry from the likes of Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot. While purveyors of sunburst mirrors and pendant lamps might not be thinking about these things explicitly, these design pieces are informed by their historical cultural context. As a statement about its buyer, mid-century modern pieces say, "this is a person who cares about literary and aesthetic tradition."

The Making of a Chelsea Penthouse

Q&A with designer Kate Hayes

This three-story Chelsea penthouse is home to a couple with two energetic children who love modern and midcentury pieces. The home has gorgeous views of the Empire State building. The main level, pictured here, is the family's living/dining/playing area. Designer Kate Hayes had to make sure all the pieces could serve multiple purposes. "Most of the casegoods in the space were custom to allow for toy storage but also look chic for company," she said.

The main level featured one of our midcentury rugs. Kate agreed to chat with us about her design process.

How did you begin?

We started with a few basic pieces: The sofa (originally in a different fabric) and dining table and chairs, all of which were great quality but lacked cohesiveness and personality on their own. The goal was also to keep anything from feeling too 'done.'

What was your inspiration?

The clients absolutely love orange. We had tackled the bedroom first where we were able to go a bit more luxurious:  silk rug, creamy Matteo bedding, glass lamps, a custom built-in and custom wallpaper, because this is the least kid-frequented room in the house. We took the direction from there and toned it down for the living area, with a more subdued palette for the larger, airy common space. So I suppose we were inspired by the color orange, but also by their extensive travels, love of modern, and amazing views of the New York cityscape beyond.

Why this rug?

This rug borders that line of midcentury (almost Hicksian, but less groovy and more urban) and modern, but the grid reflects the intensity of the exterior city buildings, windows and water towers. The view of midtown definitely inspired this direction. Also, the clients love geometrics. It was a perfect fit.

When did the rug enter into the picture?

I like to take a holistic approach to design and really consider all elements at once. We loved the idea of geometric lines with our color scheme, and I sort of fell in love with this rug when I saw it. We brought in the soft orange, steel blue and naturals to keep things toned down. Of course, the rug was the last element to arrive, and the room did not feel nearly as cohesive without it! We designed it together while choosing sofa and chair fabrics as well as the casegoods, tables, lighting and accents throughout the rest of the space. We wanted something with character but that could take a spill.

What are your personal rules on area rug placement? 

For more traditional looks, I love an all-encompassing centered rug, with a nice border of hardwood around the room. Along more modern lines, it really depends- I like using a runner as a floating rug in front of a sofa for a chic, minimalist look, or layering irregularly shapes like hides on more traditional rugs for great richness.

What's your personal aesthetic? I like visually clean and calming. Because I look at fabrics and prints all day, I tend toward bold solid color over prints if I am making a statement. I change things in my own home constantly and find it's easier not to commit to a print except on smaller items like pillows and small rugs. I love good texture, soft palettes, organic and geometric accents, natural and glam materials mixed like sisal and lucite or cork and nickel. I am constantly evolving and changing as a designer, so I believe in good quality upholstery and case pieces, with the ability to move from eclectic to glam to earthy on a whim.

As I was looking at your portfolio, there seem to be a few themes that carry through your…

I believe in a restful eye, either through repeated movements or themes to create continuity or through natural textures, clean palettes, and crisp, handsome schematics. My style varies greatly from project to project because I very much like to reflect the way my client lives, but I would say a common theme is finding that perfect medium where the client feels both inspired and completely at home, to bring out the best in their taste and elevate that. I do not like having anything feel too overly designed. Relaxation is a key element to achieving true comfort, and feeling like you'd mess something up in your own home is unsettling. To quote Coco Chanel, "Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise it is not luxury."

About Kate Hayes: Kate is an interior designer based in Brooklyn and Atlanta specializing in residential but with commercial and retail experience assisting on the children's store Bundle in Soho and also the Palm Jumeirah in Abu Dhabi. See her portfolio here.

About the rug: It was based on a Parkin Saunders design. You can see the rug that served as inspiration here. The original is high and low pile, while the one Kate used is flatweave on a wool background with silk details. You can read more about our designer rugs here.

Beauty and the Beach

Spaces designed for Summer and Sun

Warm weather is here to stay, for a little while at least, and that means it's vacation home season. Or rather, dream-of-vacation-home season for most of us.

There are plenty of examples of cheesy summer home decoration – too many seashells, ocean-patterned furniture upholstery and an overabundance of wicker. Those things can be kind of fun, but here are four maxims of pleasure-minded space building that can bolster relaxation, even if you own just the one home (or apartment).

 

Emphasize indoor-outdoor interconnectivity

The point is to enjoy your environment, not be shut off from it. A house that retains the feel of its external surrounds with ample windows, natural light and corresponding color theme will lend a sense of harmony and continuance.

  

Let location inform design

Natural history, regional culture, folk traditions and art, as well as local weather patterns, seasonality and light should all be considered. We need not surrender our individuality wholly to the dictates of our surroundings, but a sense of environmental belonging can really help ground a space.

 

A high-quality rug or carpet is a good way to give a room design a foundation to build upon. Picking a contemporary carpet with a color scheme that references the natural environment can be a great building block for location-centric design.

Curl-up spaces
Indulging in idle time is vital for any worthwhile vacation. Hammocks, reading alcoves, window seats – a tucked-away space that invites people to stretch out and relax is a great way to promote relaxation.

  

Gather your group

It's equally important to have spaces that fosters intimacy. A house that's too big and disconnected lets people escape one another, and vacation time is also about solidifying family bonds.

 

A space that's too formal can come off as stiff.  Better to have a variety of seating and to introduce a bit of whimsy to make folks feel invited. Consider not having furniture arranged around a TV.

Small Spaces, Tiny Treasures

How to stay opulent with less square footage

Bigger is better is an aging maxim. As authenticity, craftsmanship and a sense of community and connectivity become increasingly important to many of us, people are turning to small living not just for economic reasons (though to be sure, that's part of it) but to facilitate an intentional lifestyle.

A couple months ago The New York Times had this article on extreme small living. However, you don't have to build a mini house to apply the principles of small living. They're extremely handy for we apartments dwellers too.

There are practical tips – like using a light color palette and finding ways to make spaces multipurpose – but those don't have to supersede all other considerations. And if your space has ample natural light, it's okay to mix in some richer colors too.

Your tiny space doesn’t need to have everything, especially things you'll seldom use. Do you really need a dining room table? Or would a bar counter suffice? How often do you entertain? What's wrong with casual seating for guests in the living room?

This uptown Manhattan living room is small but doesn't shy away from heavy elements. A mixture of low and tall heights amongst furniture, coffee table and shelving gives the room depth and saves the place from feeling crowded.

Conversely, this Japanese-inspired living room has an airy feel thanks to the low scale of furniture, making the room feel taller than it really is.

A rug is still a solid foundational element, even for small-home design. In addition to establishing an aesthetic, a high-quality textile can signal different "zones," separating dining area from living room, say.

This petite apartment still makes use of a luxurious, high-pile rug. It's properly placed, not hidden under the couch, but with maximum footage to be felt underfoot.

Here's a round-up of pint-sized inspiration.