Top 20 Rugs and Kilims of August 2022: Team Picks by Rug & Kilim

          Summer is soon to be fall, and change is on our minds.

          Kids are back in school, and colleagues are back from their summer homes. One season of projects winds down, as a promising many for the fall already begin to flow in. New inventory and finished projects are nothing to complain about, but goodbyes to beautiful things are always bittersweet at best.

          So, fall feels like a fitting time to dwell more on beautiful things—the new, but also those we find a fabulous new home.

          With so much give and take, we’re making August’s Team Picks a celebration of change with a new twist. This month we say hello and wave goodbye, as every teammate has picked both their new favorite and their favorite piece to leave the showroom this Summer. Some of these include the most exciting new projects that have come to fruition, but they all give us a chance to reflect even further on our work.

         Several sold pieces are custom capable, and several new picks are a first look (yet to go live). So if you see something you love, be sure to reach out or visit us and see!

Josh Nazmiyal Celebrates his Team

          We can’t always ask our esteemed principal to pick just one favorite. His treasures are too many and too precious, but Josh Nazmiyal knows the value of celebrating people above all else.

          Josh celebrates eCommerce Direct Andrew Yoon this month, who just got engaged! Andy was kind enough to share his stunning proposal photo, and we’re proud to welcome his new addition to the R&K family in the near future.

Andrew Yoon Says Hello Mid-Century Modern and Goodbye to a Custom

          We’re also glad that Andy took the time to visit and celebrate the news with us at the showroom this week. While he’s here, Andy says hello to this 4×4 addition to our Mid-Century Modern Collection and goodbye to an equally fabulous custom version of the same design.

          What a difference a color makes, and what a gorgeous dining room rug it creates.

Nina Gilden Says Hello Pictorials and Goodbye Palace Rugs

          Sales and eCommerce’s Nina Gilden was the first to know her favorites this month, and a glance is all it takes to understand.

          Nina says hello to a new 10×14 rug that joins our Chinese Deco Collection — a pictorial design inspired by pingfeng dress screens. Nina says goodbye, fittingly, to a vintage 12×17 Chinese Deco rug unlike any living room rug she’s sold to date. This palace-sized rug redefines one-of-a-kind in its period, and will no doubt inspire long after it leaves.

Sina Nazmiyal Says Hello Silk Kilims, Goodbye to Silk Khotans

          Silk is on Vice President Sina Nazmiyal’s mind this month, and his picks reflect its vast range and potential in the hands of master weavers.

          To wit, Sina says hello to an 8×10 “Watson” Kilim from our Scandinavian Collection with an elegant, refreshing modern look. He says goodbye to a custom silk rug from our Homage Collection that recaptures classic Khotan rugs in a bold new take on distressed style.

Cyrus Nazmiyal Says Hello, and Goodbye, to Chinese Deco

          Veteran VP Cyrus Nazmiyal has a lot to celebrate as he returns from his own mini-moon, but there’s nowhere he’d rather be. (Don’t tell his new wife, Brittany, though—we love her like a sister!)

          Cyrus says hello to a regal 10×14 rug from our Chinese Deco Collection this month, and goodbye to an antique 9×11 Chinese Deco rug of the many that have inspired that new collection in kind. Nina must be quite the taste-maker if Cyrus couldn’t help but mirror her picks this month.

Nikita Nagpal Says Hello Moroccan Rugs, Goodbye

          Lead Designer Nikita Nagpal knows the bittersweet goodbye to inventory better than most. Her Art Department’s prolific works always seem to fly out the door as quickly as they arrive.

          Nikita says hello to one of our most exciting new 6×9 Moroccan rugs that explores a whole new take on Berber style. Her goodbye is to an antique 10×14 Sultanabad rug, sold to a dining room project by Perry Sayles. While Nikita’s best work is always ahead of her, she always shares Josh’s studious appreciation for classics like these and how they help us perfect our own modern masterpieces.

Justin King Says Hello Sustainable Kilims, Farewell French Deco

          Nina may be the first to submit, but Sales’ Justin King is always first to dive into new stock for his equally eager clientele.

          Justin says hello to an all-natural jute and cotton Kilim — first look in a new line of contemporary flat weaves. His goodbye is to a custom French Deco rug, and its unique scale and wide border for this iconic style.

Todd Neitring Says Hello Paisleys, Goodbye Chevrons

          Sales’ Todd Neitring has learned better than most to see things in a way no one else has, and especially handmade rugs.

          To that end, Todd says hello to an 8×10 love letter to paisleys in the next batch of our Modern Classics arrivals. Here he admires the “floating” effect like that under a microscope, the contrast of the silk paisleys to the wool ground and the natural rhythm it hosts.

          Todd’s says goodbye to a bold 10×14 he sold from one of our most modern Kilim collections. Here, he loves the glorious, optimistic color, the genius red fringe, and the movement these chevron patterns enjoy.

Digital Imaging Says Hello Scandinavian, Goodbye Distressed

          Digital Imaging’s dynamic duo, Andres Mercado and Tiphaine Sete, continue to find their rhythm as a team. Together they see more beautiful things come and go than any of us, save Josh, so they were eager and waiting for this month’s twist.

          Tiphaine says hello to an 8×10 Scandinavian Kilim, and a favorite from our first-ever program following the collection’s success. Andres says goodbye to a 10×14 from the Homage Collection, and its smart, subtle use of green he loves to capture.

Editor’s Pick: Autumn Golds

          My August is all about the rare antique rugs I’ve seen and sold, and I’m blessed to have my pick of the litter.

          This month I say hello to an antique 10×18 French Deco rug with the most uncommon design I’ve ever seen Josh curate. Both of us can barely believe it’s a classic—but Josh’s eye for modern designs ahead of their time is what drives him. Intriguing geometry, grand size and of course its glorious gold are certainly unlike any I’ve seen of the provenance.

          I can say the same of my fond farewell—for which I choose an antique 10×12 Sivas rug I’ve sold to a grateful sitting room. Hand-knotted silk rugs are rare for any period, and especially in this open field, medallion and most unusual gold with green accents. Everything about it speaks to luxurious warmth, presence and a sense of majesty in its attitude — and it will be sorely missed.

          Tell us your favorites finds and farewells, and stay tuned for next month!