13 March 2025

Infinite Threads

Designer Rugs has long been synonymous with luxury and innovation in the New Zealand design landscape. But to describe the brand simply as a rug company would be to miss the broader vision that underpins everything they do.

As a design-led brand who specialise in rugs, Designer Rugs have carved out a distinct niche by introducing innovative designs that bring bold, striking colours into traditionally reserved interior settings. The results are not only visually captivating but also technically superior, with each rug hand-tufted from the finest New Zealand wool, sourced locally from trusted dye houses. This fusion of daring design and uncompromising quality has always been central to their identity.

For Designer Rugs, collaboration is key. From the early days, they have worked closely with respected architects and designers in both Australia and New Zealand, blending artistic vision with craftsmanship to create truly bespoke pieces. More than floor coverings; their rugs are design statements, crafted to enhance and elevate the interiors they inhabit.

From the early days, they have worked closely with respected architects and designers, blending artistic vision with craftsmanship to create truly beautiful bespoke pieces.

“We don’t see ourselves as just a rug company; we see ourselves as a design company that makes rugs” shares director, Laura Furey.

A cornerstone of Designer Rugs’ offering is their in-house custom design service. Open to everyone—from discerning homeowners to leading interior designers—this service provides a unique opportunity to bring personal vision to life.

Clients are encouraged to get creative and design a rug that perfectly suits their space. Whether matching a paint swatch, coordinating with upholstery, or reinterpreting a piece of art, the possibilities are endless. “We’ve built a team of designers and experts who are deeply passionate about what we do. Their knowledge and dedication to the craft ensures every rug we create is of the highest standard—beautiful, functional, and entirely personal” shares Laura.

While the brand is known for its custom designs, Designer Rugs also offers an extensive range of ready-made rugs, catering to those with tighter timelines. The ready-to-go collection, featuring a wide variety of styles and influences, allows clients to find something that speaks to their design sensibilities, without the wait.

ETCHED by Hare+Klein  
Traditionally Hand-knotted in 100% NZ Wool + Hemp + Silk. Custom colours, sizes and shapes available from Designer Rugs. 

This forward-thinking approach is paired with a deep-rooted commitment to quality. From the outset, Designer Rugs has maintained a rigorous standard of craftsmanship. Each rug is hand-tufted or hand-knotted, ensuring a level of precision and durability that mass-produced alternatives simply can’t match. And by using 100% New Zealand wool—a material known for its natural resilience, softness, and sustainability—Designer Rugs ensures their products not only look beautiful but are built to last.

As they continue to push the envelope, their focus remains squarely on design. By working with some of the industry’s most forward-thinking artists and designers, Designer Rugs stays at the forefront of interior trends while remaining grounded in timeless craftsmanship. Their collaborations reflect a shared vision—one that merges innovation with tradition, artistic expression with practicality.

HOUSE OF HERAS

House of Heras is a boutique design studio founded by award-winning designer Silvana Azzi Heras, known for her highly decorative and evocative designs applied to textiles, wallpapers, and fabrics. After 17 years as the Head Designer for Baz Luhrmann and Catherine Martin, where her work on iconic films like The Great Gatsby and Moulin Rouge was celebrated worldwide, Silvana launched her own studio in 2018. House of Heras blends a passion for print, colour, and texture with a timeless yet contemporary approach, offering unique designs that bring sophistication and artistic flair to any space.

BUSH BOUQUET by House of Heras
Hand-tufted in 100% NZ Wool + Bamboo Silk. Custom colours, sizes and shapes available from Designer Rugs.

THE BEES KNEES by House of Heras
Hand-tufted Rug made from 100% New Zealand Wool. Custom colours, sizes and shapes available from Designer Rugs.

HARE + KLEIN

Led by the esteemed Meryl Hare, Hare + Klein has long been recognised as one of Australia’s premier interior design studios, crafting timeless and inspired spaces for nearly three decades. Known for their thoughtful, collaborative approach, the award-winning practice is committed to creating interiors that enhance the lives of their clients.

MOSS by Hare + Klein 
Traditionally hand-knotted, made of wool, hemp, and silk. Custom colours, sizes, and shapes available from Designer Rugs.

BOTANIC by Hare + Klein 
Traditionally hand-knotted, made of Tibetan wool, hemp, and bamboo silk. Custom colours, sizes, and shapes available from Designer Rugs.

SCRIBBLE by Hare + Klein 
Traditionally hand-knotted, made of wool, hemp, and silk. Custom colours, sizes, and shapes available from Designer Rugs.

GREG NATALE

The visionary founder and director of his namesake design firm is a multi-award-winning Australian designer renowned for his bold and meticulously curated interiors. Celebrated internationally, his work has graced the pages of Architectural Digest, Elle Decoration, Vanity Fair, Vogue Living, and Belle.

Known for his passion for materiality, colour, and pattern, Natale masterfully blends classic and contemporary elements to create uniquely layered spaces tailored to his clients’ tastes. With multiple design accolades and three published books—The Tailored Interior, The Patterned Interior, and The Layered Interior—Greg Natale continues to push creative boundaries while offering his signature products worldwide, including at Designer Rugs in New Zealand.

BANTO by Greg Natale
Hand-tufted, made from 100% NZ Wool. Custom colours, sizes, and shapes available from Designer Rugs.

DESIGNER RUGS

Designer Rugs’ in-house collections offer a foundation for creativity, allowing you to tailor each piece to your space with bespoke colours, shapes, sizes, and materials. Whether reimagining an existing design or crafting something entirely new, the possibilities are limitless.

Their expert design team can guide you through an extensive palette of shades, assisting with precise colour matching to paint chips, upholstery, or artworks. Every rug—be it a statement hall runner, a sculptural circular piece, or a seamless wall-to-wall installation—is made to order, ensuring a perfect fit for your home. 

NAPOLEON CUT TEAL by Designer Rugs
Handtufted, made from 100% NZ Wool. Custom colours, sizes, and shapes available.

WAFFLE RUG by Designer Rugs
Hand-tufted in 100% NZ Wool with Sculpted Carving in grey. Available in custom colours, sizes, and shapes.

TAMIKA GRANT-IRAMU

Tamika Grant-Iramu is a Meanjin/Brisbane-based artist who incorporates organic patterns and imagery though the medium of relief print carving techniques. Tamika’s practice focuses on native and introduced flora, and highlights the minute details in nature that are so often unnoticed. Through her creative practice, Tamika explores her identity, seeking ways to connect with the different threads of her Papua New Guinean, European and Torres Strait Islander heritage. Tamika’s unique artistic style brings together diverse communities of people, and through this collection aims to highlight the rug as the celebratory heart of a gathering.

NATIVE RESONANCES by Tamika Grant Iramu
Hand-tufted in 100% NZ Wool. Available in custom colours, sizes, and shapes.

CHANGING SEASONS by Tamika Grant-Iramu
Hand-tufted, made from 100% NZ Wool and Bamboo Silk. Custom colours, sizes, and shapes.

Discover more at Designer Rugs online.