Carpets are like marmite - most people have a visceral reaction to them one way or the other. For my parents’ and grandparents’ generation, a fitted carpet was the epitome of luxury. There is something that feels intrinsically homey to me when I take off my shoes at my mum and dad’s house, and feel those soft fibres under my feet. Every room (bar the kitchen and bathroom) is carpeted there, in contrast to my own flat which has wooden floors. I often lie on the floor whilst at “home home” when watching tv, as it feels like a rare luxury to be simultaneously horizontal, comfy and not in bed. A rug just doesn’t cut it for me in this respect.
Admittedly, carpet can go delightfully right as per the iconic Ray Kappe Residence (1967), or horribly wrong – even I struggle to comprehend a carpeted kitchen - nevermind a bathroom. A few years back the viral ‘Shag Pile House’ in Indiana went on the market, including carpeted bathtub surround and ceilings. Its new owner is currently removing aforementioned carpet, which is both understandable and a little disappointing.
Wood, laminate and tile flooring took over1 in the 1990s for numerous reasons including cost, trend, durability and hygiene. I also think the growing rental market and the frequency at which people move home now is also a factor. It’s a major personal statement, which I really believe should be a part of anyone’s home (I’ll write more about my hatred of living in a constantly ‘sellable’ home another time). However, carpet continues to be used in the majority of hotels for both sound and thermal insulation – it does still signify luxury to me (when well looked after at least). So, I’m now lusting after a wall-to-wall carpeted living room.
Necchi Architecture took this to the next level in their recent interior for the Hotel Chateau D’Eau in Paris – the jewel toned carpeted floors extend upwards to encase the bed frame and surrounding shelves. I love how cosy this makes the room feel – it removes any sharp edges and almost gives the floor a liquid effect.
A carpeted bar you say…?
The nightclub theoretically seems like the last place on earth one should consider using carpet, however, if well looked after (or only viewed with the bare minimum of light) it can really add a feeling of old-school glamour to a space. In almost every restaurant or bar I enter as of late, the lack of soft furnishings has a massive impact on the ability to carry a conversation painlessly (I found this to be particularly true in New York). Metal, glass, tile and concrete, as brutalist -chic as they are, only amplify sound and create reverberation. Carpet on the other hand, and curtains for that matter, absorb sound and create a much softer experience on the ears.
For me, peak carpet = its ability to envelop a space in a single colour. The interior of Café Nol in Amsterdam’s Jordaan district is a a prime example of this. One of the last remaining original ‘bruin cafés’2 in the area, it last changed hands in 1966 when the new owners ripped out the original interior and redesigned it to resemble their own living room – complete with scarlet carpet, lace curtains and candelabra. It has been noted that it’s best not to view this beauty in the harsh light of day, heaven forbid you set eyes on the drink (or worse) stains on the carpet. I image the same can be said for any nightclub or bar – carpeted or otherwise.
Carpeted Catwalks
One space where the carpet continues to reign supreme is at fashion week. It’s the perfect way to add that sensuous feeling when mixed with those harder, sound reflective materials I mentioned earlier – be it metal scaffolding at Prada and Dior, or concrete at Gucci.
For the Prada FW25 show, AMO surrounded the Fondazione Prada’s Deposito with scaffolding structures and the patterned blue carpet by Catherine Martin. This contrast between soft and hard was emphasised by the concrete benches guests were sat upon. For a seat to be less soft than a floor changes the dynamic between the model and viewer, and has a slightly religious tone to it. This reminds me of being at church as a child sat on an uncomfortable pew whilst the priest stood at the front on a plush carpet3.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen carpet + scaffolding where Raf Simons is concerned. The Spring 2015 Couture Show for Dior was a mix of dusty pink carpet and steels scaffolding, proving even the humblest materials can assume an opulent charm when applied in a creative way. I love the close ups of the shoes against the carpet - again this contrast of hard and soft really works.
YES, Clare - you’ve convinced me - but how do I do this?
A wall-to-wall carpet is a major design and financial commitment, so here are a few ways you can incorporate this vibe on a smaller scale.
A stair runner
If you have stairs in your home, a runner is a great way to add some colour and/or frivolity to your space without a major interior overall.
A corner rug
An even easier fix is to buy a larger rug and push it all the way into the corner of your space to create a designated ‘carpet’ area. This works particularly well if you have an overhanging edge to your wall (like the Dreamspaces ref above) or you can place furniture where the base is further back than the upper e.g. a wide, low chest of drawers, to be flush with the carpet. This will have the same effect and is an easy fix. If you’re inspired, here are a few of my favourite carpets atm ⬇️
That’s all for this week, I’ll be posting more recommendations and finds on my brand new Room Service instagram. I’d appreciate it if you give me a follow - more details to come.
Thanks for reading,
Clare x
Specifically the UK/US - carpet has always been less popular in warmer climates for obvious reasons
This literally translates as ‘brown cafes’ - in reference to the colour of the wood panelling inside). These 19th-century watering holes were set up by families looking to sell home-made liquor to passers-by.
An interesting article about the use of green carpets in churches for those so inclined.