Milan Design Week and Salone returned to pre-pandemic levels and featured some of Europe's most cutting-edge
area rug designs.

MILAN -- European area rug brands flocked to Milan Design Week and its anchoring Salone del Mobile home furnishings fair, which returned to its pre-pandemic size, and exhibitors showcased their penchant for cutting-edge designs.

New products were unveiled, some of them 2022 debuts, others from 2021collections not seen in person at European fairs since their introductions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fun, creativity and freedom of expression reigned at Salone area rug exhibitors' stands, and while some designs might now be too avant-garde for American tastes, the collections gave a sneak peek into adaptations we'll be soon seeing at luxe U.S. stores and designer showrooms.

Free-form shapes are taken to the next level by companies from Carpet Edition to CC-Tapis. Rug designers give new meaning to the word texture with multi-layered carpets de rigeur. Cut outs in area rugs, inspired by torn jeans, give new meaning to the term shabby chic, and geometrics and refined abstract designs take the notion of art for the floor to new levels. While embellished bath towels and bed linens are nothing new, embellishments to a classic rug design by Yo2 stole the show with the carpet becoming an abstract work of art decorated by unexpected objects, among them a lipstick tube, a wrench and banana.

RugNews.com takes you on an exclusive tour of 15 top area rug exhibitors' newest designs at Salone.
 
AMINI CARPETS


Amini Carpets adds fresh colorways to its rugs featuring the designs of Gio Ponti. In the foreground, Lettera
Disegnata and, in the rear, on ground, Diamantina
 
For the 2022 Salone del Mobile, Amini Carpets, which opened its Milan showroom in 2018, presented its latest collections of artisan-quality, modern and contemporary carpets. The studio grows its series featuring the iconic geometric designs of Gio Ponti, adding new colorways to Lettera Disegnata and Diamantina. It also introduced new area rugs inspired by the graphic works of Italian modernist painter Manlio Rho and grows its Contemporary collection with carpets by Elisa Ossino, Rodolfo Dordoni and Carlotta Fortuna.


Amini Carpets introduces a contemporary take on classic floral motifs with the handmade Giardino.

BY KAMY


By Kamy presents Fauna Mix, designed by Brazilian artist Regina Silveira, featuring figures such as fish, snakes and
insects, above.

Brazil-based By Kamy presented its newest area rugs and tapestries at iSalone, Satellite Salon and Fuorisalone. Among the 20 pieces featured were the brand-new Fauna Mix carpet series, handmade of wool, by the Brazilian artist Regina Silveira. Fauna Mix, which spotlights figures such as fish, snakes and insects, is part of the company's Arte collection of meticulous carpets and tapestries. In addition, By Kamy showcased two arazzos (tapestries) featuring the work of Rio de Janeiro artist Emiliano di Cavalcanti; and introduced a collection called Tapecaria Paisagens Urbanas 4 designed by Gustavo Jansen.


By Kamy introduces Tapecaria Paisagens Urbanas 4 tapestry, designed by Bahian designer Gustavo Jansen .

CARPET EDITION


Carpet Edition presents the hand-tufted Foliage collection, designed by Romani Saccani Architetti Associati, including four
designs -- one for each season. Above, Summer

Carpet Edition highlighted the hand-tufted Foliage collection, designed by Studio Romani Saccani Architetti Associati, and consisting of four carpets each dedicated to one season of the year. Leaves are the inspiration of the rugs, with stylized profiles tracing the contours of the rugs, different from each other in their margins, geometry, sizes and colors. The range is crafted of two different techniques to create opposing textures made of New Zealand wool. Carpet Edition also added new Oriental style area rugs with the rollout of Veda and Enna carpets, designed by London-based designer Sara Ferrari, both hand-tufted in wool and cotton. Enna is a circular design, characterized by an articulated concentric circle design; Veda offers an irregular form not only graphically but also in shapes.


Carpet Edition rolls out the Veda rug designed by London-based designer Sara Ferrari and featuring irregular design and shape.

