Rugs of Petworth

Hello, I'm Alex, and in November 2001 I took a week's employment in a rug shop in Buckinghamshire to cover somebody's sick leave.

I had recently completed a degree in Music Composition and, having spent months riding the uncertain waves of that industry, I was glad of a guaranteed week's work with regular hours.

Knowing nothing of the world of handmade rugs, I turned up to help out on the shop floor, and immediately got stuck in to helping customers find what they were looking for. Two things struck me that week - how magical it is that such beauty is still handmade in the world today, and the delight they can bring to somebody's home.

At the end of the week I was granted a permanent position and demoted music to pastime status.

From that first job, which sparked a lifelong passion, I spent 7 years working in the handmade carpet trade in the UK. In 2008, in the midst of a global financial meltdown, an opportunity presented itself to open a small store in Petworth, and I decided that this was my moment.

From the early days, which were exciting and terrifying in equal measure, I have been lucky enough to see the business grow, establish a great team of staff, increase our stock of beautiful rugs, and expand the showroom twice before moving to a superb new premises in 2021.

You can read about our sourcing trips, on which I individually select each rug and carpet for the showroom. If you need help finding the right piece, please get in touch and we'll be more than happy to help with suggestions.