Mood Board Monday Party: Bold and Bright Area Rugs

Hi, there! Hope everyone had a great weekend! Welcome to the 5th Mood Board Monday McLinky Party. Glad you could make it:)

This blog party is all about seeing how different people are inspired differently by the same things.
This week's challenge was to design a room (of your choice) around one of these two bold and bright graphic area rugs (I think we could all use some color in our lives right about now!):


1. Andalusia Rug from West Elm

{Exotic pattern from a traditional silk scarf is reinterpreted for the floor in Horizon and Ivory}

2. St. John Striped Indoor/Outdoor Rug from Dash and Albert

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Here's my mood board for the week. I was completely inspired by the Dash and Albert St. John Striped Rug. As soon as I saw it, I thought "This would look awesome in my parent's summer house on Cape Cod!" To me this rug just has that coastal, light and airy, sea and sky feel that would be perfect for a beach house. So I approached this challenge imagining using this rug in one of the guest rooms at my parent's house (probably the girls' room). I wanted plenty of storage, twin beds (fairly often we have mom's lady friends over, or my sister and I, so its more individual guests as opposed to couples), and a coastal cottage vibe without going overboard (no pun intended...lol!).

At first I thought I'd keep the room in all cool tones, but then I found this really pretty Eliza floral bedding (from PB) and I loved the mix of the warm creams and oranges with the soft aqua blues and greens. So then I headed in a bit of a different direction with the palette and added some pops of that lovely persimmon for a more funky and contemporary feel.





1. The palette: I'd paint the walls in a soft warm wheat color from the floral bedding, something like Benjamin Moore's Cream Fleece or Summer Harvest (its like the sand to the rug's water tones). Cool muted blues and greens are made more vibrant with the addition of persimmon orange. Lots of white for that cottage vibe contrasted with the dark brown bed frames.

2. The inspiration, the St. John Striped Rug from Dash and Albert

3. I searched and searched online for twin beds that I liked, but then I remembered that in one of the real guest rooms already at the house, my mom has these great family heirloom antique pineapple beds from the early 1900s. (My grandpa slept in one when he was a kid and then they were used in the house my mom grew up in as well.) So I decided, why not use those? I like that the dark espresso stain would tie in with the dark chocolate in the rug, and give some contrast to the white furniture that I chose for the room.

4. The bedding that inspired the addition of pops of warm tones in the room...Eliza Organic Duvet Cover and Shams from Pottery Barn.

5. Love the idea of some bold geometric throw pillows in contrasting colors on the beds, especially this Kelly Wearstler Imperial Trellis Pillow in Mandarin from etsy seller milk and cookies.

6. I would use this Southport Bachelor's Chest from Basset Furniture in white for a nightstand in between the 2 beds.

7. The coordinating Southport Double Dresser from Bassett Furniture in white for lots of storage and a great surface for everyone's toiliettries, jewelry, sunglasses, etc.

8. This Round Silvertone Mirror from Target for over the dresser.

9. The Alexis Ceramic Table Lamp in Porcelain Blue from Pottery Barn.

10. I've used these classic books with beautiful covers designed by Coralie Bickford-Smith before in another mood board, they're just so pretty. And books are a must at the Cape, we do a lot of reading there. Just because these books look so good, does not mean you can't bring them down to the beach...books are for reading!!!

11. Hancock Bookcase in Lobster (how fitting for a beach house!!!???) from CB2 (more storage and a great addition of orange in the room).

12. For wall art, I'd definitely emphasize the coastal vibe with these shell prints from art.com (Coquilles de Mer II, I, III and IV ).

13. And these awesome coral prints in blue also from art.com (Shades of Aqua I, III and IV ).

14. I'd want some natural texture in the room, and large woven baskets like these Shayne Baskets from Pottery Barn would do double duty as extra storage.

15. I also think some large colored glass vases or jars would be beautiful...they could be found at yard sales or flea markets, but for now these Found Oversized Vintage Bottles from Pottery Barn would work.

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Now its your turn! Here's what you do to join the party:

1. Create a mood board using one of the above inspiration chests.
2. Write a post about it, including sources (with a link back to this post so others can come look).
3. Add your name and project to the MckLinky here on this post (for example - Sarah's Coastal Guest Room).
4. Then add the link to your SPECIFIC MBM POST, not your general blog address.
5. Have fun checking out all the other wonderful rooms.

Thanks so much for joining the party!!! I'm hoping we're going to have some of the regulars back this week, as well as some new faces:)

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Modern Sunroom @ Decorating Obsessed My imaginary entry way Sunny Spring Sunroom @ Comfort and Luxury Living Room by Emily @ Timeless Paper Bedroom & Outdoor Room - Your Decorating Hotline Living Room @ Twenty - Six To Life Sun Room at Project Balancing Act! Jenny Frees Cheery Modern Home Office Odi et Amo - - Purple & Brown Nursery Jen Js bright & beautiful sun room.

Family Sunroom over at Maddies Nest Sea - Inspired Nursery @ Our Portable Home Outdoor Oasis Funky and Cozy Living Room Sarahs Citrus Shaded Living Room Jess - Bright Whimsical Dining Area DIY Show Off - Cozy Guest Bedroom This linky list is now closed.

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