To say that art has influenced design is to arrive at the party more than a little late. But rarely has the artist's brush been more faithfully reproduced than in rugs from Fort Street Studio. Watercolors by founders Brad Davis and Janis Provisor provided the spark for these new designs—subtle variations aside, the rugs replicate the original brushstrokes and color variations with photographic accuracy.
The pictures at this exhibition consist of three plush-pile patterns. A freehand tribute to preppy hosiery, Argyle blends blues and brown. Soft-focus Flower is a nearly naive floral study. And Circles renders its namesake in sage, a calming alternative to the watercolor's ruddy tones. Each rug is constructed of wild silk from Dandong province in northern China, hand-knotted at 120 knots per line on a cotton warp and weft. Choose from four standard sizes—6 by 9 feet, 8 by 10 feet, 9 by 12 feet, and 10 by 14 feet—or specify your own. If you fancy yourself a palette pro, ask about custom colors, too. 578 Broadway, Suite 506, New York, NY 10012; 212-925-5383; fortstreetstudio.com. circle 362
Free-flowing lines join muted colors in this custom rug designer's portfolio. Glass, a round style 40 inches in diameter, mixes cool variations of blue-green. Tawny tones distinguish Tybee, a 100-inch square. Both are handmade in Nepal of hand-spun, hand-dyed Tibetan wool. 717 Oak Terrace, Petaluma, CA 94952; 707-775-3494; acarpets.com. circle 363
Others may stop at a top coat, but Responsive commercial flooring contains polyurethane all the way through. Antistatic, conductive segments are produced as sheets or tiles, specialty and sports versions as sheets only. The range of colors and patterns adds up to 180 SKUs. 18 Distribution Boulevard, Edison, NJ 08837; 800-671-1124; floorfolio.com. circle 364
Interpreting the look of cutting-edge aeronautic and automotive materials in ceramic, Carbono flaunts a tight texture ideal for high-traffic interior and exterior environments. New to the Materia collection, the large-format tile measures 23 5/8 inches square. Available in graphite, blue, and white with a natural or polished finish. 2 Cuadra La Torta, 12006 Castillón, Spain; 34-96-425-0105; tauceramic.com. circle 365
Natural State has a time-honored basket-weave pattern, but its fiber composition breaks with tradition: From a manufacturer that normally uses nylon, this broadloom is 80 percent wool. Available in 12 standard pastels and neutrals. 14641 East Don Julian Road, City of Industry, CA 91746; 800-423-4709; bentleyprincestreet.com. circle 366
Years before quilting acquired folk-art cachet, the women of Gee's Bend, Alabama, were taking needle and thread to scraps of cloth just to keep warm at night. When art historian William Arnett discovered the quilts, museum exhibits and an issue of postage stamps ensued. ABC Carpet & Home has now translated 32 of the practical-minded yet striking patterns into the Gee's Bend Rug collection, a licensed line that not only leverages the designs for a new generation but also generates royalties for the original quilters.
In a sublime instance of cross-cultural karma, these creations from the deep South are being replicated by women who live a world away. Using only a book for reference, a Turkish collective is producing the designs in scraps of locally sourced vintage textiles, clothing, and kilims. The resulting handwoven flat-weaves include pointillist Yo-Yo by Annie Mae Young and Roman Stripes, Plummer T. Pettway's funky interpretation of the crazy quilt.
Offered in standard sizes and custom dimensions. 888 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
You could certainly excuse Ettore Sottsass, who turns 90 this year, if he opted to rest on his laurels. But the legendary founder of the Memphis group is far too busy amassing ever more accomplishments. To a portfolio that already stretches from Alessi to Zanotta, we can now add the signature Sottsass collection for Lees Carpets, a collaboration between the architect and Christopher Redfern, who leads the design department at Sottsass Associati.
The tone of the printed nylon carpets is more restrained than the pop kitsch of Memphis, but there are still parallels. Bacteria, the update of the Memphis motif Bacterio, is offered in 19 colors on a ground of black, white, pale gray, or yellow. Bacteria's stylistic sister is Terrazzo, which puts an organic spin on a traditional Italian floor material by replacing the usual stone chips with a legion of printed cells; choose from four colors.
For Kasuri, Sottsass and Redfern drew on two opposite influences, traditional Japanese textiles and contemporary digital pixels, to fashion a dot-matrix design. It's available in two colors as well as with two scale options for the matrix. The striped Wool pattern mimics its namesake fiber's texture—but drawn by the hand of an impressionist in four colorways that are actually rather sedate.
