No.215

My first rug was a shaded blue 2 × 3 m Gabbeh with small motifs. I wanted to see it in person, so visited the Tsukuba showroom three years ago. The warehouse full of rugs was overwhelming, but I was happy to find my favourite blue. My second was a vermilion flowing design I had admired for some time and bought a year ago. It is in the ground-floor living room beside a deep red bench and red-themed wall art. In winter, when the separate Japanese-style room is cold, I sleep here on the Gabbeh. Even over the wooden floor, a futon and pad feel comfortably soft. A runner has now joined the original dark blue rug in my upstairs workspace. Its slightly greener blue connects with the pastel interior. I work in architectural design, and visiting clients are becoming Gabbeh fans too. Here in snowy Niigata, I enjoy recommending Gabbeh rugs as a way to make well-insulated homes more comfortable underfoot without running another heating appliance. They warm the heart as well as the feet. Thank you.

A reply from our shop
Your blue and red rooms have wonderfully different characters. The simply shaded blue rug seems to connect with the painted screen, while the soft red has a sunlit warmth that suits a relaxing living room. Creating distinct spaces through such different colours is beautifully done.