Contemporary Rugs

Shyrdak Felt Rugs Video

2011-10-28T13:34:00.000-07:00

High quality handmade shyrdak felt rugs from the Tien Shan mountains in Kyrgyzstan.

Recycled Patchwork Kilim Rugs

2011-07-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

Turkey is world renowned for the quality of its flat weave kilim rugs. Over the last decade this ancient tradition has been re harnessed and reinvigorated with a variety of new styles and designs, not least of which is the currant popularity of vintage rugs and curtains that have been recycled and redesigned as new and striking patchwork kilim rugs. Modern day rug manufacturers collect old and damaged kilims, curtains and burlap sacks from around Anatolia and use them to create contemporary pieces that still retain their ethnic allure. This beautiful blend of both ethnic & contemporary design styles fits very nicely with modern minimalist design concepts

Each recycled rug is made by a professional designer who creates a new work of art in its own right, incorporating unusual and unique details into his rugs, such as beads, tassels, wish knots and blemishes found in the original pieces. It is then re-dyed, normally in bold statement colours as has long been the tradition in Turkish kilims.

The wish knots you see on many of the pieces have their own secret story as each one was sewn into the original textiles by young girls from the east of Turkey each knot representing a wish that the young girl has for her future.

Recycled patchwork rugs also have an appeal on another level that is important to modern day consumers as they are considered to be very environmentally friendly, made with 100% pure recycled wool and dyed using traditional natural vegetable dyes. These kilims embrace the concerns about sustainability and ethical shopping.

They are available in most of the standard sizes and also come as runners. They also make very striking wall hangings.

Fair Trade Kilim Rugs

2011-05-07T07:42:00.000-07:00

Hand woven high quality fair trade kilim rugs from Egypt.

Vintage Recycled Kilim Rugs

2011-05-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

Recycled Patchwork Kilim rugs, new inventory at UniqueRugs.co.uk

Unique Rugs Promo Clip

2011-03-16T12:13:00.000-07:00

Unique Rugs promotional rug video.

Egyptian Kilim Rugs

2011-02-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

Kilim rugs from Egypt based on both traditional Egyptian rug design and Persian rug designs.

Available at UniqueRugs.co.uk

Felt Rugs From Kyrgyzstan

2011-01-04T10:46:00.000-08:00

New felt rugs from Kyrgyzstan all available at UniqueRugs.co.uk

Shyrdak Felt rug symbols and motifs

2010-12-03T07:27:00.000-08:00

Each shyrdak felt rug tells its own story through a combination of culturally relevant symbolic motifs and colours.

A motif known as Eternal Movement, symbolic of the relentless movement of nature and the four seasons.

This pattern visually represents the lattice work on the frame of a yurt wall and is symbolic of protection and interdependency.

Click link for a more comprehensive and detailed guide to symbols and motifs on shyrdak felt rugs.

Shyrdak Felt Rugs

2010-11-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

Handcrafted shyrdak felt rugs made in kyrgyzstan available at Unique Rugs

Brown Patchwork Kilim Rug

2010-10-19T04:47:00.000-07:00

Beautiful handmade brown patchwork kilim rug by Ethnicon.
Length: 218 cm
Width: 156 cm
Origin: Anatolia
Age: New
Shape: Rectangular
Colour: Whites/Browns
Dye: Natural
Material: 100% wool
Handmade by Ethnicon In Turkey

From every corner of Anatolia comes a unique piece of kilim, with colours harnessing hundreds of years of stories and memories to make a unique Ethnicon kilim. Ethnicon stands for the ideal blend of ethnic pieces with contemporary design styles. Bold traditional kilims have been recycled and redesigned to fit perfectly with today’s minimalist and modern design concepts. The old and the new are combined to become artworks for our times.
The kilims of Anatolia are renowned for their simple craftsmanship and lengthy traditions. As they were worn through daily use, they accumulated both value and significance. These are retained in an Ethnicon kilim. They continue to mark the cycle of life, but also reflect change in design. Revitalised and reworked. In your home they will begin a new tale that will be written for generations to come.
Each unique, hand-woven, naturally produced piece of kilim, with all the diverse stories and unique experience it holds, is collected and matched to produce a wholly new work. Special attention is paid to incorporating details and irregularities of the original pieces, such as beads, tassels and blemishes which bring their own flavours to the mix.