CC-TAPIS


CC-Tapis introduces Tempore collection, designed by Florentine furniture and interiors artist Duccio Maria Gambi.
Photo credit: Claudia Zalla

In its showroom in Piazza Santo Stefano, 10, and at its Salone stand E27-E29, the contemporary rug brand CC-Tapis showcased its latest novelties and collaborations with some top names in the design field. London-based designer Bethan Laura Wood debuts her new Euphorbia collection, inspired by her black ink drawings on white paper of her succulent and cacti collection. Also on show was the Car Park collection designed by Odd Matter, a design studio founded by Dutch native Els Woldhek and Bulgarian Georgi Manassiev. Pipeline designed by ubiquitous designer Patricia Urquiola and Ceremony designed by Dutch textile designer Mae Engelgeer. Lastly, CC-Tapis presented the boundary bending Tempore series designed by Florentine furniture and interiors artist Duccio Maria Gambi. Tempore is hand-knotted of wool featuring ultra shaggy colorful design elements underpinned by simple geometric design with a traditional pile.


CC-Tapis showcased the Venus Power collection created by architect and designer Patricia Urquiola.

CONNUBIA


Connubia introduces its new graphic TAPI area rug, which captures the young label's playful spirit.

Italian furniture and furnishings maker Calligaris Group’s young and contemporary brand, Connubia, introduced two new area rugs that capture its playful spirit. TAPÌ is a graphic multi-colored modernist geometric designed to embody the spirit of the label. In addition, Connubial rolled out the Cek design, which features a minimalist tartan-inspired design in sunny yellow.


The Cek design by Connubia features minimalist tartan-inspired design in sunny yellow colorway.

E15


E15's ZET is a reissue of Kilim ZET, a graphical geometric rug designed in 1926 by Richard Herre.

Frankfurt-based furniture and furnishings maker e15, named after the postal code of its first workshop in London, reissues Kilim ZET, a graphical geometric design that captures the spirit of 1920s New Objectivity. Designed in 1926 by Richard Herre, and specified for the Max Taut Weissenhof house in Stuttgart, Germany, ZET represents Herre’s use of color while signifying the imaginative spatial reference of his work. In close collaboration with the Herre family and its archives, the ZET kilim is available in various color compositions, made of pure, hand-spun sheep wool combining traditional weaving methods with historic design. 

JAN KATH


Jan Kath showcased its Savonnerie Surprise and Erased Heritage collections. Shown in foreground, hanging left,
Erased Heritage Tabriz Canal Aerial, and hanging right, Jardin De Paris Blotted from Savonnerie Surprise.
Photo credit: Yosuke Kojima (@_yosukekojima)

Jan Kath, a German area rug brand specializing in the design and manufacture of hand-knotted carpets, presented its bold Savonnerie Surprise collection of modernized Savonnerie designs. The inspiration for the series comes from the desire to reproduce the antique through a contemporary filter. Likewise, Jan Kath's Erased Heritage collection interprets traditional Persian rug designs through a contemporary lens. In addition, the company's Spectrum collection of ombre-like area rug designs, inspired by the northern lights, was on display at its Salone stand.


Jan Kath's Spectrum collection of ombre-like area rug designs, inspired by the aurora borealis, were prominently displayed.

MARIANTONIA URRU


Sardinian weaving and area rug studio Mariantonia Urru uses a unique Sardinian weaving technique for its rugs.

Sardinian hand-woven jacquard and area rug atelier Mariantonia Urru featured a Sardinian technique termed pibiones, which uses needles with the thick woolen yarn wrapped around them to create a very compact curl, resembling a small grape (called a pibione in Sardinia). On display at Salone were the studio's latest textural pibiones area rugs, its collections of Ortigu carpets and cushions, with inspiration drawn from the bark of the cork oak, and fresh hand-crafted jacquard fabrics.


Mariantonia Urru showcased its latest pibiones woven area rugs, handcrafted in Sardinia, at its Salone stand.

MOOOI MILAN


Dutch design house Moooi showcased its contemporary area rugs and furnishings in a sprawling exhibition space at
Milan Design Week. On the floor, Akira, hanging on right wall, Serpentine.

Moooi, the Dutch furniture and furnishings studio co-founded with Marcel Wanders, presented its latest furniture, decor and carpets in a multi-sensorial exhibition titled Life Extraordinary. The company showcased several new high-definition printed carpets and broadlooms under the Moooi Carpets label. Among the featured debuts were collaborations with four different designers: Serpentine by Swedish design collective Front; Mediterranean by Italian designer Christina Celestino; Akira by British designer Kit Miles; and Sand by Dutch designer Sjoerd Vroonland.



