Roger Oates
Roger Oates ’ 100 % Wool Flatweave for Floors
The designers Roger and Fay Oates have reinvented the tradition of Flatweave rugs and runners for the 21st century . In the same way that British designers Paul Smith , Jasper Conran and Margaret Howell have turned traditional styles into a look that is strikingly modern , the couple have made decorative Flatweave relevant to today ’ s living . So while a centuries-old weaving process gives the rugs and runners their unique texture , the patterns and carefully edited colour palette create a timeless look that is ideal for both classic and contemporary interiors .
Flatweave is a style of flooring that was popular in Britain in the early 19th century , before the rise of pile carpets . Most flooring was once made in this way . Some of the best-known styles were Scotch , Durham and Kidderminster carpets — a woven cloth construction which is best described as a precursor to loom-made pile carpets . These narrow-width Flatweave runners were frequently used in the past to protect the betterquality carpets in smart country houses . Today they are used as decorative floor coverings in their own right ; perfect for stairs and hallways , the runners can be joined to create rugs and wallto-wall fitted carpets .
Wool Flatweave has a robust , durable construction and subtle woven texture that provides a stylish alternative to pile carpet . But , unlike pile carpet that has an even , uniform feel like a manicured bowling green , Flatweave has a texture that lends a unique character and personality to a floor .
The hallmark of any great design is that it is completely timeless . Using distinctive colours and graphic designs , Roger and Fay Oates have succeeded in breathing new life into a traditional style of flooring to create a look that is as comfortable in an 18th-century English farmhouse as it is in a cutting-edge Manhattan apartment . �
Above : Swanson Celadon joined as a rug ; below : Elgin Heather stair runner , from Roger Oates .
Roger Oates
www . rogeroates . com Tel : + 44 ( 0 ) 207 351 2288
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