Rug highlights at Decorex 2024

Interior designer Naomi Scott-Dunne visits Decorex for COVER, and select her favourite rugs.

My visit to Decorex last week revealed a remarkable array of new rug collections. An abundance of colour, new textures, conceptually intriguing designs, and cleverly crafted rugs left a lasting impression on me. The creativity on display was truly inspiring.  So, without further ado, and in no specific order, let’s jump into my favourite highlights from the expo.

I was captivated the moment I saw Jaipur Rugs’ Couture collection, and I defy any fashion aficionado to remain unmoved by them, especially upon discovering that these exquisite rugs are intricately woven using fancy (yes this is a technical term) yarns meticulously crafted by the esteemed Vimar1991, owned by the Chanel subsidiary responsible for the latter’s craft ateliers. Being a magpie, I was immediately drawn to the Sparkling rug with its monochromatic linear grid exquisitely interjected with glistening golden yarns. Also, of note was their Avant rug, an all-over Houndstooth (pied de poule in French) pattern, which I’ve always considered to be a particularly interesting and diverse pattern, with its rustic origins being traced back to ancient civilisations. Yet it was Chanel’s black and white iteration which captured many people’s hearts, and this rug is as iconic as that first Chanel jacket. 

Runners are such versatile rugs and I particularly enjoy incorporating these into my projects, especially in Kitchens, hallways and of course staircases: Roger Oates’ offerings certainly don’t disappoint with their expansive range of palettes and patterns.  Yet, I was stopped in my tracks by their new Vista Collection, specifically the tufted Atlas rug with it’s jewel-like swirls on a wholesome oatmeal-esque background. The differing pile heights and the velvety colourful ribbons combo is like a piece of modern art – for me it was reminiscent of a favourite Bridget Riley piece and my treasured Paul Smith swirls silk skirt.  I can’t wait to incorporate this versatile tufted vibrant beauty into a future project.

Tania Johnson’s Places Collection also caught my eye, particularly Hampton Border, with its delicate branches adorned with leaves dancing in the breeze. The leaves feel vibrant and intricate, you can almost visualise sunlight filtering through a heavy canopy of leaves – the interplay of light and shadow makes then seem almost ethereal. This hand-knotted wool and silk beauty was so evocative of a soothing wind it reminded me of the fragile beauty of nature.  Tania then showed me the inspiration behind her design: a selection of black and white photographic prints of foliage and the interplay of natural light and shadows, so simple, yet so beautiful and the cream and plum colourway is perfection (also available in Green flax and Grey cream colourways).

Sitting at my MacBook writing this I realise how much fashion has influenced my selections here. I have been a “leopardophile” for decades: there’s something quite alluring about a good animal print, and whilst not specifically animal-like Riviere Rugs’ Nova collection Abstract rug of Tibetan wool and Botanic silk is reminiscent of something daring, something exotic.  Inspired by an explosion of a supernova star, you can feel the energy in its raised sumptuous silk detailing, just imagine the sensory overload stepping on it barefoot … 

Always drawn to self-sustaining materials, I’m pretty partial to the Abaca – it originates from a species of banana which is native to The Philippines; extracted from the leaf-stems of the Manila hemp, the strong versatile fibre creates a really beautiful weave and édition 1.6.9 showed their La Palma collection which is 100% abaca made in India.  For an organic rug the rich saturated emerald hue pairs so well with the natural raw abaca in the curvilinear design is quite exceptional and feels enduring.  Keep your eyes peeled as I feel we are going to be seeing more of this material throughout a variety of home collections.  

Amy Kent’s superb blend of pattern and colour in a hand woven flatweave is outstanding. Her Albaicin Border designs are part of her geometric collection. Created in collaboration with British studio Rapture & Wright, whose philosophy is that the hand of the maker shouldn’t leave an imprint upon the environment really resonated with me. The design which was extracted from her Albaicin all-over rug combines abstract and orderly, and what was surprising was the price point: proving that ethically made, sustainable bespoke rugs aren’t all prohibitively expensive, and can be created in any size or colour combo, with a relatively short lead time too.  My favourite was the emerald/cream colourway, which I would in incorporate in many scenarios. 

The moment I walked past Matthew Wailes’ booth and spotted Bedlam with its mysterious dark background, contrasted with a total deluge of vibrant colour, I was smitten. Of course the definition of Bedlam is a scene of uproar and confusion; ordered chaos is relatable to many of us creatives! The clever use of saturated hues was an absolute highlight for me, and the décalcomanie effect (a technique of placing paint between two sheets of paper, pressing it and releasing it to expose intricate patterns) felt new and exhilarating. Colour is such a driver and helps me navigate life more clearly, it is such a mood booster and standing in front of all this positive energy felt so electric, so invigorating; immediately I felt inspired and excited. I realise this rug isn’t for everyone, but bravo Matthew it was a total winner for me, just a breath of fresh air!

There were countless gorgeous rugs showcased, making it tough for me to choose my favourites. I truly appreciate everyone who took the time to chat with me. Thank you! 

Naomi Scott-Dunne