Inspired by Arabia
▶ A new carpet collection by designer Nisrine El Lababidi takes the UAE as its reference, writes Selina Denman
As a successful interior designer who regularly blogs about all things creative, Nisrine El Lababidi, founder of the Harf Noon Design Studio, is well placed to identify gaps in the market. While sourcing for her own projects, she realised that despite all the available options, there was still a need for carpets that combined traditional Middle Eastern design elements with a contemporary aesthetic. So she set about creating her own, in collaboration with Dubai’s Carpet Centre.
As she tells it, one night, she woke up and just started sketching – and those initial drawings were the foundation for her newly unveiled Harf Noon carpet collection. For the designs, El Lababidi drew on the UAE for inspiration, calling on natural elements like waves and sand dunes, but also on the country’s highly contemporary architecture, as well as more traditional ornamental motifs. The loom-knotted creations are subtle but striking, and crafted from a combination of silk and extra-fine New Zealand wool, in muted shades of grey, ivory, peach and silver.
“Whether you are winding down from a long day or gently easing into a new one, the soothing designs in the Harf Noon collection will provide the perfect sense of harmony and peace just where you need it most,” El Lababidi says.
The collection is available from Carpet Centre’s store on Umm Suqeim road, as well as online, and prices start at Dh6,450.