Samarkand Rugs: Sumptuous Style, Ancient Heritage

Hailing from the oasis towns in the East Turkestan region (the present-day Xinjiang Province in northwestern China), the patterns and designs of Samarkand rugs are a visual testament to the confluence of Chinese and Middle Eastern culture.

The name Samarkand comes from the eponymous city in Uzbekistan. Today, it’s one of the biggest cities in the country with a population of 708,000, but in ancient times it was an important stop along the Silk Road, connecting China and the Mediterranean region through trade. In his travels, Marco Polo described it as “very large and splendid.”

Sometimes “Samarkand” and “Khotan” are used interchangeably to describe this family of rugs. Both places were ancient cities in the East Turkestan region, with similar cultures and craft traditions. Today, Khotan is part of the Chinese Xinjiang Province and is more commonly referred to English as Hotan. Here is a picture of what it looks like today:

The production of Samarkand/Khotan rugs goes back to at least the seventeenth century. Typically, they are woven with glossy wool, but may also contain embellishments done in silk brocade or metallic thread.

Often, Samarkand and Khotan designs are heavily influenced by Chinese aesthetics, plus the recurrence of bright reds and yellows are another nod to the Middle Kingdom’s contribution.

 

Turkish influence though can also be seen with the ornate borders, floral trellis work and pomegranate motifs that are also commonly found in Samarkand and Khotan rugs.

 

Nowadays, we often talk about globalization and cultural fusion as if it were a product of the Internet age and recent history, but Samarkand rugs are the beautiful evidence that artisans incorporated the inspiration and influence of their multicultural societies long before the days of email. See our full range of Samarkand and Khotan rugs here.

12 Great Spaces Designed for Company and Celebration

This is the time of year where many of us enjoy our homes the most, the season when we get to share our space with the people we love best.

Interior design plays a crucial part in how people congregate, even though most of your guests wont realize it. And how comfortable they feel in that space will be a direct result of the arrangement, textures and light that make the room.

There are several simple tips for making great interiors for group gatherings: You’ll want to place furniture so people can choose to be closer to the main conversation, or can pick a corner or alcove for more intimate conversation. Adequate lighting is crucial to comfort. So is texture. Fabrics, rugs and carpets set the tone and beckon visitors to sit, rest, visit and enjoy.

Take a peek at some spaces that are doing it right:

Plenty of neat and differnetiated areas to choose from in this arrangement

Traditional Upper Westside style in this intimate setup

A traditional rug lends necessary softening to this elegant space

Those windows. Sure to have guests begging for a return invite.

Chic, modern, fabulous.

This formal modernist living room benefits from the long window ledge, where guests are sure to convene for more casual interaction.

Wonderful ceiling detail and a lovely floral carpet, this space basks in warm tones.

Definitely an eclectic, funky space – perfect for your more bohemian crowds

The airy simplicity of Swedish design is always inviting, and the pretty flat weave rug here brings brilliance and energy to an otherwise stark space. Check out our vast collection of Swedish flat weave rugs here.

A traditional circular rug lends a dash of warm and heritage to this cool industrial space, and the antique TV and modernist pieces are likely conversation starters.

Such a diverse texture array in this room, plus a neat juxtaposition of contemporary and traditional rugs.

Big space or small space, traditional or modern – in each of these lovely spaces a rug plays a key part in the composition of the room. Explore the possibilities with our vintage, antique and contemporary collections.

And have a warm and love-filled Thanksgiving, wherever you may be celebrating!

Warm Up with Antique Oushak Rugs

When it gets cold outside, one of the collections we turn to for a surefire pick-me-up of rich, earth-toned beauty is our Antique Oushaks. Resplendent in terracotta, brick red, royal blue and golden hues, Antique Oushak rugs lend old-world charm and heritage to wherever they are found.

 

Oushak rugs are named for their Turkish city of origin. The tradition was started from the sixteenth century at the time of the Ottoman Empire. Over the centuries, they became prized objects d’art for the European upper-classes.

  

Medallion patterns, floral and vine designs, and also palmettes are all common visual motifs for Oushak rugs. They make great foundational pieces for living rooms and also more formal settings because the heritage is so immediately recognizable.

 

Even in contemporary settings like the room above, Oushak rugs bring the heat in a big way. This space would be cold and stark without the richness of color contained in its area rug.

 

We would be hard pressed to name another region of the world that produces rugs with the same amount of energy and vitality as the Oushak tradition. Something about the brilliance of their coloring combined with intricacy of pattern gives them a power that’s almost kinetic.  

