ON USING DHURRIES

I recently got a new brochure from Stark Carpet, saying they were bringing back dhurri rugs.  Well, that is certainly good news—especially since it means they are broadening the collection of cotton dhurries, but actually, they never went away.  Classic things rarely do, and certainly dhurries are classics.  But they are usually right here with us, just maybe not having the same name.

Dhurri Rug from Guinevere Antiques

Probably most people wouldn’t have called this rug a dhurri, but that’s what it is.  Great design—those dear stars—would go in any room.  The one above is from Guinevere Antiques in London, one of my favourite sources, but a wool one like this would be available from Stark or Patterson, Flynn and Martin or several dealers.  Below, I show a room we did in a modern apartment here in Palm Beach where the dhurri rug was used to set the living section apart from the rest of the large loft-like room.

Room by Leta Austin Foster

That rug was from Stark who, with their partner, Darius, has lots of dhurris—both old (this one) and new.  And you should try them.  Greater talents than I will ever have, have been using them over and over, such as in this wonderful, cozy liveable room by Sister Parish.

Room by Sister Parish

Or this cool and airy bedroom by Bunny Williams.

Room by Bunny Williams

Please note the sheets—just the kind of sheets we sell every day here in the boutique.  Beautiful linens and cool casual rugs—great combination.

Tom Scheerer used a dhurri, pictured here below, to dress up a library that was basically very plain fabrics—a wonderful way to spread design when print is not desired.

Room by Tom Sheerer

Dhurris are fun.  They can be cheap—as this cotton dhurri from Wisteria.

Wisteria Dhurri

Or very, very expensive...

Room by Albert Hadley

As is this beautiful antique dhurri used in a dining room by the late, great Albert Hadley.

Here are some facts about dhurris that might be useful for you:

-Dhurris are in the group of rugs called flat-weaves.  That means they can be reversed and used on both sides.

-They always need a pad, but the pad should be more like a non-skid flat pad.

-Because dhurris are flat-weaves, they do not “mark” badly from furniture legs, and they are easy to use with spindley-  

  legged pieces.

-Wool dhurris are more expensive to buy, but easier to keep clean.  Cotton dhurris are much cheaper, but they do get       

  foot-traffic dirt very easily.

-Although Indians and tribal people wash their dhurris, do not do this.  They know what they are doing. You do not.

  The colours are vegetable dyes and will run.

-Don’t try to “match” things to the dhurri.  Use it more as a neutral, although, of course, you don't want it to clash or,       

  even worse, look as though you bought it off the back of a truck.

You can even buy dhurris in indoor/outdoor rugs such as these new ones from Perennials.

Perennials Dhurri

Or our old stand-by, Dash and Albert who has loads of dhurri designs, all ready for you to wash if you are anxious to do so.

Dash and Albert Dhurris

Or go back to Guinevere Antiques and get yourself a wonderful trunk covered in a remnant of dhurri and use it as a bright splash of charm in your summer house

Dhurri-covered trunks from Guinevere Antiques

XOXOXOXOX LETA