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Willy Wonka may be the world’s most inventive chocolatier and sweet-maker, but he’s not much of a rug-maker. So when he needed an edible rug for his West End stage show, he came to us.

OK, it wasn’t actually edible, but after applying a little bit of Wonka magic to our bespoke rug-making skills, our rug became the edible grass meadow for the Chocolate Room scene in the Sam Mendes musical, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

For a bit of rug magic, come to Rug Couture
The edible meadow was the idea of the show’s set designer, Mark Thompson. The theatre commissioned All Scene All Props to build the set, and they came to us for help with the grass. It was easy working with All Scene All Props because they work in a similar way to us, with project management, CAD, and a full sample service.

We recommended a wide shaggy art silk in a deep lime green. That would give the meadow an inviting grass-like look with added Wonka magic – a reflective shimmer to make the most of the glorious stage lighting.

Rave reviews for the set
The finished meadow consisted of six rugs laid over a contoured structure that created the mounds and hollows of the meadow. When the show opened, the critics loved the set; it later won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best Costume.

If you fancy a bit of edible grass – and a damn good night out – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is still running at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Better still, if you fancy a rug that’s every bit as magical as something Willy Wonka might create, we’re ready for your call. You can design your own online, call us on 0845 071 9303, or request a quotation via the bespoke rugs page on our website.

But sorry, no golden tickets hidden in any wrapped rugs.

You can tell a good hotel by how calm it feels inside. Voices are hushed and steps fall softly on the floor. You know in an instant that this is somewhere you’ll get a decent night’s sleep.

Yes, a well-carpeted hotel gives you confidence. It tells visitors that the corridors won’t echo to the footsteps or laughter of late-night revellers.

Some hotels like to go one step better. Not for them the blandness of uniform beige or grey carpets. They strike out on their own with rugs and carpets that visitors won’t find anywhere else. They choose their own bespoke floor coverings.

And why not? To carpet large areas of a hotel in a unique design costs no more than to cover it in a dull, me-too design.Yet the difference in style is striking. The hotel with bespoke rugs and carpets is a one-off. It greets guests with an all-embracing decorative scheme in which walls, ceilings, floorings, and fittings are coordinated. It has an elegant, unified look.

Talk to us at the design stage
You’ll be amazed at what’s possible with modern rug-making technology and craftsmanship. Almost any idea you can think of can be reproduced in rug or carpet form. At the very simplest, we can weave your logo into the pile of your carpets. That’s a popular option with hotel chains that like to project a consistent image.

One-off hotels like The Sands in Margate prefer something unique – rugs and carpets that are an integral element of a distinctive decorative scheme. The Sands, which is on the seafront near the new Turner Contemporary art gallery, wanted to aim high to appeal to the gallery’s sophisticated clientele.

Rugs at The Sands have sinuous curves and patterns to match. There’s no decorative compromise: these rugs look as if they’re meant to be there. The Sands achieved that look because they spoke to us at an early stage. We understood what they wanted to do and used our skills to turn their decorative ideas into a suite of stylish rugs.

We can do the same for you too. If you’re in the hospitality trade and want to stand out from the crowd, call us on 0845 071 9303 or email us at info@rugcouture.com. We’ll help you cover your hotel floors in your own unique style.

Rug Couture Blog

a blog for all things rugs and interior design

An incredible edible rug for Willy Wonka

Bespoke rugs and carpets for smart hotels