Elevating Modernism With Warmth, Texture, And Bespoke Detail Of Custom Rugs.
Design firm Studio Ahead – founded by Elena Dendiberia and Homan Rajai – was tasked with transforming a mid-century modern home into a harmonious reflection of its dual-personality owners: a modernist, yacht-loving East Coast husband and a nature-centered, meditation-practicing Venezuelan-born, Southern California–bred wife. Their creative process involved not just architecture and furniture, but intimate touches like custom rugs that helped anchor and define the space.
Bridging Personalities Through Design
When Dendiberia and Rajai first stepped into the home – a low-slung, single-story structure nestled among oaks with views stretching to the San Francisco Bay – they saw opportunity in contrast.
The husband favored clean lines and hard materials, rooted in modernist tradition. The wife brought a softer energy, attuned to natural textures and organic forms. The challenge was to balance these contrasting aesthetics without sacrificing authenticity.
The result? A deeply personal space that feels both grounded and ethereal, with custom rugs playing a quiet but crucial role in this transformation.
Why Custom Rugs Were Key To The Transformation
Custom rugs are more than just a floor covering. A tactile layer of personality, intention, and craftsmanship ties together a room’s function and aesthetic. In this Silicon Valley home, rugs became the interiors’ literal and figurative foundation. Here’s why custom rugs were the perfect fit:
1. Tailored To The Space
Each room in the home was a study in spatial harmony, and a custom rug was essential in achieving scale and proportion. From anchoring the main living room’s cocoon-like seating area to defining transitions between open-plan zones, every carpet was designed to fit perfectly, with no compromises.
2. Balancing Textures And Energies
Nestled in a serene oak grove, the living room masterfully blends softness with structure. A custom curved sectional anchors the space, wrapped in textured upholstery that echoes the warmth of the floor-to-ceiling beige wool curtains. At its center, a sculptural Christian Liaigre coffee table adds quiet sophistication, while the plush, custom wool rug beneath mirrors the room’s neutral palette with subtle depth. The harmonious contrast between tactile softness and architectural elements, such as the clean-lined built-ins and layered artwork, creates a space that feels both grounded and gracefully refined.
3. Celebrating Craft And Local Artistry
Studio Ahead is known for celebrating Northern California artisans; that ethos extended to their rug choices. The rugs were often handcrafted using natural materials like wool and jute, some woven by local makers or sourced from studios prioritizing sustainability and slow design. These one-of-a-kind pieces served as a bridge between the home’s modern bones and the organic sensibility of its inhabitants.
The Living Room: Cocooned In Calm
The best expression of custom design is found in the living room. The walls and windows are wrapped in warm, woolen textures, creating a cocoon-like effect beneath the iconic Mario Bellini leather chairs and Christian Liaigre coffee table. A custom rug grounds the room with understated elegance.
A felt sculpture by Masako Miki and a platter by Peter Voulkos echo the rug’s soft curves and natural materials, amplifying the dialogue between furniture and art. It’s here, floating in this forested canopy, that the rug does its quiet work—inviting you to sit, stay, and be enveloped.
What To Consider When Choosing A Custom Rug
Whether furnishing a mid-century masterpiece or a downtown condo, a custom rug is one of the most impactful design choices. Here’s what to think about:
• Material
The choice of material affects how the rug feels and performs, from the plush luxury of silk to the durability of wool and the eco-friendliness of jute or sisal.
• Size
Don’t just “make do” with standard sizes. A custom rug allows you to scale your design exactly, ensuring the carpet aligns with furniture placement and room dimensions.
• Color And Pattern
Color is where personal expression shines. Do you want your rug to be a subtle backdrop or a bold statement? Whether inspired by the wife’s mindfulness or the husband’s affinity for minimalism, each rug in the home captured mood and identity.
• Weaving Technique
The home features various textures, from hand-knotted showpieces in high-traffic areas to soft tufted rugs in the bedroom. Each technique was selected to balance function and artistry.
Extending The Custom Touch Beyond The Living Room
Bedroom Sanctuary
The beauty of neutral rug In the primary suite, a mossy beige velvet-upholstered bed floats beneath a surreal Gordon Onslow Ford painting. The surrounding space is grounded by a custom rug that evokes the quiet serenity of a meditation retreat while subtly referencing the efficient, space-conscious interiors of a yacht.
Entryways And Hallways
Even transitional spaces weren’t overlooked. A runner-style custom rug lined a hallway, guiding the eye and foot through the home while introducing a hint of texture underfoot.
Styles Of Custom Rugs Used In The Home
The home incorporated a wide range of styles that reflect the eclectic personalities of the owners:
- Modern & Abstract: Echoing the husband’s modernist leanings, geometric rugs in neutral palettes added clean lines without harshness.
- Natural & Neutral: Inspired by the wife’s grounding practices, organic rugs in wool and jute brought warmth and tactility.
- Textural Minimalism: Some rugs were almost tone-on-tone, offering texture without stealing the spotlight from art or furniture.
- Handmade Heritage: Rugs that showcased artisanal weaves and subtle imperfections were chosen to enhance authenticity.
The Enduring Value Of Custom Rugs
In this Silicon Valley home, custom rugs are not an accessory – it’s a co-creator of atmosphere. It provides grounding, guides flow, and most importantly, tells a story. Whether capturing the unconscious like the surrealist painting in the bedroom or honoring nature through felted forms and woolen layers, each rug contributes to a whole greater than the sum of its parts.
Studio Ahead’s vision – merging yin and yang, East and West, hard lines and soft textures – is made real through the subtle power of personalization.
Final Thoughts
As you consider furnishing your space, remember: custom rugs are your canvas. It can reflect who you are, how you live, and what you value. In an age of mass production, choosing to design your rug is a statement of care, craftsmanship, and individuality.
In this modernist home among the oaks, the rugs do more than soften the floor – they ground the spirit.
At TAPIS Studio, we believe that a custom rug is more than a design element—it’s a statement of identity and intention. Just as rugs helped bring balance, texture, and personality to a modernist Silicon Valley home, our collection offers pieces that ground your space while expressing your unique story. Explore the TAPIS Studio collection to discover how the right rug can bring comfort, elegance, and artistry to your home, visually and emotionally.
Source: 1stDIBS
