Narrative Threads Blog
Scroll through our Narrative Threads blog to enjoy behind-the-scenes insight on special projects for leading interior designers and architects.
Scroll through our Narrative Threads blog to enjoy behind-the-scenes insight on special projects for leading interior designers and architects.
In May 2018, the Palms Casino Resort completed a $620 million renovation which was heralded as the grandest in Las Vegas history. It included the creation of two new nightlife venues, both designed by Studio Munge and both featuring carpets by Creative Matters.
When Kimpton opened its first boutique hotel in Toronto last month, its many interior treasures included 21 delightfully artisanal rugs by Creative Matters.
Last month we installed a carpet for a spiral staircase and decided sharing it in a blog post would be the perfect opportunity to explore the dynamics involved in carpeting a set of stairs that isn't straight.
A behind-the-scenes insight into our project recreating small Inuit artworks into handmade wallhangings for the Iqaluit airport in Nunavut.
We don't often talk about refreshing an existing design, yet it is a service we provide regularly. Wear and tear is the most common reason to revamp but other reasons include wanting to upgrade the look of the space; managing a new floor configuration or furniture layout; aiding in noise reduction; or reducing the dirt and moisture that gets tracked into a building.
Much excitement greeted the opening of The Loren at Pink Beach in Bermuda earlier this month because it introduced a contemporary hotel experience to an island draped in tradition. Led by President and owner Carol Sebert, our creation of nine floorcovering designs contribute much to its modernist appeal.
Creative Matters' "Floor-to-ceiling" service involves working with an interior design team to create both the wall and the floorcoverings for a project. In 2016, we provided this service for the new Andaz hotel in Ottawa.
In November 2015, the Faena Hotel Miami Beach opened to international applause and we were proud to have contributed four rugs to its fantastical aesthetic. As you would expect, the rugs excelled themselves in quality, luxe and colour.
We were delighted when Arcadis IBI Group asked us to collaborate with them again, this time on three shaped rugs for the new Azura condo building in Toronto. Their Associate Director Heidi Rose provided us with the specific shapes that they had designed to enhance the interior architecture.
Shaped rugs steal the spotlight, they’re a conversation piece on the floor and they make spaces exciting. Over 35 years we’ve designed a lot of rugs in abstract shapes so we’d thought we’d have a little retrospective. We chose five rugs designed in recent times and five rugs from our 90s archive. From the elegant to the eclectic to the practical, scroll down and enjoy them.
In 2019, international design firm Yabu Pushelberg (YP) was commissioned with the complete renovation of one of New York’s landmarks, the Park Lane New York hotel. YP is a long time client of Creative Matters and that same year they asked us to work with them on the carpets which were installed in early 2022. Partner Ali McMurter managed the collaboration at our end. “They chose us for the project because …
During the summer, impeccably designed and crafted Creative Matters rugs were installed throughout the new Pearle Hotel & Spa in Burlington (just outside Toronto). It was a special project because it was the first time we used the hand Axminster method of production for all the rugs in a hotel.
In 2019, renowned interior design firm Studio Munge invited us to join them on a quest to create “a distinct sense of place” for a new hotel in Halifax in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia on Canada’s east coast.
In March 2022 Wonder of the Seas set out on her first cruise with 16 stunning carpet designs by Creative Matters. Clémence Hardelay - our Director of Design and Marine Division - managed this complex project. Because she is currently based in Marseille (where the ship received its final touches) establishing Creative Matters’ new satellite studio for European clients, Clémence was able to go on board in January to appreciate all the designs in situ and take these super photos.
Our most recent project reveal comes from Mexico City where we collaborated with Chapi Chapo Design on some amazing floorcoverings for the presidential suites, guestrooms, corridors and ballroom for the new Ritz-Carlton hotel.
The Pendry opened its doors in September all aglow with elevated interiors by our friends at Gachot Studios and equally elevated floorcoverings by Creative Matters. This was our third luxury hotel with Gachot - the three of them united by their use of a variety of the production methods we offer.
Orchestra is one of our most popular designs, so it was no surprise when our client in Paris selected it for their stunning salon. The design - released in 2013 as part of our XXV Collection - is available in both a dark and a light version.
In April we were delighted to celebrate what was both the successful installation of another spiral staircase runner and our first collaboration with renowned New York designer Katie Ridder.
From the bathroom to the ballroom, it was our pleasure to work with DIALOG on the remodelling of the Four Seasons Resort Whistler. Using four different production methods at mills in three different countries, Creative Matters Vice President Ali McMurter managed a vast array of floorcoverings.
In 2019 Vice President Ana Cunningham was delighted to call upon her 20 years experience to create a harmonized vision for four handtufted rugs in a modern Toronto home. “Each rug we worked on was tailored to its own space while still maintaining a visual connection to the others,” she said.
With the launch of our new website this week, we welcome the arrival of our first-ever Creative Matters online shop. Savvy consumers and rug investors will now be able to view and order a contemporary, handcrafted Creative Matters collection rug with a click of a mouse. Previously our collections were only available from select retailers, through an interior designer or very rarely from a pop-up store near our studio.
“Immerse yourself in the elegance of art deco and the warmth of mahogany wood. The opulent surroundings are designed to heighten your senses …,” proclaims the website of Vancouver’s Gotham Steakhouse & Bar. We were delighted to play our role in creating this special ambiance.
Last month Hy’s Steakhouse returned to Toronto’s financial district with a spectacular new flagship.The impressive 18,000-square-foot space was designed by our long-time client Elaine Thorsell of BOTI Interiors. Creative Matters President Carol Sebert was tasked with developing the carpet designs for all three storeys.
Erica and Alan McLaughlin undertook the revival of an old home in Winnipeg's River Heights neighbourhood. They spent a good year refinishing and updating the rooms, and once complete, were ready for the final touches.
Late 2018 Cheryl Krismer of Crayon Design came to us with two detailed hand-drawn sketches for two flights of a spiral staircase in a spacious contemporary Toronto residence. We then worked together to turn her exquisite sketches on small pieces of tracing paper into fully developed designs for each runner.
As a Canadian company we were particularly delighted to be selected to create the carpets for the Senate of Canada’s temporary new home in Ottawa.
In the last few years, designing carpets for cruise ships has been a bigger part of our business. Clémence Hardelay is the Project Manager at Creative Matters who works most closely with this sector, so to start out we asked for her favourite piece. She chose the irregularly-shaped inset carpet for the jewellery store on board Celebrity Edge.
Imagine our delight in 2017 when New York’s Gachot Studios invited us to create all the floorcoverings for Detroit’s new 129-room Shinola Hotel, one of the many projects that are creating massive renewal in the city.