The unrelenting fury of winter has postponed thoughts of spring for those of us who live in the north. So it is especially encouraging to see that the March 2014 issues of major interior design magazines have not given up hope and are featuring more rooms with sunny colors. It is also nice to see Veranda Magazine revive from its recent decline. But other publications are not doing as well. Lonny Magazine had emerged from nowhere to promise a new answer to the digital conundrum, but they have had to cut back their publishing frequency. Elle Decor, Traditional Home and House Beautiful have fewer new and exciting rooms. But don’t worry, I have compensated by extending coverage to newer more exciting magazines such as Luxe, Florida Design, New York Cottage and Gardens and Connecticut Cottages and Gardens. I hope you will find a stimulating variety in these 19 best interiors with decorative rugs from the March 2014 issues of the best interior design magazines.
A coral and orange oriental rug on a black lacquered wood floor casts a warm glow in a Malibu, California living room designed by Sandy Gallin a former entertainment industry talent legend who is pursuing a second career as interior designer to Hollywood’s elite. One of his client’s told Architectural Digest, “Often what even great interior designers do is create a space that isn’t as comfortable and warm as what Sandy does, and that is the essence of why people like his work.”
Tilton Fenwick transformed a SoHo Artist’s loft with mid-century modern furniture in luminous blues and yellows and unified the room with a white and black Moroccan rug.
In a seating area of the SoHo living area, the rough texture of the Moroccan rug resonates with the brick walls and contrasts with the smooth and shiny fabrics.
Los Angeles designer Richard Hallberg modernized a late-1800s brownstone in Boston’s classy Back Bay neighborhood by painting the walls and ceiling white and adding a luxurious texture underfoot with a white rug. Taupe, grey and black provide contrast and gold accents add warmth. Sculptural shapes add movement.
A cream and blue Oushak rug adds energy and pattern to interior designer Michelle Smith’s Greenwich Village apartment. The straight lines of the blue velvet upholstered chairs contrast with the rug’s organic pattern and the brown sofa, mushroom drapes and gold accents add warm colors.
White walls and ceilings add crisp contrast and a lit stone fireplace warms Michelle Smith’s Greenwich Village living room.
Neatly stacked firewood add a rustic touch to the clean white lines of the living room of actor Patrick Dempsey’s Malibu, California home designed by a young Frank Gehry in 1968. A grey contemporary rug adds soft, luxurious texture and anchors a pair of square contoured grey sofas. Brown wood tones balance the cool greys and black accents provide contrast.
A squared glass coffee table accentuates the dazzle from the high contrast brown and white Greek Key geometric rug. A tan leather chair adds a resonating shape and color while blue and turquoise accents pop next to yellow accessories in a Robert Passal designed living room in Gramercy Park, New York.
Houston based designer Katie Scott created a contemporary vibe in this Short Hills with a white and pale blue Oushak rug on a polished grey stone floor, pale grey-blue upholstery, mid-century modern coffee table and pops of brilliant blue and pink. Antique French stools, gilded mirrors and leopard print pillows add glitz.
In the dining room of the Katie Scott designed home, a silver grey and pale pink Magnolia wall covering provides drama and pattern while a silk and mohair grey contemporary rug adds luxurious texture. White leather dining chairs with nail head trim and square contours balance the rounded shape of the dark wood dining table. A delicate crystal chandelier completes the exuberant atmosphere.
A pale blue Oushak rug complements pale blue damask chairs in a Diana Sawicki designed Fairfield County dining room. Medium blue walls painted with tender branches resonate with the black and gold Chinoiserie cabinet. A polished round dining table feels inviting and warm while a crystal chandelier completes the look of lyrical elegance.
A cream Aubusson rug brings a regal atmosphere to this light filled dining room by Suzanne Kipp. The pale blue of the ceiling was inspired by the blues in the rug.
A contemporary grey hide rug adds texture and depth to George Nunno’s living room and pulls together colorful modern art and furniture in a mix of materials, shapes and volumes.
A cream, beige and grey oushak rug provides a soft and lyrical background for white Neoclassical dining chairs, oval dark wood traditional dining table and a white mirrored wall with white wood trim in a Suellen Gregory designed dining room.
Valerie McGreevy Tatalovich brought traditional grandness to this Palm Beach dining room with a custom floral rug that provides an light and airy counterpoint to the coral Chinoisere wall covering, gold plated chandelier, 1790’s Chippendale mirror, English mahogany dining table and a George III period white bow-front sideboard.
A delicately patterned cream and grey damask provides movement and anchors pale beige, taupe, blue and cream fabrics. Designer Susan Ferrier cleverly designed curtains around the bed allow you to darken the sleeping area while keeping the rest of the room feeling light and airy.
A red and blue oriental rug grounds exuberantly colorful Ikat patterned upholstery and drapery in a Ruthie Sommers designed open plan space. A thin red border on the beige wallcovering unifies the living and dining areas. The large square white coffee table and white ceiling add crisp contrast.
A grey Oushak rug provides contrast to the pale apricot and pink color scheme of the dining room in Jane Fonda’s New Mexico ranch. Fonda re-created the look of rambling northern New Mexico ranch homes with a rustic and weathered handcrafted look. “When Robert Redford came to visit,” Fonda told Architectural Digest, “he thought the house was at least a hundred years old.”
A cream and grey Navajo rug, apricot-pink walls and traditional white bathtub add romance to Jane Fonda’s master bath in New Mexico.
A cream and beige geometric rug enhances the light filled energy in this blue and white bedroom by Brian J. McCarthy.
A pale beige oriental rug pulls together clean lined upholstery and cream, tan, grey, purple, gold and black accents creating a serene setting for enjoying a view of lush green cypresses through tall living room windows in John Goldwyn’s 1950’s Hollywood Hills house by architect John Elgin Woolf recently updated by decorator Madeline Stuart.
Images courtesy of Architectural Digest, Veranda, Elle Decor, Traditional Home, House Beautiful, Luxe, Florida Design Magazine, New York Cottage and Gardens and Connecticut Cottages and Gardens.