Sunday Times

LOOMING LARGE

Weave your own magic at Coral & Hive, where artisanal craftspeop­le will create your exclusive rug

- TEXT: ROBERTA THATCHER

Ever dreamed of creating your own custom rug? Coral & Hive is a Somerset Westbased design house, whose focus is just this. “The thought of designing your own rug can seem daunting, but this is the process we love most,” says owner Jeannine Birch. The Coral & Hive team will sit with you to hear about your interiors, your tastes and the specific room the rug is for, and then create mood and pattern boards to inspire you.

“Each rug is unique and woven to the highest standards,” explains Birch. Her team trains local men and women in the art of handweavin­g and these talented artisans work off the largest looms in Africa to create the rugs. “We use a wide variety of top-quality karakul wool, cotton and mohair and the possibilit­ies when it comes to design, pattern and textures are endless,” adds Birch.

The rugs are sold worldwide and for Coral & Hive, this is a wonderful opportunit­y to showcase local talent abroad. “Consumers are really starting to take an interest in where their pieces are made, and we’re proud to not only be uplifting local communitie­s, but also showing the world just how beautiful African rugs are.”

www.coralandhi­ve.com

 ??  ?? Jeannine Birch’s workshop
Jeannine Birch’s workshop
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