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HOMES & INTERIORS
FRoM RuGS To RICHES
The Rug Studio retails, repairs and restores! uppingham’s Rachel Simpson has the world at her feet - quite literally. The tradition, culture and international significance of an antique or contemporary rug is vast, with designs giving away a huge amount of information. And where should your rug go if it’s seen better days...? To a true expert!
Rachel Simpson’s ‘three Rs’ are not reading, writing and arithmetic, but retailing rugs; repairing rugs and restoring rugs! A seemingly innocuous home staple, warm and comforting underfoot, rugs are actually an elaborate and culturally specific product from the country and era in which they’re produced. on a practical level, though, rugs are subject to a fair bit of wear and tear when families walk all over them, so having an expert who can guide you through choosing a rug that both suits your taste but can stand up to your practical needs, and suits your room too is nothing short of an art. Fortunately Rachel has over 10 years experience retailing and repairing rugs, and can quickly impart a huge amount of knowledge about a rug’s provenance, its country and year of origin... even the mood of a weaver during its creation!
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This richer knowledge allows Rachel to direct clients towards the perfect rug for them, and to advise on how to add a potentially huge amount on to the value of an antique rug with sensitive restoration.
Whilst some rugs can retail for tens of thousands of pounds, Rachel has many examples from just a few hundred pounds which will prove beautiful, but also last for decades and prove a great investment.
With professional surface cleaning and deep pile washing too, Rachel can also help to protect your investment or secure the value of an antique rug. From fine flat-weave geometric kilims to thick, hand-spun Gabbehs from Persia, to contemporary rugs like those by uS artist Rex Ray, Rachel can advise on any style to suit both the spaces within your home but also your own tastes. “It’s a huge subject, and there’s so much ‘hidden’ information within a rug,” says Rachel. “This month we’re relaunching our website and we’re incorporating into it a sort of beginner’s guide to the different countries, cultures, methods of construction and different ages for the collections we stock.”
“We think it’s really important that everyone understand and appreciates what’s beneath their feet, taking their knowledge from rug to riches!” n