WEAVING PLACE INTO DESIGN: A LAKESIDE HOME TOLD THROUGH CUSTOM RUGS
Living room rug. Photography by Simon Tanenbaum.
Situated on Lake Simcoe, the Keswick residence is a serene retreat designed for a couple embracing their golden years. Working with Elizabeth White of Elizabeth J. White Design & Consulting, Creative Matters developed a series of custom rugs to help define, ground and connect the home’s interiors, chosen not only for our original designs but for our ability to deliver with expertise. Crafting eight rugs for the space, each had its own narrative, yet all contributed to a seamless sense of place, reflecting the homeowner’s affection for whimsy, storytelling and lakeside living.
A RUG FOR EVERY ROOM, A LANGUAGE BETWEEN THEM
Each rug in the Keswick home strikes a delicate balance between individuality and harmony. While some designs act as the focal point, anchoring the room, others offer quiet support, creating a visual rhythm that lets other elements shine. “Each room had its own intention,” says Kayla Bortolotto, Senior Designer and Creative Operations Lead. “Some rugs were the central design element, and some worked to gently unify. That variety made it a rare and beautiful challenge.”
Collaborating with a client who was both creatively opinionated and deeply involved in the process resulted in designs that felt intuitive and personal, with each rug tailored to the space and atmosphere of the room.
Water-inspired caregiver suite rug anchors the room with aqua and gold hues. Photography by Simon Tanenbaum.
DESIGN MEETS ACCESSIBILITY
In this project, accessibility wasn’t added in, it was built in through purposeful design. One of the homeowners uses a wheelchair, and our team integrated this consideration from the earliest stages.
Pile heights were carefully selected, bevelled and tapered edges were added for smooth transitions and the materials were chosen for both durability and comfort. In high-wear areas, such as under the dining table, additional carpet samples were created to extend the rug's longevity. “These are small details that make a major impact on everyday life,” Kayla notes. “Everything was tailored for ease, comfort and beauty.”
Living room rug. Photography by Simon Tanenbaum.
LIVING ROOM RUG: A SUNSET ON THE LAKE
Original artwork by Kayla Bortolotto from Art Day
The living room showcases two handknotted rugs crafted with Tibetan wool and Chinese silk from Nepal. The design concept originated during Creative Matters’ Art Day, a studio session where the team created collages from torn paper, then digitized them into artwork. A piece inspired by lakeside sunsets, waves and earthy ridges stood out as the perfect fit for the home. The original palette of soft golds, greys and blues was already a perfect match, needing little adjustment before being woven into the final piece and transforming spontaneous creativity into refined design.
OFFICE RUG: THE TALE OF THE RAVEN
Office rug, Raven artwork by Ningiukulu Teevee. Photography by Simon Tanenbaum.
In the office, Raven, a shaped area rug featuring original artwork by Inuit artist Ningiukulu Teevee, anchors the space. The design, licensed through Dorset Fine Arts, brings cultural depth and fluidity to the room. The rug’s imagery is based on a story of a raven stealing kamiks (traditional footwear) from a drying rack to decorate its nest, a reflection of the raven’s mischievous spirit and central role in Inuit creation stories. Made with New Zealand wool and Chinese silk, the rug was created in Thailand.
“By combining cut and loop pile with tip shearing, it created rich texture, with visual movement and depth,” says Sandra Ciganic-McKinney, Creative Director, Creative Matters. It’s a standout piece, not just in terms of visuals, but in story, blending art, narrative and thoughtful function in one remarkable piece.
DINING ROOM: CHORD, REIMAGINED
Dining room rug. Photography by Simon Tanenbaum.
Based on Creative Matters’ collection piece, Chord, the dining room rug was adapted to feature a palette of blue-grays with gold accents, subtly echoing the home’s natural surroundings. Its oval shape was custom-designed to suit the space. Handknotted in Nepal with Tibetan wool and Chinese silk, the rug’s soft sheen picks up the light while the golden accents complement the surrounding décor. To preserve the rug’s longevity, where the homeowner’s wheelchair would rest and move, extra samples were thoughtfully placed beneath the wheels. A seamless solution to reduce wear without interrupting the visual design.
The rugs at Keswick residence tell a story, from lakeside sunsets to Indigenous artistry, together they weave a harmonious narrative of comfort, elegance and intention. Sandra shares, “Each room had its own idea, its own purpose. That made it a different kind of project, every rug, every space told its own story.”
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