In April, Wendy and Gregor travelled to North Carolina, to co-host an event organised by hand-knotted rug specialist Couture Knots, who have been stocking our designs since 2023.
Every industry is well-versed in trade fairs, but this was a step away from the more-traditional, commercial nature of many trade events. This was an occasion to bring like-minded businesses and individuals together, to showcase designs, skills, and ideas, to network and engage, to share and promote designs in an environment that was perfectly suited to high-quality, handmade, hand-knotted rugs.
The event was held at the beautiful home of Couture Knots’ owner, Ali Nikrooz, close to the city of Charlotte. It was an opportunity for the US stockist to showcase the UK designers he works with, including Wendy Morrison Design, as well as London-based companies Knots Rugs, and Tania Johnson Design.
A unique and personal experience
‘Ali organised a party at his house and invited me, along with two other designers, to decorate his lounge, dining room and study,’ Wendy explains. ‘He also had a marquee in the garden where we could showcase a larger selection of our rugs.
‘The party attracted lots of interior designers from the area, as well as further afield, which was a great opportunity for us to meet them and for them to see our designs in a real-life setting. It is always interesting to meet with other industry experts, particularly those from a different country, and be able to discuss ways of working, new ideas, challenges, and, of course, enjoy lots of chat about interiors.
‘We have worked with Ali and Couture Knots for around two years now,’ Wendy says. ‘Ali is such a lovely human being with an optimistic approach to life. He is also a family man and very passionate about beautiful rugs, all of which makes him a joy to work with.
‘The setting was a fantastic way to showcase designs. I would definitely say it was a more pleasant and interesting way to do business. Perhaps even a better way to do business, rather than the traditional trade show, because it was much more relaxed and focused.
‘It was an incredible experience and very different to any event we have been part of in the UK. Everything is bigger in the US of A, and lots of the designers have these spectacular large houses to decorate too.’
The designs Wendy chose
Wendy’s décor brief was to use designs of her choice across a range of different interior spaces.
‘I chose A Mughal Painting for the study,’ Wendy says. ‘A Mughal Painting is perhaps one of my favourite deigns and, as the room had existing dark inky-blue walls, I felt she would be a perfect partner for this deep, luxurious shade.
‘Graceful and elegant, A Mughal Painting also shares a positive story of hope and renewal. She has a dramatic black and white horse – one of my favourite animals – at her centre, a symbol of strength, courage, and freedom. The lilac sky is a powerful colour, a shade charged with energy, and one that worked beautifully with the dark blue tones of the room.
‘Ali is of Persian origin and actually had some Mughal treasures in his attic, which I was able to use to decorate the space - it was quite a treat!
‘I chose our Kujaku hand-knotted runner for the bar area. Her soft green base makes the peacock and floral motifs stand out, while the silk details give her a truly sophisticated look, which was perfect for our glamorous surroundings.
‘Although they work well in any space, the entrance felt like the ideal spot for our Kaleidoscope of Papillons rug trio, which proved to be very popular with guests. They are just the right size for the perfect selfie!
‘I also chose One Hundred Birds And One Hundred Flowers for the garden marquee – she is so full of colour, life, and vitality she seems perfect for a space made for entertaining – and she worked beautifully alongside the jewel-like colours and floral blooms of Phoenix.
‘It really was a wonderful experience to see and hear the very positive reactions to our designs in such a personal setting.’
For those based in North Carolina, you can visit the Couture Knots showroom in Charlotte to discover our collection.
