These Beautiful Amy Kent Rugs Are Handmade In Jaipur

Amy Kent Rugs are an entry in our Interiors Book 2023.

Amy Kent Rugs: Country & Town Interiors Book 2023

Back in 2005, Amy Kent had a lightbulb moment when she realised there was a gap in the market for beautifully crafted bespoke rugs that don’t cost a fortune. On a trip to India she met the husband-and-wife team who have produced her handmade rugs ever since.

‘Without them, my company simply wouldn’t work,’ says Amy. ‘Over the last 17 years we have become close friends as well as colleagues.’ This personal approach, which begins with an initial site visit, sits at the core of the company. ‘I find it makes the world of difference seeing the rugs in situ, so where possible, I visit my clients, helping them to choose the right pattern, size and colours against their existing interior,’ she continues. Every stage of the process is done by hand using celebrated age-old techniques, from the dyeing of the wool to the trimming of the rug. Once complete, the rug is delivered and installed by a team that has worked with the business since the beginning.

Inspiration for Amy comes in many ways; at first it was very much nature – and it often still is. Over the last few years, she has collaborated with various creatives, from artists to florists. ‘Shop Amy’ launched at the end of last year, offering rugs that are even more accessible, both in terms of time and cost (these can be viewed, along with the rest of her designs, in the new showroom near Malmesbury, open by appointment only). ‘I’m also hugely proud of becoming a designer for The Haines Collection with my ‘Recycled Rugs’ range. Made from the leftover wool of our bespoke orders they are our way of reducing wastage and promoting sustainability,’ she says. This year Amy will be bringing out a new design, ‘Jewel’, which was developed during a recent trip to Jaipur.

Tips, Tricks & Tools

1. ‘Buy expensive once, not cheap twice. Some things you can cut costs on, but others need to be quality to last.’
2. ‘Don’t go with trends, go with what makes you happy. At the end of the day, it’s your home.’
3. ‘With vintage, always go off the beaten path. If you go to snazzy showrooms, you’ll pay snazzy prices.’
4. ‘If you find decorating overwhelming, keep it simple. Start with a couple of things you really like, and it will build from there. You’ll slowly realise how you’d like to add to it.’
5. ‘So many things can be transformed with a lick of paint. Don’t waste a piece of furniture, give it a new lease of life.’

Secret Address Book

• Florist: Ivy & Bud’s posies are a perfect thank you gift (ivyandbud.co.uk).
• Vintage: My family is obsessed with buying second-hand from Vinted (vinted.co.uk).
• Instagram: My sister Lucy Kent is a landscape painter and founder of the Art for Charity Collective (@lucykentart).

AMY KENT RUGS
Nr Malmesbury, Wiltshire
+44 (0)1666 715151
amykent.co.uk
@amykentrugs