Our earliest ancestors began decorating their dwellings and textiles with geometric patterns thousands of years ago. We can find geometric patterns in the architecture of civilizations all over the world from the Aztec to ancient Greece to Africa.. The other amazing thing about geometric patterns is that even though their origins are ancient, their sensibility is very modern. Interior designers have discovered that geometric rugs are a great for pulling together antique and modern elements in a room into a harmonious and distinctive whole as we shall in the 14 gorgeous interiors with geometric rugs in today’s post.
The fretwork in the windows of the Amber fort in Jaipur, India casts a geometric net on the floor.
In the 1970’s British interior designer David Hicks derived geometric patterns from archival drawings of ancient architecture from may civilizations. Hicks great sense of interior decoration popularized his geometric rugs and fabrics. A cream and taupe geometric rug pulls together Neoclassical and English traditional styles in yellow, pink and white.
Another view of David Hicks living room.
Geometric floor patterns probably first appeared in stone and later in wood as in this handsome brown and honey wood inlay floor in a hallway designed by Brian J. McCarthy. Note how the modern abstract painting and traditional elements are unified by the geometric patterned floor.
The ancient pattern of the custom cream and grey geometric rug is a perfect complement for the classical trompe l’oeil walls in this hallway by Brian J. McCarthy. A black floor and white drapes add contrast and bracket the taupe and grey shades in the room.
A custom grey geometric rug in an ancient Greek-key pattern is perfect for displaying contemporary art and vibrant blue sea blue, green, pink and yellow in a stunning living room by Brian J. McCarthy.
Asmara’s Adelphi UG oriental rug expresses the ancient Greek key motif in sea, blue, aqua and grey in textured handspun wool. Rug Design © Asmara, Inc.
A custom geometric rug in the same pattern as in the classical hallway above is a perfect complement for green Chinoiserie wall-covering, Neoclassical fireplace and French and English furniture in a handsome living room by Brian J. McCarthy.
The loose trellis pattern of the blue and white geometric rug brings a feeling of relaxation while the white background of the rug makes the blue paneled library feel well lit. The white chandelier adds a luminous touch.
Asmara’s Ascot DB needlepoint rug is a homage to Billy Baldwin. Rug Design © Asmara, Inc.
The tonal pink and red small scale pattern of the geometric provides a sophisticated backdrop for for contemporary black and white photographs while broad pink and grey stripes horizontal striped walls create movement. in a living room by Brian J. McCarthy.
A crisp black and white geometric Moroccan style rug complements an iron day bed and red and blue fabrics in Brian J. McCarthy’s New York study. Note the references to classical Greece in the design of the daybed, the black and white pillow and the red and white wave patterned drapes.
A charcoal and grey Greek key geometric rug anchors contemporary art and a modern gray sofa with Neoclassical inspiration.
The cream and green geometric pattern of the Bamboo needlepoint rug pulls together the blue traditional sofa in the seating area connecting the bedroom with the red living room in a Maryland home designed by Susan Nelson. Rug Design © Asmara, Inc.
Asmara’s Bamboo needlepoint rug was inspired by French marble inlay floors and is a perfect complement to the classical lines of the blue velvet sofa in the bedroom sitting area designed by Susan Nelson. Rug Design © Asmara, Inc.
The Bamboo needlepoint rug is handmade with handspun yarn and has a linen like texture. Rug Design © Asmara, Inc.
The blue, beige and white pyramid pattern of the geometric rug complements floral patterns and able daybed in a room designed by Brian J. McCarthy.
Brian J. McCarthy selected the same custom cream and grey geometric rug for the dining room where it is perfect for pulling together lavender and white neoclassical dining chairs, crystal chandelier and an elegant round dining table with a pedestal that reminds us of classical Greek marble sculptures. Do you see a resonance with David Hicks living room pictured at the beginning of this post?
A custom golden-beige and cream geometric rug with a pattern inspired by African Kuba cloth is a an elegant complement to a Neoclassical bed and modern art in Brian J. McCarthy’s bedroom.
A custom blue and white geometric rug with a pattern reminiscent of the fretwork in the windows of the first image complements the classically inspired red and white bed canopy and the cream and red chintz drapery and upholstery in a bedroom by Brian J. McCarthy.
Images courtesy David Hicks, Cote de Texas Blog, Brian J. McCarthy and Susan Nelson Interiors.