For my 35th birthday, Emily surprised me by showing up in a rented passenger van full of our best friends. She drove us all up the freeway to the amusement park Magic Mountain for a day of roller coasters and thrill rides. Now, if you know Emily, you know how much she hates driving, so hauling a big 12 passenger van up the I-5 during morning rush hour was pretty remarkable – 6 months pregnant. But even more remarkable were the t-shirts she had made for the occasion, which everyone wore the entire day – a screen printed silhouette of a picture of me at 17, naked behind an electric guitar, smirking carelessly into the distance.
It wasn’t until I stumbled off the first roller coaster that I realized how ironic the shirt actually was. That care-free 17-year-old on my chest would have yeeehawww’ed his way back into line for the next go-round, he would have scream-laughed through every death-defying, tummy-twirling ride until the park closed. 35-year-old me however, needed a long sit-down and a Dramamine suppository. Being bashed and sloshed and zipped around at high G-forces was something that my younger body loved, but now, middle-aged and out of shape, it felt like a torture chamber, like Magic Mountain was interrogating me in a black site about future terrorist plots I had no knowledge of. I wanted to barf and sob. I did my best to avoid going on any more rides that day, but was my b-day so I had to suck it up and enjoy the rest of the day with everyone. And with every ride I understood more and more the plight of kids who get stuck in tires as they roll down hills. It was my, like, least favorite feeling. Ever.
And I think that’s how my poor dog Oscar feels about any moving vehicle. So I’m writing for some help. Dog owners, where ya at?
We have to move our pups up to Portland in a couple of weeks and we’re stressing about which way is the best way to do it.
A little about the doggies – they’re one-and-a-half-year-old rescues who have some skittishness issues already, don’t trust many strangers, and are very co-dependent. Buttercup fares pretty well in a car, has never puked or whined, and she just lays down in the back or tries to come upfront with us. Oscar on the other hand, despises anything that moves, even anything in the vicinity of anything that moves. Like, he stops dead in his tracks when we get near the upper-upper steps of a dock, even when the boat is still fifty yards away. In a car, it’s like trying to wrangle a wild boar into a steam shower, and when you finally get him in, it’s like someone has opened a spigot of drool in the poor guy’s mouth, then he shivers and pukes the whole time the car is in motion. It’s so, so sad.
We basically only have two ways to get these fuzzballs up north with us – by car or on the plane. And I’d love to hear your advice. You’ve heard what happens in a car, I can only imagine what will happen on a plane. And we can’t register him as a support dog. At least as far as I can learn online.
I know that back in the old days, people used to fly with dogs packed under the plane no problem. This was back before every dog owner claimed them as “support animals” and were allowed to bring them on board the plane. But we have to take Alaska Airlines and they have really cracked down on what is permissible for a support animal and we definitely don’t have the official paperwork for that.
So. It’s either in a crate underneath the plane, which is about a two and a half hour flight (plus the hour-long drive to the airport, the hour-long check-in, and the half-hour drive from the airport home) or a three-day car trip, which would include two stops overnight on the way.
We’re visiting our vet on Friday to get some advice and anti-anxiety drugs, but I know there are a lot of dog people here on this site and figured I’d ask y’all if you had any experience with traveling with dogs and know the best/most humane way to do it.
Any advice is welcome, I really don’t want my poor little guy to feel like I did after getting off The Riddler’s Revenge. I want him to feel like he’s in high school about to shred a wicked solo on a knock-off Fender. Naked.