Shyrdak Felt Rug

2010-08-24T12:47:00.000-07:00

Grey and brown shyrdak felt rug
Shirdak Felt Rug
Length: 212cm (83")
Width: 113cm (44.5")
Origin: Kyrgyzstan
Age: New
Shape: Rectangular
Colour: Grey and brown
Dye: Undyed
Material: 100% Felted wool

Beautifully handcrafted shirdak felt rug imported from the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan, made by sewing contrasting felt patterns together on a felted base. Hand made by nomadic artisans who have been practising this handcraft for thousands of years in central Asia.
This is an eco friendly rug made using an environmentally sound process and natural sustainable materials.

This rug is available here Felt Rugs

Handmade eco friendly felt rugs

2010-03-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

Stunning handmade rugs from Kyrgyzstan, these felt rugs are made entirely from felted wool using an environmentally friendly process, once the wool is pressed and dyed the rugs our painstakingly and expertly stitched together to form the stunning contrasting patterns pictured above.
All the felt rugs pictured are available at www.UniqueRugs.co.uk

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Environmentally Friendly Rugs

2010-01-09T06:53:00.000-08:00

The trend towards ecologically conscious shopping continues as more and more people included environmental concerns as part of the selection process when shopping. Shopping for eco friendly rugs has many advantages apart from just being better for the world as a whole it is also better for you. Most eco friendly rugs and textiles are free of chemicals and toxins that you would find in a rug made of manmade fibres. Modern houses can be a nightmare of toxic chemicals in paint, varnishes, textiles and furniture. Filling your house with less toxic furnishings and ecologically friendly paints is ultimately better for your health.

Whilst buying a ecologically friendly rug may in some cases be more expensive there are budget eco rugs out there, and investing in a more expensive natural rugs may work out cheaper in the long run as most natural fibre made rugs are fairly sturdy and count there usage in decades rather than years. So choosing a rug you love and paying a bit more for it, is probably easily justifiable as a long term consideration particularly when you consider the environmental and health benefits.

Identifying eco friendly rugs is comparatively easy by firstly sticking to a list of things to avoid. Fibres that are manmade or products of the petrochemical industry are absolutely to be avoided such as nylon, polypropylene, polyester and acrylic which is often marketed as being environmentally friendly because it breaks down quickly in the environment but it is also toxic. The best rule of thumb is to stick to naturally occurring plant and animal fibres such as wool, hemp, bamboo, cotton, sea grass, jute, cashmere, mohair, sisal and silk obviously this list is not exhaustive.

Anatolian Felt Rugs

2009-11-19T04:17:00.001-08:00

Semi antique Anatolian felt rugs made by the nomads of the Taurus Mountains in Turkey.

Recycled Rugs

2009-07-15T02:13:00.000-07:00

These irresistible recycled rugs are made out of old curtains, burlap bags and rugs that are then remade in to beautiful patchwork kilim rugs and dyed with natural dyes. The result is a beautiful contemporary rug that is also ethically made out of recycled natural materials.

Unique Rugs
eco friendly rugs
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Felt Rugs of Kyrgyzstan

2009-03-26T01:37:00.000-07:00

Read My latest article about the Felt Rugs of Kyrgyzstan at RugRag.com.

Contemporary Kilim Rugs

2009-03-09T10:29:00.001-07:00

Beautiful high quality handmade patchwork kilim rugs made in Turkey by Ethnicon. These contemporary rugs are made using natural dyes and recycled materials.

