Intentional kitchen design with Brigette Muller

How would you describe your overall design aesthetic, and how does that sensibility guide the choices you make for your home?

I call my style French romantic. To be honest, the aesthetic itself doesn’t guide my choices at all — it’s the other way around! I have always been drawn to pieces that feel romantic, old world, and ornate, and that’s what continues to guide my choices: the feeling itself.

When you're selecting foundational pieces like rugs, what qualities or design principles do you consistently look for to ensure they feel true to your style?

Color, texture, and pattern are all really important to me. I love rugs that feel well loved, lived in, and timeless, and that’s exactly what I get from Ernesta’s Persian collection. The fact that they’re all handcrafted with 100% wool is a huge bonus, too! Just perfect..

Tell us about your journey with Ernesta – from discovering the brand to the moment your custom rug was installed. What drew you in?

Ernesta solves a huge problem that typically exists when you’re on the journey to find the perfect rug: sizing! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve fallen in love with a vintage rug online, only to find that the size is totally wrong for my space. The fact that Ernesta offers custom-sized rugs (down to the inch!) is something you just don’t see very often. And then when I saw the gorgeousness that is The Persian Edit, I was sold.

What made you opt for custom-sized rugs for your space? Was there something specific you were looking to solve or enhance in the space?

I’ve been looking for a long runner for my kitchen for years. I’ve had a few different rugs in there over the years, but none of them have been long enough to cover the whole length of the space. The custom size of this rug makes my space feel even more intentional, and that’s always something I look to achieve in my home.

Tell us about your choice of a Persian Rug in the space – from samples to finally laying the rug down.

As I was flipping through the samples, I actually went back and forth between three of them before finally making my decision, and it was based solely on color. Ultimately, I chose Dalia in Moss because it felt like the perfect neutral, yet with enough color and contrast to add interest. As soon as I rolled it out, I knew it was the right choice. I love the way the greens play off the other elements in my kitchen, like the green velvet pillows in my breakfast nook, and all the live plants I have in there.

How did the sample process help you narrow down your decision?

I can’t tell you how helpful it was to be able to physically hold the samples in my hand and see them in my space. I am such a visual person, and sometimes it’s really hard for me to make a decision when I can’t actually see how all the elements will work together. In this case, I literally placed the samples on the floor in my kitchen to see how each one would look. It made the process quick, and helped me to be super confident in my decision.

Were there any design challenges – scale, room proportions, layout, etc. that a custom rug helped you address?

Absolutely! Getting a custom-size rug ended my multi-year-long journey of trying to find a runner that would fill the length of my kitchen.

What would you tell someone who’s choosing between a standard-size rug and going custom?

There will always be a place for standard-sized rugs, but when you have a specific space and a specific vision, and standard sizes just won’t cut it, it’s always worth it to go custom.

Were there particular elements of Ernesta’s Persian rug assortment (palette, motif, material) that helped you pinpoint the right style for your home?

I’m a big fan of traditional motifs, natural materials and neutral palettes. The Persian Edit has all three. Chef’s kiss!

Once the rug was installed, how did it transform the feel or function of the space?

Aesthetically, it instantly gave the space an intentional feel. And physically, I now enjoy walking through my kitchen so much more. That rug pad is so cushy! 

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