Rug Design Archives - Deirdre Dyson

17 September 202018 September 2020

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Dulux Colour of The Year – Beige needn’t mean Boring

Company Manager Edison, a trained Interior Designer, gives his take on Dulux Colour of the Year for 2021.

Paint brand Dulux, has selected ‘Brave Ground’ as their colour for 2021.

A staple interior choice of colour since the 80’s and dominating the early 00’s, beige is one palette that we just can’t seem to get enough of. It’s a familiar colour, it’s warm (particularly for cooler climates) and it can be applied to pretty much any interior design scheme. However, it also has an association with being boring and safe and some might say, unimaginative.

Here are a few examples where ‘boring beige’ can be just as exciting and as playful as other bold, more statement colours.

In this apartment designed by MAT Architects, the beige walls are perfectly paired with the tones of the wood panelling, making this space inviting and warm against the crisp white ceiling, lighting and cool grey concrete floors. Tonal fabrics, artwork and plant life add texture, sculpture, dimension and visual interest. As beige is an absorbing, earthy colour it sits well with a myriad of nature’s more vibrant colours.

The kitchen area carries the colour palette through by way of the beige terrazzo on the kitchen island. Just like white, black accessories silhouette perfectly against a warm beige background.

Deirdre Dyson’s EAGLE carpet incorporates the beige palette within a bold, statement design that works best large scale for a fuller impact. Keeping a neutral decorative background, a beige coloured carpet can be just as bold as something more patterned and colourful. It’s all about balance.

Beige comes in a variety of tones from more putty based to greyer and greener hues, so the scale of warmth can be adjusted accordingly, making it a hugely versatile choice of colour.

Here is a work in progress for a recent client project, using our SLIDES design.

Beige works particularly well when combined with pinks and reds.

The LIGHT FRAGMENTS design from this years’ LOOKING GLASS Collection is a testament to that. Deirdre has mixed the various abstract elements in grey, charcoal, light and dark beige with pops of Bordeaux and pink to create just the right combination of statement with subtlety.

If beige just isn’t you colour, then it’s a problem easily solved as we can adapt and change colours on any design from a choice of 5,000 colours. The only ‘possible’ problem you may have, are which colours to choose…?

3 September 2020

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Deirdre Dyson Exclusive Collaboration with Rinck Paris

Deirdre Dyson is one of the exclusive brands selected by Rinck Paris for their curated collaboration At Home with a Connoisseur #chezunconnoiseur, a space filled with the best of contemporary art and design selected by Rinck in collaboration with tastemaker, and Deirdre Dyson French representative, Julia Van Hagen.

Having recently opened a showroom in nearby rue des saints-pères, Rinck selected two of Lady Dyson’s rug designs from this year’s LOOKING GLASS Collection – the bold and graphic SLIVERS and vibrant, organic TRANSPARENT, both hand knotted in Nepal in the finest Tibetan wool and Pure silk.

The curated space includes the latest addition to Rinck’s Félicité collection, a monumental bronze ceiling light, suspended above a table from the same collection. This is juxtaposed with a period 1940s sideboard, typical of a late Art Deco style that brought the house such success in the post-war period. Above the sideboard are a further two wall lights from the Félicité collection, uniting these two Rinck designs separated by seven decades of history.

Facing this sideboard, Savannah Bay Gallery contributed contemporary stools by the Zieta Prozessdesign Studio, home of Polish architect Oskar Zieta. Constructed in sculptural stainless steel with the studio’s Heat finish, they are an inspiring combination of technological innovation and contemporary design. This Paris gallery, always on the lookout for truly dedicated designers, also supplied two table lamps in laminated dichroic glass, the work of Buzao Studio.

The interior was painted by the skilled artisans of Argile and features two of the Paris specialists’ custom shades, Atelier Red and Scala, creating the perfect bold backdrop for the beautiful objets on view.

The exclusive wallpaper is from celebrated English company Fromental, “The Classicist Sketchbook” is a collaborative new design, inspired by full-scale sketches from Rinck’s design archive.

To enhance the space imagined by Rinck, Julia Van Hagen chose a series of potent modern works, with a photograph by Egyptian artist Youssef Nabil, a mixed-media work by New York painter Borden Capalino, a canvas painted in malachite ink by Californian Matthew Brandt and a painting by Jonathan Monk.

