Design Focus: John Chadwick Rugs Are Artwork on the Floor
STORY BY
ALIX G. PERRACHON
The soft
raspberries, greens, and creams in this spectacular Serapi resonate on
the walls, upholstery and even artwork in this elegant room.
Courtesy of Interiors by John Chadwick. Photography by Michelle Wurth.
The
delicately patterned Aubusson breaks up the expanse of the green
wall-to-wall carpeting thereby defining a seating enclave in his large
sitting room.
Courtesy of Interiors by John Chadwick. Photography by Michelle Wurth.
A native of Oklahoma City, OK, John
Chadwick was raised in the southern decorative tradition. “Everybody’s
grandmother had rugs where I grew up—that’s just the way I was raised,”
states the interior designer who has been established in Manhattan since
1995. Having started with dhurries in his first job in Oklahoma City in
1973, he has since vastly expanded his oriental and decorative rug
repertoire which currently ranges from Persian antiques to contemporary
Tibetans. Today, Mr. Chadwick uses them wherever possible in residential
and commercial interiors alike and particularly in locations featuring
hardwood or stone floors.
“For me,
the subtle softness and irregularities of oriental and decorative rugs
is what distinguishes them from machine-made carpeting,” states the
designer whose work has taken him throughout the country including
California, Georgia, Texas, and Arizona. “Having a rug is like having
artwork on the floor. They are just as much a part of the room as the
walls are.” Moreover, unlike wall-to-wall carpeting, oriental and
decorative rugs have an intrinsic investment value. “1 love the fact
that they can often be traded in as long as they’re in perfect
condition,” says Mr. Chadwick who at one time was involved in
custom-designing a collection of hand-tufted rugs.
When
shopping for a rug, its size, shape, and design are the most important
criteria of selection. Not surprisingly, the client’s budget and
lifestyle play a critical role determining whether the rug is to be an
investment or a purely decorative piece. In a typical instance, a client
may postpone the purchase of an expensive antique rug in favor a
reproduction because of young children and dogs in the house. However,
notes the designer: “In the end, the most important thing is that it is
the right rug for the space whether it be antique or new.”
“As I
don’t have a particular style, I’m open to a whole range of choices
depending on the client’s particular lifestyle—this is the most
gratifying part of my job,” continues Mr. Chadwick. Originally a
traditionalist at heart, the designer has since embraced an eclectic
decor ranging from elegant traditional to contemporary minimalism. When
designing a more formal interior, he leans toward rugs such as Aubussons,
Savonneries, Tabrizes, and Lavar Kirmans. However, when doing a library,
for instance, he might choose a piece exhibiting a more geometric
pattern with a tribal influence such as a Bokara, Heriz, Serapi, or
Caucasian. Meanwhile, he adores using Tibetans in contemporary interiors
and flatweaves, including kilims, sumaks, and dhurries, in beach houses.
Moreover, he observes: “Nothing is more stylish than Art Deco Chinese
rugs. They are the most transitional of rugs as they work equally well
in traditional and contemporary settings.” While he has not yet used
them, he plans to soon explore the realm of vegetable-dyed reproductions
which he appreciates for their soft and subtle hues.
The
yellow. midnight
blue, rose, and green hues in this
dramatic Chinese Art Deco rug are the
springboard for the color scheme in the
wall coverings and chair coverings.
Courtesy of Interiors by John Chadwick.
Photography by Michelle Wurth.
Ideally, Mr. Chadwick prefers starting
the decorative process with the rug. “The rug provides color
'transportation' for the room so that all its colors flow from the rug,”
he notes. However, he finds it equally easy to work the rug around
existing fabrics when the situation arises.
The
geometric repeats in this Kashguill-design rug is the counterpoint to
the floral chintz in the armchairs in this sumptuous living room. Courtesy of Interiors by Jon Chadwick. Photography
by Michelle Wurth.
In Mr. Chadwick’s projects, rugs find
their place throughout the house—from reception rooms to bathrooms and
kitchens—and as well as in executive suites. Thanks to his uniquely
versatile approach, the designer feels free to use more than one rug in
a room. Indeed, he often enjoys using rugs to define specific spaces
such as living and dining areas in Manhattan apartments.
When
coordinating rugs from one space to the next and from one room to the
other, he uses color as opposed to rug genre or style as the determining
guide. He has no problem with coordinating an Aubusson with a Serapi.
for instance. “They are all artwork. If each room were limited to a
particular rug style, it would be like having the Picasso or Matisse
room. This might be a safe but not an artistic approach. Instead, each
room should tell the story of the client’s life.”
When mixing and matching rugs with
fabrics and vice versa, he is not afraid to set pattern over pattern as
long as the overall balance between the two is achieved. When mixing a
floral-patterned rug with a floral-patterned fabric, he makes sure that
the scale of one is larger than the other. He often balances a floral
pattern in one medium with a geometric design in the other. “Pattern is
what makes a room cozy,” he says. “Beige and cool rooms may be very
elegant but they are definitely not cozy.”
As for
flooring, the designer prefers hard surfaces, including wood and stone.
He also often uses an accent piece over sisal, which he finds a very
effective means of disguising an otherwise unattractive floor. As for
placing rugs over broadloom, he is averse to this practice as he finds
that they “crawl” even with anti-skid padding.
Thanks
to a currently favorable economy, clients are continuing to express a
strong interest in purchasing high-quality rugs. “Rugs are here to
stay,” comments Mr. Chadwick, “as people are always drawn to what
delights the eye.”
The warm
glow of an allover floral design Sarouk is echoed in the brick walls
creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in this living room.
Courtesy of Interiors by John Chadwick. Photography by Michelle Wurth.
ABOUT
JOHN CHADWICK
A native of Oklahoma City, OK, John
Chadwick began his career in interior design in 1973 after obtaining his
M.A. in interior design from the University of Central Oklahoma. After
working for a number of years in interior design in Oklahoma City, he
established his firm Interiors by John Chadwick in Manhattan in 1995.
His projects, both residential and commercial, range from New York City
to San Francisco. His works have been featured in a number of
publications including The Robb Report, Interior Design Magazine, The
New York Times, House Beautiful, House & Garden, and Contract
Design. Mr. Chadwick has also been featured on an NBC affiliate for
interior design segments. A five-time winner of the Symphony Designer
Showhouse Competition in Oklahoma, he is a member of the ASID.