Tuesday, May 24, 2011

My Painted & Stenciled Rug AND a Stencil Giveaway

If you've been following my blog, you know I have been slowly updating my office.  It is an office that also serves as a toy storage room and a guest room (futon is dragged up from the basement when guests come into town).  There were 2 inspirations for my office makeover: 1) Schumacher's Chiang Mai Dragon fabric in aquamarine (which I adore) and 2) incorporating a loose interpretation of a bold patterned rug (like Madeline Weinrib's Mandala) but in subdued colors.

So, not willing to spend money on a Weinrib rug and having a difficult time finding a rug in the perfect color, I set off to create my 'own' version.

First, I started with an inexpensive, flat weave rug in a neutral color.  This is where Ikea's Erslev rug comes into play for $29.99.
I wanted to the base of the rug to be a pastel orange/pink color - similar to a peachy color.  I thought this would complement the coral color found in the chiang mai fabric.  I chose BM's 064 Nautilus Shell no VOC latex paint- the perfect peach color to create a calming effect.  Here, I started my first coat.


I used a 4 inch roller and rolled away.  The rug ended up taking 3 coats of paint!  After the rug dried, I was ready for my stencil!  Here is the stencil taped onto my painted rug.


You can hardly tell a color difference because the peach color is very subdued, but in person it looks great.  Like I mentioned before, I wanted a very loose interpretation of the Mandala rug.

I contacted Olive from Olive Leaf Stencils and they agreed to let me try one of their stencils!!  It was a difficult to choose just one because they are all SO fabulous, but I finally decided on the chrysanthemum stencil no. 2.  I liked it for it's boldness and whimsy.


Since the rug was textured, the stencil didn't lay entirely flat.  So after taping it down,  I used heavy objects like these books to add some weight to ensure the stencil lay flat.  You can see here, I used a foam brush to paint the stencil.  


I just dabbed the paint onto the stencil.  I never brushed it - just dabbed the paint on.  Seriously, it was super easy and worked great.  After, doing a total of five stencils I was so happy with the end result.  


What do you think??  Another view:


A complete view of my office:



Don't worry, I plan on changing the fabric on my valences and do you see my dyed lampshade?  And, I couldn't end this post without inserting a picture of my Schumacher Chiang Mai pillows that gave me the color inspiration:

{my inspiration board will be coming down and a FABULOUS mirror will be coming soon!}


So, now here's the part you've been waiting for....the Olive Leaf Stencils Giveaway!!  

To enter:  Go to their site, come back, make sure you're a follower and comment on your favorite stencil.  Easy peasy.  The winner will receive the stencil of their choice worth up to $60!!!!!

For extra entries: 1) tweet about the giveaway and/or 2) blog about the giveaway!!! 

Giveaway ends Thursday night!!!  Good Luck!

31 comments:

  1. Fran, your rug is perfect! Love the subtle colors you chose and your office is so fresh. Can't wait to see the mirror.

    What a nice giveaway! I was just looking for a stencil for our foyer. Would love to win Noelle's pattern. Thank you!

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  2. Fran, I LOVE the way it turned out, your office looks phenomenal! Congrats, and have fun with your giveaway :)

    xxMelissa

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  3. Wow--Look at you! Your rug looks amazing. Actually your whole office looks amazing. I too can't wait to see the mirror. I've been thinking of making one myself...I'll just have to wait and see what yours looks like.

    Don't know if I have the patience to stencil a rug but if I ever did, I think Chrysanthemum no. 1 would be perfect.

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  4. I just found your blog--and count me in as your newest follower!! I love love love what you did with this rug. I have actually been planning on painting an old rug of ours..was planning on using a chevron pattern, but after seeing these, I am loving the Moroccan Tile no. 2!!

    Thanks again for the tips!

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  5. Beautiful! Your rug and office look great! I would love the stencil you used. And I am a follower.

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  6. I love all the large trees! What a statement... the birches look so amazing in silver.