This unmissable design event, co-inciding with Paris Design Week takes place from 3rd – 24th September at 21 Rue Bonaparte in Paris by appointment. To arrange your visit please contact julia@deirdredyson.com or take an in-depth virtual tour here!

10 July 2020

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The Beauty of Simplicity – Deirdre Dyson finds inspiration inside for her 2021 Rug Collection

We’ve focused on creativity and staying #INspired during lockdown. Deirdre has also been busy, using this time at home to work on next year’s rug collection.

Initially started at the London Gallery and continuing from her studio at home, Deirdre always begins work on new collections in February/March, nearly one year ahead of launch, at January’s Maison et Objet Paris. In this sense lockdown couldn’t have come at a better time. So without giving too much away here is a sneak peak of what is to come.

Having to be just as resourceful during these difficult times, Deirdre decided to find inspiration away from the natural world, focussing on the ‘inside’ rather than the ‘outside’ and using an everyday material, that is to hand.

Deirdre is exploring this simple idea in depth, to see how much variation can be made from it whilst still being recognisable for what it is, with particular emphasis on form, texture, light and shade.

Having briefly explored this in the past, Deirdre Dyson has found another opportunity to rediscover ways in which to manipulate the material into interesting designs and forms for development.

A deviation from past collections, 2021 will focus on the ‘beauty of simplicity’ in a world that has now become rather more complicated.

All will be revealed next year but in the meantime these inspired new designs are soon to be woven by our skilled Nepalese craftspeople observing social distancing and we’re excited to unveil them at Maison in January next year.

25 June 202028 July 2020

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Deirdre Dyson Paris Gallery Opens

We are delighted to announce that despite lockdown delays, Deirdre Dyson Paris is now open by appointment only.

Deirdre has a long association with Paris, launching her annual rug collection every year at Maison et Object, so it seemed natural to have a permanent display space there.

The wonderful gallery, in the historic Saint-Germain des Prés is a calm and inviting space, designed by celebrated Interior Designer Remi Tessier, working closely with Deirdre to tailor make a perfect interior in which to showcase her luxurious hand knotted rug designs.

Deirdre has chosen a selection of rug designs including a superb large-scale version of this year’s TRANSPARENT together with LIGHT FRAGMENTS and a stunning new working of partner versions of DAWN in alternating blue and red wool and silks.

Deirdre’s Parisian representative Julia will be on hand to guide clients through the designs and advise on design and colour choice.

To arrange your exclusive appointment please contact Julia@deirdredyson.com

28 May 2020

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Staying INspired with…Interior Designer Sarah Ward

We’ve missed seeing our clients and industry friends so decided to check in and discover how they are managing their working lives and staying #INspired at this extraordinary time.

First up is Sarah Ward of Interiors by Sarah Ward

Sarah is one of London’s top interior designers and really listens to her clients, taking time to learn how they wish to live, resulting in elegant yet comfortable interiors.

Sarah skilfully introduces vibrant colours and layers textures whilst always mindful of the practicalities necessary for day to day living.

One of our favourite recent projects is Cleopatra where boldly graphic, custom headboards and textured surfaces combine with bespoke cabinetry to create eye-catching results.

WHERE ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING FROM AND HOW DOES THIS COMPARE TO YOUR NORMAL WORKING ENVIRONMENT?

I’m in sunny Suffolk. Miles away in every way from London. It is super-quiet on the coast and I have wonderful time for creative adventure (in my mind!)

WITH OBVIOUS RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE, HOW DO YOU CONTINUE TO SOURCE YOUR INSPIRATION?

There is still so much at our fingertips – books, magazines, Instagram and the webinar fest is a fantastic source of intel. And I think…a lot.

HAS THIS SITUATION MEANT YOU ARE USING OR ADOPTING TECHNOLOGIES MORE THAN BEFORE AND DO YOU THINK YOU WILL CARRY ON USING THEM IN THE SAME WAY WHEN ALL RESTRICTIONS ARE OVER?

Well yes. I feel that my technical skills have improved massively. ‘Zoom’ is the new us. Remote everything is accessible and working from home has never been easier. We will definitely think about this (as far as is practical)

NAME ONE THING YOU HAVE YOU LEARNT YOU CANNOT WORK WITHOUT AND ONE WORK RELATED THING THAT YOU HAVEN’T MISSED IN THE SLIGHTEST.

