Weaving Ancient Craft into Contemporary Design with The Rug Company

When you think of the leading name in the industry setting the golden standard for handmade contemporary rugs, you think of The Rug Company, founded in 1997 by Christopher and Suzanne Sharp. Born out of a passion for craftsmanship and white-glove service, The Rug Company is dedicated to the traditional rug making craft, adhering to the heritage and methods of various regions while providing in-house expert service to interior designers and clients in search of a quality rug.
The Rug Company Co-Founder, Christopher Sharp, takes us on a journey to explore the authentic production process from spinning to knotting, advantages of The Rug Company Custom and Bespoke Services, and long lasting relationship with craftspeople.

In 140 characters or less, what is The Rug Company all about?

The Rug Company was founded in 1997 with the aim of creating the most beautiful rugs in the world. The concept was simple, but unique: to combine the ancient craft of rug-making with the best contemporary design.

How is The Rug Company different from the thousands of other rug showrooms offering consultation, sourcing and buying experiences?

Every piece at The Rug Company has been crafted by hand in the same way that it has been for many centuries, except to this rich tradition we have added the best designs for our contemporary world. Each part of the process is done by hand, ensuring the highest levels of quality and durability.

We are obsessive about good design, always striving to innovate and inspire with our in-house and designer collections. We collaborate with some of the world’s most inspirational designers, each a creative leader in their domain, including Paul Smith, Diane von Furstenberg, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Kelly Wearstler.

We are always pushing ourselves to create rugs unlike any seen before. We consider ourselves lucky to work with visionary designers and highly skilled artisans who embrace the challenges their designs represent.

The Rug Company was founded on principles of good service, which we uphold resolutely. Our Custom and Bespoke Service allows you to create any rug you desire, whilst our Home Consultation and Approval Service ensures you never make the wrong decision.

The test of good design is how it looks on reflection after a number of years.

Hummingbird by Alexander McQueen

As the home essentials and design industry evolves over time, how does The Rug Company continue to innovate and stay current?

We are constantly striving to innovate. We collect design, not designers; we are always looking for designers who offer a point of view that our collections do not currently express. We want to produce rugs that become iconic pieces. Rugs that will be collected in the future. The test of good design is how it looks on reflection after a number of years; our rugs are made to last for hundreds of years, so the designs need to be strong enough to last equally long. We’ve been working with some of our designers for a while and they get better at understanding the medium, which makes the process both more enjoyable and more aesthetically successful.

How exactly does The Rug Company produce and source the finest rugs in the world?

The majority of the weaving of our rugs is done in Nepal, although we do a small amount of work in other countries too. There are many reasons why weaving our rugs in Nepal works so well. We have built a wonderful relationship with the craftspeople who contribute to the production. Every rug will have many different people involved in its production, each with their own unique skill, from the spinners of the wool, to the Dye Master, to the people who weave the thousands of individual knots that collectively make the up the finished piece.

Because we have been working with the same people for so long, we understand each other and mistakes and misunderstandings are rare, it’s a relationship built on a common respect. We would not have a product without them and they need our understanding of design to have a market for the rugs they weave.

Different regions employ different knotting techniques. In Nepal they use the Tibetan Knot, which is a relatively quick way of weaving a rug. Typically it takes four months for us to make a rug, it sounds like a long time but in the world of hand knotted rugs it’s fast. If we were weaving the rugs in Iran, it would take considerably longer.

We truly understand the unique heritage and significance of traditional rug artisanship. Our weavers in Nepal continue to craft the rugs by hand using the finest natural materials and handle them with such care that they lose none of their extraordinary properties throughout the production process. Our hand knotted rugs can be cleaned and repaired almost indefinitely. The result is a rug that is a unique piece of art and made to last a lifetime.

Climbing Leopard by Diane von Furstenberg for The Rug Company

What are the key raw materials that make a rug a fine rug?

It is essential that the materials are the best. We get our wool from the Tibetan Plateau where the sheep graze at extremely high altitudes and the wool is full of natural oil (lanolin). If you treat the wool with respect during the weaving process, this oil will actually help protect the finished rug for the duration of its life, which could be, literally, hundreds of years. We also work with luxurious silk to add luster and enrich color, as well as mohair and merino wool for ultimate comfort or bamboo silk for shine at a lower price. Attention to detail is very important, we want to do everything well.

How does The Rug Company online sourcing and buying experience differ from your showroom experience? What do your customers seem to prefer?

Our showrooms are built not only to showcase our rugs but also to inspire and welcome visitors. We have a dedicated, expert sales team that is on hand to help guide customers through our many designs. With a wealth of experience, they can advise on the best rug for a particular space, or guide through a custom or bespoke project.

We have a remarkable range of rugs in a number of sizes, as well as cushions and wallhangings in stock. We have also recently developed an online tool to allow instant customization of our rugs. The Custom Rug Designer can be used in store, and interior designers and architects can register to use it on our website at any time.

Tracery by Kelly Wearstler

What are your best-selling collections and styles?

It varies depending on the market, however we have a few designs which are always very popular. Paul Smith’s Swirl is one of them, it has become iconic. Some of the most popular designs are our statement rugs which are colorful and patterned, but equally popular are the quieter designs with a classical pattern and neutral palette.

Who are some U.S. rug installers you recommend and trust?

Where possible we deliver and install all our rugs ourselves, fitting with appropriate underlay and offering advice on how to care for them. Our Home Consultation and Approval Service ensures you never make the wrong decision.

Thistle Pewter by Vivienne Westwood for The Rug Company

How does The Rug Company typically work with interior designers?

