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Annie Elliott Design, Washington DC

Annie Elliott Design

Greater Washington DC

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Bossy color’s living room, Part 5: Kickin’ it into high gear (Or: Oh good Lord, not the rug again)

Annie Elliott | February 14, 2010

So. Back to me.


Aren’t you getting sick of me talking about my living room? I’M sick of me. I know my husband is sick of me. (Happy Valentine’s Day, darling!)

But this is kind of his fault.

He recently informed me that we would be hosting a party in EARLY MARCH. This is D.C….I believe it’s a fundraiser for someone running for something.

Not important. What is important is that I will not have a bunch of people who don’t already know and love me passing judgment on an interior designer’s own stuck-in-limbo living room. I. Will. NOT. (I think I actually stamped my foot when I was having this conversation with my husband. Mature, right?)


To my husband’s great credit, he didn’t try to talk me down from my hysteria by saying dumb things like, oh, it doesn’t matter, or, no one will notice, or, you’re your own worst critic, blah blah blah. No, he just heaved a big sigh and shook his head. (This is why I love you! Happy Valentine’s Day again, darling!)


So the living room project is now officially in high gear.

Knowing that we always start with the rug, I bit the bullet and ordered this Savafieh rug, mostly because it was not $12,000, which is how much the OTHER rug I tried to order turned out to be.


I do not yet have the rug. Thanks to Snowpocalypse parts Un et Deux, the rug currently is resting comfortably in a warehouse in Landover, Maryland.

The wait is killing me. It was supposed to have arrived last Monday. Thanks to UPS’s very fancy tracking system, I’ve been monitoring the rug’s progress online: Landover. Landover. Landover.

The rug’s success or failure will depend on that background color. If it’s more blue than green, we’ll be fine. If it’s minty, back it goes. I tried ordering from RugStudio this time, so I’ll let you know how that turns out.

In general, I prefer older rugs for my own house. The problem is that the designs can get really intricate. These were the (most recent) runners-up, both from Rugman. This Kashmar:


Which I absolutely LOVE, but it would have dominated the room, and this Kashan rug:


Really different directions. Of these 3, I still think (hope, pray) I made the right decision.

Unless the rug is, in fact, mint green. In which case, I’m toast.

Category: Living Room + Family Room, Rugs

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Happy Wallpaper Wednesday! Today we’re talking about one of my favorite things in the whole world: grasscloth. (Which technically makes today *Wallcovering* Wednesday, but tomayto tomahto.) Most grasscloth is made of actual grasses that have been washed, dried, bleached or dyed, and glued to paper. Wallcovering made of sisal, seagrass, raffia, or hemp also is placed under the heading “grasscloth.” Talk about timeless style: while grasscloth had a popularity surge in the 1960s and 70s (thanks to a cultural obsession with living in nature), its first known use was in 107 AD, in China ;) Grasscloth has long been appreciated for its insulative properties and durability. From a decorating perspective, I love it because it adds warmth, texture, and dimension to any space. Picture a room painted white, and then imagine that room with an off-white grasscloth on the walls (and, if you’re me, the ceiling). The second room is still light and bright, but it’s cozier and more interesting.Grasscloth can be minimalist in neutral earth tones or maximalist, dyed bold colors, colorfully painted, or appliquéd with spangles, embroidery, or tape trim. It shows its seams when installed, but that’s part of the charm. I love grasscloth in hallways, living spaces, and bedrooms, but I avoid using it in kitchens and steamy bathrooms because I’m nervous about odor retention and excessive moisture.Enough school for the day, but if you remember nothing else: grasscloth enriches every room it graces. Highly recommend.📸 Michael K. Wilkinson@schumacher_midatlantic @schumacher1889 @phillipjeffriesltd

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Oct 3

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You likely know where I stand on pillows: they NEVER should be an afterthought. Check out my latest blog post for recommendations on size, shape, style, and placement. Link in bio. 📸 @stacyzaringoldberg📸 @kipdawkinsphoto📸 @angieseckinger

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Oct 2

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This client’s gorgeous collection of gold icons in the bookcases puts this room in a league of its own. Whenever you have a collection — of ANYTHING: frog figurines, English engravings of flowers or dogs, snow globes — maximize its impact by bringing the objects together and placing them in a prominent place. These icons are breathtaking, and the sheer number invites you to go closer and study them. With reverence.#eastlake #vintagerug #antiquerug

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Sep 28

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Happy Fall! Ironic, isn’t it, that fall weather is cool, but the colors we associate with the season are warm? The earthy orange grasscloth in this foyer is undeniably “fall” to me. Add deep, warm versions of green and blue, et voilà: a cozy, inviting, autumnal space.

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Sep 23

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For this week’s Wallpaper Wednesday we go into the Woods… Woods is a great example of Cole & Son’s innovation in serigraphy, a traditional method of screen printing. The pattern is available on fabric and wallpaper in a variety of soothing yet elegant colorways. Due (I’m sure) to the booming success of the original, there are now some whimsical variations on Woods: Cole & Son added metallic stars to some colorways and pears to others. As you may imagine, however, this traditionalist prefers the original 🙂For some reason, Woods is especially popular for nurseries. Maybe those babies really wanted out of their cribs. 👶🏼In 2005, Woods deservedly won the ELLE Decoration International Design Award for Wallcovering of the Year. And it’s still going strong.

annieelliottdesign

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Sep 22

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“Isn’t ‘modern farmhouse’ over yet?” I loved speaking with @authordinacheney @washingtonpost about the worst interior design trends! Turns out I’m not the only designer with strong opinions 😊@vincentewolfdesigns @kimletgordon @maxsinsteden #interiordesign #washingtonpost #designopinions #annieelliottdesign

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Sep 18

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Best part of being an interior designer is using your own home as a playground for creative ideas! We changed the paint in our living room again and here’s how it looks now! #interiordesign

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Sep 17

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When you become an empty nester, when is it ok to reclaim your adult child’s space? Check out my latest blog post for my recommendations on how to approach empty nesting!📸 @stacyzaringoldberg📸 @kipdawkinsphoto📸 Michael Wilkinson📸 @angieseckinger

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Sep 10

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Pink, green, and a splash of dark orange come together to create this sunny, summery bedroom 🪷
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