Handmade Felt Rugs

2009-02-09T02:31:00.000-08:00

Handmade in the Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan, these felt rugs called Shyrdak rugs are made from 100% sustainable felted wool and dyed using all natural vegetable dyes. The people of Kyrgyzstan have been using Shyrdak rugs for thousands of years to decorate their homes and yurts. The rugs are luxurious, hard wearing and unique each one a piece of artwork incorporating designs and motifs about nomadic life in Kyrgyzstan. Although felt is one of the oldest fabrics known to man (felting pre-dates weaving) these traditional rugs still sit perfectly with contemporary design ideals.

Click here to see our collection of Oriental Rugs

Website review – Revival Fabrics

2009-01-29T15:03:00.000-08:00

Fantastic website; dealing specifically in vintage fabrics and unique textiles. Revival Fabrics stocks a selection of authentic hand selected classic fabric patterns from the 1920’s through to the 1970’s all in mint condition and available to purchase online. There is a good selection of retro fabrics available making this website a perfect resource for designers wishing to create something unique and original. The rarity of the fabrics on offer means that they are very collectable and can only retain their intrinsic value. In the past the company has been used by Hollywood costumes designers looking for original fabrics to add a touch of authenticity to the films Dreamgirls and Catch Me If You Can. It is also possible to pick up vintage designs by famous artists such as Maija Isola, Grandma Moses and Associated American Artists group.

Vintage Fabrics - Revival Fabrics is your place for vintage fabrics. Find what your need from the 1920'2 - 1970's. You will only find original fabric here. Also check out their Revival Fabrics blog.

10 interior design tips on how to get the best from your rug

2009-01-29T05:00:00.000-08:00

There is a true craft to using a rug to finish of the design of your room, often over looked and sometimes entirely neglected. A good rug can really bring an impressive touch to a room, but remember this is about making your ideal space, not mimicking pictures you saw in a magazine. Think of it as a form of self expression and work from there.
• Use a rug to define an area and make a space, putting a rug in the middle of the room then dumping a coffee table on the top defeats the object and makes the room look cluttered.
• Whatever happens; the rug needs to work with the entire colour scheme of the room, in effect use the rug to tie together the unique elements of the room. Think of this before you choose the colour of the paint on the walls and the overall finished product will be more eye catching.
• If the room is large and wooden floored, put the rug directly in front of a sofa creating and island of cosiness.
• Consider the pattern of your rug for ultra traditional go for floral patterned oriental rugs, if you want something modern try a contemporary rug with geometric patterns.
• Use a rug to balance the tonal qualities of the room, if the wall are bright and colourful use a neutral colour to avoid being over bearing, if the walls are subtle the use a bright coloured rug to add a bit of panache.
• If you have a rug that you are particularly fond of use it as the focal point of your room, either as a rug or a wall hanging and base your design around it.
• The texture of the rug is important for example if you’re going for a minimalist approach with lots of flat shiny surface then the heavily textured woollen rug can pull it all together and bring an element of homeliness. Ultimately in as much as you want a nicely colour balanced room you also want a room where the textures balance.
• Consider the quality of the rug and what best suits your need. If you are going for quality then natural fibres’ is the way to go, but then if you have three kids that are likely to be finger painting in the same room, maybe consider a more easily replaceable option.
• Size is all important make sure you have a clear idea of the approximate measurements of the space you want to fill.
• If you intend to place a rug under a dining table the measure the size required with the chairs pulled out, so that they remain on the rug.

Ethnicon kilims "A new breed of Turkish Rug"

2009-01-22T00:29:00.000-08:00

Ethnicon Rugs take a new direction for the nomadic and tribal arts of Anatolia, old and traditional kilims are collected from around Turkey and used to create new contemporary and yet still alluringly ethnic pieces. These stunning kilim rugs are made by a professional designer who pays attention to incorporating unusual and unique details into his rugs, such as beads, tassels, wish knots and blemishes found in the original pieces. This mix of old and new also embraces modern day concepts of recycling, sustainability and ethical shopping. Ethnicon kilim rugs are made using pure wool and dyed using natural vegetable dyes. This beautiful blend of both ethnic & contemporary design styles fits very nicely with modern minimalist design concepts.

