UPCYCLE A RUG INTO ART

Turn an old rug into wall art with Sarah’s DIY project.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Old rug

• Tape measure

• Pencil

• Utility knife

• 2 picture frames of your choice • Double-sided tape or hot glue gun and glue

• Optional: picture frame hanger

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

1. Decide which portions of the rug you

want to use, keeping in mind how the two sections will look when you frame them side by side.

2. With the tape measure and pencil, measure the dimensions of the art pieces, according to the size of your frames. Outline them on the rug so you know where to cut.

3. Carefully use the utility knife to cut out your two sections. If you’re using picture frames with mats, cut the pieces slightly larger than the opening of the mats so gaps won’t show.

4. Take the backing off your frames. Use the double-sided tape to stick your rug to the backing. If the rug is too thick to allow the backing to close properly, either tape the backing closed with painter’s tape, or use hot glue to attach the rug to the front of the frame and discard the backing. 5. Hang your new set of unique art pieces! If you had to discard the frame backing, glue a picture-frame hanger onto the back of the rug to hang it directly.

" I try to bring

in as much real greenery as possible.”

SHAPING UP

In the same way that Sarah blends cool with warm and light with dark, she also plays with a variety of shapes and patterns. The planks of the patio deck and the handmade tile backsplash in the primary bathroom couldn’t be more different. Yet they’re both herringbone, a pattern that Sarah considers “a staple in our home.” The black ceramic tile of the mudroom has very little resemblance to the white tiled floor of the bathroom, except that they both are made of hexagonal shapes, again showing Sarah’s creative use of pattern. It’s a subtle way to tie a home’s design together while also mixing up the design in each room.

SEE SOURCES, PAGE 128.

The mudroom is practical, and as Sarah puts it, “a space that our family uses for unloading.” A bench for pulling off boots and handy coat hooks was a DIY project. The ceramic hexagon tile and steel door with the gold kick plate, also a DIY project, ensure that the room is anything but ordinary.

Dan designed the large white-oak kitchen island so it would fit all six family members. The bright white tiled walls and Carrara marble countertops balance the darker brass and black hardware details.

Of course, Sarah’s choices aren’t just for aesthetics. As a mother of four, she has to keep practicality in mind as well, which is why the kitchen island is not only eye-catching but large enough to seat the entire family and has handy drawers crucial for extra storage space.