Kush featured in Rue Magazine!

Rugs are a central design piece that can be the starting point for building an entire room. Even a neutral colored rug can add to the warmth and comfort of a space, while a dramatic rug can transform it entirely. Whether you are looking for high impact or quiet unity in your rug, Rebecca Lurie and Brian Robins from Kush Rugs can help you select the perfect piece.
Both worked their way up in the rug world, Brian as a rug washer and Rebecca as a ‘flipper/shipper,’ in industry parlance. They “fell in love with the unconventional nature of the rug business, and with the timelessness, permanence, and complex beauty of the product.” We visited their showroom in Portland to learn more.
You both worked your way through the rug industry, what inspired you to start a business together?
Brian: Rebecca has been travelling for nearly half her life. She first left home for a year in West Africa at age 20, and has since visited countless countries on multiple continents over the years. Rebecca’s interest is in culture and religion, and the art forms that serve the purpose of expressing both. Rugs fit naturally into her sense of what’s important and inspiring, and after so many years of negotiating the developing world on her own, the idea to start a business seemed obvious and far preferable to working for someone else. Oh, and she loves math.
Rebecca: Brian loves film and photography. Composition and color plays a large part in both mediums and is applicable to rugs and interior design. When designing rugs he is comfortable reworking classical motifs, but is most energized by riffing off modern design and pop culture. And he hates math…
Brian: We have very different taste and perspectives from one another. Our yin and yang balance out the gallery. If we both like a rug or design, we know it’s a winner!
Your showroom is so open and feels like a luxury bazaar. What was your inspiration?
We looked for a gallery that had a rustic, industrial feel and beautiful windows, and we put in a glass roll up garage door for summer. Rugs are always the center of attention here. It’s a treat dressing up the windows and seeing people press against the glass to see in. Our design concept was to make to space feel approachable. People drop in to say hello and then realize they have been hanging out for an hour. Mission accomplished!
There are so many styles of rugs- how to you define what fits into the “Kush look”?
We divide our rugs into 4 broad categories. Traditional, transitional, modern, and custom. Our focus is on ethically sourced, handmade rugs. They are mostly new, although there are a few vintage and antique beauties that we couldn’t pass up.
To find your handmade rugs, you must travel frequently to some very inspiring locations!
The best work trip, hands down, is Turkey. Istanbul is the most beautiful and romantic city in the world; Anatolia is wild, vast, and ancient, and the coast is pure Mediterranean paradise. Turkish food is unstoppable, the people enchanting, and the weaving tradition is inspired.
And our favorite place to relax? Astoria, Oregon. We live in the greatest state.
Nothing beats being home! Speaking of homes, what tips do you have for someone who is rug shopping- maybe for the first time?
Take time to educate your eye. Visit at least a couple shops so that you can see the many different types of rugs available. You need to learn what moves you, and what works for the space- and then you look for a rug that does both. Start a relationship with a gallery that will allow you take rugs home on a trial basis. Seeing rugs in their intended space as opposed to a gallery setting is illuminating. Like fashion, everyone has a strong opinion about rugs. Ultimately the right rug is an expression of personal style.

Travis: December 2001 - September, 2013

It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the death of Travis the boy dog.

Travis was a very, very good boy. He spent his days as shop dog at Kush, perched regally on a rug stack or upside down with his legs in the air, encouraging belly rubs. Travis greeted our visitors with a calm, easy-going manner and watched our movements with his shining, chocolate brown eyes, front paws crossed politely in front of him, eyebrows working up and down independently of one another, as if watching us was all he ever cared to do.

   

He may very well have been the most expressive dog in the history of dogs.

He learned to love the mailman, and even the UPS guy, and eventually he announced their arrival before they turned the corner onto our street. He recognized and loved our repeat customers, and he was always eager to befriend the newcomers. Strangers knew his name, and visited him regularly. He was a part of the team, and days were not complete when he was absent.

  

Travis spent his nights with his family, following us from room to room, soaking up the laughter, love, noise, and ritual that made his days complete. He always found a spot that was central among us so that he could be out of the way, but watching our movements, reading our faces, and hearing our voices. He watched us endlessly, happiest when we were happy, but searching for any sign of sadness or upset, eyebrows narrating his perception of our feelings, as if watching us was all he ever cared to do.

Travis loved his people purely and unconditionally and he showed us, every single day, just how to be. Happiest with the ones we love.

When Travis was younger, he accidentally killed a chicken. She’d gotten out of the chicken yard and the neighbor threw her over the fence into his territory. He couldn’t help it, I’m sure. I got home from work that day and found the feathers, and saw his shame. After a few moments he reluctantly showed me where he had buried her - upside down in a stand of bamboo, so that only her legs were visible above ground, camouflaged by the shoots. He’d hidden her there, because he knew I cared for her, but he fessed up right away.

Throughout his life, Travis aspired to be a master squirrel hunter. With vigor and enthusiasm, he barreled out the back door every morning, intent on chasing down the hoard of backyard squirrel intruders. His lifelong failure to catch one was never a deterrent. Travis knew that you should never give up on your dreams.  

But mostly, Travis was not a flashy dog. I don’t have long list of anecdotes about his foibles and mishaps. Travis was a devoted and flawless companion, whose sole ambition was to be with his people, and ensure their wellbeing. And eat.

