Oh, the pure joy of happy feet! That’s precisely how we’d describe the blissful experience with our brand-new living room rug. From the moment it was unrolled, it surpassed every expectation, proving to be even more plush, luxurious, and utterly amazing than we had dared to imagine. It has truly transformed our living space, imbuing it with an instant sense of warmth and inviting comfort. But before we dive deeper into the glorious details and share a visual feast of its texture and hue, we simply must pause to express our profound gratitude to all of you. The overwhelming wave of support, the boundless kindness, and the continuous stream of hilarity that you infuse into our lives – not only in response to this morning’s major announcement post, but consistently, day after day – is truly humbling, profoundly inspiring, and absolutely extraordinary. So, consider yourselves virtually hugged and kissed! We just sent a big ol’ smooch your way. It means the world to us to have such an incredible community.
Now, let’s bring our focus back to the star of today’s show: Big Green. And what better timing, with St. Patrick’s Day upon us, to introduce this magnificent verdant addition to our home? This rug, affectionately dubbed “Kermit” by our wonderful readers, is more than just a floor covering; it’s a statement, a mood, and a testament to embracing playful design. Its vibrant, lively green instantly catches the eye and lifts the spirits, proving that taking a risk with color can yield the most delightful rewards. It’s a bold choice, perhaps, but one that perfectly encapsulates our evolving approach to making our house truly feel like a home – one filled with personality, comfort, and unexpected charm. The rich, deep pile of this shag rug beckons you to kick off your shoes and sink your toes into its incredible softness, promising an instant upgrade to relaxation levels in our living room.
One of the initial concerns with any new, generously thick rug is often shedding. You might expect tumbleweeds of green fuzz to be rolling around the house, especially given Big Green’s impressive pile height. However, we’re thrilled to report that this has not been the case. Upon its arrival, we gave it a thorough vacuuming, and then another the very next day, primarily to capture any loose fibers that might have been dislodged during shipping and handling. To our delight, the performance has been outstanding. We’ve experienced absolutely no issues with green fluff accumulating everywhere, nor have we encountered any pulled tufts from the vacuum’s suction. This is a significant relief, especially for a family home, and speaks volumes about the quality and durability of the rug. It settles beautifully, maintaining its lush appearance without leaving a trail of green fairy dust across our floors. We’re already envisioning countless cozy evenings and playful moments on this wonderfully robust foundation.
The sheer size of this rug, measuring an expansive 8 x 11 feet, is a game-changer for our sprawling 25 x 15-foot living room. Previously, we had a 5 x 8-foot rug, which, while lovely, felt rather dwarfed in such a grand space. That smaller rug has since found a happy new home in the guest room, where its dimensions are much more appropriate. Big Green, however, commands the living room with a presence that finally feels proportionate and grounding. It effectively defines the seating area, creating a sense of intimacy and scale that was previously lacking. Our next major project involves building a substantial, long console table for the back of the sofa. Once that’s in place, the sofa (which we affectionately call Karl) will be able to move forward by about a foot, resting more firmly on the rug. This adjustment will subtly reduce the amount of rug visible behind Karl, creating an even more balanced and integrated look within the room. It’s all about fine-tuning the spatial relationships to achieve that perfect visual harmony, ensuring every element feels intentional and perfectly placed within our extensive living area. This carefully considered rug placement will not only enhance the room’s aesthetics but also contribute to a more functional and inviting layout.
Of course, this living room transformation is an ongoing journey, and the rug is just a magnificent first step. Our vision extends much further to create a truly cohesive and inviting space. Future plans include upgrading to a deeper and more substantial media cabinet, which will not only enhance functionality but also anchor that wall with a stronger design presence. We’re also eager to hang beautiful curtains, adding softness, texture, and a touch of elegance that will frame our windows and complete the room’s aesthetic. And, naturally, bringing in more art is high on the priority list. Art infuses personality, tells a story, and provides visual interest, transforming walls from mere surfaces into canvases of expression. We understand that right now, as we’re just getting started, the room might still resemble a “big gray box with a fuzzy green rectangle on the floor.” Haha! But that’s the exciting part of the process – watching how things evolve and come to life as we meticulously layer in all sorts of other elements over time. The rug serves as this wonderful, furry, grass-like foundation that we’re metaphorically “planting” and building upon. We have no doubt that as each piece falls into place, this room will fill in nicely, blossoming into a vibrant and comfortable sanctuary. It’s a testament to the power of thoughtful layering in interior design, where each addition contributes to the overall narrative of the home.