Few things really rev people up like pot-fillers – I had no idea. Such was the subject of our first actual farm fight of the renovation. I thought it was a no-brainer that we don’t need one because I rarely used the one we used to have and we don’t have one here and I rarely wish we did. Brian, apparently, had a secret emotional, passionate connection to our former plumbing fixture – a daily connection unbeknownst to me in our LA home. Here’s how it went down: on the day of the post about the prep sink (last week) I was reading comments from you about pot-fillers (which came up because I mentioned that never really used ours) and was innocently wrapping up the design of the kitchen. Brian sauntered downstairs, to me announcing that “‘hey’ I’m was nixing pot filler from the design because we never really used ours and it’s an indicator of a luxury new build”. Ladies, my #1 warning is to wait till coffee kicks in before talking renovation with your partner. He was caught off guard and vehemently disagreed with me insisting that he used it ALL THE TIME in our old house and misses it every. single. day. We were not on the same page and it seemed worthy of a discussion here: Pot-fillers – ostentatious luxury or daily utility of convenience? Let’s spout off:
I’ve had a winding relationship with pot-fillers myself and my opinion on them has flip-flopped a few times over the years. When I first heard about them I thought they were pretty, but kinda silly, as if the added real estate from the sink to the stove warranted additional plumbing. Seemed to me like a rich person’s kitchen feature. But that was when I was 28. Before I cooked, before I had kids, and certainly before I could afford to renovate a kitchen with such luxuries or even know what elements should go into a well-designed kitchen renovation.
Cut to 2016 when we were planning out my first kitchen renovation in the LA house and I wanted a pot-filler – maybe I was ready for more adult kitchen elements, thinking that IF you are renovating you obviously should make choices that align with what a “nice” kitchen should have. I think at this point Brian could take it or leave it because we had never had one. But you don’t want to miss an opportunity when renovating, right? Over those 3 years living there I rarely used it, so it was mostly for jewelry – for looks and admittedly I do LOVE the way it looks. Brian had a different experience. Looking back I realized that those years were when Brian actually cooked the most, and we made a lot of mac and cheese, pasta, and rice for the kids. So he is very attached to this bit of plumbing because he came to really use and rely on it, and I get that. So let’s explore the pros and cons from my point of view, on the inflammatory pot-filler.
If you have a big kitchen having a pot filler can be a convenience, for sure. We are not big pasta and rice people (besides kids stuff) but filling up huge stock pots for broth would be helpful, and surely for boiling potatoes or corn on the cob, which can get heavy. So if you are you big stove pot people it’s nice to have and you can just fill up your pot while on the stove instead of carrying it full from sink to stove. I think we all can agree that this is a bit silly/unnecessary (a comment that Brian did NOT respond well to) but it absolutely depends on your kitchen size and your lifestyle (and your arm strength haha).
They are very, very pretty – if you are into plumbing fixtures, which most designers are – then it’s another pretty feature in your kitchen. They are a piece of jewelry that can break up a wall of tile, stone, or drywall (if you are into that), bring some metallic shine over your range, and tie in with your sink faucet finish. Strictly as a design element – they are a nice touch.
Their shape can add an architectural and sculptural element. Speaking simply design here, they articulate out (which we love) and when they recess back they look cool and have a weird shape that contrasts nicely with the straightness of cabinetry and stoves.
They can make a kitchen look more custom, high-end, and luxurious. The question you have to ask yourself is if that is what you really want anyway (this is my issue). Like jewelry, I think that they add elegance. From my perspective “elegance” has not been an adjective that we have used to describe our future farm kitchen – it’s more “charming, utilitarian, warm, soul-full, sweet, practical”. No glamour or elegance needed, so I felt that maybe no pot-filler was needed.
The high spout allows for other “around the houses” uses, especially if your sink faucet isn’t a gooseneck or bridge (high). Think about filling flower buckets and vases, mop buckets, and watering cans for plants. Right now I tend to go to the hall bath or our bathtub to fill up big watering cans so, yes, that could be very useful. People who drink a lot of tea with tea kettles love the convenience, too.
Pot fillers are good for resale (there are literally no facts to back this up, it’s just my hypothesis just like anything that seems like a luxury is good for resale). It is something that people see as a luxury that might shift their emotions towards a kitchen when looking to buy. I’m not saying that it should, but I think it does.
