On Monday we attended another great Designer Day panel at 7 W New York, which took place during the New York International Carpet Show. Moderated by Roderick N. Shade and rounded out by design gurus Alexa Hampton, Christopher Coleman and carpet expert Neslihan Christobel Jevremovic, we gained a new-found respect for the carpet and realized just how integral it is in the design process.

The dynamic, design-savvy group discussed “Build Your Project from the Ground Up: The Decorative and Oriental Rug as Design Inspiration” and took attendees through photos of past projects, explaining their carpet choices- whether the rug was to “stand out or blend in,” as Jevremovic explained or, as Hampton put it, “ground a room.”

The Panel: Christopher Coleman, Alexa Hampton, Neslihan Christobel Jevremovic and Roderick N. Shade

Christopher Coleman discusses one of his projects

After the presentation and a lively Q + A session, we enjoyed a light lunch. Then – feeling incredibly inspired – we went off to check out the gorgeous carpets displayed on the 11th floor including ones from Asha Carpet, Afghan Allure, Lapchi, Haynes Robinson, Yayla and Siberian Carpet Company. Some were so pretty we felt bad walking on them!

Layers of intricate rugs at Yayla

Afghan Allure's booth

Brooklyn-based Asha Carpets' booth

Detail shot of a handwoven Asha carpet

Siberian Carpet Company

Haynes Robinson

Lapchi Carpet's booth

Close-up of a Lapchi original