To dial up the tone, add a spark to visual appeal, and for the feel of a proud history underfoot, Antique Oushak rugs are a phenomenal choice. See our full array of Antique Oushak rugs here.

Celosia Orange is the New Black

Okay, so the header may be a bit of overstatement. I don’t think the “little celosia orange dress” is going to become a wardrobe necessity anytime soon, but the second season of everyone’s favorite Netflix prison show debuts Friday, and while we eagerly await the return of Piper Kerman – worrying what the consequences will be for her beating the crap out of Pennsatucky last year – it’s perfect timing to reflect on one of the most eye-catching 2014 Pantone color choices.

 

 

Celosia orange was actually a spring pick for Pantone, but there’s enough warmth and magnetism in this hue to carry it through seasons to come.

It’s funny because despite the show’s title, Piper Kerman doesn’t actually spend that much time on screen wearing orange. I think there’s something analogous about that and the way celosia orange should be used in design: It’s a stunning, potent color and one that can be used sparingly to fabulous, dramatic effect.

You can find variations on this lovely shade that span many design eras and cultures in our rug collection. It pops up in geometric French Deco rugs, Swedish mid century pieces, and in the sumptuous, earthy, high pile loops of our vintage Moroccan rugs.

   

Interior Design: Inspired Neutral Statement

As someone who reads a lot about interior design, I frequently come across interior photos where I think “wow, that’s really intriguing and stunning,” and simultaneously, “I could never do anything like that in my home.”

The conversation about interiors is often dominated by assertive aesthetics. This makes sense: a room that effectively uses a bright color or a space done up in stark monochrome (trending of late) will grab more attention and attract more eyes than a more discreet one.

But there’s a difference between repinning something on Pinterest and choosing to live with it for many years. I’ll never have a space that’s highly stylized because I have too many beloved objects – art, photos, family heirlooms – that I want to highlight. I want those things to speak to my personality, and I don’t want them overshadowed by too many bright colors or ornamental wallpaper.

Neutral gets a bad name because it’s seen as a default, and a middle-brow, highly-commoditized one at that. But a good neutral interior is anything but unrefined. Creating such a space can be broken down into three main components.

Structure

                                                    

The structural design of an interior is usually figured out before construction (or before renovation). If you are in this phase, it’s a good idea to let your architect know what you plan on putting inside. Often times, a designer will want to visit your current space to get a feel for how you live.

But after construction, it’s also important to think about structure as it relates to furniture and decoration. The photo above is of a basement-level entertainment room, and since the ceiling is a bit lower, the rectangular wood paneling and low-back sectional emphasizes the horizontal length of the room and lends a sense of spaciousness.

                                                 

Likewise in this space, decorative beams give a touch of chic to the wood ceiling. There is still a lot of aesthetic variance that’s achievable with a neutral palette. A space can have features that are architecturally interesting, but also don’t overwhelm key decorative elements.

Texture

                                                    

Texture is such an important part of good design, but probably also the element that’s easiest to overlook. It’s not just a matter of making something tactilely comfortable, texture lends nuance. It might reference the aesthetic of the occupants or the environment within which the space is built. It also can have a powerful oppositional force: Juxtaposing dissimilar materials gives depth; a place is always more interesting when it’s made up of contrasting elements.

The sleek minimalist living room above uses dark wood accents and a thick cream rug to offset its heavy linear structural elements and tall white walls. The use of brick and wood are stunning in themselves, but they still allow the art to take center stage.

A good example of subtlety in texture is this mid-century vintage Moroccan rug to get a closer look see it here. The knotted pile quietly calls our attention with the way it shows its wear. From our contemporary collection, this cozy shag is bolder. Its color scheme may be muted, but the pile is decidedly playful.

Color

                                         

Beige and white are great standards, but they aren’t the only colors to work with. Deep grays, earthy reds, natural yellows and pale mauve also fall under the scope of neutral.

Even working with neutrals, color picking is still a task that takes a lot of thought. One has to consider the architectural features of the space, what kind of mood is desired and what sort of objects and furniture the color will be paired with. Another reason neutral gets a bad name is often when people try to pick colors conservatively they tend toward hues that are too light, where a saturated shade would be the better choice.

Color isn’t all about paint and upholstery. A neutral scheme often works best when it plays up natural elements. The wood walls and ceiling in the home above provide a delicious array of reds and browns, and the tile also contains serene purples.

A neutral scheme poses myriad possibilities. Deciding which ones to seek out is no less challenging but ispotentially more flexible and satisfying in the long-term than brighter schemes.