Annie Sherburne trained at Hertfordshire school of Art and Design, St.Martins (fashion) and Goldsmiths (Textiles).

Annie has run her own business since 1980 and has been incorporating environmentally friendly materials into her design work for 10 years and winning prestigious awards.

More recently, she has designed unique and colourful new rugs using a combination of yarns, which represent some of the best environmentally friendly selections of yarns currently available. The yarns include Alpaca from UK flocks, recycled yarns and naturally dyed linen.

Rug designs include the landscapes, Moon in a boat series, which have been designed specifically for city loft-style rooms with multi functions using extra long pile techniques developed initially for Hussein Chalayan, the fashion designer.

Of these pieces, the ‘White Horse’ in our picture, reached the final of the Homes and Gardens Classic design Awards at the V&A.

This striking piece includes some naturally dyed yarns, cream alpaca, recycled white wool, and factory ends. The long, shaggy ‘turf’ laps over and softens the lines of the running horse.

The simple shape of a running horse is based on the white chalk horses cut into the hills of the UK, which some scholars believe to have been ancient advertising hoardings to - get your horses here.

Annie’s shop at 126 Columbia Road London E2 is only open on Sunday mornings with the famous flower market, or by appointment.

Web: http://www.anniesherburne.co.uk

Tel: (0207) 328 2182

A rug is often the one detail that ties a room together, or provides a contrasting element that gives a room life and personality.

ILVA’s online Autumn Catalogue displays their best ever choice of exciting rugs in different categories, from hand tufted, 100% wool, patchwork and rya to cow skin; some are subtle and discreet while others are bright and vibrant, but each one is a small work of art in itself.

Our picture features a dazzling selection and includes:

• Cow – skin in several variations 3.5-4m with embossed zebra or tiger look £249 and dyed in various colours £299.
• Kailash - rya rug in wool/art silk and cotton, in stone colour from 140×200cm £229.
• Naram - Knotted rug 100% New Zealand wool, azure blue 140×200cm £229.
• Cow Mosaic - cow skin patchwork rug, in reds 140X200cm £299.

And lots more, and most are available in a variety of colours and sizes.

Web: http://ilva.co.uk

Tel: (0845 245 8285)

For over two and a half thousand years, the nomadic peoples of the remote Tien Shan Mountains in Kyrgyzstan have created their dazzling felt rugs.
The Felt Company now imports these vibrant works of art direct from their makers in Kyrgyzstan to Britain and Tim Moock of Felt has set up a fair trade agreement with the nomadic peoples, bringing their superbly hardwearing rugs from the Tien Shan peaks to sit happily in Britain’s town and country houses.

Known as Shyrdaks, these wool rugs have a tough flattened felt base hand sewn with geometric surface patterns in coloured felts.  Motifs are chosen to bestow blessings, describe a scene or tell a story of life in the Mountains of Heaven.

Shyrdaks are as practical as they are decorative; made outdoors by the tribal women, each rug takes a master cutter and her team of makers between 10 and 20 days to complete.
 
The base of each rug is made from felted raw wool and the surface felt colours range from the dazzlingly bright to subtly muted tones, offering a wide range of decorative possibilities; each Shyrdak tells a unique story and comes with an explanation of the symbols to reveal their meaning.

The rugs are perfect for both floors and walls; sizes range from small (0.8m x 1m) to room sized (2m x 3.5m).  Prices start from £400 and go up to £5,000 depending on size and design.

Felt’s London showroom is at: 26 Glenfield Road, London SW12 0HG (by appointment).

Web: http://www.feltrugs.co.uk
Tel:  (020) 8772 0358

Stairrods UK has introduced an innovative new way to bind custom-made stair runners, rugs and runners, which are easily done at home at an affordable price.

Easybind is an attractive rope-styled edging, which is easy to apply and available in 23 different colours, including more elaborate and colourful effects with three colours twisted together.

You can now choose any design of carpet, in any width and have it turned into attractive stair runners, rugs or runners, elegantly finished and with no unsightly whipping or bulky borders in sight.

Easybind is refreshingly elegant and smart and when applied at the same time as the fitting of a stair runner, ensures it is both fast and economic; it also makes it simple to match rugs and hall runners made at the same time.

Easybind can be applied to all types of carpet and some natural flooring and retails at around £6 per linear metre.

Web: http://www.stairrods.co.uk
Tel:  (01207) 591543

Add a splash of real oriental style and colour to your living room with this beautiful hand knotted wool rug from IKEA.

This attractive rug is soil-repellent and so hard-wearing that even heavy furniture leaves no permanent marks.

Combine with Stopp or Patrull anti-slip/rug underlay for enhanced safety and comfort.

The Persisk Hamadan Rug measures 300 cm by 80 cm, and has 100% wool pile with 100% cotton warp.

The rug is priced at £200.

web: http://www.ikea.com
tel: (0845) 355 1141