Outdoor Rugs

I usually hate artificial things—I am your old-fashioned Luddite in love with silk and cotton and cashmere.  Well, who wouldn’t love those?  And when it comes to rugs, I am absolutely Miz Sisal, Miz Wool, etc.  but  now, there are new rugs on the market which really have to be considered.  They are the new outdoor rugs from almost everybody—everybody good, that is.

I think credit for the Really Big Idea and Marketing of these has to go to Dash and Albert

(dashandalbert.com)

I love this company—their outdoor rugs truly look like cotton throw rugs, and they come in jolly wide stripes such as “Catamaran”, shown here in denim and ivory.  This pattern comes in several colours, including a really bold coral for those of you who want to really say something.

Catamaran by Dash and Albert

They make wonderful multi-stripes too, and over-all patterns.  Go to their website, and go to Outdoor Rugs.  And when you are finished the rugs, you will even find Outdoor poufs.

And if it were your desire, Outdoor Woofs, which are really great looking dog beds.

Just great!

I am working on my project of redecorating The Hillsboro Club in South Florida, and I noticed how tired and stained the rugs in the great Living Room and Reception were.  This is a heavily trafficked area, since the guests come here to read and chat and have tea in the afternoon and cocktails before dinner.  I spoke to my dear, dear friend, Luis Ventura, at Stark Carpet down in Dania, because he told me that Stark was making some wonderful polypropylene carpets for indoor/outdoor use.  I begged for samples.  Luis drops into our office every Thursday, but I am not always there.

Anyway, a month passed—no samples.  I called up and grouched.

“But I brought you those samples a month ago,” protested Luis.

“But where did you put them?” I replied.  He told me that he had laid them on a small stack which I had right by my desk chair, and he had.  There they were.  I just thought they were sisal samples, and didn’t go through them right away.  That’s how real they looked.

Here is one used on an outdoor porch at the Hamptons Show House

 Room by Christina Murphy, Christina Murphy Interiors. Photography by Marisa Marcantonio, stylebeat.com

Stark has great sisal designs, with patterns woven in them, but you will need to go to your Stark Showroom (you will need a decorator or architect for this), since they are not yet on their website.  It will be worth the trip, I promise you.

When I finish the big Living Room at Hillsboro, I promise I will post pictures of it, and you will be able to see for yourself how great the rugs are.

Now, look at these rugs.

You can get really almost whatever colours you want, and there is a plethora of designs.  Just remember, don’t go over the top—what you would have like indoors is pretty much what you would like outside.  And don’t get cute.

And remember Astroturf?

It doesn’t have to be like that anymore.

XOXOXOX  LETA