Interloper

I'm not gonna lie -- I pretty much just googled "antelope rug" for today's post. In defense of my laziness I would like you to know that our old house is now under contract although we still have 856 people walking through at all hours, home inspectors are crawling up my ass like fire ants, I co hosted a bachelorette party with Karly on Saturday and I am still hung over, and Better Half Ben is home sick with the pukey vomits -- betcha I'm next.

Deep breath. Now look at these damn rugs.

I should probably be embarrassed to bust out this roundup, as a zillion bloggers have already beaten me to it. But since I came across a ton of images featuring creepy camouflaged men cradling dead antelopes during my search for big beautiful pictures, I feel like I have suffered sufficiently for this post.

Oh, and did I mention that the living room is being painted today? Cross your fingers and toes and eyes and pray that no one finds me hanging from the rafters when it's done.

Going to curl up in bed and hide for a few. Toodles.

[Amanda Nisbet, Cote de Texas, Ms. Blandings, Elle Decor, Perch]

Help! Should I Keep My New Old Ebay Rug?!

So my Ebay rug came. When I unrolled it, I started to get the itchy eye... darker than I expected, condition not as evenly worn, and just generally less awesome than my fantasy porn projection of the real rug. Surprise surprise. My new rug has saggy boobs and stretch marks. But, maybe it's still good? Or maybe not? Karly votes a solid yes, Ben votes a solid no, and as always I cannot make any decisions about my own home (but I'm happy to tell you what to do with yours -- funny how that works). So, my tasteful friends, I ask you: should it stay or should it go? I have two days to decide whether to send it back so your comments are desperately needed.

Sorry about the AWFUL pictures -- it's pitch dark in here right now and the long exposures are throwing off the color and lighting. Anyway, there it is. I'll probably get a new end table, but for now everything else stays (although I want to burn that chair... maybe I will send it over to the in laws' new house?).

Another view with even more terrible lighting. So, the rug -- too dark? Too burgundy? Just right?

A reminder of what things did look like -- with much better lighting, a closer angle and some different furniture.

I'm at the point where I'm shopping for couches, rugs, pillows and end tables. In other words, I'm overwhelmed and I have too much stuff. I just need to decide about the rug because I don't have enough money to buy all that other stuff.

Help me pleez!

Persian Rug Fever

Ok everyone, I have something to admit:  over the last few months my house, which once was pulled together with some semblance of design direction, has become the land of lost coffee tables:  a castaway island where craigslist comes to die.  Tired of living amongst the winnings of the thrift store lottery, I bribed Erin with booze to pretty please come over and help me refocus.  No more random tables!!! I cried while swiftly pouring double vodka tonics.  My living room needed a new direction and that direction, we both agreed was a Persian rug.

While just one persian rug will do for now, I plan to relocate here within the coming years.

Yes,  a warm red rug against my white floors, couch and table will get me back on track

These lights may not hurt either.  But the rug, the rug is my beacon shining in the night.

Of course, my whole inspiration was 2-year old Ike's room, which seems both totally ridiculous and absolutely appropriate.