A friend of mine is rushing, rushing to finish up the renovations on a summer house he bought last winter so that it will be ready for his August renters. Time is tight, and the last thing he is in need of are some good, cheap floor covers that will be appropriately summery and add some real value to the house. While the "cheap" is the operative word here, that refers to price only, and quality is still important. Here's the list I made for him. Enjoy!
>> Bolon Vinyl Sisal - This chic, matt-like floor covering was invented in Sweden in 1949 for use as "kitchen mats". It comes in many colors and can be mopped down easily.
>> Seagrass Weave Carpet @ 3 Sisal.com's - If you like sisal for it's summery, beachy feeling, seagrass is its much cheaper cousin and is even more rustic and interesting (if you ask me). Seagrass tends to come in a greener hue and thicker weaves. It costs less than half that of most sisals, hemps or jutes.
>> Dash & Albert Cotton Rugs - This is a newly discovered source for light, cotton rugs in colorful weaves are very good prices. Run by Annie Selke, Dash & Albert has a super wide variety of patterns, colors and shapes.
>> LL Bean Braided Wool Rug - There's a little part of me that's very old fashioned and really likes these braided rugs. I first ran into them in Sara Kate's family cabin in the Sierra's and was quickly won over by the bright colors, durable wool material (doesn't stain easily) and affordable price.
>> Pottery Barn Natural Fiber & Cotton Rugs - Though wary of PB furniture, they often have great, affordable floor coverings. Styles change quickly, which is good for seasonal summer stuff. They have some really nice cotton mats with some on sale right now.
>> Madeline Weinrib Carpets - Ok, not cheap, but really beautiful, I tuck this in on the end, because if you ever want to upgrade, MW's richly hued cotton carpets are the nicest I've seen.
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Where can I find that oversized white branch from the first photo?
view partycake's profile
$1,200 for an 8' x 10' Bolon mat is cheap? No thanks.
view felixjones's profile
I've ordered Dash & Albert rugs from http://www.lavenderfieldsonline.com/
I see these rugs in decorating magazines all the time (the one in my dining room has appeared in several mags, which makes me feel so fashionable. ha) and they are an inexpensive way to add color to a room. You can also coordinate throws and pillows in their yummy color combinations.
view colibri's profile
Any other rug companies?
view Icanmakeit's profile
if you want simple and cheap floor coverings, purchasing normal (or what-have-you) carpet from a hardware store or factory direct store is quite the deal. i'm talking $10 per sq. yd. a lot of the time the funkier styled carpets are on sale because no one wants to permanently put it in, but as an accent, it's perfect!
view mgossett's profile