Clockwise From Top Left: Samode Coral / Bohemian Wool Pillow / Herringbone Swedish Blue / Beckham Stripe Denim / Lucy Moss / Catamaran Stripe Sprout / Tattersall Blue / Nordic Star Indigo

It’s no secret that I’ve long been a fan of Dash & Albert. My adoration started four years ago with a small 2×3 striped rug and has grown exponentially ever since. This love has recently become more apparent during our remodel where I’ve tried to fit Dash & Albert in anywhere I can. “But what about doing a stair runner in Dash & Albert stripes instead of carpet?”.  “Do you think I could cover the ottoman in a Dash & Albert plaid?”. While our stairs will not be striped and our ottoman will not maybe be plaid, I’ve also turned to this wonderful company for my larger rug needs. We’re building our house with a large family in mind. Muddy dogs, grassy kids and plenty of entertaining (i.e. red wine and food spills) to come over the next decade. Now that it has come time to invest in a few rugs, I’m having a hard time justifying an overly spendy formal number that will surely not stand the test of time. Lucky for me Dash & Albert has exactly what I want and need. They offer a happy (and I mean truly happy!) selection of wool, cotton, indoor/outdoor and blended rugs in a variety of gorgeous colors and patterns. These rugs truly stand up to traffic, spills and even the occasional wash. I’m having so much fun mixing patterns and utilizing materials where they’re most practical. Softer wool in the living room, indoor/outdoor in high traffic areas and woven cotton under the dinging room table. Throw in a couple of fabulous pillows like this gem and #deppahaven is becoming one bright happy place!

So tell me, how do you add color to your home?

From Top Left, Clockwise: Eye Will / Voir / Eye Do / See / Love

Holiday gift guides are just starting to pop up  (gulp!) meaning the time for present shopping is near! Anyone who follows Brass Tacks knows this is my favorite time of year. While I scour the globe for my favorite finds I always give special extra attention to products that fall into one of two categories. Those that are made locally (Hello MN!) and those that benefit a greater cause. To kick off the 2014 giving season I couldn’t be more excited to highlight an amazing product that falls into the latter. Meet Eye Will Artistry! Eye Will Artistry is the brain child of my talented and charitable mom, Jeanne Aufmuth. At first glance you’ll find an eclectic assortment of bright and colorful pillows. But these aren’t just any pillows….they’re pillows with a purpose. Since her thirties, my mom has lived with a unique eye disorder called Retinitis Pigmentosa. RP is a degenerative retinal disease that slowly eats away at your vision, resulting in peripheral vision loss and ultimately, complete blindness. While most people afflicted with this disorder would wallow in the frustrating effects, my mom as admirably tackled the obstacles she’s faced with a mixture of hope, grace and good humor. Now, she is combining her passion for art with her passion for helping others by raising awareness (and dollars) for those dealing with loss of sight. Eye Will offers a limited edition of her pillow art with all proceeds benefitting RP research. These pillows won’t last long…so take a look and consider gifting with a purpose this year!