2009-01-16T00:56:00.000-08:00

For centuries the nomadic tribes of central Asia have handmade felt rugs and panels for their ger or yurt, below is a short video of a traditional felt making process in Mongolia.

Oriental Rugs in Interior Design

2008-12-31T03:30:00.000-08:00

I bought a fantastic interior design book called Dream Homes, 100 Inspirational Interiors The book is not very wordy and is mostly a source book of photographs of fantastic interiors, as I flicked through I noticed the utter dominance of oriental rugs within current design trends. Not a single designer rug to be seen it was all either flat weave kilims or hand knotted Persian style rugs. It occurred to me that oriental rugs dominate this market because they are traditionally the best money can buy and have been for centuries, they also lend themselves perfectly to modern design ideals bridging the gap snugly between old and new whilst being available in endless colours, colour combinations and a wide variety of plain or patterned designs. Whatever you require decoration for a minimalist approach or something traditional or exotic there is an oriental rug out there that perfectly fits your needs.Oriental rugs and carpets are available in a staggering selection of styles and sizes it is even possible to order bespoke rugs now so you may specify exactly what you require, although this option is probable not as appealing as trawling the internet or shops trying to find an antique or semi antique piece that fits your requirements.Also if you are interested to learn more about oriental rugs and their role in history and interior design there is a vast weight of literature available out there from books giving you the specifics of what village traditionally makes what style of rug and what different motives mean, to books detailing best shopping practices and how and where to find exactly what you are looking for.

Beautiful Handmade Ethnicon Patchwork Kilim Rugs

2008-12-08T04:46:00.000-08:00

Kilim Rugs

Felt rugs galore!!!

2008-11-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

My new selection of semi antique Anatolian felt rugs have arrived from Turkey and are available to peruse now at www.uniquerugs.co.uk. I am also awaiting some more shyrdak felt rugs from Kyrgzstan although they are quite laborious to make and will probably not be available till after Christmas.....

Felt – A fabric from the origins of humankind

2008-11-07T06:07:00.000-08:00

Felt is said to be the oldest of all manmade materials, produced by the simple but laborious process of pressing together wool water and soap. Old scraps of felt have been discovered dating back almost 9000 years, predating weaving with origins in the Neolithic period. Felt is as relevant today as it always has been with a wide and versatile range of uses including, as a dampener in the automotive industry, decorations, clothing, children’s toys, in drum kits, pianos, assorted musical instruments and billiards tables. But it is perhaps its older and more traditional uses that hold the most allure for the collector. Historically felt was and still is used as a source of warmth and shelter being made into shoes, hats, clothes, tent coverings, doors, blankets, rugs and votive images.

Felt has long been used between the Balkans and Mongolia where it has played an important role in the lives of many nomadic peoples. In Anatolia in central Turkey felt is thought to have been made since the Hittite kingdom (14th century BC) as wall carvings have been found in the Hittite cities of both Bogazköy and Yazilikaya picturing people wearing felt caps and clothing. In the Taurus mountain regions in Turkey shepherds still wear the curious stiff felt cloaks called kepenek designed to protect them from the elements, both the winter cold and the summer sun. Felt is also still used in Anatolian regions to make blankets, rugs, and mats not to mention the tall conical hats (sikke) worn by the Mevlevi dervishes. Felt in Anatolia represents a seventeen thousand year old tradition of utilizing this most practical and useful of materials.

