Obsession Du Jour: Jane Beiles Photography

I first became aware of the beautiful work of Jane Beiles Photography only just a few months ago, after a style stalking post I did about Nightingale Design.  A few emails back and forth later, I was excited to learn that not only does Jane live and work in the next town over from mine, but we even know some of the same people.  Up until now, I had naively thought that all the really great photographers that specialized in interiors live in big cities.  Now that I know that Jane is so close by, all I can think about is collaborating with this talented lady on something special.  Stay tuned...

Monday's P.O.P.

pleasing purple

Image via: Veranda

Sponsored Post: The Perfect Rug

Cleaning Natural Fiber Rugs: Sisal, Jute and Seagrass

 *This post was written by ThePerfectRug.com

For many, cleaning up around the home or apartment isn’t one of the most fun activities to participate in – but it’s necessary! However, some items are more difficult to clean and require some know-how. Natural fiber rugs, for instance, tend to keep relatively clean but can be difficult to manage because they accrue hard to remove dirt buildup as they age. Whether you own a sisal rug, jute rug or seagrass rug, let’s take a look at some employable maintenance habits for sustaining the health of their natural fibers.

1.     Rug Location: Because natural fiber rugs absorb water easily, you should place them indoors in a location with limited moisture exposure. Excess moisture increases the likelihood of mold growth and causes the fibers to deteriorate. A dry location will help improve your rug’s lifespan.

2.     Vacuuming: Possibly one of the most overlooked steps in the cleaning process, vacuuming serves to pull loose debris from the fibers. Unlike other rug materials, natural fibers require several passes with the vacuum to maximize dust and dirt extraction. Nevertheless, you should vacuum frequently because excess foot traffic, over time, will compact loose debris into the fibers, making future cleaning much more difficult.

3.     Stain and Spill Removal: One option to remove stains from smaller rugs is through the process of dry cleaning. For larger rugs, although this may sound counterintuitive, create a liquid cleaning solution (one teaspoon of vinegar, one teaspoon of detergent and 2 quarts of water). Once prepared, dampen a towel or washcloth with the solution and blot the area. It’s important to never rub the area or use regular carpet cleaning products, as they will damage the fabric. Furthermore, if the consistency of the spilt fluid is thick, you should gently scrape off the excess residue prior to using the solution.

4.     Drying: As mentioned previously, natural fiber rugs sustain damage in wet conditions; so drying your rug is of the utmost importance. If left to soak, the wet fibers will shrink, deforming the original dimension. Quick ways to absorb liquid include rolling the rug up into a towel or using a blow dryer (without heating the air).
Now, if you live in a dry, arid climate, it doesn’t hurt to give your rug a very light misting to maintain fiber flexibility. But don’t overdo it! There should be no visible water droplets. 

5.     Preventative Maintenance: Tactics like flipping the rug once a year will help extend the rug’s life. Also, the application of fabric protectors will aid in preserving the materials. Fabric protectors create a water resistant seal and simplify the cleaning process.
If properly maintained, a natural fiber rug can outlast many other styles and types. 

*All images via The Perfect Rug blog

Minor Obsessions

earrings | necklace | clutch | ice bucket | coupes | book | movie | shoes

It seems that the art-deco-jazz-age era of The Great Gatsby is back with an everything that's old is new again vengeance.  Including the movie itself...which I know I'll be seeing...just maybe not at the movies.  I can't even remember the last movie I saw in an actual movie theater.  Until then, I'll be getting into the flapper spirit with these fun fashion accessories, chic urns for champagne in some old school coupes and I'm even contemplating re-reading the book or even better, re-watching the Robert Redford and Mia Farrow version. How about you? Will you be catching this at the box office soon?

Modern Glamour

I fell hard for magazine editor Cynthia Frank's Southampton home in Elle Decor...(real hard) after going back to gaze at these interiors about five or six times, I figured it was time to just post some of these lovely images here.  From the location to the soothing color scheme of black, white and blue and of course the incredible artwork collection, there is not one thing I would change. Old world glamour meets modern luxury, by the sea...what's better than that?