We work on a daily basis with many interior designers and architects. We want to help them find the perfect rug for their client and are very proud of the level of service we offer to achieve this. We stock a remarkable range of rugs in a number of sizes, however we understand that sometimes a space requires something unique and we encourage our clients to make the most of our Custom Service and Bespoke Service to alter them until they are exactly what they need, or to commission an entirely new design. Every aspect of a rug can be tailored to suit an interior scheme: colors can be altered, materials can be switched and patterns can be up or downscaled. There are thousands of shades of color to choose from, or we can match a sample if our clients have something specific in mind. Designs can be fashioned into runners, ovals, circles, squares and more. Throughout the process we will show them renderings of the proposed design in situ, and may make a small sample to check the new colors or materials.

What are some key factors an interior designer should consider when searching for a rug?

Tips by Suzanne Sharp, Creative Director and Co-Founder of The Rug Company:

Always opt for a good quality handmade rug wherever possible because not only do they look better, they will also last a lifetime and can be cleaned indefinitely.

Don’t be afraid of color and pattern, but choose a rug as you would a piece of art.

Where possible, always try to see the rug in situ before purchasing it; a rug can look completely different at home from how it did in the shop, and different lighting can change it dramatically.

In our experience, it does not really matter whether you choose the rug first or last. The sales team is always on hand to give advice and choose the perfect rug for the space. It’s easy to customize any of our designs to suit a certain decorating scheme. Equally, our clients sometimes fall in love with a statement rug and then design the rest of the room around it.

Swirl by Paul Smith for The Rug Company

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Behind the Design: Lauren Messina of Lauren Messina Interior Design

Designer Spotlight: Lauren Messina of Lauren Messina Interior Design – Charleston, South Carolina

How did you get where you are today?

I graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in interior design. Afterwards, I moved to Little Rock and worked for two very talented interior designers, one being the fabulous Tobi Farley. After about five years of hard work, amazing training and determination, I decided to go out on my own. Naturally, this was right when the economy dropped and people weren’t building or renovating houses at all. It was like everything was frozen in time. At that point, I decided to integrate wedding planning into my business and it worked fabulously! People were still getting married! I worked in the wedding planning industry while still designing houses, for almost six years. During that time, I met my now husband on separate trips to Seattle and three years later, I moved to Charleston and got married. Moving to a new state, getting married and re-starting a business in a city where nobody knows you is challenging, but I did it! Today, I have some of the most amazing clients, and work not only in the Charleston area, but have completed projects in Los Angeles, New Orleans and Chicago. I’m currently working on a new build project in Nashville, TN.

Lauren – you have 14 years of interior design experience, offering a range of services from new build and renovation specifications, to space planning and decor. What’s the most exciting part about starting a new project?

I love getting to know my clients and their family. Family means so much to me on a personal level, and I love to find out more about how my clients live, what their hobbies are, and their personalities. These important pieces of information are what help to make the design fit for them. No design is ever the same because no family is ever the same! I also love to help a client discover their style…even if they don’t know it quite yet! The planning and schematic phase is a favorite of mine.

Patrick Brickman

You have been a part of many projects that were published, including features in HouseBeautiful and Traditional Home. What are some projects you are particularly proud of?

I was so lucky to work with a large designer in Little Rock who taught me the importance of detail. Many of the projects that I was a part of while I was there were published. I believe that attention to detail and truly creating a functional surrounding while having some “out of the box” elements is what sets a project above the rest. Recently, my Spring 2016 bathroom for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Showhouse was featured on One Kings Lane’s Instagram account as well as Town & Country‘s Instagram. It’s gone viral and that’s definitely something I am proud of! However, more than anything, I am proud when my clients adore their home! No publication in the world can give me the gratitude I feel when I have a happy client!

How do you stay current and source interesting, new-to-market products and materials to incorporate in your designs?

I travel! I am blessed enough to be able to travel out of the country a few times a year. Whether it’s the Dolce & Gabbana windows on Corso Venezia in Milan, or a two hundred year old wine estate in South Africa, I am constantly taking photos and jotting down notes. I get some of my best design work done while I am traveling!

Patrick Brickman

Who are some of your favorite Charleston vendors that you work with?

Ro Sham Beaux is of course one of my favorites for lighting. They offer some of the most beautiful hand-strung beaded chandeliers around. Taylor Burke Home is a definite go-to for stunning and creative furniture and lighting. Mirth Studio is another company based out of Charleston and on my radar. There are some seriously amazing girl bosses based out of Charleston, South Carolina!

How does designing make you feel?

Happy. Seriously happy. I knew I wanted to be an interior designer from the age of 8 when my mom was a rep for my cousin’s custom rug company, New River Artisans. Once I was in high school, I was able to work with local interior designers in my home town of Tulsa, and would file fabrics after school, help them with the Tulsa showcase home and everything in between. I was happy then and I’m even happier now.

Patrick Brickman

What’s your business mantra?

If you can do it, buy once and buy well. I want my clients to take their time filling their homes with items that have meaning instead of us ordering to fill a void.

Honestly, gratitude and grace are the most important parts of my business.

When you start a new project, how do you get to know your client and the space?

I like for my client to walk me through their existing home first. Even if we are building a new home, I want to see how they live, what works for them and what doesn’t. A home is so personal and I feel by seeing how a family lives and functions makes a huge difference!

Patrick Brickman

How do you manage multiple projects at once and stay organized?

Asana, iCloud, Ivy and Dropbox are my life-lines. Basically, my interior business is in a cloud! Everything is backed up, and I can access any of my project files from my home office, design office, or anywhere in the world. I have a fabulous office manager who keeps me organized as well! I document everything and upload it in multiple places so that it’s never lost. Of course, I have client binders as well that I take to each project, but the cloud keeps me organized for sure!

