Entrepreneur Lisa Jordan chose a rug from our custom Crucial Trading collection to serve as the finishing touch to her beautifully curated living room. Designed as a space to unwind in the evenings, Lisa wanted the space to feel warm, luxurious and inviting. Every detail was carefully considered, with the elegant custom rug playing a key role in bringing the room's design elements together.
A thoughtfully chosen rug can transform a space, whether you’re looking for understated elegance or a bold statement piece. Lisa's space features a harmonious, layered design, where texture and colour ensure that every element in the room works seamlessly together.
Lisa’s Rug Choice
Lisa chose the Alpine Birch Wool Rug with an Antique Leather Border in the colour Pearl, a custom design from Crucial Trading. This rug was the perfect foundation for her living room, offering a balance of luxury, warmth and subtle texture.
The rug centre is crafted from 100% New Zealand wool in a soft herringbone pattern, featuring gentle silver and beige tones inspired by the tranquillity of birch trees. Wool is naturally durable, making it an ideal choice for high-use spaces like living rooms, dining areas and bedrooms. The Antique Leather Border in Pearl adds an elegant contrast, introducing a refined, tactile finish that enhances the room’s overall aesthetic.
Lisa’s decision to customise her rug ensures it works seamlessly within the space. The neutral palette and textural details tie together elements of her existing décor, complementing the curtains, sofa and wall tones. The combination of natural materials and classic design creates a sophisticated yet inviting feel - perfect for a room designed for relaxation and entertaining.
Styling the Rug in Her Living Room
Lisa’s living room was designed to feel warm, elegant and cocooning, with a tonal palette that layers soft neutrals and rich textures. The Alpine Birch Wool Rug with an Antique Leather Border played a central role in achieving this look, grounding the space and enhancing the luxurious feel she envisioned.
Lisa's main priority was selecting a neutral, textured rug that wouldn’t introduce competing colours. Instead of using bold patterns or contrasting tones, she focused on texture and materiality, ensuring the rug worked in harmony with the curtains, sofa and base tones running throughout the room. This thoughtful approach resulted in a cohesive, layered aesthetic, where every element contributes to the overall sense of calm and refinement.
The herringbone wool centre was a natural choice, offering a classic yet understated design that subtly elevates the space. The structured pattern contrasts beautifully with the room’s softer elements, such as curved furniture and flowing drapes, adding just the right amount of depth and definition. The Antique Leather Border introduces a tactile element, emphasising the room’s luxurious atmosphere while maintaining a timeless appeal.
Lisa’s styling choices also extended to wall colour and lighting, both of which enhance the rug’s presence. She opted for a darker neutral wall shade, allowing the rug and soft furnishings to stand out while still feeling balanced. Thoughtfully placed lighting adds to the warmth and depth of the space, highlighting the natural materials and creating a welcoming ambience.
Interior Design Tips from Cormari
To achieve the soft, layered look of Lisa’s living room, our resident Interior Designer, Cormari, shares some key styling tips to help you achieve a similar effect in your own home.
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Layer your tones: choose a base colour palette and build on it with tonal variations. For a rich, cocooning feel, opt for darker walls paired with furnishings in a similar tone. Alternatively, contrast lighter walls with deeper accents to add warmth and depth.
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Use natural materials: mixing wool, and leather creates a sense of understated luxury. These materials not only add visual interest but also enhance the tactile feel of the space. Wood panelling can further elevate the design - keep the lines clean and simple, but introduce curved shapes for contrast and movement.
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Opt for classic rug styles: a herringbone wool rug is a timeless choice that works beautifully in both modern and traditional spaces. It adds subtle texture without overpowering a room, making it a versatile foundation for any interior scheme.
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Consider ceiling colour: you don't need to necessarily default to white. If you’re not opting for colour-drenched walls and ceilings, select a lighter tonal variation for the ceiling to maintain harmony.
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Think about lighting: thoughtfully placed lighting transforms a space. Use a mix of wall lights, table lamps and pendant lights to create a warm and inviting atmosphere, complementing the textures and tones of your design.
Why Choose a Crucial Trading Rug?
Crucial Trading rugs offer a bespoke, made-to-measure approach to interior design, allowing you to create a piece that is tailored to your space and personal style. With a wide selection of natural, high-quality materials and custom border options, these rugs are designed to bring warmth, texture and refinement to any room.
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Custom sizing for a perfect fit: whether you're styling a spacious open-plan living area or a smaller, intimate setting, a made-to-measure rug ensures the proportions are just right.
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A wide range of natural materials: choose from a selection of durable, natural fibres including sisal, wool and jute; each offering a timeless, organic aesthetic.
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Five border material options: complete your rug with a stylish border available in a range of materials including leather, cotton or linen; each offering a palette of nature-inspired shades to complement your décor.
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Designed for longevity: crafted from durable, high-quality fibres, Crucial Trading rugs are made to withstand everyday use while maintaining their beauty.
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Complimentary samples available: selecting the right materials is an important step in the design process, which is why we offer three free samples to help you find the perfect combination for your home.
Explore our range of natural fibres and custom border options, or order up to three free samples to help you find the perfect combination.
Visit our Cork showroom or browse our collection online to start creating a bespoke rug that reflects your interior vision.
