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Lately, I have been thinking a lot about rugs.
Photographed by Alex Prager,Vogue,March 2013
I grew up in a house where rugs were absolutely forbidden.
Our abode was all about stripped-back bare pinewood floors, seemingly always stained the wrong shade of orange.
But the sheer abundance of choice also means choosing one can feel a little overwhelming.
Carolina Irving’s library room, featuring a blue and white dhurrie from Jaipur.
So before unlocking your wallets, there are a few first things to consider.
Firstly, what is itexactlythat you want from your rug?
The good news is that laying down the right rug can offer a solution to all of the above.
A bedroom at Sister Parish’s home in Maine.
There are a few reasons I love them: the main one being durability.
(Side note: I love rugs in kitchens.)
Good news for us vintage lovers: flat weaves are easily picked up at car boots and reputable dealers.
The sitting room at Miranda Brooks and Bastien Halard’s home in the Costwolds.
Hallways are a no-brainerits flat weave every time for me.
(Lets face it: who wants a filthy shag pile runner?)
I am really into the Waver, a collaboration between Vanderhurd and Adam Bray.
A bathroom at Alessandro Michele’s apartment in Rome.
Oh, and dont be afraid of dark tones.
Which leads me nicely to my next point: the importance of pairing your furniture with your rug.
Furniture should beonthe rugs, whether its the legs of a chair or the base of a dining table.
Photographed by François Halard,Vogue,January 2008
And for me, this is when rugs really get interesting.
Its the ideal moment to really play around with shape, color, and pattern.
Im a vocal champion of the round rugand even better, a round tableona round rug.
Turkish rugs in the entrance hall of John Galliano’s home in rural France.
Who can resist that kind of drama?
(Very Andree Putman.)
Round rugs can be quite tricky to find, butThe Rug Companyhas a wide selection in strong solid colors.
Buying second-hand is always a great opportunity to introduce some patterns.
Now, finally, to the bedroom.
Frankly, I dread to think of what might get lost in them.
Why not go for a cut pile instead?
It offers the best of both worlds, and is much safer all round.
But for a real curveball?
