Rugs: spring centrepieces

The Mirage rug from Gan in nude is a hand-knotted 100 per cent New Zealand wool carpet designed by Patricia Urquiola. Gan is available through Siesta Interior Design in C. Plaza in Nueva Andalucía (www.siestainteriordesign.com).

WARMING UP YOUR HOME WITH A RUG

You can easily warm up your living spaces with a rug, not only by having textile beneath your feet but also aesthetically. Whether it is for a runner down your hallway, a centrepiece in your living room or under your bed, rugs are versatile and add a welcoming feel to any room. Also, outdoor rugs are a great way to bring the indoors outside, thus transforming a terrace or patio into a more finished lounge area. Generally, the more you invest, the longer you can enjoy your rug because – after all – it usually has to withstand plenty of footfall. Rugs are not just for the winter as they are a fabulous way to make a space more inviting, so here are some ideas for the spring…

Mono plastic rugs from Pappelina are woven on a traditional loom in Dalarna (Sweden) and come in various colours. Made of phthalate-free PVC ribbon, the rugs are durable and easy to maintain, and their stylish two-tone colours suit all décors. Mono rugs feature double-folded ends and a sewn rubber label. Available from Avoi in La Mairena or you can buy online at www.avoi.eu.

This herringbone braided rug from Naturtex displays a perfect balance between tradition and contemporary style, making it ideal for any style of home. Naturtex is available through Diana Dominique in Pol. Ind. Nueva Campana 54 in Nueva Andalucía (www.dianadominque.com).

Zoffany’s Tumbling Block is made from 100 knot Tibetan wool and Botanic silk, and is available in custom colours and sizes. It has an historical patchwork pattern contemporised with artistic brushstrokes and geometric shapes that stunningly elevate this Zoffany design, creating spontaneity and organic movement. Zoffany is available through Alison Bethell-Collins Interior Design (www.alisonbethellcollins.com).

Agate High from Limited Edition can be customised in design, shape and colour, and is made from a blend of wool, silk, polyamide, linen and mohair. Limited Edition is available through Alison Bethell-Collins Interior Design in Avda. del Mediterráneo, San Pedro de Alcántara (www.alisonbethellcollins.com).

SHOWCASING THE ESSENCE OF GLOBAL DESIGN

Interview with Jorge Francia Cuadrado

Tell us a bit about the background to New Life Home and its origins… At New Life Home we come from a family that has been dedicated to the sale and design of exclusive furniture for stores throughout Spain for more than 20 years. But our real birth actually dates to two years ago, thanks to changing trends in the area of decoration and interior design. We have immersed ourselves in a constant evolutionary wave with the objective of offering clients the most avant-garde and exclusive products in accordance with current market demand. The New Life Home concept derives from that change. We were not only looking to import furniture but we also wanted to develop our own style, given that 90 per cent of our products are designed exclusively. Our inspiration when acquiring furniture has always come from travelling, from being familiar with different cultures, from representing the history and crafts of the world. That’s where our “Made In World” originates, and its goal is to expand that beautiful part of the East to Europe. New Life Home expresses a new personal and professional period for us, following on from this transformation and inspiration, and above all from our enthusiasm to seek an evolving and well-established new era. Our growth has been remarkable. We are making a significant investment in staying abreast of the public’s preferences, and especially in image, always with the intention of maintaining our commitment to bringing natural aspects of the world to the West.

All the products in your showroom have an organic aesthetic. Why do you think this style is so popular in southern Spain? Our style aims to be in sync as a kind of representation of the Mediterranean climate. The furniture has a marked natural character accompanied by a handcrafted touch that we bring from the East, making it the ideal combination for a wide variety of spaces. Our furniture has personality, and it fits in perfectly with our seasonal climate, not only in southern Spain but also in the entire Mediterranean area. We offer a natural style, with an ethnic and modern essence – hence the public’s appreciation and interest.

You have an extremely comprehensive showroom and website where a wide variety of products can be purchased conveniently. Apart from the store, what other services do you offer? Since our beginnings, in addition to the sale of exclusive furniture, one of our essential services – an important one that the company takes great pride in – has been carrying out interior design projects. The key consists in advising and creating unique and outstanding spaces that respond to each client’s

requirements and desires. Once we secure a project, and after carrying out all the necessary adjustments, we execute the project and turn the ideas into reality. Within our specialisations, we design spaces that range from the modification of homes, focusing on those spaces where we are particularly specialised, to a service for professionals in the field of hotels and restaurants. We develop each space made-to-measure, with special care always given to adapting to a client’s multiple requirements. We also produce customised furniture. In tune with our philosophy, and always listening intently to a customer’s requests, we create the products that best suit their needs, always following aesthetic criteria and constantly being open to their advice.

You sell both indoor and outdoor furniture. What interesting new products do you have in your store for us to decorate our homes this summer? Our intention is to present a large number of new collections that will be on public view through March and April. We are working to ensure that our showroom, website and social networks are kept up to date with the new products we offer. The products that have been most popular are teak wood collections and rattan decorations. From tables of various designs, sideboards and chairs to decorative baskets, lighting and cushions made of natural materials – and all of these products have become available after an exhaustive search for suppliers and manufacturers in the East. Currently, our furniture comes from Indonesia, Vietnam, Morocco, China and India, and we have personally visited these countries on multiple occasions to acquire products that are manufactured there to our designs.

In conclusion… At New Life Home we are always happy to listen to customers, to adapt to new trends and, above all, to create unique spaces. And always following our philosophy of bringing the essence of the world into people’s homes.

New Life Home Avda Velázquez 204-206, Málaga Tel. (+34) 951 576 384 www.newlifehome.es