In your opinion, what’s the most rewarding part about being an interior designer? And what’s the most daunting part?

The most rewarding part is knowing you are improving the quality of your client’s lives. Yes, it’s so nice to walk into a beautiful new kitchen and know it’s going to photograph well and look pretty in a magazine. However, really knowing that your clients are going to host family gatherings in that kitchen, cook meals quicker so they can have more time together, and look forward to coming home is the most rewarding part.

The most daunting part is when something either comes in damaged, or doesn’t make it in the time the manufacturer promised. As a designer, we are backing each piece we put into a client’s home. Even though it may not be our fault for items not making it on time for that big party, or coming in with a broken leg, it still feels so personal and we are the ones having to break the news to our wonderfully patient clients. I have lost many nights of sleep over broken furniture legs and defective wallpaper.

Patrick Brickman

Why did you join Ivy?

I needed a platform that was not only easy to use, but that I could use no matter where in the world I am. I am also very visual and love how Ivy let’s me upload photos to every component of a project. It makes things run so much more quickly!

You have used other programs including Studio Webware, Design Manager, and a few others. How are the programs different? How does Ivy make your business and project management easier and more enjoyable for you?

Ivy is easier to use, hands down. The interface is stunning and Ivy is changing and growing constantly. Ivy listens to our issues and almost immediately improves!

Patrick Brickman

How has Ivy helped streamline your workflow?

I am not having to go in and re-enter the same items to generate a PO or Invoice. Ivy makes ordering a BREEZE!

What’s an Ivy feature you can’t live without? 

Photos and the Presentation Mode. It’s very hard to sell a beautiful side table to a client if they can’t click on it and see the detail, no matter how much they trust you. Even if you showed your client that piece the day before in a catalog, enabling the clients to see the piece again by that price reaffirms how much they loved it in the first place.

Patrick Brickman

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Bringing Your Walls to Life With Anewall Murals & Wallpaper

Sisters and Co-Founders of Anewall, Sydney and Richele, are on a mission to dress-up your walls with original art decor, hand-drawn and printed from their Vancouver shop. Whether it be large scale murals, wallpaper or fine prints, Anewall decor transforms a space exploring both vintage and contemporary designs.

Anewall shares their creative process, tips to calculating the right amount of wallpaper for a space, and how to customize murals for a space.

Sydney and Richele – you are two sisters-in-law from Vancouver. How and why did you decide to create original wall art decor?

Coming from a family of custom home builders, and being surrounded by interior design and style, our family was looking for a beautiful wall mural to fill a space in their newly built home. They couldn’t find anything that suited their style so we decided to to make the mural ourselves. We began creating a line of beautiful wall murals that we feel cover a variety of different aesthetics, but what we really love is soft, vintage, French Country style.

How does being headquartered in Vancouver, Canada influence your designs?

Vancouver is one of the largest and most competitive cities in Canada with respect to growing small businesses. Being located in Vancouver pushes us as designers and small business owners to always stay ahead of the current trends in order to compete with the rest of the world. It’s a great place to be and meet other like minded individuals!

Mode Studios

Walk us through your wallpaper creation process, from inspiration to print…

First, we find inspiration for all of our prints and murals. Second, we work closely with our newest graphic design team member who uses her own hand drawn and digital art talent to create beautiful pieces for us. Once they are complete, we print them in our shop, style them and release them for sale. Each piece is made by us upon ordering and we do not carry any stock or inventory!

Anewall sells fine art prints, wallpaper and murals – what are some of your best-sellers?

Jolie Mural, Bouquet of Peonies Mural, Cactus Mural, Spring Floral Mural, Yellowstone Bison Print, and Watercolour Print.

Mode Studios

You customize wall murals as well – how does that work exactly?

We are happy to do custom sized orders of pre-existing mural and art pieces in our shop. Customers send through their custom wall dimensions and the murals are designed to fit their space perfectly – no waste!

Tell us about some projects you are particularly proud of…

We are very proud to have the opportunity to collaborate and work with Anthropologie! Our murals are styled and showcased in 3 Anthropologie locations within the US – two in CA and one in Portland.

How should you calculate the right amount of wallpaper for a space?

For all custom sized orders, make sure you receive the right amount of paper. Measure your wall width from the furthest right hand point to the furthest left hand point and measure the tallest point on the wall in inches. Provide these two measurements to us and we automatically add an excess of 3” to make sure you have extra to work with during installation.

Mode Studios

Based on your knowledge of the industry, what trends are you forecasting for 2017 in regards to wallpaper style, pattern, and color?

We are looking to add more geometric styles to our collection this year as well as some beautiful rich coloring this season – mauves, plums, navy blue hues. What sets Anewall apart from the trends is that our murals are large scale. We aren’t producing small patterned cactus prints or florals – everything is large scale, coming to life on your walls which makes the designs that much richer and coveted than other wallpaper companies out there.

What’s next for Anewall?

Anewall hopes to grow a lot this year – adding more designs each month to our collections and really taking off and defining ourselves as a wall mural company with the best and most desired designs on the market.

Mode Studios

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Behind the Design: Kaitlyn Payne of Basicspace

Designer Spotlight: Kaitlyn Payne of Basicspace – Brooklyn, NY

How did you get where you are today?

I was born and raised on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and spent the first 18 years of my life in the same home. My parents created a space for me and my brother that was comfortable and gave me a sense of stability. When working with clients today, I draw from that deep sense of place – of thereness – that I felt growing up in our cozy Cape Cod home.