Moooi's Dunes Round rug from the Sand collection is designed by Dutch designer Sjoerd Vroonland.

PIANCA


Italian furnishings manufacturer Pianca featured its hand-crafted in Italy Pedra assortment featuring a Sardinian
pibiones weaving technique.

Italian furniture and furnishings manufacturer Pianca showcased its hand-crafted in Sardinia area rugs. The rugs feature minimalist geometric motif and reinterpret the ancient art of pibiones weaving for contemporary settings. Every carpet in the Pedra Pibiones collection is hand-manufactured in Sardinia of Sardinian wool and natural cotton, and is dyed with eco-friendly pigments.


Pianca's Pedra Pibiones collection is hand-manufactured in Sardinia of Sardinian wool and cotton dyed with eco-
friendly pigments

PLATINUM CUSTOM RUGS


Platinum Custom Rugs introduced its new Sinfonia collection hand-crafted of fine Tencel yarns on ancient looms.
Shown, Paganini

Italian handcrafted area rug brand Platinum Custom Rugs, the luxe division of mats and rugs manufacturer Olivo Group, debuted the Sinfonia collection at Salone del Mobile. The series features fine natural Tencel yarns woven on ancient looms by skilled artisans. The collection offers erased-style classic motifs and is part of the company's Classics series. 

RUG SOCIETY


Portuguese rug label Rug Society debuts Inkage, inspired by tattoo work, and hand-tufted of bamboo silk.

Portuguese area rug and carpet studio Rug Society, known for its contemporary styled area rugs, displayed its latest area rugs in its own Salone exhibition stand, but also alongside Home Society and Brabbu. Among the featured debuts are the hand-tufted Inkage, a design inspired by tattoo art, and Disruption, both of which are hand-tufted of bamboo silk. The company also rolled out a new design to its Geometric collection called Savana, which features a overscaled herringbone motif in black and white, overlaid with wildlife and floral elements.


Rug Society showcased its new Disruption area rug in its gallery-like stand at Salone.

TAPIS ROUGE


Moscow-based Tapis Rouge debuts Gamma Sud, hand-knotted in Nepal, featuring multiple levels and "holes."

Tapis Rouge, headquartered in Moscow, introduced Laser Sun and Gamma Sud, two designs inspired by the natural light spectrum. Featuring organic shapes and multi-level design the rugs are hand-knotted by master Nepalese craftsmen. Also on show is the Ice rug from the Frozen collection, an asymmetric octagon inspired by ice crystal.


From Tapis Rouge's Frozen collection comes the multi-textural new octagonal Ice design.

WARLI


Milan based area rug studio Warli introduces the Pleiadi outdoor rope area rug design by Paolo Zani.

At Salone, Milan-based handmade area rug and carpet maker Warli presented the Pleiadi outdoor rug designed by Paolo Zani. The rope rug features a serpentine-like repeating geometric pattern, and is sewn and assembled by hand. The rope terminals simulate traditional fringes but with a modern twist. 


The rope Pleiadi rug by Warli features a serpentine-like repeating geometric pattern, and is sewn and assembled by hand. 

YO2


Inspired by the imaginative portraits of Italian painter Arcimboldo, his namesake rug collection by wallpaper and area
rug studio Yo2 riffs on classic Aubusson designs with fruits and vegetables instead of flowers.

Netherlands wallpaper and area rug studio Yo2 unveils Arcimboldo, a collection of four designs by Pietro Ferruccio Laviani. Arcimboldo draws inspiration from the famed works of Italian painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo, whose imaginative portrait heads are composed entirely of objects such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish and books. Another collection on show was Funny and Fancy Objects designed by Marcantonio. These rugs feature a classic rug design as a ground punctuated by a series of objects, including lipstick a tube, wrench and banana -- leaving viewer to wonder the story of objects left here and there.


Yo2's statement making Funny and Fancy Objects designed by Marcantonio features a classic rug design as a ground
punctuated by a series of objects begging the question "What happened here?"