We have previously discussed our love of ‘faffing’ on the journal; the fun, creative process of mixing things up and moving things around at home that sparks ideas and freshens up spaces. We’ve been back having a good faff again, this time with colourful, uplifting, new rug Joy.
Our statement rugs are incredibly versatile and work beautifully in any room. They are also easy to move around, creating a completely different look and feel depending on how and where you place one. We wanted to try and capture that sense of possibility, and show just how easy it can be to discover something new.
' Joy’s colourful border works so well as a frame for furniture, as well as framing her detailed design, I knew she would add a new dimension to the space when placed underneath a dining table'
‘Joy is so full of colour and pattern, with a wonderful uplifting message of hope and optimism, she really highlights how versatile a rug can be,’ Wendy says. ‘Her border detail acts as a frame and the placement of the bird and floral motifs mean she is endlessly versatile when it comes to positioning.
‘Joy can be positioned at the end of a bed, under a table or left to standalone as a central statement piece in a room and works just as well in each setting. I really do feel she is one of the easiest rugs to play around with and build many different looks around,’ Wendy adds.
One of the many locations Joy can be positioned is at the end of the bed. We think she works perfectly with our Joie de Vivre wallpaper, Arc en Ciel Crewel and Arc en Ciel fabric headboard!
Taking inspiration from award-winning, hand-knotted rug Talisman, Joy brings a hand-tufted version of the same bold Art Deco-inspired border, paired with hummingbirds, butterflies, chrysanthemums and lotus flowers, as well as soft pink clouds and gentle green waves. You can read all about the inspiration and symbolism behind Joy in our previous journal here.
Wendy has styled Joy in her living room and bedroom in the past, this time it is the turn of the dining room in her home. ‘Joy’s colourful border works so well as a frame for furniture, as well as framing her detailed design, I knew she would add a new dimension to the space when placed underneath a dining table,’ Wendy explains.
Joy's beautiful colourful border with our new favourite Terry de Havilland Isabella Disco Heels
When you are planning how and where to place your rug, consider light - how much it changes throughout the day, how much natural light a room gets, the difference between daylight and electric light - as well as room size and shape, and other furnishings and fixtures, particularly if there is an architectural feature you want to draw attention to.
Once you are happy with placement, consider the wider picture, including colour, texture, and accessories. Pick a colour or two from your rug to act as accent shades throughout the room, which helps to create a cohesive look, even when mixing lots of colour and pattern.
Taking inspiration from award-winning, hand-knotted rug Talisman, Joy brings a hand-tufted version of the same bold Art Deco-inspired border
Cushions are a fantastic way to add colour and texture, and introduce a sense of comfort. Our crewel embroidery cushions are statement pieces in their own right but, because they come from the same curated colour palette as all Wendy Morrison designs, they work individually or with different designs together, adding sumptuous glamour to a space.
‘Joy has been a pleasure to work with,’ Wendy says. ‘She is very versatile and I do think she works equally well as a border design or as a regular statement piece. I do love the idea that you can have a room refresh by having a rug move around, whether it is from another room or within the space. It certainly happens a lot in our house!’
Cushions are a fantastic way to add colour and texture, and introduce a sense of comfort
We’ve put together a few suggestions of rugs we feel are particularly versatile and that include a border as part of the design – we hope they help to inspire you!
Chinoiserie-inspired hand-tufted rug Secret Garden combines gold branches with colourful birds perched around the outer edges of the design. Seen here with our Joie de Vivre wallpaper
Chinoiserie-inspired hand-tufted rug Secret Garden combines gold branches with colourful birds perched around the outer edges of the design, perfectly framing the rug; inspired by Secret Garden, Jardin de Orient features a delicate, detailed gold frame with bright birds dotted around;
Peace, Love & Joy features a beautiful pink border detailed with wonderful blooms. Here she sits perfectly with our Mandela wallpaper
Peace, Love & Joy is inspired by the work of influential rug designer Walter Nichols and features a shimmering pink border with uplifting, symbolic bold and beautiful blooms reaching up from the corners; leopard print always adds an exotic, glamorous edge and Leopard Florals combines this luxurious pattern with feminine floral details surrounding a pale centre; inspired by Leopard Florals,
Our beautiful square rug Cheetah Florals has a glorious pink and black cheetah print border
beautiful square rug Cheetah Florals has a glorious pink and black cheetah print border, which softly cocoons a black and white cheetah print and beautiful blooming pink, red, gold and green flowers.
Music is the answer
An inspirational playlist is the perfect partner to an afternoon spent enjoying a room faff! Wendy has put together her summer playlist, which accompanied her when styling Joy. You can find Wendy’s joyful playlist here - we hope you find it equally inspirational.
