Journal
A move to the country forged new friendships and new business ventures for Kirsty Darby. After several pop up sales in Wiltshire, with her friend Henny Tate, selling a complete mixture of things; from glossy modern ceramics to vintage wooden sledges, she fell in love with rugs on a buying trip to Morocco.
Founded in 2018, Kirsty now heads Tate & Darby Rugs solo from a new retail showroom and warehouse in Pewsey, Wiltshire.
HOW WAS THE BUSINESS FORMED?
Kirsty originally worked in the art world and moved from Scotland to London after doing a postgraduate degree in Decorative Arts. She worked at The Royal Collection for a few years, and then at Christie’s auction house where she met her husband who now has his own gallery – Browse & Darby, then for one of the largest private art collections in the world. This proved to be an amazing experience, but when she had children she decided to relocate once more to the Wiltshire countryside.
So it was on one of her buying trips to Morocco sourcing products to sell at local pop up sales that she fell in love with rugs. Meeting the rug makers, their families, learning their skills; Kirsty soon fell in love with it all, and the natural progression from retailer to designer began when Kirsty & Henny approached the Moroccan rug manufacturers and started designing their own rugs which then expanded into jute rugs made in India.
MOROCCO & INDIA
With the majority of their makers now being in Morocco and India, the sustainability of where and how their rugs are made, remain core to the business. Close relationships with the artisans have been established over the years, making sure they respect their craft and are fairly paid. They are made to the highest standard using the natural fibres from the Ganges Delta and the finest quality of wool from the Atlas Mountains, New Zealand and Argentina.
“We liaise with our makers in Morocco on a daily basis so combined with regular sourcing trips we are always finding wonderful rugs for clients and for our website. We have several clients who send photographs of something they are looking for, or simply snaps of the room that they would like suggestions for, and we are happy to take on the search.” Tate & Darby offer a bespoke service for individuals and trade where the possibilities are endless with size, colour and design.
INSPIRATION
Art has always inspired Kirsty and living in Wiltshire she admits she “cannot fail to be inspired by nature when walking every day on Salisbury plain and can see a rug design in so many things. But all types of design are inspiring; 20th century furniture designs are pretty amazing, with their innovative shapes and ergonomics”.
This inspiration is reflected in their first design; the joyful chevron jute rug and runner, followed by the scalloped jute rug which has undoubtedly been their most successful to date. Kirsty can still recall designing that, drawing and counting the scallops, how it would work at the corners, but that has since been copied a million times over which she admits is frustrating, but theirs are the best as the scallops don’t curl!
TIME HONOURED TRADITIONS
Guild Anderson base the delivery of work around three factors; personal service, professionalism and empathy. Tate & Darby have a similar aim. “To keep making the finest rugs through time honoured weaving traditions, and to bring joy to people’s homes”. Kirsty goes on to say “that to me is huge, you have to like your home and I am very fortunate I love my home and if a rug can help someone enjoy their home that bit more, then we have done a good job”.
Being a small independent brand means that each day is incredibly varied and Kirsty is not afraid to get involved in all aspects, but employing one member of staff who helps with everything from from social media to selling and packing, affords her time to design. They aim to launch a new collection twice a year, and have just created their first collaborative collection with Kirsty’s great friend and stylist Sally Denning @blackshorestudio. It is a collection of handwoven flat weave rugs in leopard, stripes and patchwork designs, called The Everyday Collection.
FUTURE PLANS
The brand has quite a cult following in the UK for those seeking contemporary rug designs with a traditional twist, and this following has expanded overseas. Having just dispatched one to Argentina, Kirsty is “always amazed how people find us as it is not easy to promote oneself. I don’t think we will have a physical presence anywhere else– but who knows!”
When asked about future plans, she admits that she wants more of the same; “To keep designing new rugs, to keep sourcing the best vintage Moroccan rugs there are”. But there is one dream; she admits “ to have some of our rugs in one particular shop in London, which I have always loved, but I can’t tell you which one it is; that would be the aim!”
“A ROOM IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT A RUG!”
If any clients need help when choosing a rug, her advice would be; “Well, of course I would say choose your rug first and build around that – that and pictures! I see so many rooms, even in smart magazines, and there will be no rug and I am thinking/screaming – you need a rug, a room is not complete without a rug!”
“Rugs add soul to a room, just like pictures do. But if you have everything else in the room and you are now looking for a rug, just make sure it is not too small, go for something you love and please don’t think it has to match or be plain, mix it all up, have some fun. Rug with patterns can really help to ground a room too.”
CONTEMPORARY DESIGN IN A TRADITIONAL SETTING
Guild Anderson clients are often looking for help when choosing the paint colour for their cabinetry, and Kirsty also offers help with making colour choices forming part of her bespoke rug service.
“At the moment I am loving ochre, dusty pink and a bit of brown together but when it comes to helping clients, they often bring a fabric swatch or show me a photo of the room and we take it from there. You have to think practically too, a soft creamy wool Beni Ourain might be lovely for a bedroom but not so good for a hall!”
Guild Anderson’s goal is to create cabinetry for modern family spaces which respect the architectural heritage of our client’s houses. Tate & Darby’s rug designs are often much more contemporary. Kirsty suggests that contemporary rugs can definitely be used within a traditional property.
“I think you just mix it up, don’t be afraid. A traditional property does not have to be full of brown furniture and Persian rugs. You need an element of surprise – maybe just start with a colourful Moroccan rug on a landing or by a bed. Or put something bold in the hall – that is an area you can have so much fun with, it is the first thing you see when you walk in. Jute is excellent for the hall; our ones are all backed in canvas and incredibly hardwearing.”
Guild Anderson’s are masters in making bespoke kitchens and cabinetry and Kirsty admits how much she loves her home. She particularly loves her AGA, and thinks her dogs would agree! “Although it is so old, it is more like a very expensive radiator! And I love my deep Belfast sink, but I don’t have that little side sink, never quite sure what they are for, except for hiding dirty cloths?”
