Surya Flatweave Rugs on Sale at Gilt!

If there's one home decor thing that I'm reluctant to spend lots of $$$ on, it's rugs.  In between all the visitors traipsing through our house and Jellyby the shih tzu using every piece of textile as her own personal napkin and backscratcher, rugs don't stand a chance of staying pristine in this household.  (Seriously, just as I was typing this, my husband just spilt a plate full of soy sauce on the floor. Charming.)

That's why I was pretty excited to see Surya flatweave rugs on sale at Gilt Groupe today.  We have this Surya in our bedroom (which I'd purchased previously through Overstock.com), and it's cheap, chic, and stands up to a lot of wear, tear, and scrubbing:

So I purchased one today in the same pattern but a different color for our living room:

A variety of patterns and colors are part of the Gilt sale, so definitely check out the possibilities:

All photos from Gilt Groupe

Not yet a Gilt member?  Get your invite here.  And see the rest of the patterns here.

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John Derian for Target . . . at Gilt!

I've been all tingly inside ever since I heard that John Derian, well known for his whimsical, decoupage-style home accessories, was coming out with a Target collaboration.  But then I found out that Target's corporate donation arm has not exactly been acting in ways that square with my ethics, and I'm not so excited anymore. :-(

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Anyway, this is just a PSA to point out that while the collection doesn't arrive in Target stores until September, Gilt Groupe is doing a sneak-peak and early access sale on items from the John Derian, Mulberry, and Tucker collaborations.  The sale starts this Friday, 8/20, at noon EST.

Here are the some items that caught my eye:

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I adore the phrenology tray (top right) above.

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And this maze tray.

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And the blue lattice frame.

Check out the rest of the lookbook here.  And get your invite to Gilt Groupe here.

Are you looking forward to Target's new collaborations?   Or are you staying clear of Target on account of their political practices?

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"Beginning, End"

I came across this breathtaking story by Jessica Soffer in Granta.  It made me teary.  I'm such a sap . . .

Photo of my grandparents

New Voices | Online Only | Granta Magazine

"Beginning, End" by Jessica Soffer

You were born. You named yourself. You walked your turtle. You went to school. You had dirty feet. You lay in a field. You piled into the Vanagan. You carried signs. You grew long legs. You met someone. You were just a kid. You didn’t keep it. You got into college. You moved east. You shaved your armpits. You took up jogging. You discovered hairspray. You crossed your legs.

I saw you at that party, holding a rock in your fingers. I popped a mint. I cleared my throat. I had pennies in my loafers. I ate red meat. I could change. I told you, I would change. I knew by your face, you weren’t so sure. I was drunk. I wasn’t your type. I kissed you on the Lakefill. I lifted a lash off your face. I didn’t tell you, my parents belonged to a country club. I had season tickets. I thought, you looked so clean, you smelled like stems.

I walked behind you. You led the rallies. I lost my mother. You rubbed my back.

We got a place. We read a lot. We rescued a dog. You worked at a shelter. I was a terrible handyman. My father called friends. We moved to the city. We ordered in. We picked up dry-cleaning. We hailed cab after cab. We were promoted. We hardly saw each other. I drank too much. You wouldn’t kiss me. You said I was my father. I stood there, half-listening, sick of your hoping. You said, you weren’t angry just tired.

We got a bigger apartment. We ran along the pier. We ate organic. We tried for a baby. We tried again. You took hormones. You pushed me away. I moved out. I slept with our dermatologist. You buried our dog. You forgave me. You cut your hair. I moved back in. We almost adopted. We went to counseling. We got a puppy. We held hands on the bird trail and the puppy scampered ahead.

We wore pyjama sets. We saw Spanish films. We took our time at the market. We got a stationary bike. We feared the wind. We helped each other dress. We went to Tuscany. You wanted to stay. I bought you an MG. You named it Brando. I got mugged in broad daylight. I shattered a kneecap. We had to wonder.

We bought some land. It gave us hope. I loved the farm stands. We moved in April. You bought second-hand books. You painted the bathrooms. I planted tomatoes. We sat on the porch. We had soil in our fingernails. We let it be. We reminisced. We didn’t miss it. We left the door unlocked. You found a lump. I took you to the doctor. You had to drive. I blamed the hormones. I blamed that commune. I blamed soy. I blamed the sun. You took long baths. Your hair fell like feathers. I did the laundry. I managed your pills. I spoon-fed you yogurt. You asked for nothing. You gripped my sweaters. I didn’t sleep. I watched you breathing. You were quiet as a plant. You were the same but with a different face.

I always knew, you said, that I’d go first. You weren’t looking for an answer. I couldn’t say it anyhow. I couldn’t commit you to it. You were a shell.

Now, I think we should have adopted. We should have stayed in the city. We should have made more friends. This house is too big. You picked all the colors. Your earrings hang from a lamp. Your socks stiffen in the hamper. Your bookmark stops midway through. I sleep with your wallet. It sticks to my cheek like dead skin. Still. I try to walk every morning. I make big portions and freeze them. I donate to our college. I’ve been meaning to volunteer. I’ve been avoiding classical music. The best hours are at night when I can’t be sure if I’m dreaming.

Just the other day, I was moving the dust. The house was whipped by thunder. I covered my head. My arms were wet wood. I didn’t think of God. I got onto the floor. Before, I’d sat here like this. You were falling asleep. You put your hand on my shoulder. Isn’t it something, you asked. I knew what you meant.

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Get your feet ON the furniture!

During this weekend's exciting tax holiday, we ordered a certain mid-century style chair I've had my eye on forever:

Image Source: Room and Board

The Sanna chair could easily have come out of the offices of Sterling Cooper, but has just a little more cushioning (for the just a little more cushioning I have, if you know what I mean).  And I love the interesting, almost sculptural walnut frame.

Now, for the next decorating challenge: what ottoman to pair with it?

Unlike its more expensive doppelganger, the DWR Jens chair, the Sanna doesn't come with a matching ottoman.  We could get an ottoman from R&B and upholster it in the same fabric, but I'm not sure it's worth the cost to custom upholster a piece that doesn't even match the chair.  Rather than going with something matchy matchy, I thought it'd be fun to pair the chair with something more quirky or unexpected.

What do you think of these options?

Option 1: Purchasing a cheap cube ottoman from Overstock and covering one of the fabrics I'm currently using for our throw pillows (citrine Imperial Trellis or Chiang Mai Dragon).

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Option 2: Rustic burlap ottoman, like the Upcycle Ottoman from Gus:

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Option 3: A storage ottoman, with a pop of color, like this one from Urban Outfitters (but in orange)

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Option 4: The Yanagi Butterfly Stool (or, more likely, its repro at Overstock):

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Option 5: A quirky geometric or Suzani design, like this (way too expensive) Arabesque ottoman

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Option 6: A tres adorable pouf covered in felt flowers, like this one from Modern Dose:

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Option 7: A whimsical pouf made with remnants of circus tarps, from Viva Terra:

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Do you like any of these options?  Can you suggest any cheaper, more exciting alternatives?

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