who inspires us.
Arman J. Vartian
Arman views every rug as an opportunity to share his ideas, vision and passion with the rest of the world. The hand-woven carpet was never just a profession- it was a form of art. When Vartian — the carpet company was founded in Vienna in 1922, it set out to work in traditional carpet weaving with a modern production environment. Since then, Vartian has released a number of collection that have helped define the art form itself. Made by master weavers in Nepal, Vartian’s limited edition carpets are known for there highly complex designs and unique quality. Most notable is the Funky Heriz, from the Remixed Orientals Collection.
The clients of Luke Irwin, 49, the rug designer, include royalty and Barack Obama. His cashmere, silk or wool rugs are hand-knotted and made in Jaipur, India, or in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. His inspirations include the mosaic floors of the lavish Roman Deverill Villa, which was discovered in the garden at his home in Wiltshire, where he lives with his wife and two children. There is a Luke Irwin shop in Belgrade, central London.
Erbil Tezcan
For more than 20 years, Erbil has been a rug merchant and designer, working in every aspect of the business. When he finally decided to start his own brand, Wool & Silk, in 2009, it was inevitable that his work would take the world of woven art by storm. From the onset, as the name of the brand suggests, Erbil developed a unique texture composed of Tibetan wool and silk, to best express his unique designs. Along with a special process which he developed himself, Erbil also introduced yak hair into his 2012 fall lines which garnered tremendous success. Erbil finds inspiration for his designs from many different avenues. He never knows what he might see in his everyday life that may inspire him.
Thomas O’Brien
Thomas is one of those designers whose interior and furniture designs look discovered, not created. His work is timeless, drawing from a variety of periods and styles, and it never looks studied. The O'Brien style is both comfortable and exquisite, calm and eclectic.
Barbara Barry
Based in Southern California, Barbara has created quietly beautiful, livable interiors for more than three decades. Barry is inspired by the natural world, and she believes that home furnishings should evoke calm and serenity as an antidote to the chaos of our modern lives. The ideas of simplicity, understated elegance, and timelessness define Barry’s design ethos. In her words, “Designing furniture that will become a part of a family’s history is one of the things I love about my work.”
Suzanne Kasler
Suzanne often asserts that “a room should be collected, not decorated”. Incorporating the personal collections of her clients with fine art and antiques, contemporary pieces and custom-designed furniture, Suzanne’s meaningful interiors straddle that rare middle ground between sophisticate and ingénue.
Vincent Wolf
Always on the lookout for new ways in which to inspire the world of design, Wolf’s eye for detail has created a reputation for quality appreciated by his discerning client list, the creative industry as a whole, and his international partnerships with some of the world’s top luxury brands.
Laura Kirar
Laura has continued to infuse her work with originality and thoughtful attention to detail. Her works are emblematic of a passionate commitment to discovery and an ever- evolving definition of design
Andreas Reimann
Andreas soaks his environment up like a sponge, reconstituting and reinterpreting it. Popular culture in every direction, advertising aesthetics, alienation – Reimann remixes his raw material like a musician; he uses samples and places icons into a new context.
Clodagh
Clodagh passionately believes that good design supports well-being and that it can transform people’s lives. She feels that clutter can undermine serenity, but minimalism should not be self denying. The experience of entering a Clodagh designed space is one of blissful serenity.
Kevin Walz
Kevin Walz is an artist and designer who lives and works in Rome. Walz is the recipient of the Rome Prize and is in the Interior Design Hall of Fame. His art and designs have been exhibited in galleries and museums in North America and Europe.
David Easton
“When designing a project, start with the ground and work your way up. A beautiful carpet is the foundation of any room and dictates the rest of the feeling of that space.”
James Tufenkian
James established Tufenkian artisan carpets in 1985, known as one of the first modern brands in the oriental rug world— a brand that is still defined and energized by that founding vision today.
Benam
Benam creates perspectives in his works by shaping and forming small patterns that he uses to form larger motifs in his art. He has also been known to incorporate poems into his rug designs as well as a use of non-traditional color schemes such as cream, copper, cyan, and black dyes.
Mark Pollack
Mark firmly established his reputation as one of the industry’s most original and widely recognized talents. Drawing equally on his background in and sustaining passion for the fine arts, and his meticulous understanding of fabrics’ technical construction, Mark explored never-tried options. Mills around the world welcomed this challenge and professionalism, and partnered with the Pollack to produce some of the most innovative, beautiful and well-crafted fabrics in the trade
Rex Ray
Rex was an American graphic designer and collage artist based in San Francisco. His work is in museums including the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the San Jose Museum of Art, and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts.
Ford Smith
As the son of an Air Force serviceman stationed in a small Japanese village, Ford’s artistic sensibilities began to take root under the nurturing eye of an elderly Japanese painter when he was just twelve. After graduating from the University of Mississippi with a BFA in painting, Ford moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he realized a natural talent for photography. During the late 70’s and 80’s Ford established his reputation as Atlanta’s premier fashion and commercial photographer.
Tracy Porter
Tracy's signature globally-inspired, emotionally-engaging designs capture a spirited blend of modern + soulful. From home decor to fashion, Tracy has stirred an emotional surrender among her enthusiasts... bringing them enchanting attainable fantasy. Her exuberant color + pattern combinations always offer an element of surprise as they are layered with whimsical flirty touches, vintage + folkloric elements all kissed with a bit of bohemian elegance.