Time: 3 hours (not including drying time)

Cost: Free (everything was on hand)

Basic Steps:

1. Prep and prime. Vacuum the rug thoroughly and prepare your work area. Roll on the first coat of primer. Don’t forget to paint the edges of your rug! Let dry overnight.

Did the rug soak up all of the primer? Is it dry? If so, add another coat.

2. Paint your base color. You should have a fairly even coat of primer on your rug, so now you can roll on your base color. The rug will look splotchy and seem like it’s sucking up all of your paint. Don’t worry! After a coat or two of the base color, it will even out and start drying faster. Let dry thoroughly between coats. I think it’s best to let each coat dry overnight. Two to three coats are needed to get a nice, even base.

3. Add the design. Using painters’ tape, mask off your design or use a stencil. Or get really wild and paint something freehand! I wanted something simple and graphic, and since this was the entryway to the family room, I thought an arrow pointing the way would be perfect. If you work with painters’ tape, use the handle of your paintbrush to really push the tape down on the bumpy surface. Know that if you want straight lines, you will still have some touching up to do. Apply your paint in an up-and-down pouncing stroke with the sponge brush to push the paint into the grooves and keep your paint from spreading under the tape. The acrylic craft paint should dry within an hour. Go back over it and touch up any lighter areas, and then very carefully remove your tape.

4. Finish it off. Use your small, flat angled brush to touch up your lines. This is kind of tedious, but I found it relaxing in a way, as it requires a steady hand and total concentration. Very Zen. Once your design is dry, finish it off with a coat of polyurethane. You’ll notice how easily this goes on because of all the paint on your rug!

That’s it. You’re done! The rug is incredibly durable and quite a conversation piece. Your friends will exclaim, “You painted a rug???” Yep. Sure did. — Jennifer

Have a Before & After you’d like to share? Shoot me an email with your images right here! (Low res, under 500k per image, please.)

CLICK HERE for to see Solana’s finished pet-supply cabinet after the jump!
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Normally I’m someone who knows exactly what I want. I’m not known for holding back my opinions and I’ve never been slow to make a decision and move forward. But over the past year or so, I’ve felt this subtle, internal shift that I’ve had a hard time understanding and fully adjusting to. Maybe it’s related to my impending 30th birthday or the natural way people grow and change over the years, but when I pick my head up from my computer and look around my home these days, I’m not connecting with the things around me anymore.

As my work load has increased over the years, I think I’ve subconsciously surrounded myself with things as a way of comforting myself. Too tired to get out, see friends or work out? I’ll just buy something small and pretty to distract myself. While this may not sound like a very important problem to have (I know there are more pressing issues in the world), I would gladly give away 90% of the things in my apartment to have a few more moments of inner peace and a greater grasp on what my shifting personal style really is.

Our move into a new apartment (hopefully in the next month or two) couldn’t have come at a better time. As I realize I’m no longer the same girl who bought all the things around me five or six years ago, I’m recognizing that I need a fresh start. So I decided to start selling off the things that don’t speak to me anymore and focus on creating mood boards that speak to the more “grown up” style I feel slowly evolving and revealing itself to me. While things are still not fully formed, I thought I’d share some of them here today. While I still love a great pattern, I feel the need to strip down all the clutter in my life and focus on investing in a few key things. So I rounded up those few key things I’d like to invest in- from the perfect pair of sunglasses to a rug I’ve literally started a savings account for.

Do any of you keep “grown up” style boards? I would love to see what you guys create that speaks to the more sophisticated version of yourself. I think the fact that I still put quotation marks around the words “grown up” means I’m not really there yet, but I hope you know what I mean. I’d love to see (and find a kindred spirt in) those collections that speak to the style we hope to fully embody one day. xo, grace

Image above, clockwise from top left: Gold Metallic iPad Sleeve $125, Siwa String & Button Envelope $48 (I love this weathered black work), Vintage Kilim Rug (This rug rocks my WORLD), Red Enamel Pin $110 (I’m so bummed this just sold!), “Les Touches” fabric by Brunschwig & Fils (I love this sort of abstract animal print feel), Fairfax Pendant $275 (So sophisticated and chic), Sailor Sweater $88 (This is my dream look, head to toe)

Image above, clockwise from top left: Tie Dyed Throw $135, Cutler and Gross Sunglasses $420, I’m perpetually in love with white writing on tan paper (via Sunday Suppers), Vintage Red Spoon $18, Dizzy Dot Bag $145, Nailhead Strip $7.95, Antique Butcher Block Table $3295, Antique Crewelwork Settee $3995

Image above, clockwise from top left: Vintage Kilim Rug (I am seriously saving up for this), Stella Velvet Pillow $229 (So soft and perfect for napping), Dot to Dot Studs $45, Quips + Queries Cards by Russell + Hazel $24

*P.S. I finally got a Wacom tablet! I’ve wanted one for years and finally decided it would be a fun way to play around with customizing images on the site. After two hours of playing with it I managed to successfully put my name on the top picture. Looks like I’m gonna need some practice…

I’ve only been inside an Hermes store once to buy a Man of Honor gift for my best bud Bryan (he’s über fashionable), and I’ll never forget the overwhelming urge I had to throw a few empty boxes under my arm and bolt for the door. I didn’t even want anything to put in them; I just wanted the colorful boxes. So when I saw this image of Flor’s new “Sophistikat” floor tiles and the gorgeous stack of Hermes-style boxes in the back, I was in heaven. Something about this combination feels so sophisticated and classic, and it manages to straddle that line between masculine and feminine. I’ve always loved Flor’s tiles for spaces that need a dash of pattern, so this ikat style is a great new addition to their lineup. And hey, if you’ve got some gorgeous orange accessories to place near them, you know it’s going to look amazing. Click here to check out Flor’s Sophistikat tiles ($5.20/sq ft) and to pick up a few online. xo, grace

*Click here for some more ikat-themed pieces in my mini-trend roundup from a while back . . .

Sarah used a couple coats of primer and simple acrylic paints to completely transform the smooth side of these foam mats into a bountiful graphic garden. I love the fun colors and the beautifully bright florals, which seem so much more enjoyable for kids than the standard primary color blocking. You can read more about how Sarah completed this look here on her site. Thanks for sharing, Sarah! — Kate

Have a Before & After you’d like to share? Shoot me an email with your images right here! (Low res, under 500k per image, please.)

I’ve never been daring enough to own a sofa like this, but this project from Tatiana proves that sometimes the more daring the better. Bold sofa lines and bold patterns are a match made in heaven in this case. While I’m usually a bit hesitant to paint natural wood, I think the dark frame with the dark print is working quite well, and the fun pillows are perfection. I’m greatly inspired by designers who choose to make statements, and I will definitely use this sofa as motivation to take my own design risks. Great job, Tatiana!

This new rug (and the full collection) will be on display at the nanimarquina booth next week for Maison et Objet in France. If you’re lucky enough to be attending the show, I highly suggest checking it out — their work never disappoints. xo, grace