Travis died peacefully in his home on Thursday, September 19th, under the tree and the full moon, in our arms. He was even more handsome than I can say.

He leaves behind so many people, and so many animals.

Clark, who made him happier than he had ever been, and who inspired countless toothy smiles.

Ruby and Owen, his adopted kids, who taught him how to be a family dog, and whom he protected as his own.

Trevor and Alan, the cats who forced him to accept them, and showed him how to love cats. They were his closest animal pals, he loved them, and his embarrassment over this obvious fact was hilarious to observe.

Christa and Eric, the Kush team, who loved him as their own and spoiled him rotten during his long days at work. Every day he looked forward to seeing them.

His grandparents, who loved him and cared for him during my frequent trips away, and for whom he flashed his last toothy smile. They were his second family, he loved them completely.

Brian, his oldest friend, who taught him who to protect.

And me. The luckiest and most heartbroken girl in the world.

We will forever miss his smile.

Ahmadi Event at Kush Rugs

What an honor it was to host the Ahmadi brothers at Kush last Thursday evening. Seldom do we have the chance to attach names and faces to the people who make our work so meaningful. Seldom can we share such concrete examples of the global scope and human drama behind what we do.

Donning jeans and black blazers, Zubair and Jawid Ahmadi sat atop a heap of handmade rugs and with humility, charm, and humor they told their immigrant story to a rapt crowd. We listened to the unfolding of an American Dream; a Hazara family of 10 children, refugees of Northern Afghanistan, who passed through Pakistan and Iran in pursuit of safety and opportunity. Having finally found refuge in L.A., the Ahmadi family moved from home to home, fleeing landlords who became wise to their teeming family stacked in bunk beds, exceeding capacity. Zubair and Jawid learned the art of antique rug repair from relatives in Iran and the U.S. and the skills they honed were the seeds of their entrepreneurship. With a firm handle on rug construction and classic design, a first generation thirst for contemporary influence, as well as a commitment to the Hazara people of their heritage, the Ahmadi rug production was born.

Thanks to the wonderful questions from the audience, we learned so much from these men-- their design inspiration, the importance of materials, the bonds of family. We heard tales of weavers adapting under fluctuating Taliban rule, the trials of running a young, international business in underdeveloped countries, the triumph of an ethnic minority family in the face of unimaginable challenges.

The evolution of their ancient native craft, brought from afar and developed to shine in a modern world, is a story of relentless hard work. The Amadi Rug Company is a thriving business, straddling the contrary worlds of LA and Kabul, inexorably tied to tradition yet fueled by contemporary hunger for quality, beauty, and design.

Afghan Rug event

Mosaic is the newest addition to Kush's private label collection. Rebecca found Mosaic while on her latest travels to India. A flat weave hand made with soft wool, Mosaic is beautiful to look at and lovely on the toes.

Here is a close up photo that highlights the variegated color and warm feel. Mosaic may be ordered in runners and custom sizes. Stop by Kush and check out our samples. Full size rugs are on the way.

Tamarian Tibetan Rug Event

Thanks to Ryan of Tamarian Rugs and all of our guests who attended our Tibetan rug event! We learned a bit and got to peruse the latest ideas in modern rug design. To view more stunning Tibetan rugs click here.

Ryan co-owner of Tamarian.

The party in full swing. Fun!

Jason Ball showing off his cool Socks.

Andrea Jolly, Wendy Broadstone O'Brien, & Chris Healy.

Designer Open House

Wednesday, April 25th * 1:00 - 6:00 PM
205 NW 10th ave. Portland, OR

New rug lines:

New Moon

Michaelian & Kohlberg

Food and drinks will be provided. We look forward to connecting with our friends and colleagues in the design community!

See you soon,
Team Kush

Suzani Rug

Lovely Suzani design in Tibetan weave.

Treasures from Turkey

Rebecca recently traveled to Turkey, where she purchased some beautiful vintage and antique textiles. Today I want to highlight a couple pieces from the latest shipment from that have really been tugging at my heartstrings.

The first is a vintage Anatolian Kilim. It's fairly small, about 3'x3', with a richly variegated ground field and a warm red tribal motif in the center. It has a natural sense of balance and symmetry. The colors in both the field and the foreground fade vertically from deep, rich tones to a more muted pallete at the top, lending a sense of weight to the piece. Mighty purdy.

The second is an antique Tulu from the early 20th century. Tulus are village rugs, and were not traditionally woven for commercial use. They typically have a shaggy, sometimes looped mohair pile, and feature a wild variety of designs. This piece has definitely been used over the course of its life and has worn and faded wonderfully. It has a comforting, familiar quality, somewhat like a favorite pair of old jeans, and in the right light, the wear pattern actually gives it a silky, almost fluid appearance.

Join us for Interior Design + Wine!

Hosted by Rejuvenation: 1100 SE Grand on the 2nd floor
When: Thursday, September 30, 2010 6:00 – 8:30

Click here for more details.

This tasteful (and tasty) night of mingling with Portland design enthusiasts includes lively presentations by Michael Steuve of SRM and Jennifer Leonard of Nifelle Designs that include fabrics, furniture and color samples. Get the experts' best ideas for updating your home based on the themes of designing for less and layering styles and periods to create a contemporary look.

Get ideas, get inspired and shop Kush and Rejuvenation during this special after-hours event.