Part of the NeoFloor division, the Sottsass collection's four highly graphic patterns come 4 feet 11 inches wide. The printing was expedited by Lees's high-definition process, using a dense-wear layer of 70 million nylon fibers per yard. The carpets are waterproof and antimicrobial with vertical fiber orientation, designed to trap sound waves, and cushioned vinyl backings. Being Green Label Plus–certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute means the product can also contribute LEED points. 500 Townpark Lane, Suite 400, Kennesaw, GA 30144; 800-523-5647; leescarpets.com. circle 368
You'll never find yourself behind the eight ball with Eight. This woven-vinyl flooring targets the contract sector, promising easy maintenance and superior strain resistance in solid or striped tiles. Produced in rolls about 79 inches wide and tiles about 20 inches square. P.O. Box 73, 523 22 Ulricehamn, Sweden; 46-321-53-04-00; bolon.com. circle 369
If shag could be nipped in the bud, a rug might just resemble Dots. To create a look that's simultaneously graphic and sculptural, this manufacturer experimented with textures and fibers, embellishing wool with tufts of silk. Specify custom colors and sizes. 335 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013; 646-613-0497; carinilang.com. circle 370
John Kurtz recalls the extravagance of the deco era in his Nouvel rugs, handwoven in Nepal from hand-spun Tibetan wool. The oversize geometrics are rendered via a specialized color-layering technique that simulates prismatic movement. Select from 20 patterns including Aegean. 1701 North Lincoln Street, Wilmington, DE 19806; 800-863-0442; newmoonrugs.com. circle 371
This manufacturer's first sheet-vinyl flooring that can double as a wall covering, Lonzebra is designed for maximum pliability. The striations help to mask dirt and wear, and the 20 percent recycled content helps the planet. Eight colors are standard. 928 East 238th Street, Carson, CA 90745; 800-832-7111; lonseal.com. circle 372
Virginia Langley's Soirée collection toasts hotel ballrooms and other celebratory spaces. Opulent colors grace the flamboyant designs: a rug, a medallion, 12 broadloom patterns, and five borders. All are offered in printed or computer-yarn-placement constructions. Colorshield technology, which is optional, can prevent the party from overstaying its welcome. 405 Virgil Drive, Dalton, GA 30721; 800-241-4580; durkan.com. circle 375
Most salvaged wood doesn't hold up underfoot in high-traffic environments. Sourced from abandoned barns and shuttered industrial buildings, Commercial System laminated flooring does. Low-VOC adhesives affix the planks to concrete. A water-based catalyzed finish contributes to the prevention of cupping or swelling. 1180 Commercial Drive, Farmington, NY 14425; 800-951-9663; pioneermillworks.com. circle 376
Interior Design Hall of Fame member Robert A.M. Stern broadens his licensing scope with Building Blox Porcelain Stone tile. The Urban Fabric and Greek Key patterns are purely classical, while City Garden is a floral. The nine colorways coordinate with solid tile, including trim. P.O. Box 1168, Crossville, TN 38557; 931-484-2110; crossvilleinc.com. circle 377
With Decorative Inlaid Timber Briquettes, teak, sesame, and mango wood are inlaid with various decorative elements in brass, silver, copper, bronze, and bone—the sunflower is a signature motif. Also for use on walls. 2 Michael Road, London SW6 2AD, U.K.; 44-20-7384-4424; deferranti.com. circle 378
Antiqued colors bring softness to the Sierra Mar collection of rugs. For the Sedona pattern, select the muted greens of the Limestone palette—or, if you're a fan of red, opt for Henna or Ivory Henna. All six designs, woven from New Zealand worsted wool, are produced in eight standard sizes. 508 East Morris Street, Dalton, GA 30721; 800-234-1120; karastan.com. circle 379
At the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York, Kinnasand claimed the Editors Award for Carpet and Flooring, a distinction this company owes largely to its spunky take on retro. With the summer of love now 40 years behind us, flower power goes graphic in Mood, constructed from New Zealand wool hand-knotted in custom sizes and 121 colorways. A more aggressive, high-contrast pattern, Loren is Persian-knotted New Zealand wool available in a wide spectrum of color combinations, all produced in a standard size of approximately 71 by 79 inches or custom dimensions. With Field, pattern is forsaken in favor of texture. Handwoven and hand-knotted New Zealand wool combine as a two-level surface, offered in 81 colors and in custom sizes. 6 Danziger Strasse, 26655 Westerstede, Germany; 49-4488-5160; kinnasand.com. circle 380
Luminescence links the two patterns of Illuminations cut-and-loop broadloom. The straightforward Brilliant peppers solid color with simulations of texture—a complement to the refined linearity of Bright Idea. The two are constructed of Solutia Ultron nylon, beck-dyed in 32 colorways. 818 J&J Drive, Dalton, GA 30722; 800-241-4585; jj-invision.com. circle 382