Speaking of that fun, vibrant green color, we are absolutely thrilled with its happy-go-lucky tone. It’s not just green; it’s a shade that exudes cheerfulness and vitality, instantly uplifting the ambiance of the entire living room. This particular hue is simply perfect in combination with our existing gray sectional sofa, the subtle pewter tones on the walls, and the dramatic dark ceiling beams. Together, these elements create a harmonious yet dynamic contrast, making the space feel incredibly chipper and significantly less cold than it once did. It has truly transformed the room into a place where we instinctively want to kick off our shoes, settle in, and truly relax. This rug is a deliberate departure from the traditional; it’s definitely not your mother’s classic Persian rug, nor is it your father’s safe, neutral choice. But that’s precisely the point – we are having so much more fun taking design risks in this house. There’s an immense sense of liberation in letting go of the outdated notion that your home must appeal to every single person who walks through the door. Instead, we’re focusing on what speaks strongly to us, what brings us joy and reflects our personal style. This approach allows us to be more authentic in our design choices, making our home feel genuinely special and unique. Moreover, it ensures that our rooms won’t fall into the trap of looking like everyone else’s, which, in our opinion, is a wonderfully refreshing outcome.
While we absolutely adored our first house for its soothing and serene qualities, we must confess, we find ourselves smiling even bigger here. It might sound a little cheesy, but it’s undeniably true. This house, even in its current state of about 80% incompletion in every room, is already such a fun and happy place to live. We genuinely believe that our daughter, Clara, has been a significant inspiration behind what we affectionately call the “Benjamin Button-ization” of our style (you can read more about that fascinating evolution here). Essentially, we’re embracing a looser, less serious, and more playful approach to making this house our home. We’re quickly learning that incorporating playful pops of color, interesting textures, and engaging patterns can effortlessly inject happiness and character into any room. The key, we’ve found, is to skillfully mix these vibrant elements with a solid foundation of neutrals, such as our gray walls, furnishings, and beams, or crisp white furniture paired with a natural jute rug. This balance is crucial because if every single element were a bold color and a wild pattern, things could quickly become a little too chaotic – or, as we like to say, “cray-zay!” It’s this thoughtful interplay between vibrant and subtle that truly brings our spaces to life.
To beautifully tie into the spirited personality of this big, furry rug baby in the living room, we’re envisioning a striking addition to our dining space. Our goal is to eventually incorporate eight vibrant green Parson’s chairs around our giant wooden dining room table. This deliberate choice of color would not only introduce an exciting pop to the dining area but also create a wonderful sense of whole-house cohesion. It’s that tried-and-true “neutral + color = love” combination working its magic once again, linking disparate spaces with a thoughtful design thread. The rich warmth of the wooden table would provide a perfect counterpoint to the fresh, modern green of the chairs, creating an inviting and stylish dining environment. Finding those perfect chairs will undoubtedly be a quest, requiring patience and a keen eye, but we are absolutely determined to track them down someday. This future addition represents another exciting step in weaving a consistent and joyful aesthetic throughout our entire home, demonstrating how even small elements can contribute to a grander design narrative.
When it comes to the practicalities of keeping Kermit, our beloved reader-recommended rug, clean and pristine, we’ve taken some comforting reassurance. As we briefly touched upon in the post about ordering it, we have a friend who is a true veteran of family life – she manages three active kiddos and a large, hairy dog, all while boasting a similar shag rug in her own home. Her glowing endorsement was a major factor in our decision. She absolutely swears by its resilience, noting that it holds up to stains and the general wear and tear of children and pets like nobody’s business. Her experience suggests that everyday crumbs and dust are easily extracted with a quick vacuuming, maintaining the rug’s plush appearance. Furthermore, she shared a clever trick: should anything catastrophic occur that results in a stubborn stain, the long, hairy tufts can actually be subtly trimmed to “lift” the affected area, effectively removing the visual evidence of the mishap. So far, our experience has been amazing; the rug has proved incredibly forgiving and easy to manage. Of course, we haven’t yet dropped anything truly major on it (and hope not to!), but we promise to give you a completely honest update on its long-term durability and stain resistance after a month or two of real-life family use. The combination of its playful name and its practical qualities makes Kermit a truly cherished and highly anticipated addition to our bustling home.
