Adore your floor..

I am loving Robyn Cosgrove's Alahambra line. The graphic patterns and punches of color would ground any room beautifully.

Want: Modern Vintage Florals

I'm frequently impressed by the preponderance of pretty but affordable home goods available at Urban Outfitters. Right now, I'm absolutely loving these "modern vintage" floral prints popping up all over the site. Even though I have nowhere to put it, I'm dying to get the small faded floral rug at the bottom for just $18.

1. Russian Scarf Medallion Shams ($36) 2. Striped Cabbage Rose Shower Curtain ($38) 3. 2x3 Faded Rose Rug ($18)

Inspiration 3.4

Yup, that's right. I'm going to start rolling event styling ideas into the daily inspiration. When else can you create something as awesome as this? Love this idea for a lush, bright wedding inspired by India.

Image Credit: Chris Everard

Cute Rugs from Urban Outfitters

I am one of the biggest defenders of Urban Outfitters. I am constantly impressed by how far they have come from strictly dorm-room decor, and I constantly find the store stocked with fun, cheap and stylish products, like these affordable but fun rugs. Love the bold graphics, vibrant florals and witty designs...and with prices ranging from $18-68, what's not to love? Buy here.

Come Hither

You know when you watch a scary movie and the main character walks up to a creepy building or room. Most of us think "Don't go in there!" Why do they always go in?! I always think, "I would NEVER walk in!" What if you walked up to a doorway that looked like this? I think I would take a chance on facing my doom, just to see the rest of this place:)

Via: Marie Claire Maison?

The Sophisticated Helen Green

Pick up a copy of England's House and Garden or Home and Gardens' Magazines and you are sure to find the work of Interior Designer, Helen Green. She has wonderful streamlined, sophisticated style. Green describes her style as cool contemporary, modern, precise, harmonious and elegant. Above is London Triplex she recently designed for client.
Her palette is often soft neutrals, which we all know I love here at Willow Decor. Green mentioned in a recent interview that in central London, with the homes interesting architecture, she felt color doesn’t really work. "In a sophisticated house where you’ve got a sophisticated palette of greys, for example, splashes of colour like a red cushion doesn’t work for me." Having moved into a historic home with many interesting architectural details I have also found myself moving toward a more neutral palette. Like Green, I felt this was a better way for the room to reveal its exceptional bones. This is such a wonderful dining room. I adore the gray blue color scheme. Green keeps the architectural details the focus of this room but enhances them by accenting them with mirrors. Notice the mirrors incorporated into the wall panels above. And, if you look again at the living room photo above you will notice mirrors built in, flanking the windows. I love this master bedroom. The room's architecture is front and center and beautifully enhanced by a soothing palette of beige. The furniture is a mix of what we call classic contemporary. (The silver hot chocolate pot and the roses add the subtle bling!)
Above is the Guest room -streamlined, sophisticated and very inviting.

Now let's have a look at her own personal residence in London. It is always interesting to me how a designer's home often parallels a clients. I prefer to work with clients that have similar taste and want to achieve a similar design aesthetic. The process becomes more exciting for me, because finding the perfect fabric, paint, or marble for client I get as excited as if I found it for myself.

Here is Green's living room. Again the palette is soothing, drapes match the walls for softness, and the focus remains on the beautiful furniture and the rooms mouldings and window. Green herself defines her house as the reflection of "a modern-classic style achieved by means of a selection of contemporary furniture and a collection of antiques, drawings and paintings".

The master bedroom is elegant is soothing. The blue color, chosen for the silk-upholstered walls and sofa, contrasts with the darker shades of the rest of the furniture.
One of the designer’s favorite rooms is her kitchen, a spacious area that looks out onto the beautiful gardens. Though I personally prefer a white kitchen, I do like Green's cabinets. I think the wood tone is very rich and the crystal chandelier gives the space and unexpected glamour. Notice how similar her dining chairs are to the ones above in her clients dining room.

Here is a photo of her lovely garden and entertaining area. No wonder she loves the kitchen looking out onto it. This is a place that reflects her maxim in interior decoration: "always follow your own instinct" Sophisticated and elegant.

Green has launched two wonderful furniture lines and has a line of carpets and fabrics. For more of Helen Green's work and her furniture check out her website here.

(all photos Helen Green London)

Those White and Cream Cow Hide Rugs

Suzanne Kasler

I am really enamored with white/cream cow hide rugs. They seem to add another layer of richness and beauty to so many different style interiors. Here is a lovely room designed by the wonderful Suzanne Kasler. Southern Accents
I especially love cow hide rugs over sisal or seagrass. In this room the rug seems to compliment all furnishings; notice the side table and Ghost chair. Jan Showers

The combination of the natural floor covering and the sumptuousness of the cow hide really speaks to me.

Cote de Texas

I think they add a luxurious layer of texture and interest to room. Here is the wonderful bedroom of Sally Wheat, brought to us by Joni of Cote de Texas. You can read all about the rest of Sally's house here. Cote de Texas
Sally renovated the many rooms including the living room. Here is the photo from the cover of Houston House and Home. You can read all about her more recent renovation here.

Material Girls

Here the fabulous Jan Showers layers the cow hide over white rug. It adds a layer of richness to this room. Veranda

Though not quite cream, I wanted to include Vincent Wolfe's gorgeous room. Here the cow hide is layered over a lighter rug and creates a luxurious effect.

uktv

=The cow hides seem to work in many different decors. Here it looks fabulous in this more masculine and modern room.

tbird
Of course in more modern interiors, like this bedroom the cow hide softens the hard edges of the furniture and the space.

Kim Christie
They also look beautiful laying on a hardwood floor - In this room I love the mix of the hard lines of the mirrors and coffee tables with the softness of linen sofa, throw and cow hide rug.
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I find the cowhide rug a more interesting choice than the traditional needlepoint or aubusson rug. With the yellow chairs, it adds a layer of unexpected edginess to this room.
The darker floors also really make the rug stand out.

decorpad

Finally here is one my favorite rooms. I think the the cow hide rug looks so lovely in this very neutral interior. What do think?

Click on Hooked on Houses to see what everyone else is hooked on!

Friday Favorite: Anna Maria Horner

Happy Friday! This week went by very quickly and I haven't had a chance to post very much. I didn't want to leave all of you hanging for the weekend, so I thought I would share a new favorite website. If you need to get a refill on spectacular color, hop on over to Anna Maria Horner's site. Its so fun! I love these pretty rugs, they are like a party for your floors:)

You can also buy beautiful fabrics, sewing patterns, and smaller pieces of fabrics. I love these for smaller projects or for projects w/out large budgets. Now, I'm going to imagine how I could use some of these for myself!
Have a great (and creative) weekend:)

Madeline Weinrib Rugs.

The red "Emma" rug was listed on Design Sponge's rug roundup. It is made by Madeline Weinrib, along with the other rugs pictured. I think if I could make the perfect rugs for myself, they would look just like these.