May 14 2012
As the world’s eyes turn to London and excitement builds for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, there has never been a better time to invest in British design.
Whether it’s Vivienne Westwood’s irreverant VW Flag or Lucinda Chambers’ romantic Jubilee design, be inspired by these timeless takes on the great British flag.
The Jubilee cushion (above) and wallhanging (below), designed by Lucinda Chambers.
The hand-woven wool aubusson VW Flag cushion (above) and rug (below), designed by Vivienne Westwood.
The hand-knotted Union rug.
May 4 2012
When the time came to find a shoot location for our new Studio Collection, Suzanne Sharp and the team were helplessly drawn back to the exotic roots of our beautiful rugs.
And so they journeyed to a distant desert for the shoot, allowing the bright colours, simple geometric patterns and soft textures of the rugs to shine against the modestly beautiful backdrop.
Exploring the location, a myriad of arched corridors, secret courtyards, quiet corners and shaded alcoves.
Creating a beautiful shot involves painstaking attention to detail and a lot of hard work.
Apr 20 2012
Housed in a former tie factory spazio Rossana Orlandi continues to present beautifully curated new and original design.
The Beetley collection by London company Sé.
The Crystal Bala hollow table is a new twist for the Sé Bala collection.
The Crate Collection by Garth Roberts for Antique Mirror.
As well as instigating a new hub for design and living called MOST in the breathtaking Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia , Tom Dixon‘s energy never waivers and he managed to design an enchanting labyrinth of lights, with a Gelato stop mid-way for weary design pilgrims.
His new Etch Light Web Copper bobbed ethereally in a white room.
Fin lights by Tom Dixon in a hall of mirrors.
As if that weren’t enough, has also launched a line of accessories called Eclectic by Tom Dixon , featuring everyday objects like these beautiful bashed copper bowls.
New on the scene is New Zealand design company Resident.
Their Oud Lamp by Nat Cheshire is particularly striking.
Wallpaper* Magazine launched its third Handmade exhibition at the Brioni headquarters, celebrating craftsmanship with lovingly made collaborations by some of the world’s best designers.
A Louis Vuitton tent at Wallpaper* Handmade.
Sew Your Own stationery by Michael Nash + Sion and Fedrigioni.
A ‘live’ painting by Dutch artists Gijs Fielding and Job Wouters that was painted during the show.
Chocolate by Marou and Rice Creative.
Wrapping and printed notebooks by Postalco.
Apr 19 2012
We are in Milan, where the future of design takes over the old Italian city for one week every year.
Here are some of our design highlights from the 2012 Salone del Mobile.
Paris concept store Merci has packed its suitcases and set up a temporary space in Zona Tortona filled with new products and vintage pieces.
Continuing the French theme, a collective of leading designers calling themselves France Design display some of the new up and coming designers graduating from the country. Here is Ich&Kar‘s fresco that wrapped around the room like a cabinet of curiosities of graphics and design.
Jaime Hayon created a typically exuberant Hayon world in Lambrate.
A golden penguin, the latest addition to his zoo, surveys the installation
One of Hayon’s sketches.
Zaha Hadid and Citco created an etherial secret garden consisting of humble woven huts that housed glistening crystal palaces.
London firm Established & Son’s new Dame lights by Luca Nichetto.
Modular design by Camille Flammarion at Paradise, an exhibition of recent graduates by London’s Royal College of Art.
More precious objects by Ya-Wen Chou at the RCA.
Apr 13 2012
The life of the legendary product designer and The Rug Company collaborator Eva Zeisel (1906 – 2011) makes an extraordinary tale.
Not long before she died, at the grand age of 105, Zeisel published her memoir about a less-known time: her experience in a Soviet prison at the age of 29, having been falsely accused of plotting to assassinate Stalin.
She spent 16 months in an NKVD prison, mostly in solitary confinement. Recent discoveries show that Stalin took a personal interest in her case.
This picture of Eva on a beach was confiscated by NKVD upon her arrest.
As well as Eva’s personal memories told with humour and charm, the book Eva Zeisel: A Soviet Prison Memoir contains essays by a retired FBI Special Agent, a Sotheby’s specialist on Russia and Eva’s daughter Jean Richards.
Eva in later life sitting in front of her dimpled spindle ceramic curtain, this iconic design was made into a rug.
To discover more about the life and works of Eva Zeisel, click here to read The Rug Company’s tribute to her.
Mar 5 2012
When translating the work of the world’s most creative designers into a beautiful handmade rug or cushion, the devil is in the detail.
The Hummingbird cushion by Alexander McQueen is no exception, and provided us with a particularly difficult challenge. Because of the intricate nature of the motif and its jewel like colours, it was important to be as faithful as possible to the artwork: even one shade off could throw the balance of the design.
The weavers’ graph is an artform in itself: hand-drawn in the studio, it is a map indicating the position and colour of every single stitch.
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Feb 27 2012
Some spaces require something particularly special and we often work with clients to create their own original rug commissions. The possibilities are infinite.
This bespoke Houndstooth rug was designed by Emily Todhunter, commissioned by a client living in Switzerland. The rug reflects Todhunter’s ability to create classic designs with a contemporary aesthetic; the houndstooth motif has been reworked into a fresh and contemporary style.
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Feb 20 2012
Blasting through the dreary months of winter with a celebration of colour and pattern, Harrods has uneveiled its alphabet themed windows for Spring / Summer 2012.
Discerning shoppers passing by the Knightsbridge store will spot a few favourites by The Rug Company within the displays.
The mannequin models the Love needlepoint wallhanging by Paul Smith.
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Feb 14 2012
Beautiful Turkish Ikat cushions have just arrived exclusively at our London shops.
The Ikat technique for making patterned cloth is one of the earliest known. As textiles rarely survive for more than a few hundred years it is difficult to be precise, but examples are known from pre-Columbian Latin America, and famous centres of Ikat production stretch from the Ottoman Empire through Central Asia to Indonesia.
Using a tie-dye method the threads are hand-dyed in stripes of colour. When these threads are woven into a fabric the stripes of colour form patterns with the distinctive blurred geometry that is synonymous with Ikat cloth.
Our Ikat cushions are made of silk that is produced in the traditional way, by hand-winding the cocoons of the silk moth and spinning the fibres into yarn. Each piece is individual and subtly different from the next, and we have a wide range of patterns and colours.
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Feb 8 2012
Six years in the making, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art opened in November in last year. Founded by Walmart heiress Alice Walton, the museum houses her impressive collection of American art, amongst which hangs a hand-woven tapestry designed by artist Kara Walker, which was commissioned by The Rug Company for the special Banners of Persuasion project.
A Warm Summer Evening in 1863 by Kara Walker
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