It adds to your budget, but not as much as I thought. When you are gutting a kitchen and moving a lot of plumbing it can feel like adding a pot filler is nominal, but it is still likely a couple of hundred dollars in labor before the fixture itself. It’s only a cold water line which can be small. It really depends on how far away it is from a water source for how expensive it is. if you are just updating and not gutting, it’s harder to add (unless you have access through the back wall or if you do a countertop pot filler if you are changing out cabinetry). But if you are doing a full gut remodel then it’s much easier. Now the fixture itself can vary from $200 – $2K so that’s where you’ll spend the bulk of it.
***I’d like to point out that you still have to haul the pot OFF of the stove back to the sink to drain, so put your burly friend’s number on speed dial.
They aren’t “necessary”, technically. Unlike the sink faucet, a pot-filler is a “good to have” and I think it’s important to question all of your “good to haves” in your home to make sure that you are putting in something you USE, not just something you like. Ahem. Hello, pot? Kettle calling. I know I have a lot of chairs that I LOVE that people don’t necessarily sit in, but going forward this is not the goal. Designers are certainly guilty of this crime, which in my past I didn’t think was a big deal but with the planet screaming at us to stop consuming I currently really think we should lean away from things that are solely pretty, without function. If you use it? Great. If you don’t think you will, rethink it.
They are a sign of luxury and newer construction. This is both a pro and a con depending on what you are going for, but for our house this was is the best “con” against a pot-filler for me and one that I attached my argument to quickly. They are a newer invention and therefore do signal a “new build”. They may send a message of “new and fancy” which may or may not be the message you want to send. It’s not the message I want to send so for me it was an easy “nix”.
In short – pot-fillers are for convenience and beauty, but that’s about it. So now you have to weigh your affection towards both of those attributes and how high they are on your priority list. For Brian it’s one of the few things he has put his foot down on (thus the fight) because he uses it a lot, and who am I to deprive him of his relationship towards this plumbing fixture. I personally love how some of them look (not all of them) and when done right don’t necessarily look like new construction. Much like a beverage or freezer drawer they indicate new remodel, but not necessarily “luxury”. DeVOL designs their kitchens for utility first and they always put in a po-filler.
We ended the fight with me saying “just because we like something doesn’t mean we should have it if we don’t USE it frequently”, and Brian responding that he promises that he’ll use it, every. single. day. Deal.
If you think they are silly, dumb, and pretentious, simply don’t put one in. For me it’s like having both trail running shoes and HIIT workout shoes – it really depends on how often you do the two different activities to warrant two different pairs of shoes designed for slightly different utility. Having the daily convenience can bring joy and ease to people’s busy lives – and there should not be any judgment on that. If you are super into design and cook a ton it might be an element you want, but if you aren’t then it might be simply unnecessary. Ultimately, in the scheme of things, like most design elements it’s nothing really to argue about and we felt SO dumb for letting it ruin our morning. Brian won this one pretty quickly because he is so rarely passionate about a design/functional element and as his partner, I wanted to respect his perspective and desires in this renovation process. And listen, I like a pot-filler too so this wasn’t a big concession.
While convenience + beauty = perceived luxury, it actually doesn’t have to be a very expensive one. Plus if you get daily use out of a beautiful convenience, then no, it is not a consumptive waste. So Brian and I came up with an obvious rule for our big purchases – that “liking” and “wanting” a ‘”luxury” isn’t good enough (and it shouldn’t ever have been a good enough reason for us), you have to really use it often and appreciate its use and function to include it in our home – whether it’s a splurge or not. I feel like, despite the national pot-filler divide, THAT is something that we can all agree on.
P.S. I was going to do a roundup of them but generally, you should try to match the style and finish of your sink faucet (IMHO).
You have probably heard of Moroccan rugs. Perhaps you even have one or want one for your home. But did you know that there are different types and styles of Moroccan rugs that have evolved over the years? Yes, there is a wide selection that differs in the way they were created, where they are from, and what the designs look like.