The showrooms! Apart from missing the physical inspiration it’s the lack of chat.

I haven’t missed meetings that I really don’t need to be at.

WHILST IN LOCKDOWN, IS THERE AN OBJECT THAT YOU HAVE RECONNECTED WITH OR HAVE APPRECIATED MORE FOR BEING AROUND YOU?

My garden.

14 May 202014 May 2020

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Bespoke Carpet Art for Walls

In recent years Deirdre Dyson has experimented more and more with hand knotted wall art and wall hangings, using the same principles of fine art which she applies to her carpet designs.

Common practice in Medieval times, hanging carpets and textiles has become an increasing contemporary trend and bespoke carpets accepted as artworks in their own right – equally enjoyed on the wall as the floor.

Easily transportable for renters wanting to inject personality into sparse apartments, wall hangings can instantly add colour and warmth to a large surface area with the additional advantage of the acoustic properties of dense pile against wall.

Wall panels create the perfect focal point. This is a version of Deirdre’s visually striking GLASS CUBES design, recreated here as a runner and hung to draw the eye on this rough stone wall.

Clever lighting from above and the side emphasise the silk panels which juxtapose satisfyingly with the stone surroundings adding an unexpectedly luxurious feel and relieving what could otherwise be a cold, austere space.

For this lifestyle image from the current collection Stylist Louisa Grey took the full-size version of GLASS CUBES and used it as a backdrop on a pink painted brick wall. Again, careful lighting highlights the vibrantly coloured silk panels and enhances the 3D quality of Deirdre’s design adding depth and interest to an otherwise dead space.

In this image Deirdre’s STAINED GLASS runner, hand knotted in 100% silk and inspired by a stained glass window in Amalfi Cathedral, is hung high to emphasise the highest point of this vaulted room, drawing the eye upwards. Here also, there is the satisfying contrast of silk against stone.

Ironically, given its inspiration, the panel creates an alternative ‘window’ in this otherwise windowless dining space.

Deirdre’s LOOKING THROUGH is a really clever design. The inspiration isn’t immediately obvious on the floor but when hung the rug creates an impact when the abstracted form of a water filled flask is revealed – as Deirdre says I knew from exercises in my student days that without trying, the flask would slowly appear and it did, and does in the [finished] carpet.

Any of Deirdre Dyson’s rug designs can be redeployed as wall hangings – we generally recommend lowering the pile height to reduce weight and make hanging easier.

Practically, hanging solutions range from the unobtrusive (high strength Velcro) to making a feature with a hanging rail (such as the wrought iron rails used in the first two images) Framing is achievable for smaller panels where weight isn’t an issue such as 2019’s UNBOUND (pictured below).

The options are endless – as wonderful as Deirdre’s bespoke rugs are underfoot why not try them on the wall?

7 May 2020

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Beauty v’s the Beast – The war within (Prize Giveaway)

Deirdre Dyson has always looked at the natural world for inspiration. How far can we actually go beyond the surface of nature for new ideas? As far as a cell?

But before we might even attempt to do that, we could start by rediscovering and understanding our relationship with our oldest, tiniest enemies.

With Covid-19 on the forefront of everyone’s minds and lips, it certainly has encouraged us all to think and live microscopically, as our working and private environments becoming more concentrated and restricted; life and freedom itself has had its boundaries substantially reduced.

The battle between viruses and cells goes back over 4 billion years of evolution. Cousins at heart, whilst enemies at play, the game of conquest continues. Not too far from science fiction, opportunistic viruses attack healthy cells with the sole aim to replicate and take control of the host.

For centuries the complexity of life and the universe has captivated the human imagination and study and created a science around the subject in order to understand it better and to create positive interventions in order to survive within it.

Looking at the bigger picture, the universe, our solar system, planetary forms and the patterns of galaxies far and beyond all replicate down to within microns of a single cell. It’s an amazing mirroring that follows through existence and in every living thing, whether animal or plant.

**A single cell, with all its layers and core, resembles many planet structures including our own planet Earth.** **Credit: Biologyexams4u.com.**

The human body is made up of 120 trillion cells all coexisting to create a unique life force-a living, breathing, thinking human.

