home decor - The New England Collection

Of course we love on any kind of woven art - weaving is kind of our thing. So finding these shag art carpets by Kahove was pretty exciting. Taking classic art pieces, like the Mona Lisa and Starry Night, and turning them into shag carpets Kahove breathes new and exciting life into them. What do you think, would you put one in your home?

The Portuguese artist, well known for her use of varying fiber art techniques to create works of woven sculptural art that draw attention to the need to save our oceans, did not start her journey on this path.

While she began her academic career set on going into the fashion industry, she quickly realized that the trade is one of the biggest polluters in the world and altered course. Now, using upcycled materials and waste from the textile industry, she aims to bring awareness to problems of imbalance in our world.

The works have expanded from the coral reef scenes she began with, and now encompass many textures and environments – you can feel deeply connected with the details of nature she recreates; be it underwater, in the forest, a field of flowers, the lunar landscape, or beyond. Using the most eco-friendly materials and processes available, Vanessa creates to call attention to the importance of our universe, our planet, our home.

*All images copyright Vanessa Barragão

One of the designers that we love to work with is Ryan Lawson. His touch ranges from eclectic style, to playful & funky, to clean and serene.

There is just so much to appreciate about Ryan's eclectic side. His use of carefully selected art and objects are amplified by texture, pattern, and finish, as seen in this Sag Harbor guest bedroom.

Photo: Chris Mottalini
Styled: Colin King

One thing that we've noticed about Ryan's eclectic spaces is the combination of three major elements - wood, metal, and textural fibers (upholstery, carpets, and wallpaper).

It's all in the details, as you can easily note by this gorgeous dovetailed mahogany trim with unlacquered brass handrail that is so nicely matched with a custom stair runner from our Kouhi Collection.

There is a warmth to these types of projects that generates a down to earth vibe and highlights an appreciation for objects and artwork of significance.

As we move into spaces with a clean and serene vibe, we often note cool grays and soft whites, still textural fibers, but less distinct patterns. Though even in simplicity, his eclectic flair can be recognized in the details.

Decisive use of basic shapes seems to be a theme that can be noted in many of Ryan's projects, but when we view one's that are uniquely playful we just love the way he uses color and shape to make bold statements, and think the pairing of graphic Navajo carpets is such a wonderful compliment to these funky spaces.

Sometimes we get the pleasure of working on a fully customized rug with Ryan, and it's amazing to see his senses of creativity and connection shine in pieces like this reinterpretation of a Memphis Milano design, woven in the Navajo tradition, which was produced to compliment the client's collection of antique rugs.

Bottom line - we are always impressed with Ryan's work, and love seeing our carpets featured in these wonderful and carefully curated spaces.

This year is a learning curve for everyone in so many aspects of life; and now as we find ourselves in a time which traditionally represents back to school, we are learning that changing our traditions is not as easy as we would like it to be.

As our homes become our classrooms, we are pushing ourselves to change the ways that we and our children learn and grow.

It's no secret that basic geometry, bright colors, and interesting textures can enhance creative thought and critical thinking. That's why we're sharing designs which bring us back to the basics of learning.

Colors can enhance our mood too. Lively colors promote a healthy level of energy - which is more important than ever in a world where classes involve sitting in front of a computer all day long.

If we can promote happiness and creativity through the spaces we live (and now work, learn, and play) in, perhaps we can retain some sort of normalcy within the balance of our wold.

Let's try to design spaces which aid us in navigating this new and strange normal.

Let's make it a priority to create compelling spaces to help us do that.

Lets celebrate all the vibrant things that there are to be grateful for in life, by filling our homes with color!

Lets embrace the unexpected new ways of learning in a way that enriches our souls.

While we may still be adjusting to the new systems that we find ourselves navigating, there's no reason we can't have fun while we do that in the most efficient way possible.

Bringing bold colors and basic shapes into our interior environments just might be the basic building blocks we need to move forward into this new system of education we find ourselves in, and may even enhance our learning curve in a positive way.