Once an illustrator for Vogue in the 1970s, Deirdre Dyson cannot leave any plain flat surface undecorated, be it floor or wall
Where do you find inspiration for the designs for your rugs?
Inspiration can come from anywhere. Many of my designs begin with paint and paper. I studied at the Byam Shaw school of Art and then I went on to study Graphics and Illustration at Wimbledon School of Art but now I paint. I tend now to work in themes and do a collection based around a theme – for example, wild plants or the seashore. For 2016 it is a series of abstract designs which allow for an illusionary effect that works well in wool and silk.
Do you produce entirely bespoke rugs?
Each year I produce a collection and there are rugs in stock in the showroom which clients can buy but generally all my work is bespoke. There is a huge archive of collection pieces that clients can view and this helps them choose what they would like in terms of pattern and colour. We have a palette of more than 2,000 exquisite colours to choose from. I tend to visit the client’s house to discover their exact requirements and discover how the carpet will best suit the room it is destined for. It is very much a collaborative business and that is why so many return.
There are over 100 stitches in a piece of hand-knotted rug the size of a postage stamp
Where are the rugs produced and how do they differ?
The bespoke rugs are hand-knotted out of Chinese or Indian silk and Tibetan wool in Nepal. The hand-knotted tradition is dying out but in Nepal there are still some skilled workers. They take about three months to make a rug of about 240cm x 170cm but this can become longer or shorter depending on demands.
The tufted rugs are made in the north of England using New Zealand wool. The difference between the two is the sheer sumptuous luxury that silk can give a rug in the way that it catches the light but the silk can not be run in machines so it has to be hand-knotted in Tibet. There are over 100 stitches in a piece of hand-knotted rug the size of a postage stamp – that gives you an idea of the expertise required. But the benefit of tufting is that you can have any design even if the carpet is fitted. For example, one of my clients has chosen a rug design for the centre with a plain border that works with a fitted a carpet.
What would your tip be?
Timing. Everyone tends to leave choosing the carpet until last when they are decorating a room and that is why so often they end up with a plain one. But really it is better to choose a rug when you are selecting your fabrics for your furnishings.
How important do you think it is to be bespoke?
In an age when everything is online, it is rather like fashion: you can see a dress online and everyone has seen it. Rugs are the same. The great thing about a bespoke rug is that it is original and won’t have been seen elsewhere.
The Chelsea Design Quarter is becoming high on everyone’s London hit list. Why do you think that is?
It is very buzzy here and we are close to Chelsea Harbour. It is a friendly street and very co-supportive and there are also a lot of interiors shops, which makes it easy to browse. The summer party is always a fun evening.
www.deirdredyson.com or call 020-7384 4464
Visit www.chelseadesignquarter.co.uk for further details
Photo credit: High Rise rug, above, in wool and silk mix, £995 per sqm.
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