Where to Find A Beautiful, Mostly Solid with a Little Intrigue, Wool Rug
For less than Nordic Knots. I am designing rugs for sale.
Do you need a rug or know someone who is looking for one? I am now designing rugs for sale. If you are interested, message or text me, or fill out this very quick form.
Here is how I came to design rugs for sale: I scoured the internet and New York for a bedroom rug, and couldn’t find what I was looking for. Here was my criteria:
Soft - makes getting in and out of bed so nice to step on something soft.
Wool - natural materials look nicer and are better for the environment that synthetic. I'm not sure how bad micro plastics are, but I know natural is better.
Mostly solid and neutral, but not boring - I love pattern, but thought something mostly solid would be soothing in our bedroom. I also couldn’t afford the high end solid rugs I wanted. I wasn’t satisfied with the limited mostly solid options out there.
Cost - I recently spent all my money on our living room rug, sectional, dining table, floor lamp. So this rug had to be less of a big ticket item. I was looking for something under $2K for an 8’x10’.
Color - I surprisingly couldn’t find any rugs that are the shade of beige/tan that I was looking for. Everything was too light, too pink or too gray.
So I did what I tend to do when I can’t find the thing I want that I can afford. I decided to make my own. Or in this case, I found a rug maker to make me the rug I wanted.
This was my inspiration.
I began with pencil sketches, then colored pencil. I always draw busy, ornate designs, then I simplify.
I then moved to CAD and Photoshop to get the exact dimensions and sent a mockup to my rug maker.
I simplified my design a little more, and ended with this final design.
Once I sent this design to my rug maker, I asked if he could send me the pom color options so I could pick the colors for the rug. Rug poms are little samples for color, as you can see below.
After I selected the colors, the rug maker showed me the wool dying process.
To get the design onto the rug, he uses an exact dimensioned drawing to draw the design on a screen loom. Then he uses a weaving gun to knot the rug. After he finished, he sent me a photo for approval, and he shipped it right away. It arrived after only two weeks.
These rugs I’m hoping to sell can arrive to you in around 3 weeks from finalized design to doorstep. That is really fast in rug world! Many custom rugs take around 10 weeks. I’ve purchased rugs that take 4-5 months for clients before.
Above is a video of the rug making process. I never knew this was how its done.
My friend took one look at my rug and asked me to design a rug for her and her husband. I drew some hand sketches, then created a few different colored mockups and sent them to her. She picked option 3 below. Then I did a few different colorways to choose from, and she liked the original colorway best, with a slight tweak.
The rug arrived at their apartment 3 weeks later! They had us for dinner last night to thank us for the rug. And I’m working on my next friend’s rug right now.
Here is some inspiration for future rugs:
Other Oddities
This table lamp for only $45! Yes, I love supporting small biz artists, but sometimes Target just does it so well
I love all of the colors in this Stockholm apartment. If anyone is looking for home or apartment design inspiration, this might be what you’re looking for.
Some recent Facebook Marketplace finds:
An adorable spice village! Each spice home is labeled with the spice. This is a far more charming way to store spices than my ugly spice rack and ugly spices, if you don’t have cabinet or drawer space like me
Set of 4 really great patio chairs for only $30. I’m sitting at a patio chair right now, and can tell you if you have a patio you should sit out there while the weather is nice
A unique coffee table with a cool stone inlay collection. Great coffee tables are hard to find. This is so cool, and a conversation starter
Facebook Marketplace tip: Uber carrier will deliver your Facebook Marketplace purchase and it’s just as cheap as if you were to go pick it up and Uber home, plus you don’t have to go anywhere and it is so fun to receive. I recently got a floor lamp delivered to me.
Hover mohair still life series by Maria Szakats at Megan Mulroony Gallery
The exhibit ended, but I still have so much fun looking at these online. I love unexpected texture of the mohair creating this blurred effect, but somehow the flowers are extremely detailed. I keep trying to figure out how she did it, which I think is a sign of great art. Also, they have pretty colors.
If you go to Woodstock, NY I highly recommend these spots:
Dinner at Silvia - some of the best food I’ve ever had. The fire baked pita with whipped butter and honey was insane. And I am a pita snob. I didn’t take any photos, you’ll just have to trust me.
Stop by Cub Market in Bearsville for provisions - it’s a tiny mart with great prepared food, and a collection of portrait paintings
Drinks at Gemelia - owned by same people as Silvia and across the street. It consists of two charming log cabins with a beautifully landscaped patio. The drinks and playlist are above par.
Breakfast at Bread Alone - sit and enjoy outside, and grab a loaf for later
On your way to and from Woodstock stop by these spots:
Rosie General Store in Kingston for a sandwich and their hot sauce
Kingston Wine Co - great selection, and they have a lot of New York wines
DuBois Farms - you can go pick peaches and summer vegetables right now, then apples in the fall. And you can pet really cute baby goats
omg the rug looks incredible! I also love your wall color
I didn't know this was possible! I wish we didn't have carpet now. We just had our first built-in bookshelves done, and it was fun (and a learning experience) working with the carpenters and lumberyard. But rugs! Also, your rug is gorgeous.