Charcoal Ivory Abstract Rug
The Stepping Stones rug is a charcoal ivory abstract rug, made in India from wool and silk and measuring 350 x 250 cm. That is 8.8 square metres of floor.
The design up close
The rug is made of round pebble shapes in ivory and pale grey on a dark charcoal ground. The pebbles come in many sizes. Small ones crowd together in clusters, medium ones sit between them, and larger round forms are spread across the rug at regular intervals, so the eye finds a slow rhythm in what first looks random.
The shapes are soft at their edges, with a slightly smudged finish, so they look like river stones seen under shallow water. There are no borders and no central panel. The pattern runs all over the rug from end to end, which lets you place furniture on it without worrying about where a medallion falls.
The palette has just two tones, with ivory and a lighter grey inside the pebbles and charcoal between them. The strong contrast shows from across a room. This abstract rug sits well against a plain sofa, a timber floor or a white wall.
Indian weaving and this rug
India has a long rug weaving tradition, with centres including Agra and the Bhadohi and Mirzapur area of Uttar Pradesh. Indian workshops weave many modern and abstract designs, often to order, in a wide range of colours and sizes. Wool is the most common pile, and some rugs mix wool with other fibres, as this one does.
How this charcoal ivory abstract rug is made
This rug is made in India from wool and silk. Wool is hard wearing and springy, with a matte surface. Silk is a fine, smooth fibre. A wool rug with a dark ground and light shapes in this size is a practical choice for a busy family room, as the pebble pattern is busy enough to hide small marks.
Contemporary style rugs with a pattern at this scale suit both plain rooms, where it adds interest, and rooms with a lot of colour, where the black and ivory settles things down.
Sizing it for your room
At 350 x 250 cm this rug is a good size for a main room. Under a queen bed, which is 153 cm wide, it leaves 48.5 cm on each side when the rug runs across the bed, and under a king bed, 183 cm wide, it leaves 33.5 cm each side. A dining table 180 x 90 cm, seating six, leaves 80 cm of rug beyond each long side and 85 cm beyond each end.
In a living room, a three-seat sofa about 2.2 m long and two armchairs can sit with their front legs on it.
Looking after your charcoal ivory abstract rug
Vacuum it on a suction-only setting, or with the beater bar switched off, so the brush does not pull at the pile. Turn it around every six to twelve months so sun and foot traffic wear it evenly. Blot spills with a clean white cloth and cold water rather than rubbing them in. Rubbing spills can dull silk, so this rug needs a cleaner who handles that fibre by hand. When it needs a full clean, choose a cleaner who washes handmade rugs by hand.
Put a good underlay beneath it. It stops the rug sliding on timber or tiles, adds cushioning and takes some of the wear off the pile. Moths like wool in dark, quiet spots, such as the part of a rug under a sofa, so vacuum those areas often and lift the furniture now and then.
See it before you buy
Visit our showroom at 307 Penshurst St, North Willoughby, open every day from 10 am to 4:30 pm, to see this charcoal ivory abstract rug in person. If you would rather judge it in your own room, with your own light and furniture, book a home trial and we will bring a selection to you.
You can see this charcoal ivory abstract rug in our showroom or at home. Browse more Contemporary rugs, or ask about a custom made rug in your own size and colour. Read more about silk.
