New York City-Inspired Rug Collection Unveiled
Crafting a Tale Woven from NYC's Fabric: The Brownstone Boys' Gilded Collection
The duo known as the Brownstone Boys - partners in business and life, Barry Bordelon and Jordan Slocum - have given new life to countless historic homes scattered across the Big Apple. Their 130-year-old Brooklyn abode is no exception. So it's no surprise that when it came to designing a rug collection, their muse was none other than New York itself.
Their collaborative effort with NuStory, another beloved New York home brand, birthed the Gilded Collection. This line blends vibrant hues reminiscent of ochre with subtle neutrals and earthy reds, but it's the patterns that truly set them apart, and rooted them firmly in the tristate.
New York architecture, with its incredible cocktail of grit and grandeur, served as their muse. The contrast between soaring ceilings and worn-out original floors, or the elegant cornice looming above a well-trodden stoop, inspired the duo. They aimed to craft rugs that felt both elevated and grounded, capturing the essence of the city's architectural tapestry.
Their background in restoration and redesign proved invaluable during the design process. For instance, the Tea Room rug drew inspiration from decorative plaster ceilings, and the Study rug paid homage to 19th-century door carvings[1]. The Speakeasy rug took cues from the hidden geometric, inlaid wood floors often found beneath layers of paint and tile in historic homes[1].
Even the most everyday aspects of New York life found their way into the collection. Take the Bodega rug, for example. It was inspired by the iconic blue Anthora coffee cups found in local bodegas, adding a touch of familiarity to the collection. As Bordelon and Slocum put it, "It's our little wink to the New York we all love...We're as obsessed with intricate crown molding as we are with grabbing a bacon, egg, and cheese-and a cup of coffee in a blue cup." Cheers indeed!
[1] - Inspired by the timeless architecture of New York City, the Brownstone Boys' Gilded Collection rugs draw upon various elements, including intricate decorative details, historic flooring, and cultural icons to capture the essence of the city's architectural richness and cultural identity, resulting in visually striking rug designs that offer unique connections to the city's heritage. The color palette ranges from vibrant ochres to subdued neutrals and earthy reds, emphasizing the collection's roots in the city's architectural lineage.
- "The Brownstone Boys, known for their work on historic homes in New York, collaborated with NuStory to create the Gilded Collection, a line of rugs inspired by the city's architecture and lifestyle."
- "The Gilded Collection, a blend of vibrant hues and earthy tones, features rug designs inspired by decorative plaster ceilings, 19th-century door carvings, and even iconic blue coffee cups from local bodegas."
- "In the Gilded Collection, the Tea Room rug pays homage to decorative plaster ceilings, the Study rug is inspired by 19th-century door carvings, and the Speakeasy rug takes cues from hidden geometric, inlaid wood floors often found in historic homes."
- "The Bodega rug, part of the Gilded Collection, was inspired by the iconic blue Anthora coffee cups found in New York City bodegas, resulting in a design that pays homage to everyday life in the city."