Our immune system has developed over millions of years in the form of protective proteins cells. These white blood cells are the guardians of our bodies’ immune system all working in unison by instruction from our unique DNA, found at the core of each and every cell; within the Nucleus.

Every time our bodies come under attack from a virus, our defence system is kicked into gear by our cells, each one connected to the other and sending warning signals to pull up the appropriate antibody. Our personal record and library of virus attack is stored in the bone marrow and our bodies can recognise a virus through this library, knowing exactly which antibody to use in order to attack the virus.

Viruses are around us all the time, in the air, on every surface. They have co-evolved alongside cells and are made up of the remnant parts of our own cells, hence they are equipped to attack us in the most efficient and deceitful way.

Unfortunately, we do not have antibodies for every single virus, as we are only ever exposed to a fraction of viruses in existence. Hence, we rely on science and medical intervention when a new virus, particularly a Zoonotic virus transfers from animal to human.

The irony of it all is that this battle continues for one reason only; in order to shape us for our own survival as we continue to evolve and exist within this vast and complex mix of everything, that is both good, bad, near, far and within.

GIVEAWAY

Can you spot the odd one out? One of these images is an actual Deirdre Dyson carpet design and isn’t a virus structure at all, perfectly illustrating how replication is in everything around us.

Please email your answer to sales@deirdredyson.com

Hint: The answer can be found on our website.

One lucky entry will be selected at random from all correct answers received and will be sent a “Walking on Art’” book by Deirdre Dyson (rrp £38), published by Thames and Hudson in order to keep you #INspired during lockdown.

All entries must be received by the 28^th May, 2020 and the winner will be announced along with the correct answer on the 1st June, 2020.

23 April 2020

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Deirdre’s Design Inspiration – Water

Deirdre Dyson at work in her studio at home.

Continuing our exploration of inspiration and what keeps us #INspired, Deirdre draws inspiration for her designs from myriad sources but one recurring area of fascination is water – be it BULRUSHES reflected in a lake or lapping water on the shore in SEAWASH.

We thought exploring some of these rug designs would be fascinating – the source of inspiration being fundamentally the same, the designs themselves could not be more different.

BULRUSHES

One of Deirdre’s more figurative designs and one that has captured people’s imagination and become a classic and was inspired by Deirdre’s painting of the same name.

This rug features the naturally abstracted forms of bulrushes, their bending shafts reflected and refracted in lake water.

Deirdre uses a graded wool/silk mix background to recreate the skyline and lake water which merge on the horizon to create this perfectly framed design. The finished rug is so captivating one client choose to hang it on a wall of their home.

BULRUSHES won both the International Wool Carpet & Rug Awards (Design Sector) 2017 and the International Design & Architecture Awards (Flooring, Carpet & Rugs) 2017.

SEAWASH

The success of Deirdre’s SEAWASH rug design is all in the grade – which required Deirdre’s exceptional eye for colour to achieve this seamless ebb and flow effect.

Originally Deirdre designed the carpet in two versions, INDIGO (above) and BEIGE (below) which have become favourite designs amongst clients, we have created both large scale carpets and runners from this endlessly versatile design.

SEAWASH beige — Deirdre Dyson Exclusive Carpets and Rugs SEAWASH BEIGE

SEAWASH comes alive hand knotted in lustrous 100% silk (as in the versions above), providing the perfect watery, iridescent finish but has also been recreated several times using varying colourways in hand knotted and gun tufted 100% wool versions.

NAUTICAL

In NAUTICAL Deirdre again treats her source inspiration completely differently – abstracting sea water into fluid but solid geometric shapes, creating a feeling of depth and movement by alternating the same colours in wool and silk.

Clients can of course change these colours from the original water based palate but fundamentally this ‘breaking down’ of the sea to its most basic elements is the key to this design.

LILYPOND

For LILYPOND Deirdre created a subtle, light to dark grade to give the impression of still pond water.

This circular grade, a challenge for our weavers, creates a sense of depth and bursts of colour are provided by the silk lilypads creating a 3D effect.

SEASCAPE and SEA MIST

Both these designs are based on light (silk bars) reflected on sea water (a graded wool background)

SEASCAPE is an incredible 7m in width, reflecting the expansiveness of the sea and a chance for Deirdre to illustrate just how large hand knotted carpets can be.

