Uplift Your Home’s In-Between Spaces With These Handmade Rugs
Everyday luxury is one of the founding principles of Australian-American rug brand Armadillo—the idea that the simple addition of a beautiful rug can elevate our experience of the everyday.
Founded by Jodie Fried and Sally Pottharst, every Armadillo rug is handmade by artisans using traditional craft methods and natural fibers, such as jute and wool. This approach is epitomized in the recently expanded Nook Collection, which features hard-wearing accent and area rugs in earthy hues that bring a dynamic edge to every corner of the home.
The new Nook Collection campaign was shot at the home of Australian fashion designer Collette Dinnigan. "I’ve always had a passion for interior design, starting with my own boutique stores and houses," shares Dinnigan. "For me, there is an overlap because my starting point is always with color and I’m passionate about textiles, proportion, and scale in both fashion and interiors." In the bedroom, a Malawi Nook rug in Oatmeal offers a tactile underfoot experience that elevates the simple act of going to bed or getting up in the morning.
To showcase the new rugs, Armadillo shot the campaign in Black Barn Bowral, the country home of iconic Australian fashion designer Colette Dinnigan. Located in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales, the rustic charm of the property is the perfect backdrop for the raw textures, grounded colors, and handcrafted beauty of the Nook Collection.
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Dinnigan’s property was conceived as an authentic country residence that draws on its history as a former barn. "I wanted to retain as many of the old barn elements as possible, and use as many reclaimed materials as possible, such as the floorboards and lights," explains the designer. These rustic yet refined details offered a complementary setting for raw materiality. In the hallway, for example, the Hemlock Nook rug in Natural adds characterful texture to the wide-format timber floors.
The synergy between the creative vision of Armadillo and Dinnigan goes beyond aesthetics—both are creative powerhouses with a carefully considered approach that celebrates craft, material honesty, and sustainability. "I always work with crafts people over mass production, and take the time to source and search out different materials and finishes that are unique and bespoke," reveals Dinnigan.
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The muted palette of the Mesa Nook rug echoes the color of the stone wall outside Dinnigan’s countryside home. "There are four defined seasons in the year, which makes each stay at the Black Barn Bowral very different," says Dinnigan. "In spring the property is surrounded by blossoming trees and then by Christmas all the stonefruit is starting to ripen. Autumn brings with it the change of colors and loss of leaves, and winter is bleak but there’s something beautiful about the bleakness."
The Petra Nook rug in Blanc reimagines a Moroccan Berber-style rug for contemporary interiors. The hand-knotted wool weave is crafted from a luxurious 30mm pile that creates a lush softness underfoot—ideal for bedside comfort.
The expanded Nook Collection is designed to make every corner of the home feel considered, from entrance hallways, bathrooms, and mudrooms, to cozy bedrooms and living areas. With this in mind, there are seven sizes of rugs in a variety of styles—from an elegant hall runner to a larger-scale 3’ x 8’ rug that grounds open spaces.
The textural Mesa Nook rug is handcrafted from a thick, durable jute weave using a one-sided soumak technique that makes it ideal for high-traffic spaces, such as hallways and doorways. It’s available in four sizes to easily fit in compact spaces and cozy nooks.
The Kalahari Nook rug in Natural and Pumice is woven from jute and wool, combining and celebrating the best of these two contrasting natural fibers. The result is a handsome rug that can withstand the rigors of everyday life.
Circular rugs offer a solution for oddly-shaped spaces and tight corners. The Braid Nook rug is available in four colors—Chalk, Pumice, Heron, and the pretty pink Blush pictured here—and is plaited from a plush wool blend to create a rhythmically contoured surface.
The Nook Collection has been designed so that even the statement pieces, like the multi-dimensional Ghan Nook rug with its raised diamond pattern, complement rather than dominate a space. Other rugs, like the Nala Nook, add visual interest through minimalist linear patterns.
Make a statement with the Ghan Nook rug in Milk, which combines a soumak weave with a Berber knot to create a three-dimensional diamond pattern. The soft contours of the pattern enliven stark spaces, and create a visually dynamic work of art on the floor.
The Nala Nook rug features a natural base with a graphic zig-zag pattern in contrasting slate. The short fringe detail adds a refined decorative touch that brings a softness to the interior space.
Bathroom floors are often overlooked when it comes to decorating with rugs, but the right combination of hardwearing natural fibers and durable construction can elevate the bathroom experience beyond the everyday. The Lucine Nook rug in Natural is crafted from hand-braided jute coiled and stitched into a circular shape that is the ideal size for a compact space.
With the expansion of the Nook Collection comes the enhanced possibility to make every corner of the home count—no matter how compact or unusual the space. From stepping out of bed in the morning, to cooking in the kitchen, or even doing laundry, the sumptuous feeling of handcrafted natural fibers underfoot has the power to elevate every moment.
Explore more rug collections at armadillo-co.com.
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Invite Elements of Nature Into Your Home With Armadillo's New Rugs
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