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Amy Kent Bespoke Rugs
Fabulous contemporary rugs, made-to-order and hand-crafted in India and Nepal

It was while working for an interior designer 15 years ago that Amy Kent first realised there was a gap in the market for beautifully crafted bespoke rugs that don’t cost a fortune. After putting together a portfolio of designs, she went to stay with a family friend in India who suggested a visit to Bhadohi, a rug-making region around Varanasi. She had a lucky break, meeting a husband-and-wife team who have produced her hand-woven, knotted rugs ever since (some are also now made in Nepal). Today, three of her most popular designs – Blossom, Copper Beech and Table Stripes – are from that first collection, which was inspired by the Chelsea Flower Show and the Wiltshire countryside around her home.

What sets Amy apart is her personal, one-to-one approach to business. She travels to a client’s home to meet them, rolling out samples in-situ and helping

Every stage of the process is completed by hand using celebrated age-old techniques, from the dyeing and washing of the wool and silk yarns to the knotting, trimming and finishing the rugs. Many of the designs are Amy’s own, often inspired by nature or everyday details (for instance, tiles, architecture, even the central railings of a dual carriageway) but she regularly teams up with other creatives such as artists, photographers and designers, too. For London Design Week 2020, she is launching a series of rugs with florist and stylist Willow Crossley that each reflects a season. ‘Willow has a sustainable ethos, using seasonal, locally-cut flowers, so she is very much a British brand like us,’ explains Amy of the cohesive partnership.

In the last year Amy has also introduced an ongoing collection of Recycled Rugs. These are flatweave rugs in fun, geometric patterns woven from leftover wool that has been dyed for custom orders – a great way to reduce wastage and build-up a small stock for those who would rather purchase a rug immediately. Future plans include working with Rapture & Wright, a design duo specialising in hand-printed fabrics and wallpapers, and continuing her occasional Art and Interiors pop-ups with Georgie Grandy of Grandy Art.

Original designs and creative collaborations aside, what sets Amy apart is her personal, one-to-one approach to the business. There’s no showroom (the rugs are stores in a converted stable); instead she prefers to travel to a client’s home to meet either the owners’ or their interior designer, rolling out the samples in-situ and helping them decide on the pattern and colours (there are hundreds of poms to choose from) that best suit the surroundings.

She can also offer advice on how to place a rug and what the ideal size would be. These designs can be completely adapted, whether someone is looking for a square or round rug, or a runner. Next, Amy creates a life-like CGI visual of the design, often super-imposing it onto a photo of the room it’s intended for, to give the most accurate impression of what the finished product will look like. A bespoke service resulting in a unique, made-to-order rug that fits perfectly in your home.

Amy Kent Bespoke Rugs +44 (0)1666 715151

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