Accessories
New Classics: Paul Smith's Swirl Rug
Wonderfully whirly and with a rainbow of colors to pick a palette from, this rug is a work of art for the floor
Designer Paul Smith's Swirl has become a signature pattern that's swooshing across everything from bikini bottoms to umbrellas. Now, thanks to a collaboration with The Rug Company, you can find it on the floor as well. The colorful stripes are mixed with more muted and neutral tones, making it a surprisingly versatile choice. Some designers draw from the brighter tones, while others let it be the lone colorful piece in a more subdued color palette.
Whatever the choice, the rug is a stunner that, even though you'll be trampling on it, should be considered a work of art. If you decide to invest in one (the hand-knotted Tibetan wool version runs $130 per square foot), you'll be able to use it in just about any room. Have a look at the possibilities.
Whatever the choice, the rug is a stunner that, even though you'll be trampling on it, should be considered a work of art. If you decide to invest in one (the hand-knotted Tibetan wool version runs $130 per square foot), you'll be able to use it in just about any room. Have a look at the possibilities.
This rug is very helpful in providing color inspiration; you can pick hues right from its stripes and the rug ties them all together.
Modern Rugs
The rug is made of wool from Tibetan sheep and hand knotted in Kathmandu, Nepal, by skilled weavers.
I never would have thought of using this rug as a stair runner, but the results are mind blowing. My only worry is that I'd take a tumble while engrossed in the swirls on my way down the stairs.
It takes a confident designer to mix such a lively, contemporary rug with a large-scale ancient relief, but the result is striking. There's a balanced mix of several eras in this brownstone's living room.
All the rest of the furniture in this room is very subdued in tone; the neutral hues in the Swirl give it this versatility.
Using the Swirl rug is an eccentric way to update a midcentury modern aesthetic.
Obviously, because of its bright colors and wavy lines, the Swirl is a great choice for a child's playroom or bedroom.
The rug's range of colors and abstract pattern keep a feminine bedroom from becoming too froufrou.
Likewise, they keep a darker, more masculine palette from becoming too man cave–ish. Smith describes his work as "classic with a twist" — adding the Swirl to any room is the twist.
More:
Print Power: Using Modern Rugs in the Home
More:
Print Power: Using Modern Rugs in the Home