From American-made innovation to Swedish design heritage, painterly expressions to high-style debuts at Cover Connect, rugmakers are weaving new stories—find out the details in this week’s Rug Report.
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Rugmaker Delos has just expanded and opened a showroom within its facility in Calhoun, Ga., to further private-label relationships, with a sample library to aid in product creation.
Because the company tufts rugs in the U.S., it said it is important for customers to see how they utilize robotics for consistency and speed, while still capitalizing on the hand-finishing of locally skilled craftspeople.
“We can help both bricks and mortar and online furniture retailers navigate through this, partnering with them to continue offering on-trend area rugs without investment into the unknown,” said Leah Phillips, Delos co-president.
“Today’s buyer does not need to fly to India/China to develop product, incurring time and expense. Furniture retailers do not need to sink inventory dollars into stocking area rugs stateside, when they can order as they need from Delos, allowing them to additionally capitalize on selling larger custom size pieces. Consumers are interested in buying more American-made products and are additionally interested in experiencing the maker stories behind these products,” she added.
The Delos corporate office, library and tufting facility is located just off I-75, between Atlanta, Ga., and Chattanooga, Tenn. The company welcomes trade showrooms, private-label partners, hospitality, residential, and private aviation customers.
“Meetings held around noon are complemented by a southern barbecue lunch, served with traditional sweet tea,” Phillips added. “Visitors are always welcome, whether scheduled or unannounced, for maker tours, project discussions or simply to meet the team.”
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With colored patterns and tactile, structured surfaces, Kasthall has introduced its new Ines Reed and Ingrid Icon rug collections.
Ines Reed is a new tufted rug that adds a confident expression to the brand’s growing collection, while Ingrid Icon is a woven rug with refined texture and architectural balance. Both collections arrive in eight colors, composed to meet today’s interiors.
“Ines Reed is a rug with character,” said Ingalill Ulvdell, head of range at Kasthall. “It brings structure to a room but also softness. It is expressive… in a balanced way.”
Tufted at the Kasthall factory in Kinna, Sweden, the rug is made from a mix of wool and linen yarns. The collection includes eight new colorways – from botanical greens to sun-warmed neutrals and deeper accent tones.
“Ingrid Icon is about balance – between contrast and softness, structure and warmth,” said Ulvdell. “The colors continue a tradition and at the same time offer more nuance. They work beautifully in both private and public interiors and feel especially relevant now when tactility with restraint is in focus.”
“These collections invite new ways of thinking about texture and design,” said CEO Mirkku Kullberg. “Ines Reed draws the eye and brings a new pulse to the Kasthall collection, and Ingrid Icon with its quiet force shapes the room.”
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For more than three decades, painter Larry Roberts and his wife, Laurie, lived and created side by side. He, as a painter with his wife as his muse, collaborator and confidante.
Roberts lost his battle with cancer in 2019, and his wife found a way to continue their shared vision by transforming his art into new forms. As an artist, Roberts was celebrated for his abstract, figurative, expressionist and impressionist works. A self-taught artist, his process involved layering and removing paint.
The new rug collection reimagines five of his paintings as floor coverings. Each rug reflects Robert’s mastery of movement, color and emotion while the process of translation into textiles creates new dimensions of depth and texture.
Handwoven by skilled Indian master weavers, the rugs combine luxurious natural fibers with precise craftsmanship to ensure each one functions just not as décor but as an heirloom quality work of art, according to the company.
“These rugs are living canvases, meant to anchor a room the same way a masterpiece does to a gallery wall,” said Laurie Roberts. “When you live with one of his pieces, you discover new layers, new images and new emotions over time. This collection of rugs allows people to bring that same sense of discovery and intimacy of art into their homes in a revolutionary way.”
All rugs are custom-made to order. Established in 2022, Larry Roberts Chicago is led by his wife, Laurie, who has used her industry expertise to expand the brand through new products, increased accessibility, and enhanced brand recognition.
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Two upcoming shows in New York will offer opportunities to see new rug collections from several rugmakers.
The shows include Cover Connect New York, which runs Sept. 13–15 in the Metropolitan Pavilion, and the New York Home Fashions Market, which runs Sept. 15-18 in various locations.
Nourison Home – with its new Manhattan showroom located at 260 Fifth Ave. on the fourth floor – has set the tone for the upcoming New York Home Fashions Market week with an expanded mix of DKNY and Calvin Klein designer rugs alongside texture-rich, performance-driven additions to its core collections.
“This season, our collection reflects a fresh approach to style, performance and versatility, tailored to meet evolving consumer trends and retailer needs,” said Paula Paquette, senior vice president of sales at Nourison Home. “This season’s new designs embody our brand values of craftsmanship, trend-forward design and sustainability while giving retailers ‘fresh opportunities to captivate customers this season’.”
The DKNY Collection introduces a fresh mix of contemporary style and everyday functions, with soft-to-the-touch yarn such as chenille, intricate textures and practical non-skid backing. These designs reflect DKNY’s “signature urban sophistication” while offering comfort and ease of care for modern lifestyles.
The Calvin Klein Collection continues its focus on clean lines and refined textures at approachable price points.
Within its in-house Nourison Home-Branded assortment, new launches bow to texture. The Hillside line offers a broad assortment of deigns with a soft hand and a printed, non-skid backing. Other highlights include Avalon, a modern take on the classic braided rug; and Vintage Home, a versatile low-profile, digitally printed rug designed for use in any room.
Harounian Rugs International (HRI) also plans to unveil its newest collections at the two shows this month. These include premium machine-made rugs, designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s interiors. The company will debut its rugs at Stand M09 in the Metropolitan Pavilion for Cover Connect and in the company’s flagship showroom located at 104 West 29th Street for both shows.
Momeni Rugs will also be showing at the Cover Connect trade fair for high-end rugs and carpets in booth A13 in the Altman Building, 135 West 18th Street.
– Cecile Corral contributed to this report.
