Modallion recently had the pleasure of working with three fresh minds – from three different design backgrounds – on three new rug designs. This is the story of some new rugs we have added to our collection and the bright minds behind their design…
1. Ivy • Designed by Sarah Stevenson • A Toronto based Textile Designer
We met with Sarah in the spring to look through her impressive portfolio of textile designs after she expressed an interest in collaborating with Modallion on her first rug design. Her fabrics are stunning, and after some deliberation, we chose her Ivy design – a rich mysterious floral motif in deep turquoises and pinks against a stark white background. The transition from dark shadows into vibrant whites seems to truly capture the contrast between dark and light energies.
Sarah hones in on a unique powerful design perspective which she underlines in her artist statement…
“As a designer I feel it is my responsibility to monitor how my textiles and clothing are produced. I use only natural fibers and print with a waterless technique. All of my original fabrics are printed to order so there is very little waste. It is my goal to continually improve making clothing that has little impact on the environment. As technology improves and becomes more environmental I will adapt changes wherever possible.
All of my fabrics and clothing are made locally which minimizes the carbon footprint and also invests in the Canadian economy. I hope that my clothing line can be appreciated as wearable art as well as uniquely designed fashion pieces that are ethically and environmentally made.” – Sarah Stevenson
Look for Sarah’s most recent collection in this year’s Toronto Fashion Week. A sneak peek of her newest line is in the photo just above. At Modallion we look forward to producing Sarah’s first rug design entitled Ivy and in collaborating on more rug designs with her in the near future.
If you would like to see more of Sarah’s work or want to get in touch with her, please visit her website Sarah Stevenson Design.
2. Leaf • Designed by Elisse Ostrovsky • An interior design student studying abroad
In May we had the pleasure of meeting Elisse Ostrovsky, after she discovered Modallion at IDS:12 and made it her mission to work for us. After some correspondence and an interview, we hired Elisse to work as an intern at Modallion for the summer. It was an exciting day – Modallion’s first intern!
Before long Elisse was drawing up ideas, diving into creative projects and dabbling with her new interest in rug design. Her first project was to solve the need for an installation in an empty corner of Modallion’s studio. Elisse began building a life-sized tree installation using birch branches and bamboo. Every day she would come into work with bundles of fabric and would spend her morning adorning our indoor “Tree of Life” with hundreds of vibrantly coloured fabric leaves.
The tree grew quickly and began to be quite the conversation piece for both Modallion and Reznick Carpets’ customers. Elisse even advanced her fabric creations into elegant fabric roses, which became our calling card.
Elisse has now moved on to Israel, where she will be completing her interior design program. Before leaving Modallion, she completed three fresh rug designs including Leaf; inspired by the underbelly of a leaf, this rug is vibrant, simple and expressive. Elisse has been an incredible addition to the Modallion team, and we look forward to remaining in touch with her as she develops into a fabulous design professional.
To view Elisse’s other rug designs visit her section on our website, • Clock/Jester/Leaf •
3. The Quarz Rugs • Designed by Robert Cameron • a Toronto based designer who specializes in wine cellars
“The Quarz Rugs are a pair of silk carpets that were designed for a master bedroom and an adjacent sitting room in an 1896 Toronto residence. These intimate rooms were created with the clients’ marriage union as the inspiration for the design. The centerpiece of the bedroom is a king size bed that emulates the facets of the stone in their engagement ring. In keeping with the organic, minimalist feel of the rooms, these rugs represent monochromatic inverse crystal formations. The “crystals” have been hand carved at different pile heights to bring a subtle opulent texture and an overall ethereal feel to the rooms.” – Robert Cameron
At the Interior Design Show in January of 2012, Modallion had the privilege of meeting Robert Cameron. Robert, a stunning and vibrant designer, appeared in our booth at IDS, and before long we were chatting up a storm. We quickly established a working relationship.
Robert’s rug designs are advanced and ambitious. We work closely with him, corresponding daily with Nepal to tweak out the fine level of detail Robert expects his rugs to embody. His attention to detail is incredible and his visions are even more impressive. Modallion has now produced a number of 100% silk rugs with Robert – some of which can be viewed on our website.
When we asked Robert about his design philosophy he relayed it to us poetically, serenading the passion behind his work in a powerful way…
“I create designs that are not just aesthetically pleasing, but symbolic and meaningful. Every detail is chosen, nothing is unintentional. When I use a colour, I care to know what that colour represents. When I use a shape or a symbol, I care to know what it means and what the history behind it is. Anyone can create an interior that looks nice… How I differentiate what I do is that my designs, in addition to being aesthetically pleasing, are meaningful.” - Robert Cameron
Robert Cameron creates unique high-end residential interiors in which he designs his own furniture, carpets, artwork and anything else required for the project. You can see in the images above how drastic his transformations are, and notice the luminous 100% silk rug he designed with Modallion.
In addition, Robert is a designer who specializes in limited edition residential statement wine cellars. These cellars, limited to five per year, are equally focused on design and functionality.
If you would like to get into contact with Robert Cameron, visit his website Robert Cameron World. His site is currently under construction, but stay tuned because it will feature some remarkable design work very soon.
For more information and to view more of Modallion’s rugs, please visit WWW.MODALLION.COM.
