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From Saturday, September 9 through Monday, September 11, the New York/New Jersey area rug trade was abuzz with the arrival of the annual Autumn trade shows. Cover Connect New York took place in Manhattan, and The Rug Show was held in Secaucus, New Jersey. The two trade shows offered up a combined total of nearly 70 exhibitors, with area rug vendors from the United States and abroad convening on the shows, and displaying their freshest rug offerings.

As the muggy days of Summer fade and the weather turns crisp and mild we look forward to what autumn has in store. For many, it’s the back-to-school season, and those who have been working remotely from home, or with a hybrid schedule, return to the office on a regular basis.  For the area rug industry, Fall means a busier schedule of showroom visits, appointments, and product introductions, and perhaps most significantly, the return of the Fall Rug Markets.

RUG INSIDER touches in with Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses Media, who curates the Fall 2023 edition of ANDMORE’s TrendWatch program at High Point Market. #HPMKT

Hand-knotted, low-pile area rugs dominate at the close of 2023. Most examples have a worn appearance—think stonewash or sun-washed—which makes them a shoo-in for heavily trafficked areas in the home. Yarn combinations combine Tibetan wool and silk at the higher price points; look for wool and cotton in the mid-range. Texture is as engaging as color. The knots vary in size, so colors appear in soft focus. Plus, look for hand-serging and fringe treatments.

These low-pile designs are especially topical, as they look amazing in Modern Farmhouse interiors. Here, homeowners are looking for neutrals that complement the matte black and natural wood finishes and stone treatments that give their homes a distinct character.

The Fall 2023 edition of TrendWatch explores the staying power of pastels; for the seasons ahead, the focus is mid-tones spanning pinks and peach to water blues and happy purples. These charming, dynamic, and upbeat colors prove especially versatile across all textiles and decorative categories.

“Lore” is a micro-trend I’m tracking at the close of 2023—here, folk tales, parables, and fables bring storied charm to interiors. In area rugs, for instance, the trend appears in Gabbeh designs. Geometrics that loosely reference quilting patterns are part of Lore, too. But rather than present as quaint and nostalgic, these geometrics play with scale to bring modern artistry to interiors.

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Unique Loom | Gabbeh
Filled with muted, neutral colors with blues, creams and tans, this family of rugs provides a touch of primitive art with the windswept feel of coastal colors.

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Amer Rugs | Anna
This beautiful rug narrates the tale of age-old artistry comprising hand-knotting techniques. Low pile with added fringe on either end for style. Handmade with New Zealand wool.

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New Moon | Bonaire
Steeped in the traditions of Polynesian art, this ornate, graphic design exudes 'mana,' the pervasive magical power. Hand-knotted Tibetan wool with Chinese silk.

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KAS Rugs | Cove 3006
Vivid tropical and oral palm designs hand tufted of dense wool with hand-carved dimensional details.

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Kaleen | Sikri
Sikri boasts a sun-washed look … almost water-colored presence that transitions beautifully with any décor. Hand-knotted construction with hand serging.

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Loloi | Varena
The hand-tufted 100% wool Varena Collection alternates thick and thin wool yarns that bring its bold design to life.

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Jaipur Rugs | Postorganic
Rectangular Bamboo silk and wool rug by designer Marialaura Rossiello Irvine is inspired by nature and architecture context.

Rug Insider checks in with Julie Smith Vincenti, Nine Muses Media, who curates trends and educational programs—FIRST LOOK: West at Las Vegas Market and TrendWatch at High Point Market—for International Markets Centers.

Blues are poised to dominate in the seasons ahead, as water-inspired varieties feature prominently in PANTONE®’s home forecast for 2024. The current ’90s-era denim throwbacks are worth noting as an inspiration source, too. Area rugs done up in hues that evoke favorite denim washes, rinses and finishes send immediate cues to the homeowner: comfortable, relaxed, and livable, especially in high-traffic areas. 

Couristan | Siena Ombré

Siena from Couristan features two million points of yarn per square meter. Hand-washed for a soft and luxurious finish, each eclectic design is machine-made using a unique blend of 85% viscose and 15% shrink acrylic. 

Abstract patterns remain so popular and useful in residential interiors. Swaths of painterly brushstrokes, landscape impressions, and designs that evoke atmospheric phenomena or processes that occur in nature are especially timely. Here, magnification is key—these artful patterns appear to be culled from microscopic examination.

Interesting material mixes catch my attention, especially varieties that elevate one or both materials. Weaves that incorporate jute and chenille, for instance, boost up jute and give it new tactility and allow for more pattern expression.

Unique Loom | Chenille Jute 

Unique Loom’s medium pile polyester Chenille & Jute rug is hand braided in India. SKU #3192134 incorporates an expressive palette of ivory, pink, navy blue, yellow and green. 

Neutrals never fall out of favor, and what I’m drawn to is minimal designs done in warm hues. Best varieties have broad applications—they suit Coastal, Lodge, Southwest, or Modern interiors, for instance, with equal ease.

Kaleen | Jara Collection 

Named for the Hindu goddess of household happiness and prosperity, the Jara Collection depicts a variety of all-over linear and diamond patterns that inspire joy. These shag, all-wool floor coverings are expertly handwoven by artisan weavers. Options include area rugs in standard size and custom sizes within the parameters of 15 feet wide and 50 feet long; and Broadloom applications.

Lastly, favor for traditional patterns and design elements is growing. Older Millennials have likely purchased the home they plan to own for the foreseeable future, and this commitment to home stirs up emotion and desire for stability. Incorporating traditional patterns and motifs—with a light hand—is one way to create certainty and convey commitment.

Jean Stoffer × Loloi 

The Bradbury Collection by Jean Stoffer in collaboration with Loloi has small-scale motifs that create eye-catching dimension. Power-loomed of polypropylene and polyester in Egypt and Oeko-Tex® certified.

The Summer 2023 edition of Las Vegas Market runs July 30 – August 2, at World Market Center Las Vegas.  

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@lasvegasmarket | #LVMKT

Julie Smith Vicenti, Nine Muses Media owner and creative director

Rug Insider's InAntiques kicked off 2023 with a look at various segments of the area rug industry, running the gamut from high end hand-knotted antique rugs to more economically priced machine-made and tufted rugs. Regardless of which end of the price spectrum one is looking at, an increasingly important decision for buyers and sellers has become not just what type of rugs they want to what locations they want to buy them from.