Designer Desire: Ege Rya

Last week we took a look at Scandinavian rug designer, Ingegerd Silow; this week we’ll explore the genre a little further.

Ege Tæpper (Tæpper translates as ‘rug’ in Danish) was founded in 1938 in Herning, central Denmark by Mads Eg Damgaard. The company continues to produce carpet to this day. Although this series is entitled ‘Designer Desire’, Ege Rya wasn’t actually an individual designer, but a successful subsidiary of the company. During the 1960s & 70s, its machine-made, colourful, often groovy, patterned floor rugs in a range of sizes – in rectangular and circular shapes.

‘Rya’ is a traditional rug made of wool with a thick ‘shag pile’ finish. In Finland, this type of rug is known as Ryijy.

Some of the funky Ege Rya designs were entitled Ada Orange, Ballade 30, Serenade 90, Tronheim 10 and Route 66 (this last one is shown in two colourways at the top of the montage above). There were a number of ranges; including Boutique, DeLuxe and Polar.

We’ve found a few genuine Ege Rya and Ege Tæpper rugs currently for sale on 1stDibs, Etsy and Pamono.

There were a few other companies around the world who were manufacturing this kind of thick pile woollen rugs at the same time; These included Norden in England, Højer Eksport Wilton in Denmark, Hayim & Co in New York and Svängsta Slottsmatta in Sweden.

There’s a little more information to be found about Ege Rya on the Classic Modern website.

Image credits:
Etsy

Wild Welsh Wool rugs

We wanted to share a recent addition to our cottage… namely some fabulous, natural wool products.

We’ve just bought a hand-made woollen rug, hearth mat and set of dining chair seat pads. They were all custom-made to size using a traditional peg loom by Sharon Smith of Wild Welsh Wool.

The wool comes from rare breed sheep that she keep on her farm. We originally saw a display of her products in a shop window in Montgomery. Sharon sells at the outdoor market in the town square (it’s held every Thursday) and at several other nearby markets.

She also takes orders and custom commissions through her Facebook page. In addition to the rugs and seat pads that we ordered, wall hangings, cushions, scarves and bags are also available.

We love the variety of tones & colours from the different types of sheep – and the texture is to die for!

They’re the perfect way to soften and warm a space in this old country cottage, especially with all the hard quarry tile and slate flag floors. We’re so happy with them!

Simple tips and tricks to keep your rugs in top condition

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Correctly maintaining your rugs is essential to keep them in top condition for several years to come. But suppose you’ve inherited a vintage rug, or they’ve become stained and faded. In that case, hiring a rug repair service is the best choice as regular maintenance and care might not compare to professional repair and cleaning results. While routine professional care is an excellent investment, these simple tips and tricks will also keep your rugs in top condition.

Regular rotation of furniture

Keeping heavy furniture on your rug can cause damage due to the added weight, especially if it’s a thick-piled or woolly rug. This is easy to avoid by simply doing a regular rotation of your furniture or the area rug. Use furniture coasters that evenly distribute furniture’s weight to prevent tearing the area rug when moving furniture. You can also brush areas of the rug that are pressed down with a toothbrush or comb.

Sunlight can be bad

If possible, ensure that where you place your rug is away from sunlight which can fade your rug. Suppose you can’t avoid sunlight, strategically place your furniture to block sunlight from damaging your rugs. You can also use curtains that can block out sunlight but not take away airflow. There’s also the option of installing ultraviolet windows or tinting, which block out the fading effect of the sun.

Regular cleaning and vacuuming

Doing regular vacuuming, especially if you have pets, can prolong the life of your rugs and carpet. Make sure to clean any spilled food or liquids immediately with a carpet stain remover. Make sure to invest in a vacuum cleaner that has a suitable suction power to suit your needs. And, if you have pets, invest in pet fur cleaning equipment. These products are relatively cheap to get and, although you might need to get on your hands and knees, this effort will keep pet fur off your carpets.

Use carpet care chemicals

These chemicals can be bought in almost any store and are easy to use. They come in a range of different strengths such as stain removing, waterproofing and instant stain remover. Use the chemicals carefully as they can damage the fibres of your carpet and leave stains if not used as directed. Also available is dry carpet cleaner which is used to keep your carpet smelling fresh.

Timely planning of deep cleaning

Depending on your needs, you should do a regular deep clean of your carpets with an extraction machine at least twice a year or hire a professional to handle the task for you. There are carpet cleaning companies everywhere, and most are relatively affordable. Keeping your rugs clean will prevent you from having to replace them.

Taking measures to keep your rugs in top condition is not just great for maintaining the lifespan of your floor coverings, it’s also crucial for keeping your home free of allergens. Dusty rugs can cause sinus and breathing issues, especially in asthmatics or younger children, so be sure to care for your area rugs and keep them clean.

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Designer Desire: Barbro Nilsson

We’ve featured quite a few Scandinavian designers in this series however, we think Barbro Nilsson is the first textile designer.

Barbro Nilsson (1899-1983) was a Swedish designer who specialised in weaving floor rugs, wall hangings and carpets. Her pieces are hugely commercial and sought after; some selling for over $100,000 at auction and over double that at retail outlets!

The Swedish Rug Blog has a very in-depth article about Nilsson and many of her works – go check it out!