Home & Interiors

Rug-making has always been considered to be at the intersection of art and craft, so it is no wonder rug designer are creating designer rugs inspired by modern art. On the one hand, a rug is a functional object – at its most basic, it serves as a floor covering. On the other hand, a rug is also an aesthetic object in itself, irrespective of the purpose to which it is put. Just where rug-making falls can serve as the topic for endless debates, but you only have to look at the exquisite creations of designers such as Thibault Van Renne to see that some rugs are, indisputably, a creative medium. In fact, rugs have always had a mutually beneficial relationship with the art world, with each drawing on the other for inspiration. You can see that for yourself at some of London’s famous rug shops .  Bazaar Velvet , for example, are Chelsea-based rug designers who effortlessly demonstrate why rugs should be counted as art objects in their own right, with their uniquely expressive designs c...

Our homes are our palaces, yet none of us imagined we would be spending as much time in them as we have during the past few weeks. Although our pool of past times is now somewhat limited, improving our homes is one thing that is still feasible. With our surroundings now a little too familiar, quick and easy home updates in lockdown can lift our spaces and our mood. Here we have gathered three great ways you can transform your interior during the lockdown- luxury rugs for an instant update, plants for a boost to well-being, and clever storage to maximise your tidying efforts . Placing a beautiful luxury rug in your room is one of the quickest and easiest routes to a dramatic, stylish update. The impact of a well chosen rug shouldn’t be underestimated, it’s colours and design can completely transform the tone of a room. This can be a welcome change when our surroundings seem monotonous. In our opinion, no interior is complete without a luxury rug. A rug can greatly increase the comfort...

The range of different interiors that can be enhanced by this exquisite rug is quite extraordinary. The subtle abstract design, the perfect strength of colour and the luxury of a metallic silk, give this rug a versatility that is rare for such a dramatic piece. The luxury furnishings store, I&JL Brown chose to frame it with bright white and coloured accents in their recent photoshoot, as pictured above, whereas a premium paint brand took more tonal approach. Either way, this contemporary rug is a sure scene stealer and is set to remain in high demand for many months to come. Over the past decade,  contemporary rug de has diversified extraordinarily. Designers are mindful of the interiors in which their rugs will be placed in, so keeping a finger on the pulse of home decor trends is all part of the job. Colour trends are a hugely important part of this, so every season, rug designs will evolve to meet the growing demand of certain colourways. At Bazaar Velvet, we are no d...

Character in texture is one of the many great attractions of a hand knotted rug. The traditional handmade processes gives each rug an imperfect surface, and a sense of charm that is absent in the uniformity of modern rug methods. This character is present in even simple designs without any additional carving to their pile. During the creation of a hand knotted rug, beautiful textural effect is formed instantaneously, just by using the yarn of hand spun and hand carded wool, which has a slightly irregular thickness. However, with many of our luxury rugs at Bazaar Velvet, we go a stage further, and incorporate various finishes which add yet another dimension to the rugs texture . Over the years, we have experimented with many different tactile effects to create the perfect textured rugs. Two prime examples of the innovative use of texture in rugs are our stunning ‘Cracked’ and ‘Zeus’ designs. Both of these designs feature a high proportion of silk created in a regular ‘cut pile’. This me...

Over the past 20 years, Goodweave have been working tirelessly to end child labour in the carpet industry. They take a holistic approach to their work, harnessing market forces to clean up supply chains, promote education and improve conditions for all workers. They have saved over 6,740 children from child labour and given over 25,476 a quality education. GoodWeave provide partners such as Bazaar Velvet Rugs, with the confidence that their rugs will never be made by child labour. Child Labour in The Rug Industry Throughout South Asia, nearly 300,000 children are forced to weave rugs for the highly profitable handmade rug industry. Many of them are victim to their family’s debts and are sent off to work in dreadful conditions as young as seven years old. Others were kidnapped or trafficked. These children suffer from malnutrition, impaired vision and breathing, sexual abuse and injuries from using dangerous tools. So why have so many children found themselves in the workplace rather th...

Every bespoke rug project at Bazaar Velvet has its own unique and exciting back story. Each brings an original array of fresh inspirations, new challenges and happy surprises. One of these such projects was with renowned Architecture and Interior practice  Carr and Poth . They came to us with a brief for an edgy bespoke rug to be placed in a modern Marylebone home. Their California based client had recently purchased this London base with help of popular US television programme ‘House Hunters’. The projects aim was to harness the client’s enthusiasm for the city and her fun and vibrant personality. At the centre of the home was a large open plan living area with high ceilings, large windows and a vast expanse of white rubber flooring. This blank canvas was a complete dream for designer Laura at Carr and Poth, as well as the design team at Bazaar Velvet. Laura recognized the opportunity to use a statement rug, and sought out Bazaar Velvet to create this for her. Our subsequent des...

Geometric rugs have been a firm favorite of style-conscious homeowners for many decades. Modern and elegant, this timeless style is constantly reinvented. Changes to the scale and color of a design can give a pattern a hugely different aesthetic, from quiet and subdued to bold and brash. The number of geometric designs available on the market is always increasing as designers strive to meet demands for fresh on-trend pieces, yet the roots of these designs can often be traced back hundreds if not thousands of years, with early geometric motifs being dated at 5000 years old.  Geometric rugs have been created for thousands of years with many different areas of the world having their own interpretation. One of the most famous is Northwest Persia, with many designs featuring obvious rectilinear geometry. However, the term geometry is not only confined to designs with straight lines, but also those with medallions, scrolls and arabesques.  All of these require precis...