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  7. Your office looks great and the rug is fantastic! I am loving the Chrysanthemum no. 1!

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  8. What a GENIUS DIY! Your office is looking adorable!

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  9. Silver Birches is my favorite. Thanks for hosting

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  10. What a pretty office you have;)
    That rug looks fantastic! Love;)
    I don`t know if you saw my DIY painted rug, Just for the case you haven`t:)

    http://pudel-design.blogspot.com/2011/05/carpet-reveal.html

    Lovely greetings...;)

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  11. Here's what I like about this project:

    1) It took a lot of ingenuity.
    2) It is inexpensive enough to toss if there's a goof.
    3) It's neutral enough to use for years.
    4) It's warm and pretty and FABULOUS!!

    My favorite design is the art deco fan flowers!

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  12. It looks amazing Fran! That pattern would be great on a wall or a dresser-or used in a nursery...just saying. You office looks so nice.

    I love so many of their patterns, just bookmarked the page. I think the Woven and Nautical patterns are two of my favs though. Great giveaway.

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  13. Oh wow! This rug does NOT look diy, it looks amazing! Love the stencil you chose. Now I can't wait to see the mirror :)

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  14. Amazing job on your rug Fran, it turned out beautiful. I would love to win an Olive Leaf stencil, it is so hard to choose, they are all amazing. I would either choose Peony #2 or Noelle. I'm off to tweet about it.

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  15. First of all, bravo on an amazing job. It's seriously hard to decide on any of the gorgeous stencils. I'm amazed at the selection. I think I'd have to say the woven or geometric patterns are my 2 favs.

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  16. Your rug turned out great! I'm wondering if I can try this project.... I love the Ikat #1 at Olive Leaf Stencils... (I follow you on Google reader)

    --Heidi

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  17. i love the chrysanthemum stencil..and absolutely love the rug!! great job..have a lovely day..xx meenal

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  18. I love it. So glad you did tone on tone, its such a subtle beauty.

    I'd love to make something out of chrysanthemum #1... just don't know what yet!

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  19. Your rug is AMAZING- seriously wowed by that one...the whole office is fabulous. And great giveaway- love OL! My favourite is Ikat 1. Thanks!!!

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  20. Fran, the rug looks awesome!!! I love, love, love the Noelle's Pattern!!
    - Cristiana

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  21. The rug turned out beautifully, Fran! Looks very professional--and love your choice of stencil! I love Olive Leaf stencils too and am pretty crazy about Spring Buds.

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  22. Damask no. 1 is just lovely! I want to do my staircase in it! I love your rug idea too!

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  23. I am totally in awe. I love it!!! Great job and I love your blog too, glad I found you :)

    swirlsofhappy.blogspot.com

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  24. Fantastic! Very pretty in the simple shades. I will have to try this...thanks for the inspiration! Great blog, too!

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  25. Hi there! I found your blog while doing some visual research on a DIY stencil flat rug. Thank you so much for the great tutorial! It's such a fun way to dress up an inexpensive plain rug and it turned out awesome. I liked the results so much that I featured one of your pictures on my blog, with a credit of course.

    I might have give this one a try. If my 21 month old lets me, that is.

    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  26. Hi, I'm new to your site. I've been browsing design sites lately as we're buying a new house and I'm looking for a neutral/bright paint color for the walls, and I love yours! Would you be so kind as to share the name of your paint color please?? Thanks so much!

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  27. Just came across your blog. The rug is very pretty. I am most intrigued with your lamp though, because I do not see a cord. I am currently renting, and have a table mid-room that I would love have a lamp on. There is no floor plug though. Ive searched for a battery powered lamp, but the results are far from pretty. What's your secret?

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  28. Hi.. I just came across your post. I was planning to get a light colored flat weave rug like the ikea one and paint it bright orange. But was wondering if I coat the entire rug with paint, would it become too stiff and unusable? I want to use it over my carpet in the living area. How was the texture of yours after painting it entirely? Please let me know if there is something extra i should add to make it not too stiff?

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