WINNING CARPETS FOR LAS VEGAS RESORT

In May 2018, the Palms Casino Resort completed a $620 million renovation which was heralded as the grandest in Las Vegas history. It included the creation of two new nightlife venues, both designed by Studio Munge and both featuring carpets by Creative Matters. As Forbes wrote, “Camden Cocktail Lounge, on the resort’s ground level, and APEX Social Club, a mere elevator ride away on the astonishing 55th floor, are a couple of the city’s hottest new hotspots, for entirely different reasons. One is decidedly, delightfully un-Vegas. The other is fantastically uber-Vegas.”

CAMDEN COCKTAIL LOUNGE

The Creative Matters carpets for the Camden Lounge reflect the opulence in the surrounding finishes. Photo: Brandon Barré

On the ground level, Camden Cocktail Lounge is “an expression of a classic library, but with a contemporary and lively twist,” said Alessandro Munge, Principal at Studio Munge. “Camden’s glamorous gold accents, expressive silk rugs and sensual velvets are protected by a permeable façade wall disguised as a 15-foot bookcase lined with vibrant luminous novels.”

With Ana Cunningham as project lead and Kayla Bortolotto as designer, we were asked to develop a design and product that reflected the opulence in the surrounding finishes for three inset carpets in the three different rooms within the lounge. The six-colour design is the same but the colourways vary - the gaming section is more subdued while the lounge uses brighter colours featuring the gold tones in the space.

The starting point for the design at Creative Matters was the organic and effortless beauty found in nature. In its final incarnation, the carpet design brings playful movement into the space and provides a great textural backdrop to the curved lines of the furniture.

This close-up photo capturing the glint of the marble flooring next to the beautifully tailored inset of the Creative Matters carpet demonstrates the level of detail the designer took on with this project. Photo: Maxime Bocken

Because of the heavy traffic between the three rooms, we recommended a woven Axminster using 80% New Zealand wool and 20% nylon. We did however add luxe nylon to create just the right amount of glam. Using the luxe nylon was a perfect choice for this project because it highlights perfectly the details on an almost black background. Ana was delighted how we made a machine-made carpet look so utterly decadent.

APEX SOCIAL CLUB

The colours of the Creative Matters carpet for the APEX Social Club complement the soft hues in the setting sky as you look towards the outdoor lounge.
Photo: Brandon Barré

Up on the 55th floor, the APEX Social Club comprises 4,500 square feet (418 square metres) of outdoor patio and terrace embracing panoramic views of the city. A large statement bar trimmed in bronze metal, midnight blue stone, and ombré glass contributes to the avant-garde atmosphere.

We were responsible for the creation of one large inset rug which would bring softness underfoot and carve out a place for guests to relax and unwind. For this we selected 50% wool, 50% silk handtufted in cut pile.

For design, Studio Munge was looking for something understated so as not to compete with the dynamic inlay pattern in the floor. At the same time the rug needed to appear lush and sophisticated. Although not immediately obvious from the photo, we created a seamless, radial gradation from a deep blue at the centre of the rug to subtle champagne tones as it approaches the perimeter. The seven colours - and a variety of blends in between - complement the soft hues in the setting sky as you look towards the outdoor lounge. The rug is also reflected in the ceiling details - even the glow of the soft light remains part of the theme here. Just an exquisite set up!

The artwork for the Apex Social Club carpet illustrates the radial gradation from a deep blue at the centre of the rug to subtle champagne tones as it approaches the perimeter.

Dramatically different venues with carpets of dramatically different design and construction, However, all the rugs were all inset which required a high level of technical management on our part. To manage this we worked with exact dimensions and sent a CAD file to the mills so they could ensure accuracy.

Working with Studio Munge is always an immersion in creativity, and designing for Las Vegas is always an immersion in … fun.