Rugs, glorious rugs
Hello lovely lot!
I’ve spent some time this summer sourcing rugs for clients in addition to haggling for my own in the heady souks of Marrakech so I thought I’d share a little of my recent finds with you all. I’ve put some practical considerations down for you in addition to sharing plenty of good places you can start your search.
First of all…
Washable, new, vintage or antique?
Washable = where’s it going and how much mud, wet dog or messy people have you in your life?
New = great for if you like the feeling of fresh ownership and you’re after a contemporary style
Vintage = often where a sweet spot can lie between handmade designs and price
Antique = over 100 years old and the big bosses of the carpet world who carry big ticket prices
Flat weave or pile?
Are you after a super soft, fluffy landing for weary feet or do you prefer a quicker-to-hoover flat weave?
Size
The general rule is go as big as you can so that you can ‘anchor’ furniture. Using a bit of masking tape to mark out the corners can be helpful if visualising it isn’t your thing. The bigger the rug, the higher the price tag and that’s where the older, larger carpets leave the £1000 price tag well behind.
Psst! I know you love it but will it get stuck under your door?! Check before you buy!
Budget
Know thy limits. What’s your absolute upper and keep this in mind, particularly if, like me, you fall in love with things at auction…
On to the good stuff
Finding the combination of colour, pattern and texture you’ll love can be narrowed down by the heritage of the rug. This list is by no way exhaustive but key rug making traditions I think you’ve got to consider are:
Swedish flat weave Röllakan
One of Ourika London’s fine collection
Rug making is often connected to communities of women who remain anonymous but not so in 20th century Sweden where women were leaving their initials on their work (see above).
If you’re after a flat weave with cooler colours and a touch more geometry to the design then start here. Steer clear of rare, original piece by women like Marta Mass Fjetterstrom (unless you’ve 20k to drop!) but do look for mid century reproductions of their designs made in-house. I’m the proud owner of a vintage Anne Marie Boberg studio rug and I love walking past the AMB marked boldly in the corner. Here come the girls!
Find Swedish röllakanon Pamono Vinterior or Kopp London. Or Ourika London
Flat weave Kilim
Getting into the heritage of Kilim is a whole other post but broadly speaking they are made in any country formerly part of the Persian Empire. This one is from Afghanistan and I love the combination of colours. Owing to their flat weave and extensive range of colour ways they can be a really uplifting addition to a room often at a more accessible price point.
Try Joby over on instagram (lots in stock and not visible on his website), Louisa Maybury if you’re Oxfordshire based and fancy heading to her shop in Woodstock, Nain Trading (above)or get a bespoke size made brand new via Etsy
Persian
Again, another post entirely, see here. These hand knotted beauties, whether new or antique, command much higher prices. Each knot of the hand-spun wool contributes to the intricate design of the carpet and also contributes to the longevity of the piece- it’s a mind boggling, lengthy process that results in a heavy carpet with a dense, short pile. As they’re so long lasting they tend to be the ones you see in the ‘old’ (20-50yrs) or antique (100yrs+) categories. As it happens, the one above is new and was made in the city of Bijmar, Iran by members of the Kurdish minority who live there.
Try Nain Trading for an astonishing collection and read more about their commitment to CARE & FAIR and its bid to protect carpet weaving families or Sharafi and Co, a recent discovery for me
Berber
The soft fluffy pile of Moroccan Berber rugs have had a bit of a moment of late thanks to the lightness, optimism and contemporary edge to these frankly age old designs. They can be bursting with bright colours, abstract shapes and irregular patterns although it’s the cream version with dark lines associated with the Beni Ourain tradition that has been most popular recently in the UK. It’s worth doing your research and checking you’re not buying a knock off imitation with these.
Best seen in the Souk des Tapis (with space in your suitcase) next time you’re in Marrakech so you can drink in their softness or try Maroc Tribal.
Jute
Nordic Knots’ jute offering has some nice variation thank to this cream motif
I couldn’t finish this list without including Jute which I love and think is a real failsafe option. If a lively pattern feels like too big a commitment then start here, get used to your space with the extra layer and build up to something bolder if you fancy. Mind how porous it is though, not advised in high spill areas!
Hard to go wrong with this and even harder to beat La Redoute on price and size. Or try some of the excellent options GoodWeave members, Nordic Knots have.
And that’s that. Did you get to the bottom? I’m flattered!
S
