TOP 6 QUESTIONS INTERIOR DESIGNERS HAVE ABOUT RUG CREATION
Last month, 28 interior design staff from Yabu Pushelberg visited the Creative Matters studio for an interactive day to share each company's parameters for floorcovering projects, and to learn more about what is possible in the world of creative rugs and carpets. The day's discussions with our client were a fantastic reminder of what interior designers need to know when planning a rug or carpet. Here are the six most asked questions.
1. WHAT IS THE DESIGN PROCESS FOR CUSTOM CARPETS?
There are five different ways we work with clients to design floorcoverings:
- the client shares their inspiration board and floor plan, and we generate brand new concepts to complement the space
- the client provides an inspirational image, and we translate it into a new design with custom colours, scale and motifs
- the client chooses a design from our website or look book, and we customize it for their colours, scale, etc.
- the client selects a design idea from our archives, and from it - we create a rug design
- the client creates a painting or image, and we develop a rug design that matches the original as closely as possible
2. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO DESIGN AND PRODUCE A RUG?
Quick answer: Eight weeks to a year, depending on method of construction, complexity of design, project constraints, etc.
Many interior designers would like carpets and rugs to be instantly available - one less thing to manage on the timeline. If we are looking at printed goods, then the timeframe is shorter, as machine work is much quicker than handmade. To produce a handknotted carpet, the minimum time is six months, whereas with handtufted we would require four months. Many of our projects can stretch over a year or more if the design process is complex and samples must be perfected to match other surfaces.
A note: if an interior designer needs one of our rugs in a standard size, we have retailers across the world where our Collection rugs are available "off the shelf."
3. HOW LARGE CAN YOU MAKE A FLOORCOVERING?
The answer to this question is "how big a carpet can you ship?" Virtually anything is possible; however, if a rug is exceptionally large, it needs to be carefully cut to facilitate shipping restrictions. It is then just as carefully reconstructed during installation according to detailed instructions. Our mills in Thailand have made rugs as big as 39 feet x 49 feet (9 metres x 15 metres), and post installation the seams are only detectable to the wisest eye.
4. HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH ALL THE DESIGNS?
One of the ways we can save our clients time and money is by using our searchable database of over 2,500 designs created during our signature Art Days. A time-honoured Creative Matters practice, Art Day involves our whole team removing themselves from daily cares to engage in the process of pure design. 100 of our favourite artworks were recently released in our inspired. look book. Please request a printed copy for inspiration or check it out online.
5. WHAT IS HANDTUFTING?
Handtufting is a difficult concept to understand, so during our day with the Yabu Pushelberg team we actually got out a handtufting gun and volunteers attempted the technique themselves. There was unanimous agreement that this method of production is best left to professionals! Handknotting and handtufting are artisanal skills handed down through the generations in countries all over the world.
Handtufting is considered hand crafting but the artisan uses a manual or electronic gun to force wool through the backing rather than creating knots as they do with handknotting.
6. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE COLOURS?
Colours are almost always custom, so we can match whatever colours you are working with, and make suggestions for extra colours that may be needed to fill out the design.
A special thanks to the interior design team from Yabu Pushelberg for their enthusiasm for our studio and rugs, and for helping further our understanding of client needs. Collaborating with inquisitive and talented clients to create inspired floorcoverings makes our work more like play. If you have a question or comment, feel free to send it our way!