• beautiful!

• stylish

• reversible for double the wear

• extremely durable, many lasting decades or longer

• nearly all are washable

• they take the spills from kitchen work and clean with ease

• they are soft underfoot

• they can enhance the overall design theme of the kitchen

Kitchen rugs serve all of these purposes and more. They also add that wonderful feeling, the patina, of authenticity, sometimes of age, that only a handwoven rug can impart. We feel the more our rugs are used or the older they are, the more beautiful they become, the more texture is apparent.

But, what can be really fun to do is to collect more than one to add a fresh look to the kitchen now and then. Move them around the home and back into the kitchen as desired.

Situated 10 feet or so above the driveway, one at a time, a rug is placed on to white boards to come close to a white background for later editing. Sometimes, a child hangs around and makes chalk drawings!

Why do we photograph our rugs like this? It’s all about natural lighting. Shooting outdoors provides the most perfect light. One helper is at the ground level to lay out each rug, one to roll it up and then on to the next! Later, they are processed and the end result is the image below.

Of course, indoor lighting is always different in each home, but starting out with natural lighting provides a true representation of color. To shoot these stunning rugs is all pleasure and no pain, especially having the ability of viewing them in their entirety from above. So fun.

No worries if a rug gets rained on. Nearly all of them are made of cotton or a cotton blend and are washable. Personally, I’ve used a long rug under my Thanksgiving table for a warm, textural look and feel. So many ways to use our rugs! Tables provide a great way to experience our Swedish rugs up close and add an unexpected texture.

A rug like this is an excellent way, in fact all of our rugs present a great way to experiment with bolder colors around the home. This rug may be just what is needed to liven up a guest room along with bright colored pillows. The home office, usually an afterthought design-wise, could benefit from a shot of color. Add a few colorful posters and the home office vibe is transformed!

Best of all, Solliden adds a touch of uniqueness to an interior design. Have you seen this pattern before in a rug? We haven't! It is a piece like this that adds personality and spirit to a space.

This is such a favorite rug, LAGARO - so much so that we put it up and take it down as we decide to keep it for ourselves or share with others to buy and love in their home! It's true.

So many great qualities in this rug. It's denim, therefore it's washable! It's reversible, it has a modern graphic design which is a rare design for Swedish rugs. The fringe on each end are stylishly woven. It's a winner all around. 

Some Swedish rugs are similar but different within the pattern of the rug - that is, sections of the rug may vary in color or pattern, some more than others. It's a characteristic that can be charming. It's also not for everyone, which is why it's best to look carefully for symmetry, if you're really into that.

Me, I think it's sweet, charming, and makes me wonder what was going on at the time it was being made - maybe a shortage of one or more colors? Maybe by design? Good questions, especially like this one, below, as it is long and woven very skillfully. Hmm...

To talk about all the places our rugs can go in the home would take forever! Here's one of my favorite ways to use a small rug. It's surprising how a small rug like this one shown - see our Short Rug Collection - creates a focal point in an otherwise lackluster area, bringing it to life in a big way.  

Tie in artwork, decorative objects or just enjoy the new importance a small area can have. No stress, no worries - choose a rug you like and it will fit anywhere in the home.

One of the most enjoyable ways to experience a Swedish rug is to take some time and really study a rug. That's what I like to do. I like to focus on small areas of the rug, where patterns and colors are defined, special weaving techniques delight the eye and then back and forth the eye travels across a rug.

Who wove the rug you're taking a close look at? What is/was her life like? How did the pattern originate in the weaver's mind? Was the weaving process therapeutic and joyful? I see that in so many rugs.

Who wove the rug you're taking a close look at? What is/was her life like? How did the pattern originate in the weaver's mind? Was the weaving process therapeutic and joyful? I see that in so many rugs.

So much to wonder about.

Lots of new rugs have been added to the site. And, the site has gone and continues to go under recent renovation. Change is good - which is also why we're frequently changing and moving rugs around in our own homes. For example, I wanted a different rug in the kitchen to nudge the kitchen toward a different look and tie in new colors. It makes me enjoy being in the kitchen even more. It's a beautiful change for the senses.

SO - new rugs are on the site but we have a WHOLE lot more rugs to add in the weeks ahead.

On another note, we have begun to add beautiful Danish ceramics to the site. More of these pieces, made in Denmark by the artisans themselves, will also be added in the weeks ahead. Like the rugs, each piece is an original, is painstakingly selected and is otherwise not available in the U.S.

That's the quick update and we'll share more soon!

Here we are in spring! I think we all want to think about brighter colors to surround us when we are indoors and the lights and brights are now happening outdoors.

The great thing about our rug collection is that these are pieces that are so easy to move to another spot inside your home to create a whole new look. And when you add a shot of color, tie it in with a print, painting or decorative object, you have an arrangement. It's easy, quick, fun and creative. 

Here's a spring rug which can go in virtually any room of the home - including a child's room! Here's where you can find it: pink rug 

Fast forward to today. On a trip to Denmark and Sweden some months back, I was ready to once again move forward with Scandinavian Made. In a completely unexpected burst of passion, my simmering love affair with Swedish rugs burned stronger than ever to the point where I spent many hours with my rug whisperer in Sweden and selected close to 200 rugs to make their way to new homes in the U.S. 

I was fully in a zone of bliss, being surrounded by these beautiful rugs. The process of handling each one felt like a privilege as I thought about the woman (usually) who made it. It felt quite intimate, to connect in a small but profound way with the weaver. It was a thrill and my passion for these rugs only grew.

Scandinavian Made is now on the high setting and on the front burner! I am in the process of working hard to get this collection of rugs on to the site. You will see this progress over time, beginning later this week. Stay tuned for these handwoven beauties. 

Kelly has made an interesting discovery along the way - like the talented weavers of our Swedish rugs, she, too, loves to have busy hands and has started her own brand Sewing Seeds. Please take a look at her beautiful collection of children's clothing, each piece handmade by Kelly. Kelly continues to contribute her smart, savvy and stylish insight to the brand we built together.

Lots of news to follow. Thank you for visiting Scandinavian Made!