Sunsets on the Côte d'Azure inspired Saint Tropez, a rug by John Patrick Dolan. Set against the subtly textured ground of the hand-tufted design, the sunbursts are filled with more than 50 colors. Prefer others? There's a slew of custom alternatives—along with custom sizes. 331 East 58th Street, Suite 2B, New York, NY 10022; 212-421-8011; martinpatrickevan.com. circle 381
Basketballs bounce higher on Sportsfloor impact-resistant flooring for schools and recreation environments. With its antislip finish, the surface is dirt- and stain-resistant, shock-absorbent, PVC-free, and colored with earth-friendly pigments. 94 Glenn Street, Lawrence, MA 01843; 800-332-6672; norarubber.com. circle 383
Visiting a Madrid textile museum, Stephanie Odegard was drawn to early Islamic silks of Spanish, Italian, and Persian origin. That attraction led to the five Damask collection rugs in hand-knotted silk and wool: Aurea, Niagara, Carica, Rosea, and Rosea II. 200 Lexington Avenue, Suite 1206, New York, NY 10016; 212-545-0069; odegardinc.com. circle 384
Saturated colors and vibrant patterns characterize Designed for Senior Living carpet. More than 2,700 SKUs are divided into six families, Arts & Crafts among them. All are rendered in tufted, patterned broadloom. Nylon fibers feature StainSmart technology, while the backing incorporates AlphaSan long-lasting antimicrobial protection. 201 Lukken Industrial Drive West, LaGrange, GA 30240; 706-880-5344; millikencarpet.com. circle 385
Seven distinct designs collage to create Arpeggio, a riff on the smoky milieu of jazz clubs. A pattern for broadloom and 24-inch carpet squares, this component of the In Tempo group features a pattern-loop construction of solution-dyed Antron Lumena nylon. P.O Box 12281, Calhoun, GA 30703; 800-241-2262; mannington.com. circle 375
A constellation of stylized stars covers the Custom Woven Axminster carpet in 80 percent wool and 20 percent nylon. Design 360 Unlimited's Dean Singer and Meg McFarland created this addition to the manufacturer's commercial division. 860 Broadway, New York, NY 10003; 212-979-2233; taipingcarpets.com. circle 386
Douglas flooring, named for the fir trees whence it came, lends natural tranquillity to commercial and residential spaces. Sanded three times for an ultrasmooth finish, the pine planks are best treated with lye and white oil. Specify sizes up to approximately 18 inches wide and 49 feet long. 2 Klovtoftvej, 6630 Rødding, Denmark; 45-74-55-21-40; dinesen-floors.com. circle 387
Forget about snakes on a plane. There's a Cobra on the floor. Anthony Aziz and Sammy Cucher's limited-edition rug, handwoven in Nepal, blends 60 percent silk and 40 percent wool. Dimensions are 9 by 12 feet. 134 West 26th Street, 780, New York, NY 10001; 212-255-0899; azizcucher.net. circle 388
As if Grandma had played dominos while cross-stitching, Embroidery carpets and tapestries update the charm of an age-old craft. But it's not just technique that's given new life. The design is composed of offcut industrial felt, a material used more frequently to protect floors than to beautify them. 59 Rue des Liégeois, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; 32-478-28-10-60; charlottelancelot.com. circle 390
Dimensions borrows motifs familiar from fibrous flooring and translates them into rubber tile. Designed to channel water away from walking surfaces when used outdoors, the slip-resistant rubber also offers acoustical benefits inside. Choose the layered rectangles of the Random pattern, linear Stripe, or ceramic look-alike Crackle. 1602 North Union Street, Fostoria, OH 44830; 800-537-9527; roppe.com. circle 392
Who knew science could be so gorgeous? Naja Utzon Popov's Biology of Cells, a collection of 10 vibrant rugs hand-knotted either in pure wool or in wool and silk, explores the molecular structure of plants. The rich fuchsia of #6 is par for the colorful course. St. Mary's Farmhouse, Ridge Road, Falmer, East Sussex BN1 9PL, U.K.; 44-8456-525650; fortythieves.co.uk. circle 391
Moody blues dominate Blueker, part of the Ston-Ker family of faux-stone tiles. Produced as 24-inch squares or 17-by-26-inch rectangles, the ceramic tiles come in three shades with coordinating trim. Suitable for interior or exterior applications, promising less than 0.1 percent water absorption. 600 Route 17 North, Ramsey, NJ 07446; 201-995-1310; porcelanosa-usa.com. circle 394
FreiFloor is free. . .of PVC, VOCs, and DEHP. Acronyms aside, this contract flooring is composed of 80 percent natural minerals. The compact ionomer-impregnated wear layer is resistant to dirt and scratches. The speckles come in 25 colorways. 105-12 101st Avenue, Ozone Park, NY 11416; 718-526-7890; allstaterubber.com. circle 393
A longstanding passion for '60's and '70's Scandinavia inspired Barbara Barran's Rya hand-tufted rugs. Upbeat colors and organic imagery are rendered in New Zealand wool, backed in jute and latex—all-natural materials that render the six patterns completely biodegradable. Choose from four standard colorways, or customize. 235 East 60th Street, Suite 1, New York, NY 10022; 212-832-3338; classicrug.com. circle 395