In college, I explored the idea of a less permanent sense of place and moved to San Francisco to pursue an internship. Without any connections, I eventually convinced an architect to hire me and ended up gaining incredible hands-on experience and exposure to the intersection of design and architecture. After heading back to Boston for a couple years, I made the move to Brooklyn in 2014 and have been here since.

Looking back on my education and career path, I believe that growing up in a small close-knit community gave me an intimate sense of space, while exploring new landscapes gave me a wide-lens vision.

Basicspace is known for specializing in residential and cultural spaces, pushing for clean, authentic and practical design – how do you achieve this?

Designing is a complex, long and often difficult process, but one that I am truly passionate about. Clean, authentic and practical are loose, broad terms that I believe universally describe a successful solution for any design problem. This success is driven by collaborative relationships between the designer, client, architect and contractor. Managing these relationships takes time, patience and an understanding of each other. If everyone considers and is educated about the design process from each stakeholder’s perspective, this will lead to a smoother execution.

How does having a Brooklyn-based design studio influence your designs?

So much! Even though it is a part of New York City, Brooklyn is completely different from Manhattan. I love the quick access into Manhattan and the plethora of showrooms that inspire my material pallets, product selections and architectural details; even so, I appreciate coming back to a quieter, slower paced studio environment. That’s not to say Brooklyn isn’t busy, but it has a more intimate sense of community, whereas the scale of Manhattan can sometimes feel overwhelming. Also, there is more space scattered throughout Brooklyn for furniture builders, millworkers, and artists. Visiting and collaborating with these people truly inspires me. The lively creativity and relaxed setting of Brooklyn definitely fuels my design work.

How do you stay current and source interesting, new-to-market products and materials to incorporate in your designs?

Another huge benefit to being based in NYC is that there are so many design conferences, events and fairs throughout the year that showcase the newest furniture, materials, and products. But I have to admit, my favorite way to stay current is to grab a cup of coffee and a bagel and explore the many showrooms that the city has to offer. I also love browsing Instagram to search and learn about new companies.

Who are some of your favorite local Brooklyn vendors that you work with?

A few Brooklyn showrooms that I frequent often for their unique products are Mark Jupiter, the Brooklyn Flea, Homestories, and Rebecca Atwood.

What are some projects you are particularly proud of?

I find the most challenging and engaging projects are the ones where I am designing both interior and exterior spaces. I love to blur the lines of interior and architectural design. The Jerusalem Road House and Beach Street Carriage House both had this integrated approach. I think we came up with really elegant solutions to each client’s unique requirements.

How does designing make you feel?

I’m humbled to be able to design for others. Every client has a unique way of living, and I love getting the chance to design spaces that are tailored to their routines and experiences. My passion is to create beautiful space, but beyond that, I love to learn from all the people I work with.

You just launched your own business, Basicspace, congratulations! What excites you about running your own business?

Thanks – it all excites me! Since the company is in its beginning stages, I’m most excited about the many opportunities and the fact that the decisions I make will impact my professional career and my company’s future. I have the privilege of helping people and impacting their well-being and daily life. Being an entrepreneur drives me to produce my best work and explore my creativity.

Can you offer tips of advice to the interior designers starting their own design studio?

Ha! I feel like I’m the one that still needs advice! I’ll repeat what my mentors have advised me: Be brave and bold. You will feel doubt and skepticism, but proceed fearlessly and be your own biggest cheerleader.

And my least favorite piece of advice, but one that is important nonetheless (I can still hear my professor saying this over and over at school): “Network! Network! Network!”. People roll their eyes at this advice, but networking is essential, and has helped me find many of my clients.

What’s your business mantra?

Work your ass off and be authentic.

How important is social media to the success of your business?

This is a really interesting question and something I’m working to better understand. I have invested time into my Instagram account (@basicspacedesigns) and just created an email newsletter (NO BS), but I’m still verifying whether these are the marketing channels I want to focus on. Face-to-face networking is still my most effective way of getting new work.

You regularly collaborate with contractors, craftspeople, and other reps of the trade – how do you maintain healthy relationships with these vendors?

YES! I love collaboration – have I said that yet? I make it my mission to meet with a new person in the industry each week for coffee or drinks just to chat and learn from them. I also make sure when I’m scheduling my week that I put time aside for showroom visits. Without each person I work with, my business couldn’t exist…it takes a village!

When you start a new project, how do you get to know your client and the space in order to achieve individualized design?

I like to meet with my clients where they are most themselves, as I find that I get honest answers when my clients are comfortable. This may sound a little underwhelming, but just talking and creating dialogue with my clients is the most effective way to get to know them. Most importantly, by listening! Then, asking questions about their personal lives, what challenges they run into, and how they live day-to-day provides the best insight into how I can help.

What’s your focus for 2017?

I have three main goals for 2017 – the first is to continue working with amazing clients, so I have been outlining a networking and marketing strategy for the first half of the year. Secondly, I am looking to publish more of my work and build Basicspace’s brand. And most importantly – I want to keep having fun!

Why did you join Ivy?

I joined Ivy because I needed a better way to organize my business that was smart, intuitive and easy to incorporate clients into the workflow.

How has Ivy helped streamline your workflow?

The biggest thing is organization! I used to use excel, linking to websites and my Pinterest, Indesign to PDF and Quickbooks and send out each of these documents to my clients. Ivy makes it possible to do everything on their platform! Also, they really listen to their users and add features continuously that we ask for.

What’s an Ivy feature you can’t live without?

Gosh, probably the just launched product clipper! It is so easy to add products to my Ivy account and then they are saved for future use. From there you can add to any proposal/ invoice. Brilliant and a huge time saver!

