Rugs can make or break a room. They anchor a space, create zones and, quite simply, make somewhere look even more beautiful. If you’re wondering where to buy rugs in Singapore, Living DNA is one store to visit. Here you’ll find a wide range of stylish living room carpets (that work in any room), including its newest collection of premium, intricately crafted rugs. Made from beautifully soft bamboo silk, they are cruelty free, hypoallergenic and sustainable. Founder Denise Kaur talks about the collection, which we can see making its way onto plenty of rug wishlists!
Why did you add these premium rugs to your collection?
We felt it was time to introduce more intricately crafted pieces, as we found our customers getting more appreciative and adventurous with their rug shopping. For someone wondering where to buy carpets that are unique and skilfully crafted, these fit the bill. They’re carefully planned and knotted thread by thread in a process that’s both intricate and inspiring.
Who makes these carpets and how?
These designs take up to six months of work to complete – more for larger sized rugs. We work with a group in India that enables female weavers to work on these rugs in their home villages.
The dyed yarns and other materials are sent to the rugmaker’s home. She can work on the rug, while continuing to take care of her children and household and tend to their farmland. The rug is collected from the village when it’s ready.
Through this working style we contribute to preserving a more sustainable way of life for village artisans, while helping tackle the issue of rural-urban migration. This is already an ongoing initiative; we’ve chosen to purchase their work instead of going to factories.
How important is it to Living DNA to support these artisans?
One reason we do what we do is to uphold craft tradition. For craft to be sustained, not only should the product be viable, but the ecosystem also has to support the artisans’ way of living. Their roots are what made them.
As tastemakers, we have the responsibility to encourage mindful buying decisions. When you choose a hand-knotted rug, you support the depth and breadth of artisan work. You play a role in preserving craft culture.
What materials are used in the carpets, and how are they crafted?
Our material of choice is bamboo silk, a cruelty-free natural material with a subtle lustre. Since the fibres aren’t chemically treated, they are naturally smoother and rounder with no sharp spurs to irritate the skin.
The rugs are made through the process of hand-knotting. We’re often asked what the difference is with hand-knotted rugs compared to our usual hand-tufted or handloom products. While all these methods produce beautiful, soft, luxurious rugs, it’s only with hand-knotting that you can create intricate patterns or seamless colour transitions because every thread is attached to the carpet, one at a time.
Additionally, the life of a hand-knotted rug is much longer. Damaged parts can be repaired, so it can last for generations.
What can someone rug shopping at Living DNA expect in terms of price and range?
For those wondering where to buy rugs, the designs we bring in have a nod to tradition, with pared-down colours that will be at home in modern spaces. Prices start from $4,790; we also create bespoke carpets for those keen on a customised option.
Do they suit any area in the home in particular? What’s the best way to care for them?
Hand-knotted rugs are meant to last a lifetime; as living room carpets, they’re a pièce de résistance! We also love them in a master bedroom as they have a luxurious texture.
To care for your rugs, just vacuum clean them regularly and have them professionally cleaned once a year or so. It’s also worth noting that hand-knotted rugs are repairable. If one part gets permanent stains, those threads can be removed, and new threads re-knotted in their place. Living room carpets never looked so good!
To browse the collection simply walk in and get a personal introduction to each of these designs with their rug specialists. Or check out the new collection online – happy rug shopping!
- 16 Keong Saik Road
- 18 Tampines Industrial Crescent, #01-10B Space@Tampines
Finished rug shopping but still looking for more pieces? Here’s our huge list of furniture shops in Singapore to give you some more ideas.