No type of  contemporary rug  design holds quite the same mass appeal of striped rugs. They have a clean, simple aesthetic yet are enriched with a sense of fun that can really lift a room. There are numerous different styles of striped rug on the market, as this basic design lends itself to a very wide range of rug constructions; from inexpensive machine made rugs, to hand woven kelims and luxurious hand knotted rugs . Striped rugs can vary greatly in design too, with thinner stripes giving a more subtle, textural feel, and wider stripes making more of a statement. Striped rugs have been popular choices for interiors for hundreds of years. Find out more about more about what makes them so special. Traditional Striped Rugs – The Kelim A kelim, or flatweave, is a type of rug that is woven with only warp and weft threads and no pile. This style of rug dates back to ancient times, and was used by tribal and nomadic people all over the world due to its light flexible nature and eas...

From the ancient Mughal Empire came some of the most magnificent and attractive traditional carpets ever seen. Influences from Islamic art to Persian-Chinese textiles blend with Indian Hindu origins to create a very naturalistic design associated with Mughal tapestries. At the Velvet Bazaar, we are proud to say that we now keep specimens of this extraordinary art form in our showroom in London. Perhaps the most important figure in the history of the Mughal carpet was Emperor Shah Jahan. He continued to expand the already thriving Mughal Empire in the 17th century and cemented his image of prosperity and success. His influence on the arts and architecture of the time cannot be underestimated as he was the driving force behind the construction of the Taj Mahal - arguably the most iconic building in all of India. Over time, the Mughal Empire spread from the steppes of Asia across the Indian subcontinent from Pakistan and Afghanistan to Bengal. The city of Lahore in Pakistan is currently ...

Designer bedroom rug ideas are the perfect way to add warmth and softness to a quiet space. Bedrooms with hard floors run the risk of freezing cold, but the right carpet can bring instant comfort under your feet and help drown out the noise. Apart from having practical benefits, rugs and rugs are a great way to add personality to an interior. As a private and personal space, it's important that our bedroom reflects our tastes and is a place we love - adding a rug is a great way to achieve that as it is available in an endless selection of colors, fabrics, materials and samples. available. Choosing bedroom rug ideas is part of the fun of any bedroom because there are so many designs. Placing a small, deep rug next to the bed is a brilliant bedroom floor idea to get some warmth under your feet. Or, a larger rug can instantly change the look and feel of a room. Depending on their size and placement, they can be used instead of bedroom rugs to unify or zone a space and can be a great ...

Finding your perfect vision for a marine rug from thousands of different designs can be a frustrating task when you can't describe what you're looking for. Many carpet shops in London have a wide variety of different carpet styles, both online and in-store, and the selection can be overwhelming. A good rug store will have experienced salespeople to assist you, but knowing the main categories of rug styles before shopping can make this task easier. Modern, traditional, and transitional rugs all have their quirks, but why do rugs fall into this category? You may find the following information useful when shopping for designer rugs for your home. Traditional carpet Traditional rugs are often steeped in history, with designs and techniques being passed down from generation to generation. Most of the traditional rugs that are popular today originated in Europe and Asia in the 18th century. Therefore, traditional rugs are often used synonymously with Oriental or Persian rugs. As such...

When considering how to refresh the decor of any room in your home with minimal effort, eye-catching rugs are an underused element of home improvement. While many people turn to walls and furniture to try and breathe new life into a space, it is possible to completely change the tone of a room when the right rug is placed for the space. Choose a plush rug that works both as a home accessory and as a practical piece of furniture.   You can have a huge impact on how your home is decorated when armed with the right facts and tips to choose the perfect rug for your specific needs and preferences. Here is a list of aspects to consider when choosing the perfect   luxury modern rugs  for your home.   Read our quality guide for a comprehensive overview of modern luxury carpet materials and construction   Choose a luxurious carpet material that suits your room type One of the first things to think about is the material you are going to choose and that really depends on t...

In recent years, "repainted" or "color reformed" carpets have become a highly desirable part of the interior. The mix of retro and contemporary rugs has captured the imaginations of interior designers and creative homeowners, and their popularity shows no sign of fading. This beautiful rug continues to adorn the floors of various room styles, from minimalist rooms inspired by Scandinavia to more formal decor spaces with a classic touch. However, like many popular trends, poor-quality copies find their way onto the market from time to time. It's a sad departure, as the piece lacks not only the charm and history of a completely painted retro rug but also its strength and durability. The story behind the painted retro rug is very interesting. Each piece comes to life as a traditional Persian rug and is instantly recognizable in red, blue, and ivory colors. Usually, the pieces are around fifty years old, with varying degrees of wear and tear. At Bazaar Velvet we us...

Narrow space is a common complaint of city homeowners, but it turns out that its limitations can inspire creativity. Many of the solutions used to make small spaces appear larger require innovative details that make the space more interesting and unique. If you are smart with your furniture and color choices, you can make a small room as stylish and attractive as any other room. Here are some of the most tried and true decorating tips for your small space. How to decorate your walls to make a small space look bigger Painting walls a pale color is one of the most obvious tips for visually enlarging a small space, but that doesn't make it any less valid. Any soft pastel color will bring out the light, but according to the color experts at Elle Decoration, light grays and light teals, as well as pure whites, are usually the most effective. White provides the sharpest finish and any coldness can be removed by adding a warmer tone to the artwork or other features. As an alternative wall...