Photography courtesy of JT White

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

What the Desk of an Interior Designer Actually Looks Like

As an interior designer, your office is your haven. A place where you can add a little style, a little clutter, and your must-haves to get through the day. Whether you sit in a classic office, or create an office space for yourself at home, you value your sacred workspace and appreciate it for all its function and quirks.

Let’s be honest, this industry is messy, very messy, and an interior designer’s workspace certainly reflects that. As much as we strive to maintain Pinterest-perfect spaces, clutter, fabric swatches and chachkies seem to get in the way – and we salute you!

Take a look at what the desk of an Ivy interior designer actually looks like.

Michelle Beamer of MB Interiors

“Among the many things I can’t live without, I would have to say that my sketchbook is number 1. My husband and I recently re-did this little nook, built the desk and shelves, and I painted the “wallpaper” with gold paint. I love how it turned out and it’s a pleasure to work in a new space!”

Photo courtesy of Michelle Beamer

Pamela Sandall of Pamela Sandall Design

“It’s cluttered with my computer, catalogs, tile samples, client files and fabric swatches. Oh yes, and my cat!”

Photo courtesy of Pamela Sandall

Jesssica Tollman of Jessica Tollman Interiors

“I love the practicality of this antique gate leg farm table. At 30” high, the added height is perfection for using my computer (saves my back and my wrists!) and at 21” deep, it is narrow enough to live happily on a wall in our family room. Looking out the window is an added bonus – I draw so much inspiration from nature. I really can’t live without flowers or a plant on my desk, it just makes me about a thousand times happier while I work! Although, so do the little clay elephant and the perfect paperclip dish made by my daughter and son – I could never live without those either!”

Photo courtesy of Jesssica Tollman

Shelly Gerritsma of Canter Lane Interiors

“I can’t live without NPR streaming while I work. From Ted Radio hour to On Point, there’s always a great program to keep me going during a long work day.”

Photo courtesy of Shelly Gerritsma

Ricci Jackson of Your Design Partner

“My eyeglasses are always in arm’s reach. If I can’t see, I’d be afraid of what I might recommend. Every important and essential thing is on my laptop.”

Photo courtesy of Ricci Jackson

Monique Duarte of Duarte Decor

“My favorite/must haves on my desk are my iPad, iPhone, fabric swatches of the most recent design project I am working on, and my Self Mastery Cards. I read one every morning before I start my day!”

Photo courtesy of Andrew Thomas Clifton

Katherine Tincher of Katherine Tincher Design

“I can’t think without writing everything down, so there is always a constant rotation of sketches, lists and post-its on my desk. And the most important thing in my office is a giant whiteboard that is my master to-do list!”

Photo courtesy of Katherine Tincher

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Worldly Textiles & Decor With Aelfie

World traveler Aelfie Oudghiri, founder of Aelfie, designs and sells funky boutique home goods from her Brooklyn shop. As a well-informed home goods designer, Aelfie applies the influences of antique textiles, high fashion, youth culture and the history of decorative arts & crafts into her contemporary products. From rugs to trays, Aelfie sure knows how to create a piece that will catch your eye and make you smile.

Here, Aelfie shares her infatuation with textiles and home accents, experience collaborating with interior designers, and tips on how to choose the right rug.

Photography courtesy of Aelfie

Aelfie – how did you end up starting a rug company?

I started out selling vintage rugs that I had collected from my travels. From there, I was inspired to create my own designs.

AELFIE Crybaby Throw

Where and how did you develop a fascination for rugs?

I really fell in love with rugs on a family trip to Turkey when I was a teenager. I was just fascinated by the craft of weaving, it’s history, and the whole experience of haggling.

AELFIE Olivia Blue

You collect both vintage rugs and create designs that you sell – what’s the inspiration behind your designs?

My inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere, but most of the rugs are rooted in traditional symbology. I like to play with tradition, twist it, and make it contemporary and relevant.

AELFIE Eyes Pouf

How do you prepare for sourcing trips to destinations like India, Morocco and Turkey?

Shop for flowy, conservative clothing.

It’s been an exciting year for Aelfie, and you’ve been published many times. What are some projects that you’re particularly proud of?

We launched our first piece of furniture this year, the Mirah table, named after my daughter.

AELFIE Mirah Geo Cube

Which rugs are your best-sellers?

It can really vary but some of the best sellers and our favorites are the Saskia, Lounah, Zahra & Optik Black.

AELFIE Rugs

Tell us about your other products and home accents…

Why stop at rugs? It just felt like a natural progression. Our line now includes hand embroidered pillows, throws, bedding, and bone inlay furniture and accents.

AELFIE Trays

How do you balance work life, being a mama, and making time for yourself?

I have a lot of help. Great employees, a really understanding and supportive partner, friends in the neighborhood who like to babysit, and family close by.

Aelfie Bamako Tray

What has been your experience working with interior designers?

We love working with interior designers. They are some of our favorite clients. They understand the home decor world and actually make our job pretty easy since they usually have great taste and “get it”.

AELFIE

What are 3 tips of “best practices” to offer interior designers for choosing the right rug when decorating a space?

1. Start from the ground up. If you start with a rug you love, everything else can be built around that.

2. Go with your gut. Often times the first rug you are drawn to for the space is the one that you end up with.

3. Be bold. Try a color or design that might feel like a stretch. You’d be surprised how mixing bold patterns and colors can work out in unexpected ways.

AELFIE Samantha Rug

Based on your knowledge of the industry, what trends are you forecasting for 2017 in regards to textile and rug styles, patterns, and colors?

Saturated colors, animals, and silks.

