Page 70 Daily Mail, Friday, September 6, 2019Interiors
R
UGS are the unsung
heroes of our homes. They
can be relied on to cover
up, brighten, warm or
protect a floor. Plus theyadd colour and texture.
What’s more, in many cases, they introduce
a sense of history. Dating back to ancient
Egypt, rugs tell us about traditions and
skills held by their makers. Their enduring
attraction lies in their versatility.
‘Consider your floor as the fifth wall in the
house and be creative with your styling,’ says
Clare Archer-Tozer, of John Lewis.
We can be as taken with a chunky, fluffy rug
from Zara Home (£79.99) as we are by John
Lewis’s abstract Gooch Luxury Distressed
Waterfall rug (from £650, johnlewis.com) or
the exquisite, bespoke range of hand-knotted
floral rugs by Amy Kent, all made in Nepal
and India (amykent.co.uk).
Today, rugs can be bought on the High
Street or from handweavers.
‘The beauty of a rug is that it can instantly
refresh a room at relatively little cost, allowing
freedom within a home’s decor,’ says Victoria
Whawell, head designer of Walton & Co, which
has large collections of handwoven wool, jute
and cotton dhurrie rugs.
‘A well-selected rug can often be the
simplest way to transform a space, linking
together all aspects of the decor. When
choosing, it is worth bearing in mind that it
can be changed seasonally — wool will bring
comfort during the colder months, whereas
a cooling, cotton chindi rug can add a splash
of colour for spring and summer.’
In an age when we appreciate minimalism,
it is easy to confuse a Persian rug for a blast
of brash, busy colour, when, in fact, they are
the result of skilled craftsmanship.
Some of the most precious Persian rugs are
wilder in colour simply due to the precision
needed to house such a riot of hues in one
piece of material.
However, they remain expensive, as
aficionados seek antique over newer
versions, and doubts over authenticity
are a problem (hint: when buying, ask to
be shown the intentional ‘mistake’ left in
order to confirm its authentic origins).
When it comes to rugs, the range is
enormous, and our tastes are ever adapting
in these times of climate change.
Weaver Green, an eco-focused company,
makes rugs entirely from recycled plastic
(weavergreen.com).
‘We have recycled more than 84 million
plastic bottles and turned them into useful
rugs for tricky areas in busy homes,’ says
Tasha Green, Weaver Green director.
‘Our rugs genuinely look and feel like
natural wool, jute or cotton — unlike other
synthetic polyester rugs on the market. Our
process took us seven years to perfect, so
now, our rugs feel as good as they look. Everypart of our production process is designed
to be fully sustainable, environmentally
friendly and positive for the planet and
the people we work alongside.’
She adds: ‘Because any single rug is
made from up to 3,000 recycled
plastic bottles, they offer all the
benefits of a synthetic fibre
rug — machine-washable,
hard-wearing, immune
from moth attack, hypo-
allergenic, stain-resistant
and even suitable for
use outside.
‘The beautiful colours
won’t fade in the sun
and, if a glass of red wine
gets spilled on them, you
can wash them.’
Alternatively, Rockett
St George (rockettstgeorge.
co.uk) supplies super-durable
vinyl floor mats that imitate
vintage tiles.
‘Featuring realistic vintage tile designs,
our vinyl Beija Flor runners introduce
an instant update that will transform
any space with a pop of statement
pattern,’ says Jane Rockett, co-founder of
the floor mats, which are available in threedesigns and work in conjunction with
underfloor heating and on shaded patios
or covered balconies.
‘It’s a great way to achieve the iconic
vintage tile look without having to
rethink the floors of your home.’
Interior stylist Dee Campling
(dee-campling.com) believes
these are perhaps not for
the rug purist, but does
see the benefits of them.
‘Vinyl rugs are great for
instantly changing the
look of a floor without
having to tile it.
‘They are also wipe-
clean and work well
outdoors because they
are waterproof.
‘However, they don’t soften
a floor or look cosy like a
fabric rug does.’
Rugs tell us something about how
important home furnishings have always
been to our ancestors.
And that is reason enough to explore
their versatility and enjoy being spoilt
by the choices available.PRISCILLA POLLARA
Statement piece: Bold Villion rug by Swoon (swooneditions.com), from £289Home
truth
A 360-year-old Persian
rug sold at a Sotheby’s
New York auction
for a record
£25.8 million
in 2013Deep
pile,
£17.99,
hm.
comWINDOW SHOPPING FUN BATH MATS
Cloud, £12.50, marks
andspencer.comMonstera Leaf, £18,
albertandmoo.comAqualona
Turtles, £12,
johnlewis.
comOlga, £15, made.comAn ordinary room can be transformed
by what you choose to put on the floor
Chunky or
funky, rugs
have got it
covered...