In the central Asian republics there is also a long and considerable tradition of using felt as an important day to day material. Kyrgyzstan is a notable example of a place where the use of felt is still very relevant today. Kyrgyz culture is historically nomadic with connections to the infamous Mongol hordes. The women in Kyrgyzstan are traditionally the felt makers and still make boots, slippers, kalpak hats and the splendid shyrdak rugs. The Kyrgyzstani shyrdak felt rugs are famous for their bright contrasting colours and symbolic motifs traditionally used as floor coverings in yurts and exchanged as presents on special occasions. Now the Kyrgyzstani felt industry is very much directed towards export and a small but functional tourism industry, and the manufacture of traditional shyrdak rugs has moved on to a new age whilst still maintain its roots and cultural relevance. The shyrdak is made by stitching two contrasting coloured bits of felt together, a pattern is then marked on the top layer in chalk and the painstakingly and laboriously cut out with the felt maker frequently sharpening the knife which will blunt quickly. This creates a stunning positive/negative style visual image usually full of symbolic motif images that represent things around them i.e. the water, goat horns a yurt etc. The felt that is cut from the top layer is not wasted and is used to create another mirror image shyrdak with the reverse colours of the original shyrdak.

Felt is a material of history of the present and the future and represents mankind’s ability to interact with his natural environment in a more healthy and unassuming way, sourcing a useful and harvestable raw material (wool) and harnessing its energies to make everything from a place to live to a cloak to protect you from the harsh elements of the Asian steppes. Felt is more relevant today than ever historically before as it symbolize are ability to live together in unity with nature.

Ala Turka website....

2008-10-13T07:19:00.000-07:00

The Ala Turka website is now up and trading and can be found here we are currently stocking a selection of the highest quality handmade olive oil soaps based on recipes used by the old Ottoman Sultans in Istanbul, handmade felt decorations imported from central Asia and handmade bags made by ethical designer Nazrin Farook and imported from India. That just for starters coming soon we have a selection of nazar boncugu evil eye talismans, handmade Turkish silver and kilim rugs so check back regularly so you don’t miss out.

Shyrdak Felt Rug

2008-09-29T02:55:00.000-07:00

My first sample of our new line of shyrdak felt rugs arrives this week, hopefully a new collection of felt rugs will soon be available at the webshop.....hit link...
,Felt Rugs

Stall at Front row Friday 19th September

2008-09-11T06:32:00.000-07:00

The shop is now closed and all the stress and worry associated with it is now a rapidly fading memory, leaving me to concentrate on obtaining a larger and better selection of rugs for the website. We will also be continuing to trade from craft fairs, stalls and shopping centre kiosks which will always be updated on this blog.

Our first stall will be at the Front Row ethical Fashion event at St Marys in the Castle, Hastings on the 19th of September.
We will be carrying a selection of ethically sourced goods including highest quality handmade olive oil soaps based on recipes used by the old Ottoman Sultans in Istanbul. Bags, cushions and purses designed by ethically minded designer Nazrin Farook. Handmade Turkish crafts including recycled kilim cushions and rugs, silver jewellery and felt goods.

Front row is an ethical fashion show showcasing the best in local, organic, recycled, designer wear followed by a boutique shopping experience. 19th and 20th September 2008 in Hastings, East Sussex. Produced by FRONT ROW and Hastings Environment Network.
Tickets are available from:
Hastings Information Centre (Town Hall) Trinity WholefoodsMade in HastingsThe Lilac RoomBullet cafe
For more information please check out the Front Row site here.

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Six weeks notice

2008-07-18T05:19:00.000-07:00

So it’s done I have handed in my notice to vacate the shop which also means vacating the flat upstairs, I can’t say I’m unhappy its is a logical decision the shop is an unnecessary financial weight in the current economic climate and is not performing very well and has endless overheads, electricity, council tax, business tax, telephone, mobile phone, internet, cleaning, staff, advertising, music license the list goes on. The internet allows me to continue trading with limited overheads; it also allows me to target very specifically customers that are actively looking for my product in a way that is not possible in the high street unless you have a very larger advertising budget. The only thing that bothers me now is the waiting for my notice to expire, Six weeks of waiting, admittedly I need that time to wrap up loose ends and prepare for the move but I’d sooner get it over and done with so I can move forward.

