At Copenhagen’s 3daysofdesign (3DD) it feels as if you’re never more than one minute away from your next dose of inspiration. As in the paroles in the Bob Marley classic, ‘the sun was shining, the weather was sweet’, and thanks to ARCHITONIC’s soirée at the vibrant Dandy, I re-discovered my dancing feet!
For me, design is about storytelling, I find the creative process intriguing and, in my work, both as an interior designer, and as a writer, integrity plays an important role vis-à-vis the brands I’m drawn to. At 3DD, there was an abundance of rug brands which demonstrated how diverse and elevated the global rug market has become, and how vital it is for brands to evolve to appeal to a discerning global clientele. From brands steeped in tradition, to relatively new ateliers, one could experience vibrancy, sparkle and iridescence on one end of the spectrum; to down-to-earth, calming and ethereal brands at the other. So, without further ado, here is a brief insight into my favourite rug finds at 3DD.
Let’s start with NORDICMODERN, the Danish brand that has expertly relaunched the iconic designs of Danish textile artist Vibeke Klint. In a limited collection of 8 hand-woven unique rugs, they have incorporated Klint’s signature Lynild (lightning) pattern with her original weaving techniques of warp repp, double weave and flatweave. Nana, one of the brand’s founders, explained to me how they closely collaborated with the Klint family and their third-generation facility in Northern India. As a nostalgia aficionado, I particularly liked the VK-5 rug, which was Klint’s very first design, made for her mother in 1949 (the original remains within the family). The monochromatic double weaved fine cotton warp on a New Zealand woollen weft is utterly timeless.
The other NORDICMODERN rug which captured my attention was VK-4, which expertly combines warp repp and flatweave techniques to create the lightning detail design. Klein blue was a signature hue used by Klint during the 1980s and 1990s, and is totally on cue with the 1980s renaissance we continue to embrace.
Moving onto NOMAD Rugs by NOMAD Studio: their temporary showroom in Copenhagen was located on my road, and even before I knew the brand, I was intrigued by their juxtaposition of materials and textures. From the moment I met Jutta, the owner of NOMAD, I recognised her passion for both design-led and sustainable innovations and her rugs just made my heart beat faster. Their Candy Wrapper handwoven beauty in a classic Sky Walker duck egg blue colourway with the upcycled candy wrapper fringing definitely appealed to my magpie tendencies. The juxtaposition of the matte wool against the glimmering wrappers is so simple, yet so clever.
Jutta and I talked about the importance of pushing boundaries and how the image of upcycling needs to change—to be elevated. The crafted rugs are truly works of art and it would almost seem a shame to place them on the floor.
For their Coco rug, the composition is 95% sheepskin and 5% PP yarn. The sheepskin gives an unbelievably luxurious feel to it, whilst the fine, more structural polypropylene yarn offers unobtrusive structure. The Coco rug delivers full on sensory overload vibes and would look at home in so many settings, but I’m imagining it in my bedroom. NOMAD’s vision is to produce less, but produce well—longevity is paramount.
Runner rugs or carpet runners may have been around since Victorian times but they are a simple way to refresh a space. Fabula Living have embraced the simple runner and injected some undeniably beautiful Scandi vibes into their runner collection; elevating runners to an entirely new level. Handwoven in New Zealand wool on either cotton or linen warps, these reversible runners in a muted palette of soothing hues add a hygge feel to any setting. Specialising in luxuriously crafted runners is a clever niche, and of course custom designs are always possible.
Fabula’s Veronica rug, designed by Lisbet Friis, in the 1818 Green colourway was indisputably the winner for me. The play on patterns combined with the calming green palette really captured an essence of wellness, renewal and a connection to nature, which filled me with energy. The runner is hand-woven in New Zealand wool—dyed in the Gabbeh-dye technique—on a cotton warp, and has an exquisite texture—the combination of the two weaves is playful, but grounding.
Talking of textural, Danish Rug atelier Mossroom Rugs captured my attention with their soft worsted wool flatweave with its high pile and fringed tassels. Appropriately named, the Moroccan Twill, it is a sumptuous rug that has an undoubtedly bohemian edge to it, but can certainly be used in other settings. The company’s signature Poppy design, in which the flower is highlighted in silk using the Tibetan knot, adds a truly luxurious sheen. My absolute favourite was their Drum rug in gold—100% wool and meticulously crafted. I simply couldn’t stop touching it, I was a little obsessed.
I never saw myself as a criminal, yet at 3DD I was goldilocks and ‘broke into’ Kasthall’s exhibit one evening as I simply ran out of time during the day. The next day I confessed and they had wondered why all their swatches were in the wrong places, but they loved my reel (see COVER’s Instagram feed)! Kasthall’s hand-tufted Fogg rug, designed by the ‘Queen of Rugs’ Gunilla Lagerhem Ullberg. In 100% linen, it has a luxurious high pile (approx. 40mm) and was one of the most tactile rugs I saw in Copenhagen, plus the extensive palette is impressive. Kasthall’s customising service offers endless possibilities so far as colour, size and shape are concerned, depending on how creative you (or your client!) is feeling.
One of the most innovative installations I saw was Uplift: a collaboration between Tarkett Denmark and Note Design Studio. They created a multi-dimensional experiential staircase at the exhibition FRAMING in Odd Fellows Mansion, (constructed in 1751). The companies installed a series of gargantuan columns throughout the grand staircase and wrapping them from the ground floor to the ceiling of the third floor with their sustainable Desso Retrace textural floor coverings. The Desso range is manufactured using 100% green energy and is inspired by the circular notion ‘made to be remade’ and is one of the most sustainable carpet tiles around. The fact that the installation is now on its way to Oslo to be reused for a similar installation at DOGA and then will be recycled through Tarkett’s ReStart take-back programme is indicative of their commitment to be sustainable and have a lighter carbon footprint! Bravo Tarkett!
There are simply too many highlights to mention here, but it’s safe to say that I was truly inspired at 3DD. The diversity of exhibitors, their eclectic collection launches, combined with the incredible backdrop of Copenhagen, was such a visual journey which filled me with inspiration and enthusiasm for all things design—but especially rugs.
Post 3DD, I noticed just how many of my iPhone photos incorporated my matte midnight blue manicured hands touching, stroking and examining the rugs and rug samples, and reflected on the mood-lifting capacity of a manicure. What does this have to do with rugs you might ask? Well, there are parallels, who knew both worlds collided. They are both mood enhancers—sensory experiences shouldn’t be overlooked—customisation is limitless, colour palettes abound, and precipitously, the everyday can feel elevated. So, please enjoy exploring the mentioned brands and if you’re considering coming to Copenhagen to 3DD next year in either an exhibitor’s capacity, or as a visitor, please reach out to me @scottdunneinteriors.
