Definitely, the joyous season of spring has sprung, ushering homeowners nationwide out of their winter slumber, all eager to rejuvenate their living spaces for the new season. An affordable yet effective method to achieve this transformation is by purchasing a bright, new rug.
A splendid starting point is Kukoon, which boasts a range of over 900 different options. The Newry-based establishment is planning to inaugurate showrooms in Dublin and Cork this year before expanding across the country. Their collection is curated to mirror the latest trends while also maintaining an edge over other market choices.
Fundamental to Kukoon’s uniqueness is their collaboration with local artists and designers. This novel approach endeavours to weave the creative visions and designs of these artists into textiles. According to Clare Vallely, co-owner and managing director of Kukoon Rugs, these partnerships provide invaluable influence for their current season’s collections whilst also allowing them to showcase the narratives of these gifted artists.
Included among the artists are Sadie Smith, a Scottish designer and illustrator inspired by botanical forms and floral textiles, employing vibrant watercolour ink pallets. Also featured is Frances McBain, a textile designer aspiring to revolutionise the world of fabrics and patterns.
Vallely expresses the pleasure and fulfilment gained from supporting these artists personally and potentially helping them earn a living from their crafts. Keen to continue this endeavour, they are open to new collaborations and invite artists and designers who aspire to see their work incarnated into affordable, quality homewares.
Vallely recognises a growing trend amongst homeowners seeking to infuse their personal touch into their living spaces. She believes the Kukoon collections effortlessly amalgamate contemporary art and practicality.
While many are accustomed to selecting floor coverings for their indoor spaces, the newest trend in flooring is the outdoor rug. These rugs have been tested for a specific degree of UV resistance and are designed to endure a harsh Irish summer.
As Vallely highlights, these rugs have surged in demand due to the amount of time we’re now spending at home with family and entertaining friends. With the arrival of summer months, leisure time is increasingly spent outdoors. Therefore, people are putting effort into designing chic outdoor spaces that are aligned with their indoor décor. They’re eager to invest in long-lasting outdoor furniture and enhance their space with stylish and unique accessories like rugs, cushions, string lights, and casual dining sets.
Over the past few years, outdoor rugs have been bright and whimsical, but recently, there’s been a shift towards more understated, natural looks. Textured, neutral-coloured and jute-look rugs are trending. Many people are also embracing the flatweave design of outdoor rugs for indoor purposes, thereby aligning the design more with interior trends. Even though outdoor rugs are designed for practicality – they’re washable and UV resistant – with more than 30 design options available, there’s no need to sacrifice style.
According to the textile guru, it is crucial that these outdoor rugs are hose-washable and have robust UV protection upwards of 50 hours. This will preserve their condition. She also recommends rolling up the rugs during periods of continuous rainfall and washing them at the end of the season with a hose and brush. To keep them looking new for the following year, they should be thoroughly dried, then rolled up and stored indoors over winter.