If you are interested in learning about the different types and styles of Moroccan rugs, you are in the right place, as Atlas Weavers will share a quick guide for you. This will help you decide which one is the most suitable for your aesthetic:
What Is a Moroccan Rug?
A Moroccan rug is an exquisite rug that is designed and crafted by talented Berber women. It has been considered a representation of different Moroccan cultures and beliefs. They show the artistic capabilities of the local crafters and highlight the diversity of their traditions and cultures.
Beni Ourain Moroccan Rug (Middle Atlas)
Coming from the Middle Atlas region of Morocco, the rugs from Beni Ourain are the most comfortable ones you’ll find. They can add a sense of luxury to any space. They are crafted from 100% sheep wool and are dyed naturally, too. They are perfect for those who want to achieve a natural yet sophisticated look in their home.
Azilal Moroccan Rug (High Atlas)
Rugs from the Azilal region tell stories through the creative patterns and bold colors they use. The base of an Azilal rug is a light shade of ivory, white, or cream, which is the natural undyed shade of the wool used. It is then woven with bright, naturally dyed wool to create incredible designs.
Boucherouite Moroccan Rug (All Tribes)
If you’re looking for a fun and colorful Moroccan rug, your best bet is the Boucherouite rug which can quickly transform any living space. Each rug is unique as it depicts the creativity of the Berber Moroccan crafter who made it. It can add an artistic and cultural flair to your home.
Beni M’guild (Middle Atlas)
Because it can get cold during winter in the western Middle Atlas region of Morocco, the Beni M’guild people create rugs that are thick enough to provide them with warmth and protection. These are handwoven by Berber women crafters using a vertical loom, so they usually have simple geometric designs that run across the carpet. The background of Beni M’guild rugs is often brown, red, and white, but you’ll also find blue ones.
Boujad (Central Plains)
These handwoven pile rugs come from the Haouz region in the Middle Atlas. Boujad rugs are made with soft wool that is naturally dyed in distinct shades of red, orange, and blush pink.
Kilim Moroccan Rug (All Tribes)
Handwoven rugs that are pileless, Kilim rugs are made using a flat-weaving technique. Compared to other rugs, they are less thick, but they’re durable, too. Because they are hand-made, they are often considered the self-expression of the crafter. So, if you want something unique, then you should choose a Kilim rug because you’ll get a one-of-a-kind piece!
Zanafi Rugs (Ouarzazate Region)
Zanafi rugs come from the region of Morocco that’s just in the South of Marrakech. These are flat-woven rugs, too. They are best known for their earthy brown and ivory color and cubic patterns.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are different types and styles of Moroccan rugs to choose from. Whichever one you choose, you’ll surely enjoy a rug that doesn’t just add to your home’s aesthetics but also lend a sense of culture to your space. They’re great conversation pieces, too! Just make sure that you get authentic Moroccan rugs from a trusted source.
Atlas Weavers are your best source ofauthentic Moroccan rugs. You can be sure that every rug is crafted by artistic Berber women. Check out our Moroccan rug collections today, choose what suits your home the best, and we’ll have it delivered to your home!
Just when we thought wicker has been overdone, it proves to be a versatile and ever-evolving design feature that we can’t get enough of. Over the past few years, we have seen wicker lighting and furniture thrive amongst a myriad of styles and now we are certain this design element is not going anywhere. If anything, people are getting more creative and bold with wicker accents, making it an exciting decor choice that transcends coastal and farmhouse styles we typically think of. Once again, wicker is taking on a new form and becoming more modern and cool by the minute. But before I show you just how hip it is, let me let you in on some trivia: despite popular belief, wicker is not a type of material but rather, it describes the technique in which it the material is woven. In fact, wicker is often made of rattan material but not all rattan is woven wicker. It’s a lot to take in, I know. Stay tuned for a post on just that (only half kidding…).
