Swept Under the Rug
Hi everyone, happy Wednesday!
For the last month, one product category has haunted me, tormented me, consumed my every waking second: RUGS.
All I wanted was a soft rug to sink my feet into when I got out of bed, one with a fun little design, in bright, warm colors that would complement my yellow-painted room. After a couple weeks of light browsing, I found one I quite liked and ordered it, and gave the matter no more thought.
Then I got an email notification that unfortunately the warehouse could not locate my rug, and that my order had been canceled. I promptly set off on a frenzied search wherein I compared every potential new rug I came across to the MIA one, and found it wanting. Somewhere along the way, my emotional investment shifted from “Tra-la-la, shopping for a nice rug” to “I will settle for nothing less than my PERFECT rug, my rug SOULMATE, my One True Rug.”
I had anywhere from 40-60 open tabs on my laptop, all of rug options. Scrolling through Ruggable, Revival, Craigslist, and FB Marketplace was the first thing I did when I woke up and the last thing I did before bed. When I closed my eyes, visions of rugs danced in my head: Moroccan rugs, Persian rugs, Beni Ourain rugs, wool, jute, silk, hand-loomed, hand-knotted, hand-tufted…
I finally pulled the trigger on a rug a few days ago, not my One True Rug, but one that’s perfectly lovely, fits all my criteria, and, crucially, is within my budget. But I came across plenty of fantastic rugs in the course of my research, and wanted to share some of my favorite finds. And though I haven’t quite hit Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-hour mark, I’d still consider myself quite an expert at this point, so if you find yourself in the market for a new rug, call me.
Gator Girl
ALLIGATOR AREA RUG - WE MIGHT BE ON FIRE (FROM $575)
One rug I seriously considered was from We Might Be On Fire, a New Orleans-based brand with a range of textile offerings including rugs, blankets, and towels. I was immediately charmed by their punchy graphics inspired by nature and the bayou, from beady-eyed herons to lime-green lily pads, but was especially taken with these lolling alligators. Sadly the muted, cool-neutral tone didn’t quite jibe with my desired color palette, as I wanted something a little brighter and splashier, but this would be perfect for the reptile lover looking to adopt a few gators!
Lumps and Bumps
APAD RUG DAY 672 - PROBA HOME (FROM $765)
Speaking of bright and splashy, artist Alex Proba’s rugs, with their abstract shapes and vivid hues, certainly fit the bill. I’ve always been a sucker for an interesting texture, whether a high-low pile or a mixed material situation; for me at least, the tactility of a rug is equally, if not even more important than its visual impact, but I definitely wouldn’t have to choose between the two with this Day 672 rug. I can just imagine how delightful it would be to shuffle around on the wool and feel the nubbly, pebbled texture underfoot. However, since I’m planning to position my rug partway under my bed, it’d be a shame to cover up even an inch, so I really envision this rug as more of a living room conversation starter.
Dream On
SILHOUETTE RUG - NANIMARQUINA X JAIME HAYON (FROM $1,505)
The rug that has my heart, the one I’d buy with zero hesitation if money was no object, is the Nanimarquina x Jaime Hayon Silhouette rug, which will run you a cool $1,505 for just a 4’ x 5’ tapestry and only gets more eye-watering from there. But I adore the colors and the playful line drawings, and it feels so true to my personal style, far more than any other rug I’ve encountered. I found someone selling a 6’7” x 9’10” version of this rug for $3,000 on FB Marketplace (for context, this size goes for $5,000 on DWR), and for a few days I oscillated wildly between “This is insane, there’s no way I’m gonna spend that much on a rug” and “Money is a tool to enjoy your life, you can’t take it to the grave with you.” Eventually common sense won out, but it was a hard-won battle; rest assured this rug will absolutely be my first purchase the moment I 1) win the lottery, 2) attract the favor of a wealthy benefactor, or 3) pull off a bank heist.
Tried one of my recs and loved it (or hated it)? Wanna get something cool on my radar? Drop me a line at kittylguo@gmail.com or swing by my Twitter @kitguo!