You might also have spotted some delightful new additions adorning Karl, our faithful sofa. We recently scooped up two of those charming ruffled purple pillows for an absolute steal at just $16 each from HomeGoods. Their playful texture and rich hue instantly added a layer of sophistication and whimsy. In an experimental spirit, we also temporarily brought in our two existing green pillows from the bedroom, purely to observe how a similar color might interact with the new rug. While we felt they leaned a little too yellow for a perfect match, they weren’t terrible and provided valuable insight. Additionally, we draped three pieces of our beloved Sue The Napkins fabric over other pillows we had lying around. This allowed us to visualize what actual Sue The Napkin pillow covers might look like once I dedicate some time to sewing them myself. The pillow situation, much like the rest of the room, is definitely an evolving landscape. I’m particularly drawn to the beautiful teal tones present in the Sue fabric, so it’s quite possible that blue pillows might make an appearance someday, perhaps even replacing some of the green ones to create a fresh, dynamic palette. The beauty of styling is in the flexibility and the continuous refinement of the details, allowing the space to grow and change with us.
But let’s circle back to those fabulous ruffled purple pillows for a moment. The ruffle detail itself is wonderfully fun and adds such a charming, unexpected flourish to the sofa. What truly amazes me, however, is that John didn’t veto them! He’s notoriously not one to jump on “The Ruffle Train.” His usual preference leans towards cleaner lines and more understated textures, so this acceptance was a delightful surprise. I suspect he’s growing to appreciate the idea of spicing things up with vibrant, unexpected colors like deep navy, rich plum, and luminous teal. Perhaps he’s simply embracing a more adventurous spirit in our home décor, or maybe he’s just doing one of those classic “sure, why not?” things that signify a loving husband’s willingness to compromise. I truly adore that man for his openness and his evolving taste. Or, perhaps, he’s simply catching on to the timeless wisdom that a happy wife equals a happy life. Haha! Whatever the reason, these pillows are a small but significant victory in adding personality and a touch of playful elegance to our evolving living room, and they certainly prove that even in design, a little give and take can lead to wonderful outcomes.
Our next significant project in this room involves meticulously planning and executing the build of our large console table. We are absolutely itching to see Karl, our trusty sofa, “scooched out” (that’s our technical term for it!) about a foot away from the wall. This strategic repositioning will achieve several key objectives. Firstly, it means a little less of the rug will be visible directly behind the sofa, creating a more tailored and aesthetically pleasing proportion within the seating arrangement. More importantly, this console table will finally provide a dedicated, convenient surface to place drinks – a particular win for my nightly hot tea ritual. Beyond that, it will host two perfectly positioned table lamps, offering ideal lighting for reading and eliminating the need for the somewhat awkwardly placed floor lamp currently residing in the doorway. Yipppppeeeeeeeeee! Yes, I just wrote that with ten “e”s because my excitement is truly that palpable! Can you tell I’m beyond thrilled about these functional and aesthetic upgrades? Oh, and on a slightly humorous note, Karl’s embarrassingly pale legs, which are currently on full display, have absolutely got to go. They look a bit creepy and detract from the overall polished look we’re aiming for. Whether it’s a slipcover or a more substantial base, this detail is definitely on the “to-do” list to ensure Karl looks as fantastic as the rest of the room feels. These thoughtful design decisions are all part of creating a living space that is not only beautiful but also incredibly practical and comfortable for our family.
Psst – we have another exciting update to share beyond the living room! John’s parents have generously gifted us their old, beautiful leggy antique dresser, which is absolutely perfect for our bedroom. This piece holds significant sentimental value, as it’s been a cherished part of the family for years; in fact, John’s dad originally acquired it from a cousin for a mere $100 decades ago. It’s a wonderful example of how family heirlooms can find new life and purpose. While it definitely needs a little tender loving care and some restoration work, we have no doubt it’s going to look absolutely awesome once we’ve given it the attention it deserves. And the best part? It’s f-r-e-e, which is always a bonus! We’re planning to share more detailed pictures of this fantastic find very soon, but for now, you can catch a glimpse – a “they-scooped-us” pic, as we like to call it – here, courtesy of the Washington Post. It’s another exciting project in our ongoing journey to infuse our home with character, history, and a touch of our unique family story.