It’s Friday and that means just one thing … FRIDAY FINDS … (cheers & confetti). This week I became obsessed with colourful rugs. No I’m not talking about shag carpet or oriental rugs. I’m talking about full on contemporary designs that are blasting with colour. Designs that will brighten any space and keep you smiling. Enjoy.
KITTY JOSEPH VIA FLOOR STORY
Sun Optick
Sun Optick is a burst of hello yellow sunshine and the perfect balance of vibrant yellow and mustard yellow in diagonal stripes of goodness. The designer Kitty Joseph has designed a series of Optick rugs – Sun Optick, Water Optick, Sky Optick and Geranium Optick all based on contrasting colours. On the Floor Story website, they describe the Optick rug “Simply by rotating the rugs in your space, you can shift the colour to fit your mood. What a wonderful way to let people know how you are feeling!”. I’d use Sun Optick in an entry hall to give you bright happy feeling everytime you walked in the door.
London based fashion design Kitty Joseph specialises in contemporary women’s wear design and consults brands on colour and print design. Her pieces have been worn by Lady Gaga. EPIC. I’ve had my eye on her totally luscious & colourful chroma pleated skirt. She is a graduate of the iconic Royal College of Art and after graduation was immediately recognised by legendary Parisian concept shop Colette (sadly closed) for her colour and pattern mixing. Some of her special projects include Absolut UK, MAC Cosmetics and Adidas.
Sun Optick is a hand tufted rug made of 100% wool. It is made in Nepal. Price starts at £750. Below are the other colourways Geranium Optick, Sky Optick and Water Optick. Source: Floorstory
A RUM FELLOW
HIKIRA
London based design studio, A Rum Fellow, makes a serious statement with their vibrant patterned rugs and textiles. Rugs are clearly their “thing”and I’d describe their designs as refreshingly contemporary with a touch of timeless retro too. Hikira brings together a mirroring of the most delicate and faint diagonal stripes to create a diamond shape that is then met with a more bold square design in rows & columns. All the detail could become overwhelming but somehow its perfectly soothing. I’d use Hikira in a Kitchen (but I might be biased with my green walls) and also in a living room.
Founded in 2013 by Caroline Lindsell and Dylan O’Shea who bring together a strong design ethic with a desire to add social value. They work with local communities and craftsmen to produce their original designs. As you scroll through their look book, I’m sure you could easily imagine one of their rugs in every room of your home. They also create stunning textiles used in cushions, lampshades, curtains, blinds and furniture. Their designs can be seen in Evening Standard, Country & Town House, House & Garden, Living Etc, Elle Decoration.
Hikira is a traditionally crafted flatweave rug made from New Zealand wool. Crafted in India. Available in bespoke sizes and colours. Price starts at £440 for 185 x 275 rug
WENDY MORRISON DESIGNS
SHANGHAI BLOSSOM
Say hello to one of Wendy’s recent designs – Shanghai Blossom – a brilliantly bold and lusciously vibrant herringbone design. It’s masterful in the way it blends subtle blushes & nudes with punchy olive green, red, orange with touch of shimmering gold tencel too. Like I said it’s masterful! The luxurious design also perfectly balances fierce opposites of sharp angles with soft delicate florals. A trio of chrysanthemums, lotus and peony roses with a pinch of greenery too. Truly extraordinary. I’d used Shanghai Blossom in a living room or dining space where it can be appreciated.
Wendy Morrison Design is based in Edinburgh and has a new studio & showroom that is on an appointment basis. I can say this because I’ve met Wendy a few times, she just oozes creativity and her maximalist designs are iconic. Her pieces can literally transform a space into a celebrity status. Wendy is a fashion graduate from The Scottish College of Textiles and started her career as a fashion designer working with many well known brands before she gave that up and entered the world of Interiors. She’s been featured in countless design magazines and blogs, including my own (read here).
Shanghai Blossom is a hand tufted rug made of wood and tencil with a pile height of 12-13mm. It is handmade in India. Price starts at £6,000 for 183 x 274 rug
MADE DOT COM
NIGHY RUG by Berit Mogensen Lopez * new *
Nighy is a colourful new abstract rug that balances pastels with deep dark blues and earthy reds. It’s not just a balancing act in colour, it also is a mash up of blocks and other unusual shapes to create a playful design that reminds me of a collage. I can see it being used in a livingroom or work space. It is designed by pattern and colour loving Dane Berit Mogensen Lopez. I’d used Nighy in a teenagers bedroom to give them a touch of sophistication while being playful at the same time.
Copenhagen based designer and artist Berit Mogensen Lopez is perhaps best known for her abstract and fluid paintings and giclee art prints. She is a graduate of the exclusive Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts with a degree in Fashion & Textile Design and after several years working in the fashion industry, she made the switch to the world of interiors. She has collaborated with The Poster Club, Paper Collective, Trouva and others. Mixing unique artwork with digital print, her collage-like designs are an abstract lover’s dream.
Nighy is a hand tufted 100% wool rug with a 100% cotton backing. Price starts at £349 for 160 x 230 rug
JAIPUR RUGS
Wunderkammer Rug
The Wunderkammer collection is a collaboration with italian designer Matteo Cibic and are inspired by Matteo’s visit to Jaipur, Rajasthan. The vibrant design uses an interesting criss-cross layering of candy cotton pink with thin stripes of cobolt blue. The design is intoxicating and lures you in. I imagine it is the feeling Matteo had during his travels. It’s been awarded Archiproducts design award in 219 and Carpet design award in 2020. I’d use Wunderkammer in a home office with a large glass desk that way you could spend hours just gazing at the details.
Wunderkammer is a hand tufted rug made of 75% Wool 25% Viscose with a pile height of 8mm. It is handmade in rural India. A 240 x 300 rug is £2,370, smaller sizes are available starting at £720
So … tell me … which colourful rug is your favourite? Which room would you use it in and how would you style it? Do have a favourite colourful rug, share it with me!
And … a special shout to the cover image – A Rum Fellow’s Zapora hand tufted rug. That’s a wrap on today’s Friday Finds. Have a fabulous weekend everyone and as always – thank you – for visiting and reading today’s blog. I really appreciate it.
I encourage you to check out the designers and brands I’ve featured today, you can follow them on Instagram here:
Floor Story
Kitty Joseph
A Rum Fellow
Wendy Morrison Designs
Made dot com
Berit Mogensen Lopez
Jaipur Rugs
Matteo Cibic
Happy Friday everyone!
Cheers,
Liz
liznylon designs 