What markets or design centers do you attend regularly?
Martin and I like to comb every city we visit to course interesting, artful items. We just returned from Berlin and are headed to Russia later this year. No matter where in the world we are, we search out local antique fairs, flea markets, and artisans to find beautiful things.
Do you have a favorite source for buying your rugs?
We manufacture our own rugs through our SHIIR rug division. We traveled extensively throughout India, where Oscar Isberian introduced us to some of the finest, third generation weavers in the country, to find those who could accommodate our insistence on innovative new methods of yarn dying, weaving, and knotting. Our sources are weavers who’ve demonstrated an ability to be as groundbreaking in terms of production and manufacturing, as we are in terms of design.
What feature in the rug is most important to you?
If I had to pick, I’d say the raw material a rug is made of is the most important feature. Cashmere, for instance, will have a very different feel than silk. Both are beautiful fibers, but they are beautiful in different ways. My absolute favorite fiber for rugs is cashmere. It’s luscious beyond compare.
How often do you purchase a custom rug and why?
Our clients are exceptionally discerning and expect the utmost in gracious interiors. For that reason we nearly always specify custom rugs, so you could say our purchasing frequency is really quite high. When you want a house to reflect the client, off-the-shelf doesn’t necessarily work. You have to design things yourself to ensure they’re ideal for that particular client.
Are there any design rules you specifically like to follow or specifically like to break?
We never want a room to look “decorated.” In our view, the prettiest, most personal rooms are the ones whose contents look like they’ve been collected over time. And we never want to “match.” It’s much more interesting to combine beautiful things you love than to buy things that all look the same
How important is being “green” to you?
All of our rugs are hand made using natural dyes, and all natural fibers, You could say we’re “green by design.”
Want to see more? Go to www.souciehorner.com
Top photo courtesy of Photo courtesy of Peter Margonelli.
Bottom photo courtesy of June Suthigoseeya.