Now, you might be wondering what’s so interesting about wicker now? Well, besides the fact that it adds texture, warmth, and natural elements to a space effortlessly, it’s popping up in more unexpected ways than ever. Hint: Animal sculptures are involved and there IS such thing as wicker motorcycle sculptures and that is just scratching the surface. Allow me to demonstrate the new and exciting wicker decor trends of 2021:
These wicker animal heads by Madrid artist Javier S. Medina are just the weird flair we’ve been hoping for and the fact that they are handmade by Medina (who calls himself a self-taught basketmaker) makes them a spectacular conversation piece. He calls them Eco Animal Trophies and they are in fact, the cruelty-free, vegan-friendly substitute for animal head trophies. Oh, and they are DOPE. Clearly.
Here Benjamin Reynaert styles the buffalo head by mounting it over this bed frame, making it a focal point of the room. Note that the wicker detail provides this otherwise colorful, bold, maximalist room with an organic texture but doesn’t take away from the modern bold style. It’s neutral in color but odd enough that it blends effortlessly in this anything but boring bedroom.
A wicker animal head can also add a sculptural element to a gallery wall. Again, the wicker juxtaposes the colorful, maximalist space making it more dynamic. If you are worried about getting too funky with animal decor, just know that it has its place in minimal neutral homes too. For example…
Anything that is part sculpture part furniture earns a hell yes from us. The Nalgona Chair by Chris Wolston proves that a woven jaw-dropping conversation piece is never a bad idea, and Arent & Pyke expertly use this piece to add some character to this modern coastal Sydney home. The chair is weird and sculptural enough to make a statement but it still compliments the neutral color palette and airy open feel of the space.
This chair was also virtually used in the iconic home by Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters of FORBES+MASTERS and if you haven’t seen it yet, RUN DON’T WALK. They call the space they created “For Children Over The Age of 30” and I just love it so much.
Obviously, we all need a long-necked wicker hat stand? No, not really but if you are looking for a free-standing object that could add height and a bit of weirdness to a shelf, you have my blessing with this one. Even styled alone as just a fun sculptural piece it would turn heads (no pun intended).
See? I told you wicker motorcycle sculptures are happening, and if that’s the case, why not add in some wicker motorcycle boots too? At this point, I’ll take any wicker sculpture any day of the week. They are just too fun!
A wicker accent wall by Atelier Vime is something I had no idea I needed in my life. Just think of the possibilities now that you know a wicker wall is possible?? It can create visual depth to a space that lacks architectural interest, add warmth to a dark space, and bring in a ton of character to a dull room. Atelier Vime makes these wicker panels custom, but a cost-effective and renter-friendly way to replicate the same vibe would be to use a wicker room divider or wicker mural. Yep, if you didn’t know I am going all-in with wicker. Give me all the woven textures!!
In this bathroom, wicker makes another unexpected entrance as a tub covering paired with a matching valance by none other than Atelier Vime. We actually predicted wicker tub exteriors would be a trend in 2021 and I am happy to see it is coming to fruition. But let’s dissect why the wicker element here feels fresh and new 1. Since the tub is not freestanding, the rectangular built-in shape could come across as too boxy, so the woven detail adds movement and 2. The wicker valance complements the tub and helps to bring the eye up so your eye also catches the wood beam ceilings which is a key architectural element of the space.
One thing I have noticed about wicker decor is that nothing compliments it more than–you guessed it–more wicker. Mixing wicker with wicker or any of its close relatives (rattan, cane, bamboo) is an easy way to add even more warmth and natural textures to a room. The above bathroom also proves that wicker and wood are a match made in rustic heaven. Who needs color when you can have varying shades of brown and tan combined with varying weaves and textures? It may sound boring but clearly it is anything but.
Once again, if anything can make the case for wicker everything, it’s Atelier Vime. They do wicker and rattan like nobody else, as is made evident by the wicker pedestal and matching oversized vase combination. The pair creates height and movement not to mention it adds a roman architecture esthetic that we just don’t see enough of nowadays.