AELFIE Gotlieb Throw

What’s next for Aelfie?

We are continuing to expand our rug collection with everything from solid rugs to more graphic plush styles. We are also working on some small furniture pieces, and new bedding which will launch this spring.

Aelfie Headshot

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Learn Photoshop to Jumpstart Design Board Presentation Skills

Hosted By: The Design Cure Academy

Watch this live demonstration to learn how to use Photoshop to create fast and professional looking 2D concept boards.

The Design Cure Academy discusses what you’ll need and tips of best practices to create a great looking 2D concept board from start to finish.

Photoshop

The Design Cure Academy

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Behind the Design: Tammy Cody of Cody Design Studio

Designer Spotlight: Tammy Cody of Cody Design Studio – San Luis Obispo, CA

Tammy – how did you get where you are today?

I am from the Central Valley of California (family of farmers). While I’ve always had a visceral reaction to my surrounding, I didn’t realize until I was a young adult that I was drawn to spend time in certain places and avoided others, knowing that my environment and setting affected my mood. That is why I design now, to create environments for happy, healthy occupants. My husband and I moved around a lot early in our marriage, then we had two boys and settled into San Luis Obispo, CA four and a half years ago. Two weeks after we arrived, I went back to school for interior design and I’ve been living and breathing design ever since.

Loveridge Photography

Cody Design Studio specializes in residential remodeling and new construction – how do you help your clients plan and visualize a space?

I’m very methodical in my process. It all starts and ends with the drawings. At the onset of a project, I listen to the client and take notes, measure the space, and start my drawings right away. It may look somewhat elementary at first, but I always show my clients a 3D model during the first design review meeting. As we solidify the design, the 3D model continues to be refined.

How does the city of San Luis Obispo influence your design habits and

aesthetic?

San Luis Obispo is a dream. It may not be a design mecca, but it is perfect for me because I prefer a laid-back, bright and nature-inspired home. There is a great mix of influence from southern and northern California. Our weather reflects both areas. Lots of great sun but moody marine layer clouds during many of our mornings.

I’m always a fan of long lasting and environmentally friendly materials, and I love that more are becoming available.

Loveridge Photography

Which trends, materials and/or colors are you particularly into right now?

I like that we seem to be moving away from the push for open concept floor plans. I really like open concept, but not every house or setting is meant for it, and not every client gravitates towards it. I’m always a fan of long lasting and environmentally friendly materials, and I love that more are becoming available. As for colors, long live the Griege!

How do you stay in-the know about new-to-market products and materials to

incorporate in your designs?

I lean heavily on my local vendors and they are wonderful. I love that I can drop by quickly with questions, have someone to vouch for quality and stand with me in the project.

I have been taking a course at our local community college in the construction department. It’s important for me to learn the process of construction so that I can know what is possible when I propose a change in design. I don’t want to get a side-eye from the contractor and a “sorry Tammy, that’s not even possible”.

Loveridge Photography

Who are some of your favorite local San Luis Obispo and California vendors that you enjoy working with?

For remodeling, I’ve loved working with Pacific Coast Kitchen and Bath and Kepler Design (cabinets). We have a great local showroom for Green materials called Green Goods. For furnishings, one of my favorite shops is Habitat Home and Garden. They have a great store front and a massive warehouse of options.

It’s important for me to learn the process of construction so that I can know what is possible when I propose a change in design.

In your opinion, what’s the most essential element to a room?

Plants. It’s a simple and long lasting way to make a room (quite literally) come to life.

Loveridge Photography

How does designing make you feel?

Like most creatives, at the onset, I feel anxious, and then I make progress and gain momentum on a solution and am totally jazzed at the end of the day.

What’s your business mantra?

Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. You’ll never move onward and upward without discomfort.

Loveridge Photography

SketchUp is a program that you’ve been using for 6 years, and you offer courses for designers as well. What do you like most about this program?

I love that I can quickly convey my thoughts to my client and that I have dynamic working drawings. As I work through my schematic design, my section views and elevation drawings change with it. I can quickly print off a scaled drawing and take it to my clients house to explain something that may be difficult for them to understand otherwise.

Having the ability to show my clients a view of what it will be like to stand in their new home helps me show them why an idea will work, or, will not work. It saves project time and disappointment.

In what ways do you integrate SketchUps into the overall design process?

If it’s a remodel, I start drawing the space as it is currently so that I can show the client the progression. I strip that drawing down to the walls, and start their new design(s). That turns into a 3D model, the 3D model then turns into elevations. All of those drawings go into a presentation. I’m excited to share this process with other designers, so I created a detailed course.

How can a designer sign-up for one of your courses? Do you offer any other

educational courses or podcasts for interior designers?

They can go to sketchupforinteriordesigners.com and sign up there. I am currently working on a course for lighting plans, and a few courses geared towards decorators that will be available soon.

How has Ivy helped ease your day-to-day pain points as an interior designer?

The first time I used Ivy for billing, I was blown away. I’ve never billed clients so painlessly. I love that when I log in, the first thing I see is an overall report. It makes me feel more in tune with how my business is performing.

What’s an Ivy feature you can’t live without?

Again, the billing and the time tracker. I used to be so “jumbled” with keeping track of my time. Now, it’s straight-forward and clear. It seems like you’ve thought of everything. I’m hooked!

Loveridge Photography

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Saving Time and Money on Custom Furnishings With Loom Decor

The beauty of fabric is the ability to create one-of-a-kind custom furnishings based on your client’s needs. However, custom comes with a high price, often limiting creativity and access to quality designs. Digital custom workroom Loom Decor is breaking this traditional industry standard, providing an online destination for high-end custom textile furnishings at an affordable price for designers, decorators and customers.

