Lately, carpets are having a very cool resurgence. Not loud, not trend led. Just quietly doing the most in a room. Softening modern architecture. Making spaces feel relatable, rather than overly styled..

At SV, choosing the perfect rug for a client is very important. We typically ask questions around how often people walk through a space, who wis walking through (do they have little feet or fury feet?) - we curate rugs we genuinely love for clients. Some are collectible and design led, others beautifully made and easy to live with.

One brand you absolutely need on your radar is Atelier Février.  Leah met the founders while working in New York and has been quietly obsessed ever since. Working with artisans in Morocco and India, they use traditional hand-knotted and handwoven techniques that prioritise craft over shortcuts. The result - is iconic taste - serious skill and real respect for the hands behind each piece. A current favourite is Fresque, created with Olivia Cognet. It feels less like a rug and more like a visual landscape. Art you can walk on. 

Closer to home, and made right here in Australia, is Tappeti. We love the Ora Alto rug for its sleek softness, but the real magic is in how it’s made. A vertical weave brings calm, structure and subtle movement, and it wears beautifully over time. All the interest comes from construction, not surface pattern. At 2.5m x 3m, it’s one of those rare rugs that works just as well in busy family homes as it does in pared back minimalist spaces. It does the hard work quietly. No shouting, no unnecessary drama - a reliable plush choice.

The weave matters. Hand knotted rugs are slow and artisanal, best for living rooms and bedrooms where you want longevity and depth. Flat weaves are light and flexible, ideal for dining areas, hallways and layered spaces where you want movement without bulk. Hand loomed pieces feel refined and balanced and work beautifully in open plan rooms that need calm without feeling flat. Tufted rugs are practical and forgiving, great for family homes, pets and anywhere real life happens daily.

Then there’s pile. Cut pile is plush and smooth and happiest in lower traffic spaces where comfort leads. Loop pile brings more bounce and texture and holds its own in busier rooms. Cut and loop is where things get a little more interesting. If you’re design led and like a bit of character, you’ll gravitate here. Varying pile heights and densities create depth and shadow, so pattern appears through light and texture rather than colour. Best for lower traffic areas, statement moments, wall hung pieces or highly curated maximalist spaces.