A Conscious Collaboration: Ellipse Rug Collection by Armadillo and House of Grey.

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Transporting us from the earthbound to the celestial, Etoile bridges the organic and the considered. The Tibetan-knotted rug features a gradation of textures for a myriad of visual and tactile experiences as you make your way across it. On one end, asymmetrically curved edges frame a low-cut pile in indulgent wool, transitioning further down into a serene loop pile that only reveals its intricacies upon closer inspection. A durchen with a fine fringe acts as the rug’s coda, giving interiors and their inhabitants’ room to breathe. In polished Porcelain and charismatic Dusk, Etoile is an accolade to the finer details.

The complete Ellipse collection is seen here in a single snapshot.

Now that the local design world has almost calmed down from the highly acclaimed “Rhythm of Nature” recently hosted by Armadillo in Sydney (gaaaah – how amazing was it?), today we’re taking a closer look at the rug collection that gave the installation the reason for being.

Sharing a natural alignment between the two brands, the Armadillo and House of Grey collaboration celebrates a mutual ethos of design as a doorway to a better future. The collection by the Australian-born global rug brand and the London-based design practice led by Louisa Grey is underpinned by a set of values based on the concept of sustainability and making conscious choices in the home.

“It came about quite organically,” says Armadillo co-founder Jodie Fried. “We have a longstanding collaborative relationship, with Louisa styling several of our previous campaigns, so it felt effortless working together.” Beyond a shared aesthetic, the two companies champion meaningful, ever-evolving spaces “unswayed by the tastes of the day,” explains Jodie.

Palus takes us into new territory with an exaggerated weave of marled wool that is felted then twisted at varying weights. Exploring the rug’s uneven surface is like navigating the gravelly terrain of a mountain, with a panoply of irregular textures underfoot that feels solid and substantial yet cloud-soft. Palus features a visual pause in the form of an extra-wide turnover with a thin accent thread running across for subtle contrast, reminding us to make space for moments of quiet. Available in four hand-dyed colourways – Anise, Chalk, Fir and Obsidian – the rug speaks of measured balance rather than excess.

The philosophy behind the collection is one of designing spaces that nurture a gentler pace of life. By minimalising our home interiors, we make physical as well as mental space. Removing visual distractions and replacing them with subtle sensory experiences balances our busy, overstimulated lives.

“Technology is creating a feeling of mass overwhelm in society,” explains Louisa Grey. “By curating the home into a personal retreat, we feel more at peace with our place in the world and are able to connect deeply with the people around us.”

This quiet approach to design reclaims the home so it feels calmer and clears the mind. This in turn steadies the beat of our day-to-day lives and returns us to a state of being closer to nature’s tempo.

Evoking the wonders of the cosmos, Perilune calms us with its stillness. The Tibetan-knotted rug has a subtle sheen thanks to decadent wool hand-spun with pure silk, becoming an intuitive canvas for a carving inspired by the crescent moon. Etched into the pile at different depths, the embossed shapes ripple across the rug’s negative spaces. Beautiful in its simplicity, Perilune speaks to the transient nature of our existence and the knowledge that we are part of something larger than ourselves. In luminous undyed Quartz, it is custom made to order and also available as a wall hanging to transform the home into a place of refuge.

The Ellipse Collection represents the rhythm of nature in its physical form. Taking us on a textural journey from the raw and organic to the sensual and refined, the collection satisfies our insatiable craving for nature by bringing organic forms, tones and textures into the interior.

“We were driven to create pieces of integrity that simply could not be found elsewhere,” explains Sally Pottharst, Armadillo co-founder. “Throughout the design process, we sought to evoke a sense of tranquillity while pushing the envelope in terms of innovation and technique.”

Each rug is pared back to its very essence, tailored and sculpted by hand in premium jute, New Zealand wool and pure silk, in a range of daring and experimental weaves and finishes – the collection encourages visual and tactile exploration as well as individual introspection.

Umbra is illuminated from within, with breathtaking variations in tone and texture that mirror nature’s unbridled beauty. Crafted from incomparably soft Afghan wool that is left undyed, the yarn’s natural striations mean each rug will be utterly singular. Hand-cut into the Tibetan-knotted pile is abstract linework inspired by early cave paintings, a timely reflection on humanity’s lasting impact on our landscape and a meditation on our ingrained need to create. Otherwise unadorned in creamy Myrrh, Umbra is custom made to order and also available as a wall hanging, where it can act as a visual cue to let things just be.

The collection begins its trajectory with Terra, an earthy everyday rug reminiscent of the grounding sensation one feels when traversing a path of sand, grass and soil. Handcrafted from fine jute, it is rustic to touch yet instantly comforting, akin to a soothing foot massage. Undone sophistication permeates the loose flatweave, elegantly finished with a long fringe that will become deliberately intertwined in an echo of nature’s perfect imperfections. Terra comes in two nourishing hues – raw Natural with a salvaged feel, as well as the beautifully erratic Moss with its gritty undertones of the forest floor.

In bringing the collection to life, Armadillo and House of Grey embraced a transparent and sustainable process of craftsmanship that works in synergy with nature.

Each rug is made from carefully sourced natural fibres that are either left in their original state or hand-dyed and sun-dried for abundant texture. The yarns are then meticulously hand-knotted by weavers on traditional looms, resulting in a unique and soulful product designed to be cherished for years to come. This slow and symbiotic process pays respect to the environment while nurturing us as the rug accompanies life’s experiences.

It’s almost as though there’s a little bit of poetry hidden in each one of these thoughtfully handmade textile creations. Not only is Ellipse conceived as a collection that’s beautiful and enduring, but it is also conscious of and sensitive to the needs of our planet. The most perfect combination of them all.

For more information on the Armadillo x House of Grey Ellipse collection, visit rhythmofnature.armadillo-co.com.

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