Loom Decor is on a mission to deliver custom home decor to the masses. With the help of our dear friend, modern technology, Loom provides access to user-friendly digital tools to visualize fabric on products, 400+ designer-quality fabrics, and dedicated Trade Stylists with up to 30% savings. Loom shares the state of the fabric and textile industry, dedicated services provided to interior designers and best practices for measuring and installing window treatments.

How does Loom work exactly?

Think of Loom Decor as a digital custom workroom. With our online design tool, you can create custom window treatments, pillows, bedding, table linens, and more with the click of a mouse. Starting with a blank silhouette or a design from our catalog, clients can choose from over 400 fabrics, select the perfect size, and even add trims and tapes. The image updates as you design and can be pinned to Pinterest, Houzz or a moodboard to help you and the client visualize. To order, you simply add to your cart and check out like a typical eCommerce store.

Each order is handcrafted by our Nashville-based workroom with over 20 years experience and ships in record time for custom goods – just 5 to 10 business days. We handle all of the logistics to make sure your piece is perfect and on time. Our designer clients say taking the vendor management off their plate is their favorite part of working with Loom!

We save designers around 30% versus their typical fabric showroom/workroom sources and are more affordable than fellow custom retailers.

Courtesy of Interior Define

Loom recently launched a new and improved website – how has this impacted the growth and success of your business?

The new site offers more robust customization options, like the ability to order window treatments to the ¼” and add trim options like tapes and cords. And with real-time pricing and shipping information, designers don’t have to wait for a quote. Plus, even the configurator is mobile-friendly, so you can design on the go. In response, we’re seeing designers spec’ing larger projects through Loom, often a whole house’s worth of soft goods.

Loom configurator

How does Loom manage to offer products at 30% less than typical designer resources?

We source directly from fabric manufacturers eliminating costly middlemen, optimize our manufacturing processes, and keep our business lean by doing as much as possible online. As a result, we save designers around 30% versus their typical fabric showroom/workroom sources and are more affordable than fellow custom retailers.

Loom Decor

Based on your knowledge of the industry, what are some modern day issues impacting the fabric and decor business?

One: custom is hot. Millennial homeowners are used to customizing everything: their coffee, iPhone case, car, shoes…they want the same personal touch in their home. Loom offers the same for home decor. We believe custom furnishings shouldn’t just be for the elite, but for the every-homeowner and the designers who serve them.

Two: faster trend cycles. These days, a fabric can show up on a design blog and three weeks later, it’s everywhere. In response, we’re now introducing more small collections throughout the year versus large seasonal collections.

Loom Decor

How does Loom prepare for the holiday season?

Black Friday/Cyber Week is usually huge, as it’s our biggest annual sale. However, after Thanksgiving, most house projects go on hold until the New Year. So, we focus on reminding customers that our pillows and table linens are great for entertaining and gifts.

Loom Decor Pillows Metallic

What are some of your best-selling fabrics and products? Who are the fabric designers to watch these days?

We are known for our quality window treatments, particularly roman shades and ripplefold drapery that you can’t get off the shelf. For fabrics, our solid linens, especially soft colors like classic White, Dew, Smokey Quartz and Cameo, are consistently top sellers, particularly on drapery. Trendy patterns like marble motifs and animal prints do well on pillows and shades. A rising star is our Shibori-style geometric, Pixel, and we can barely keep our banana leaf fabric, Belief It, in stock. But our internal favorite is our studded linen, Stud Muffin. It’s so hot!

We’re always excited when interior designers launch their own line, with Jeffrey Alan Marks, Madcap Cottage and Tobi Fairley, some of our recent favorites. Although we can’t always brand them as such, you’ll find some of their top sellers on our site or coming soon!

Loom Spring Collection

Loom helps designers streamline the design process, and is truly a great resource for both designers and homeowners – what are some unique benefits to the Loom Trade Program?

That’s so nice to hear! Designers in our Trade Program receive an exclusive discount (which is automatically applied when ordering online), access to our archive of 4000 fabrics and the ability to order custom products not yet online. Plus, each designer has a dedicated account manager, aka Trade Stylist, who provides window treatment expertise and can help assist in textile & product selection.

We’ll do whatever we can to save designers time and hassles when ordering custom!

Loom Decor

How does Loom typically work with interior designers?

We assist in whatever way works best for each designer. Some prefer to order entirely online, and rarely call us. Others rely on their Trade Stylist as an extension of their team, having her suggest fabrics, customize and put products in their cart, or coordinate measure and install appointments. We’ll do whatever we can to save designers time and hassles when ordering custom!

Photo by Tessa Neustadt, Design by Emily Henderson

What should interior designers learn and understand about fabric before sourcing items for their clients and projects?

First, linen stretches. Most designers account for this when they order, but sometimes clients don’t get told to expect linen drapery to lengthen up to 2” as it hangs. Second, don’t forget to account for special use cases – kids, pets and humid rooms like bathrooms can wreak havoc on textiles. We suggest Sunbrella® for such cases—it’s not just for outdoor! You can literally pour bleach on a Sunbrella® fabric and the stain will come out while the color will stay.

Loom Decor

Can you share 3 tips of best practices for interior designers in regards to measuring and installing window treatments?

We get this question a lot; check out our measuring guides to really get it right. Meanwhile, here are our top 3 tips:

1. Remember floors and windows are uneven, so measure each one individually and measure large windows on both sides and the middle to ensure a perfect fit.

2. Be sure to account for extra height and width when measuring. Drapery should be hung at least 8-12” outside the window frame to maximize light, and about 6-12” above the window frame to make the ceiling appear higher.

