“We want our pieces to be the final element of a personal and eclectic home,” write sisters Maja and Ellen Dixdotter. The Copenhagen-based Swedish duo together run minimalist fashion label By Malene Birger as well as Cappelen Dimyr, a young company devoted to creating handmade, ethically produced contemporary rugs, wall hangings, and coverlets in By Malene Birger’s drapey aesthetic.
Made strictly from natural, chemical-free fibers and traditional weaving techniques in shades of brown, gray, and white, always finished with fringe, their home textiles have a shaggy swagger—as they put it, they’re “premium bohemian.” Which perhaps explains why they look so at home in gorgeously crumbling historic settings. Come see.
Photography courtesy of Cappelen Dimyr (@cappelendimyr).
Above: Cappelen Dimyr’s Colonnade no.08 rug of hand-woven wool at Villa Magnan, a private estate in Biarritz with surrounding guesthouses. The floral motif was inspired by traditional Scandinavian tulip patterns on porcelain and textiles. It’s 2.9-by-7.9 feet; $830.
Cappelen Dimyr’s rugs are designed in Scandinavia and made in India at factories that are certified by, among others, SA8000 (Social Accountability International, which ensures fair labor practices), RWS (Responsible Wool Standard), GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard), GRS (Global Recycled Standard), and Care & Fair (which offers free education and health care to carpet knotting families in India and Pakistan).
Above: The Colonnade no.2 rug, $1,107 for 3.3-by-7.9 feet, is 85 percent natural wool and 15 percent cotton. It’s paired with Coverlet no.1 on a Hans Wegner Flag Halyard lounge at Marienlyst, a castle an hour north of Copenhagen. Cappelen Dimyr teamed up with Swedish concept shop Artilleriet on the styling.,
Above: Cappelen Dimyr’s has just introduced a new collection in handwoven jute and wool: this is rug no. 23 in a pattern of short and long checked boxes at Marienlyst Castle. “The mix of jute and slub yarn creates a three-dimensional look and feel,” note the designers. It comes in two sizes starting at 7.5-by-9.2 feet; $2,214. Styling by Artilleriet.
Above: Also just introduced: rug no. 22 is jute and wool in a graphic floral pattern; it comes in two sizes starting at 7.5-by-9.2 feet; $2,546.
Above: Colonnade no.07 is a handwoven wool rug designed for narrow spaces. Shown at aforementioned Villa Magnan, it’s 3.3-by-7.9 feet; $886.
Above: Cappelen Dimyr traveled to Provence to adorn the beds Atelier Vime’s 18th century townhouse with its designs. This is Coverlet no.01 of handwoven, 100-percent New Zealand wool; $775, and is designed castle-style to cover the lower half of the bed.
Above: Also chez Atelier Vime, the fully fringed Coverlet no.02, $830, is a wool flat weave with hand-stitched edges.
A while back, when Cappelen Dimyr was just getting off the ground, we featured founders Ellen and Jacob Dixdotter’s Swedish country house kitchen by the sea.
In the market? Read Expert Advice: How to Track Down Ethically Made, Eco-Friendly Rugs and browse the Remodelista Rugs archive for more floor coverings, including:
- Trend Alert: Heralding the Return of the 1970s Seagrass Mat
- 10 Easy Pieces: Non-Toxic Rugs
- 10 Favorite Online Sources for Vintage Area Rugs
