Celebrity Homes With Antique Rugs

Walking on Art: Antique Rugs in Celebrity Homes

For thousands of years, Oriental carpets have been used in homes and public places to add comfort, luxury, beauty, and even a sense of occasion to life’s events. Cultures around the world have crafted, used, and valued rugs and carpets for millennia, and these lovely handmade rugs have a rich history.

The intricate designs and stunning colors woven into these carpets make them works of art. In addition to their beauty, thanks to the high quality, antique rugs are durable, having survived perhaps centuries of use to bring their good looks into the current era.

These rugs are as much a picture of the society that made them as any artwork hanging on walls. In modern times, the luxury of living with antique rugs and carpets appeals to numerous celebrities. Collecting these objects of beauty has become almost a hobby for some, and many well-known personalities have brought antique carpets into their homes. Explore some of our favorite antique rugs in celebrity homes.

Antique Agra Rug: The Home of Celebrities Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

Multiple antique rugs make for luxurious living in the Beverly Hills home of celebrities Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi. One of the house’s many highlights is an antique Indian Agra rug in the generous entrance hall. Despite the luxurious beauty surrounding them, the couple is quite at home, along with their two dogs, a black standard poodle called Mabel and a white rescue dog called Wolf.

Portia de Rossi and Ellen DeGeneres.

Agra is an ancient Indian city and the home of the Taj Mahal. In addition to this global treasure, the city is famed for weaving gorgeous carpets sought after to this day. Weaving began here around 1530. These treasured rugs have singular traits: Designs feature spiraling vines and sometimes animal motifs, including birds, elephants, and rarely, humans; and they are made using vegetable dyes.

Hues include soft blues, gold, soft warm tones from rusty reds to pinks, and a lavender blue unique to Agra rugs. Overall, the color palette gives these carpets a delicate, otherworldly look that adds grace and elegance to any space.

Antique Serapi Rug: The Clintons’ Washington, D.C., Home

Hilary and Bill Clinton’s home in Washington, D.C., features a warm-toned antique Persian Serapi rug in the cherished solarium, decorated in shades of caramel and red. Serapi carpets are traditionally thought to have originated from a village in northwestern Persian / Iran, as it was the custom to name carpets after the village of the rug’s origins. However, the entire Heriz district, which is near Tabriz, also wove these types of rugs.

Bill and Hillary Clinton.

The characteristic designs of these rugs became popular with Americans and Britons. These carpets have specific features that made them easily identifiable: a large central medallion; noticeable corner pieces, often featuring oak leaves and foliage; warm color palettes; and they were made using the Turkish rug / symmetrical, knot.

The Clinton’s beautiful antique Serapi rug.

Antique Leleu Rug: The Celebrity Home of Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan

Even though the New York City apartment of actors Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan has been home to a family with four children as well as animals, there is always room for beauty. The couple welcomes visitors into their celebrity home with an antique French Leleu rug in the entryway.

Michael J Fox and Tracy Pollan.

These soft-toned carpets are part of the worldwide Deco movement in the early part of the 20th century. They feature European and some Chinese designs, with the most popular carpets coming from France, China, and Scandinavia. These beautiful rugs have unique characteristics including bold colors, angular patterns, and no elaborate ornamentation.

The Leleu rug in the entryway of Michael J Fox and Tracy Pollan’s home.

Though the colors are strong, the overall effect is soft and pleasing. These carpets are easy to live with, and they fit in beautifully with mid-century interior designs.

Antique Bibikabad Carpet: The Home of Celebrities George Stephanopolous and Ali Wentworth

When celebrities George Stephanopolous and Ali Wentworth moved into a New York apartment, they started with a clean slate, trusting designer Michael Smith to create a sophisticated haven for them. One of the features of this urban home is an antique Persian Bibikabad carpet as the foundation for a comfortable sitting area.

Geroge Stephanopoulos Ali Wentworth Nazmiyal

George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth.

These antique Persian rugs are a testament to Persian culture, but the carpets are made using Turkish rug weaving techniques. These rugs were made in western Persia in the village of Bibi Kabad, which means “the village of grandmother,” and they have distinct features, including: a warm color palette; intricate designs entirely covering the rug; and paisley patterns.

George Stephanopoulos Bibikabad Carpet Nazmiyal

The antique Bibikabad carpet in the home of George Stephanopoulos and Ali Wentworth.

These carpets add distinctive style and a sense of traditional pride, as they were handmade and reflect the values of those who wove them.

Beautiful Rugs Are Not Just for Celebrities

While beautiful and exotic rugs are a favorite of celebrities, they can fit into your home as well. Antique rug collecting makes it easy to indulge your tastes for fine things. The experts at Nazmiyal have assembled a wide variety of gorgeous carpets of many types, and they stand ready to help you. The handy online rug guide is also a great information source. Contact us today to begin your journey into the world of luxurious antique carpets.