3. Always “train” window treatments after they are hung. To do this, close the drapery or pull up the shade and hand-press along the folds, almost like you are setting the crease in your bed sheets.

Photo by Nick McGinn, Design by April Bermudez

What’s Loom’s focus for 2017?

Product expansion! We’ll be introducing bolsters, café curtains, valances, and accent furniture, in addition to adding new fabrics including sheers, more neutrals, and lots of green (thanks Pantone!).

Loom Decor Founders Nichole Ocepek and Ashley Baker

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.

Behind the Design: Sadie Beachy of S. Flynn Designs

Designer Spotlight: Sadie Beachy of S. Flynn Designs, Kidron, OH

Sadie – how did you get where you are today?

I am from a small farm town on the Western edge of Ohio. For as long as I can remember, I have always loved all things Interior Design. As a little girl I would watched Trading Spaces instead of cartoons. My mom recognized and encouraged this. At a young age I also watched my father build our family home and later help him with their second, these things only fueled the fire. I got a Bachelors of Science in Interior Design from Indiana Wesleyan University in ’12 and was married a month later. I moved and made my home where my husband is from, Northeast Ohio. This is an odd tid bit but it is crucial to the success of my company, we from Homes County, the largest Amish settlement in the World. All of my sub contractors are skilled tradesmen from the conservative community. All of my kitchen are custom made and installed by local Amish shops. Most of my furniture is as well. We live in and are apart of the community, so I can get anything I dream up and design made locally by wholesale Amish shops.

S. Flynn Designs is known for creating gorgeous, functional, livable spaces – what’s the most exciting part about starting a new project?

Meeting our clients and seeing their need and opportunity to serve them!

12Stones Photography

How do your established relationships with the Amish community influence your designs?

Greatly, this allows my final designs to be not only custom, but of high quality material and workmanship.

Who are some of your favorite Ohio vendors that you work with?

We have so many great local contacts, but most are small shops and to the trade only so their names are not recognizable to the public. Two that are would be are Norwalk Furniture and Keim Lumber.

12Stones Photography

How do you stay current and source interesting, new-to-market products and materials to incorporate in your designs?

Social media is great for this! I love Instagram and follow many many designers and firms. I go to Markets and Trend Forecastings. I also just love it! This passion keeps me moving forward! It’s a blessing and curse, but after I implement an element once, I tend and try not use it again. Partly because I don’t want to use the same elements in different client’s home. This causes me to always be searching for what is next.

What colors and materials are you particularly into right now?

Well texture is my favorite element, so I love crispy whites and warm wood tones!!! Thick knits, fur throws, moroccan rugs…love it all! But I am really really into, and I cannot believe I am going to say this, but hunter green. But not the hunter green of the 90’s!! It’s back but with deep tones and a strong modern and masculine influence.

12Stones Photography

How does designing make you feel?

I love it! It is a way of life! To allow my clients to live beautifully and functionally, it is SO rewarding!

What’s your business mantra?

To be approachable, maintain integrity always, and for the end design to reflect our clients! We never want to seem intimidating and want to always be easily approachable. Being upfront with costs and staying on budget is of highest priority. We take pride in our portfolio being extremely diverse in style. We do not force our own personal style onto clients. We dive into what they love, get excited about it, and then use our train eye, the principles of design and trend forecasts to pull it all together!

12Stones Photography

How do you maintain healthy relationships with the tradespeople and contractors you work with?

We work hard to stay in clear communication with one another, which can be tricky when some of my contractors would prefer to speak Pennsylvania Dutch. I try very hard to respect their schedules and keep the workplace professional but light hearted.

When you start a new project, how do you get to know your client and the space in order to achieve personalized design?

I ask many questions and have them collect even more images and examples they like. Houzz and Pinterest are great tools for this. Or the old fashion way, ripping pages out of magazines. I tell them, “Even if you don’t know why you like, if something catches your eye, save it!”.

12Stones Photography

How do you manage multiple projects at once and stay organized?

We do try to limit the number of projects we work on at a time and try to control our schedule as much as possible. That can be hard because there are so many moving parts and contractors to oversee and work with. If we cannot start a project when a clients wants to, we are upfront and let them know when we would feel comfortable starting. Most clients appreciate the honesty and are fine with waiting until we are available. Also, I could not do it without my assistant!

In your opinion, what’s the most essential element to a room?

I cannot pick just one! Color is the most emotional element but lighting is so important as well.

12Stones Photography

Why did you join Ivy?

I was searching the market for a new bookkeeping program, hopefully one geared to Designers. I LOVE the home page for Ivy! The whole program is so user friendly and easy to learn. I didn’t have time to learn a new accounting/bookkeeping program… plus that is not what I am good a, so I didn’t want to waste time on it. Within minutes I learned Ivy. The YouTube videos are so helpful and short, sweet, and to the point! Most importantly, and what really won me over, was your customer service! I love the instant chat window! Also, the pricing is an investment but feasible.

How was the initial transition onto Ivy?

So nice! My accountants are fluent in QuickBooks Online, and Ivy maps easily to it! So there was no risk there. Also, the interface is simple and quick to pick up on.

12Stones Photography

In what ways has Ivy helped streamline your workflow?

It keeps me more organized. The time sheets are nice. Ivy allows me to get paid faster! I can easily see financial reports for my business. It is a central location for my assistant and I to store info, like vendor log in and contact.

What’s an Ivy feature you can’t live without?

Again, I cannot pick just one. Vendor List and Time Sheets!

Are you an interior designer in search of an easy interior design software and project management tool to run your business? Learn more about Ivy here.