New ways to use old rugs
As part of the red-hot globali sm trend, “tribal style” — exotic, eclectic and influenced by travel — has spread from fashion to home decor. There’s a caravan of interesting furniture and accessories that work in any space, from the sleek and contemporary to the simple and functional.
“It’s a look that’s meant to reflect the places you’ve been and decorative objects you brought home,” says New York designer Elaine Griffin. “And it’s perfectly fine if you’ve voyaged no further than the Internet, in the comfort of your living room.”
Rugs are a big part of the style. Griffin says “the flatweave kilim and dhurrie rugs that are now back with a vengeance move stylishly onto upholstered chairs, sofas and ottomans.”
Kilim rugs are admired for their bold, geometric flatweave patterns. They’ve been hand-woven for generations in Turkey, North Africa, the Middle East and Asia.
A lot of their appeal lies in the bold motifs and pig- ment dyes, with elements like wolf ’s mouths, stars and fertility symbols interpreted in geometric patterns. Back in Victorian England, smoking rooms and nooks were rife with kilim-covered furniture.
British manufacturer George Smith is known for kilim upholstery marked by careful pattern alignment and crisply tucked edges. They make a range of armchairs and benches covered in detailed modern and vintage Turkish flat-weaves.
Karma Living’s collection of smartly styled midcentury modern chairs and footstools are upholstered in bold stripes and tribal patterns.
The hand- crafted nature of kilims, Oriental and rag rugs plays well with woods and metals. White walls make them pop, while more saturated hues are complementary.