Interior design recycled

2008-07-16T13:02:00.000-07:00

The West has long looked to the East when it comes to acquiring quality fabrics, and as the needs of the Western market change so does the nature of the fabrics available. Historically, the manufacturing world of the East has supplied the consumer demand of the West, but this relationship is changing as the requirement for, not just eco-friendly, but also ethical consumables has grown. It is an age old relationship; goods imported from the Orient have long been sought after for their beauty. In buildings around the Western world, built by some of the greatest architects that have passed before us, you would often see fine examples of Oriental rugs or pottery sourced by the architect or designer to add the finishing touches in order to achieve perfection.

Manufacturers of old are adapting to meet modern design requirements, and in doing so are providing a delectable combination of traditional and contemporary. The future of contemporary living and modern design may well lie in the reclamation of quality textiles and materials from the past. The intrinsic beauty of reclaimed wood in architecture, furniture and garden design is there to be enjoyed by us all. Chairs made from recycled metal and sustainably harvested wood are an example of an offering of beauty and practicality.

There is a new philosophy in town that represents a mutual respect between design and nature, between traditional and contemporary. It is becoming increasingly important in modern design to create spaces that are aesthetically pleasing but also organic and eco-friendly. We need to respect the beauty of our interiors as well as the beauty and balance of our planet.

Do you want beauty in your home and be assured that its source is sustainable, ethical and of exceptional quality?

Add to the mix luxury and style and that nicely sums up the beautiful patchwork kilim rugs currently coming out of Turkey. Designed with modern living and contemporary style in mind, these stunningly attractive rugs are made from recycled kilim rugs collected from around Anatolia. Patched together and given a new lease of life, dyed with all natural dyes as tradition dictates these modern contemporary kilims bring the charm of age and ethnicity mixed with vibrant colors and cutting edge style.

Contemporary rugs-How to choose a rug for your home.

2008-07-11T08:22:00.000-07:00

Choosing a contemporary rug for your home can sometimes appear a little daunting given the huge variety of products available on the market today, however with a little forethought to your purchase you can narrow things down a little by having clear idea of what you want.

Things to consider before making your purchase are all fairly straight forward but will make life easier if you consider them first. For starters what size rug do you require? What colour rug do you require? Do you want your rug to be a feature or make a bold statement or do you require a more neutral or muted rug? What practical restraints are there? If you have children and dogs then maybe a pure white dry clean only rug is not the way forward. How durable do you require it be? Do you want to go with manmade synthetic fibres or do you want to invest in a rug with a little more quality made from natural fibres? Are you interested in a traditional or contemporary rug or a hybrid mix of both? Considering all these aspects before you commence shopping will give you a clearer idea of what to look for, and make it easier to narrow down your searches.

If your are particularly fashion conscious then you may want to look into things in more detail then maybe peruse through some textiles magazines there's plenty out there but Selvedge magazine appears to be the most popular, and its a fantastic resource for getting good ideas.

Rug manufacturers have for some time been combining traditional and contemporary designs so you no longer have to trade off one for the other. It is now very possible and desirable to obtain a rug that is contemporary in design but made using traditional methods with that added benefit of being both ethical and sustainable.

Remember that a well placed rug can really bring a touch of style and art to your home, it's these finishing touches that can change a space from a boring room lacking in character and definition into a truly unique and beautiful contemporary living space. Use your rug to bring the tone to the room that your require, if your room is bright and cluttered then use a neutral colour to tone it down, if your going for a modern contemporary look then you can use your rug as a feature possibly theme it with a feature wall or similarly coloured vase or planter. Most of all have fun with it and create a positive space, after all you live here.

As always the internet is a good place to start, use a search engine to browse around, compare prices, styles and get a feel for what's available. Try to narrow down your searches by including details about the kind of rug you are looking for, if you just search "rugs" then you are going to get about 48,300,000 results to trawl through so if you know that you specifically want a pink 100% wool rug the search for that. When you spot something that you like, don't forget to bookmark the page so that you can find it again easily later.

Don't rush your choice have a good look around compare shipping prices (a lot of websites offer free shipping now) if you see a rug you like and require more information or want to see more pictures email the seller and ask, try and choose a rug that is appropriate for the space you are putting it in as opposed to just buying the first thing you like and then realizing it clashes with your furniture.