HARMONY UNVEILED: A MESMERIZING BLEND OF PERSIAN KNOT AND MID-CENTURY MODERN ELEGANCE

Photography by Mike Chajecki

When Douglas Design Studio sought to enhance the dining room of a private residence in Toronto with an additional touch of elegance, they turned to Creative Matters to transform their vision into reality. Through our custom rug collaboration, we were able to bring a sense of cohesion, tying the room’s design elements together.

Our team at Creative Matters was provided with a design brief consisting of several challenges, including achieving functional harmony and fitting an irregularly shaped room. Our finished design needed to be artful, yet practical, and serve as an anchor for the room’s mid-century modern aesthetic.

We’re proud to say this was achieved by designing a low-pile, handknotted rug in a Persian knot construction. The rug is made in 100% Ghazni wool, crafted by Creative Matters’ artisans in Afghanistan, measuring an impressive 12'x28'6", with edges reaching from wall to wall.

The design inspiration behind the custom rug

Creative Matters’ Designer, Madeleine Baigent, led the design of this custom collaboration, ensuring the finished rug reflected the studio's precise vision and the home design.

Creative Matters Designer, Madeleine Baigent

When collaborating with interior designers on a custom residential rug, they are asked to present an overall narrative of the space to educate our process. From mood boards and inspirations to historical elements and interior building finishes, we utilize this information to design one-of-a-kind pieces that fit perfectly within the overall design direction. Clients also share logistical requirements, such as floor plans, dimensions and shapes, ensuring the final piece immaculately aligns with the space.

Douglas Design Studio was very clear about the style and colours they sought. They wanted the rug to embrace the home's mid-century modern appeal, linear architecture, dark walnut ceilings and finishes. The studio found inspiration in the Art Deco movement, Dutch abstract painter Piet Mondrian and Bauhaus design.

Bauhaus was a revolutionary art and design movement that originated in Germany in the early 20th century. Its core philosophy emphasizes the importance of functionality in everyday objects and believes that "form follows function" in designing aesthetically pleasing practical objects. The final custom rug reflected these principles through its construction, character and colour palette. It featured various geometric shapes and linear details in shades of yellow, blue and red, expressing the environment in which it was placed.

Creative Matters’ designer Madeleine Baigent stated, “We thoughtfully selected specific design elements, such as linear shapes and large colour blocks, to cohere with the furniture and lines of the Toronto home. We created a selection of initial concepts, using circular design patterns, but ultimately decided to use a more geometric approach, which aligned with the architecture superbly. The final colour palette was chosen to complement existing finishes and artwork in the dining room.”

Why do we design with wool?

This Bauhaus-inspired design required a particular colour depth only 100% wool could provide, and in this case, we chose Ghazni wool. When our team at Creative Matters presented the client with suggested fibres and construction methods, Persian handknotting immediately captured their attention. This traditional technique is renowned for its delicacy and precision, enabling the creation of tight and clean cut piles ideal for a modern home. The resulting texture exudes refinement, perfectly complementing the design's clean lines and minimalist sensibility.

For centuries, wool has been a popular choice for rugs and carpets. Our clients love this natural and renewable fibre for a variety of reasons. The sheer beauty and soft underfoot make wool very appealing. Not only that, but the fibre is sound absorbent, hypoallergenic, flame and stain resistant, water repellent, and can be cleaned very easily compared to other textiles. Since Creative Matters opened its doors 35 years ago, the vast majority of our floor coverings have been made from wool.

The design challenges

The creation of the final rug design took just seven months. However, there were many factors to consider when creating this custom piece to confirm its functionality. One key consideration was the dining room chairs and the irregularly shaped walls in the space.

Creative Matters’ Creative Director, Sandra Ciganic-McKinney, managed this project from start to finish. She worked closely with Douglas Design Studio to facilitate the production process and see that their design goals were exceeded. 

Creative Matters’ Creative Director, Sandra Ciganic-McKinney

“We decided to proceed with a clean low cut pile, allowing the chairs to seamlessly move across the floor. High cut pile creates a shag effect, which would not suit the clean aesthetic of the space or allow for smooth furniture movement. Irregular-shaped designs are a challenge when working with Persian handknotting construction. To help our craftspeople fit the specific contours of the room, we provided detailed drawings and measurements and paper templates for the mill to follow as closely as possible. The final design turned out beautifully. Our artisans did an exceptional job,” Sandra shared.

The end result is an exquisitely crafted custom piece, truly showcasing the impact of custom rug design. The rug effortlessly integrates with the architecture and interior finishes, bonding the dining room’s existing elements and enhancing its overall aesthetic.

If you are interested in Creative Matters' custom rug services tailored for residential homes, explore another featured project here.