I recently made a trip to Amsterdam on a grey winters day, to visit the Museum Van Loon. It is a museum that is situated in a canal side house on the prestigious Keizersgracht. The house was built in 1671 and was purchased by the aristocratic Van Loon family in 1884 ; who still retain possession. Incidentally this family was one of the founders of the Dutch Far East company (V.O.C). The house is meant to give the visitor an insight into the aristocratic living of this family, from the lavish furnishing and fittings to fine China.
Of particular interest to me were the carpets and rugs( the difference in definition of these 2 terms were dealt with on the site page Anatomy of a Rug) which decorate each stately room and from a design standpoint, espoused the concept of floor to ceiling luxury living. The carpets and rugs range from antique to semi antique and it was interesting to see how the age-related wear on these carpets actually elevated their timeless appeal. Interestingly, an article in Cosmopolitan.com Interior decor concepts for 2023, advocates the use of antique items to increase visual appeal and style.¨There is also an increased interest in home spaces that feel more storied, personal and lived in. The individuality and history of materials can contribute to a sense of place and personality¨ Sara Banard, Well and Leed@Sarah Barnard Design
Michael Rubin, Principal designer @ MR Interiors further advocates design concepts for 2023, ¨ layering area rugs in a living room is also a trending design idea. The idea here is to furnish a room with rugs/carpets of different sizes and patterns.Think,a large scale traditional Persian rug, with polka dot, a neutral smaller rug layered on top. This is super cool and unique!¨
www.cosmopolitan.com/lifestyle/a42450300/interior-design-trends-2003/
Enjoy the pictures of the rugs. I have, where possible, identified the rugs. Take special note of the age related wear on the rug, celebrating it´s age. These rugs have seen their fair share of important feet tread upon them, including those belonging to Barack Obama.
Sarouk circa 1920-1930. Floral pattern and darker colours made for the US market.
