What markets do you attend regularly?
I go to the Boston Design Center most often; the Furniture Market in High Point when I can, and the D&D Building in NYC.
Do you have a favorite source for buying your rugs? Any specific reason for turning to them?
My favorite source is Landry & Arcari in Salem, MA and Boston. They’re a family-owned and operated business (for decades), and their staff is knowledgeable, helpful, and easy to deal with. The Salem location is just a few miles from my office, and the Boston location is handy for my Boston-based clients.
What feature in the rug is most important to you?
For me, the rug is the starting point of a room design. It sets the tone/personality, and it can alternately unify or define spaces. For example, to unify a large space, I specify a broadloom. And to define furniture groupings and purposes, I’ll use area rugs. The photo I provided of a master bedroom suite is an example of using rugs to define spaces. The theme is Bali Bedroom, and the large Ikat rug was a natural choice to define the sleeping area. The room is spacious enough to accommodate a separate reading area, delineated by a soft, flat-weave striped Indian rug, as well as a lounge area for watching TV, featuring a complementary wool rug with ocelot pattern.
How often do you purchase a custom rug and why?
I have purchased a fully custom rug only once. With so many rugs available, I can always find something that fits the bill.
Do you have any favorite style or fiber of area rug?
It depends on the project. The other photo I provided is a tack room, where I used antique furniture and an antique rug to evoke a clubby old-world feeling. The rug on the wall was a fabulous over-dyed technique and added tons of texture and richness. It’s always a natural fiber, though: wool or seagrass.
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