SEASCAPE features shots of sunlight on the sea’s surface whilst SEA MIST uses stormier hues and was made on a more domestic scale but is no less effective.

SEASCAPE is currently available in it’s original 7 x 2.3m size and as a 1 x 2.9m runner in our sample sale.

ROMAN POND

Whilst not strictly inspired by water itself, the first of Deirdre’s mosaic designs was inspired by mosaic lined Roman ponds, the intricacy of ROMAN POND poses a challenge to our weavers as the thin lines of wool ‘grouting’ around the ingots of silk are incredibly complex to achieve (and individually carve out) but the finished effect is stunning.

RIVULETS
The everyday source inspiration for this rug only adds to its allure – RIVULETS mimics the trail of rain drops on a window pane – the simplest of inspiration led Deirdre to this wonderfully subtle graded design.

Finally this year’s LOOKING GLASS Collection was inspired by glass and glass objects including a water filled flask in LOOKING THROUGH, discarded pieces of sea worn glass in FLOATING GLASS and abstracted light and forms through glass and water in LIGHT FRAGMENTS. See the full collection here.

Looking for inspiration for your home? Explore all of Deirdre Dyson’s entirely bespoke rug designs in our Design Library and imagine how you could make it your own. Contact us with any enquiries.

16 April 202028 July 2020

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Deirdre Dyson and Bespoke Design in the COVID-19 Crisis: Life may have changed but the design process hasn’t

SLIVERS hand knotted in graded wool and silk from this year’s LOOKING GLASS Collection

Businesses of every type have had to change dramatically in the face of this unprecedented crisis, we wanted to reassure our current and prospective clients that we can still provide our bespoke rug designs remotely and deliver the highest quality carpets despite the upheaval we are all facing at this challenging time.

In an ideal world, Deirdre Dyson’s Kings Road gallery provides the perfect backdrop to showcase Deirdre’s rug designs; physically see their quality, explore the range of colours and discuss design options face to face with our experienced team. We love meeting prospective clients and showing them around the gallery.

We really relish the bespoke process which by its nature is slow and considered and enjoy getting to know our clients in one to one meetings and delighting them when a carpet arrives 14 -16 weeks later.

Every year Deirdre launches her new collection at Maison et Objet Paris which gives us the widest possible platform to showcase the exceptional quality of our carpets.

With this international audience, in recent years Deirdre’s rug designs have had increasing global reach and outside of these extraordinary times we have been dealing regularly with clients worldwide (particularly in the United States, Europe and Asia)

In these cases the design process has been carried out entirely remotely with 100% success.

Our Kings Road Gallery (L-R) OPTIC, CHEQUERED & SHADOWS

The Remote Design Process:

Clients will initially talk through their requirements with Edison or Chris then send photographs and floorplans to agree on designs and size plus swatches or RAL colour codes which Deirdre and her Design Technician Nichola will use to select and/or colour match wool and silk colours.

Currently Design Technician Nichola is set up to work from home and both she and Deirdre have the technical capacity to work as closely as they always do.

We then expedite the delivery of quality samples, colour tufts, digitally transfer artwork revisions and finally send a printed render of the finished design for sign off before production.

As this is a global crisis, our normal manufacture time of 14 – 16 weeks will be extended however we will keep you advised of any changes which may impact the production time and delivery of your carpet.

We have many extremely happy clients, both retail and trade, who have been delighted with their finished carpets without ever having ‘met’ Deirdre or her team in person.

Though not physically ‘in’ the gallery we can still liaise with our clients and deliver everything you need to create your perfect version of one of Deirdre’s rug designs.

We’ll miss this personal contact but are lucky in that we can still produce fabulous hand knotted rugs for any requirement without being at our gallery.

LAPIS, hand knotted in wool and silk, reduced by 50%

Ex-Display Carpets:

There are several ex-display rugs which are available to purchase now such as LAPIS above, the full sale listing is on our website please just email us with any enquiries on sales@deirdredyson.com

We will continue to maintain the highest levels of customer service and advice to all our clients whether at the enquiry or fulfilment stage but do look forward, as everyone else does, to this crisis passing and very quickly reverting to our normal face to face service when this worrying time comes to an end.