Words Marisa Bartolucci

www.kasthall.com

 

Swedish country weaves chic.

What is it about the Swedes? Their modern design is so easy and fresh, yet so sophisticated. Consider the floor coverings of Kasthall. Under the guidance of head designer Gunilla Lagerhern Ullberg, this venerable company, founded in 1889, and still based in the textile town of Kinna in western Sweden, manufactures woven and hand-tufted rugs and carpets with colorful, spirited, utterly contemporary designs.

 

Kasthall rugs are as likely to have been inspired by a plastic Thai tablecloth as by native flora.

 

 

From top left: Ingrid in red is inspired by traditional Swedish pullovers; Ingrid in Situ; Tekla is inspired by various candies, in this case, licorice; Tekla in situ.

 

These are as likely to have been inspired by a plastic Thai tablecloth or a ’60s Chanel coat as they are by native folk craft or flora. Ullberg and her design team think nothing of mixing lurex yarn into a wool and linen bouclé to give a rug a bit of sparkle, or weaving carpets with different pile heights to evoke the ripples of the wind on water or a raggedy lawn. She confesses that she often dreams up her rug designs as if they were characters; many are in fact named for Hollywood movie stars. A rug with a pattern reminiscent of traditional Swedish pullovers is called Ingrid, whom Ullberg calls “a very Swedish girl from the North who moved to the big town.”