Sans the pedestal, the oversized urn-shaped planter is the perfect accent for any entry table or console. It is still oversized and dramatic and if you can style it with a plethora of wild foliage and branches, well, you are the plant goddess I aim to be.
Wicker planters are not revolutionary, but I have been seeing a surge in large basket planters paired with thin trees and branches. I love the one in the above home tour that has a wavy movement to it, making it appear like a soft and flexible woven bag. It leans into the organic and nature-centered style effortlessly and the thin branches only emphasize the oversized look and feel.
Imagine if this pendant wasn’t wicker, but a solid color or metal? It just wouldn’t have the same effect. The weave brings in texture to this otherwise bare staircase, and the size makes it a statement so it can stand alone. In fact, when you are trying to decipher how neutral homes can be minimal but not at all boring, take note of the textures present. Chances are you’ll find wicker, rattan, and knobby woods which bring so much dynamic to a space while maintaining the soft, neutral color palette.
A Captain’s Cottage is a classic canvas for wicker decor, and this moody room proves that wicker can thrive outside light and airy spaces. This wicker pendant complements the dark blues and deep maroon accents and the fact it is oversized brings in an even more dramatic element to the space.
It should come as no surprise that Beata Heuman executes the oversized wicker pendant flawlessly, and shows how they can work with a range of styles and color palettes. On the left, the scalloped wicker pendant complements the traditional farmhouse style and brings in much-needed warmth to the crisp white walls. The kitchen on the right however has a bright modern farmhouse feel making the low hanging oversized pendant appear playful and whimsical.
We are used to seeing long narrow hallways being an avenue for design risks (think wallpaper ceilings, bold paint colors, floor to ceiling gallery walls, etc, etc) so a string of pendant lights is a pretty genius design risk to add to the mix. Besides being functional and adding light to a dim corridor, the different shapes and weaves of the wicker pendants make them feel collected and intentional, adding a lot of personality to the space.
With this room above that has a sitting area and dining area in one, the layout calls for something to break up the room. Over the long farmhouse table, the pair of wicker pendants creates the illusion of two separate zones, and the wicker texture pulls together the minimal coastal style of the whole space.
If you can’t get enough of wicker lighting, show it off by hanging multiple over a long wooden table like the above. It’s so impactful when used in a neutral space so you can keep everything else soft, minimal, and effortless.
The only thing more interesting than the vaulted ceilings here is the not one, not two, not three, but SIX wicker pendants hanging above and around the kitchen island. That design choice alone is cool, but the wicker texture is also important because it makes it so the pendants are not weighing down the whole space and instead, they reflect a light and airy feel. Note that are a lot of fixtures and hanging pieces but the room itself is not overwhelming or chaotic.
If you simply want to dip your toes in wicker and sprinkle in some fisherman meets Italian Riveria flair, look no further than a wicker-wrapped bottle or object. This not-so-new decor piece is making a comeback and it’s not hard to understand why. There is something very old-world Europe about it and it’s a gloriously simple way to liven up your shelves.
Are you over the traditional gallery wall? No problem. Displaying a collection of baskets in varying sizes and colors is a simple and inexpensive way to bring character to a room. The seemingly arbitrary way they are hung up on this wall just adds to the casual and effortless feel of the space, and if you do in fact collect wicker baskets, what better way to display them?
Did you think I would leave you without mentioning wicker lampshades? Well, ye have little faith because I could never. The wicker lampshade trend is not new but it is still going VERY strong (bonus points if it is wicker and scalloped). In fact, I hope it never ever goes away because I may have a few wicker lampshades that will appear in my MOTO (makeover takeover) that is coming to you soon.
Okay, now that I have managed to write the word wicker over 50 times I want to hand it over to you. Do you have any questions? Comments? Concerns? Drop them all below and have yourself a happy Thursday. xx
