Moore House Design & Loloi Rugs Partnership

J.P.Franzen Architects, Kaesmann Builders, Moore House Design Interiors, Photographed by Tim Lenz

I’ve honestly been a longtime fan of Loloi Rugs. Their rugs have always felt layered and storied to me, full of texture, artistry, and craftsmanship. So when the opportunity to collaborate came up, it was very much aligned and all I said was “HELL YEAH”!

You know how deeply we care about telling the story of a home through the pieces we choose and design. Every beam, every finish, every textile matters to me and our entire team. Loloi just gets that. There’s a shared appreciation for restraint, for depth, for letting materials speak for themselves.

With our Connecticut Captain’s Cottage project, which was recently featured in Architectural Digest, the goal from day one was to honor the home’s historic bones. My team and our incredible clients were all aligned on that from day one. We kept as much of the original character as we could, exposed beams, restored millwork, layers of patina. Then we layered in custom details and furnishings we wanted them inspired by traditional nautical craftsmanship (the home’s persona and a bit of New York grit, which was our awesome client’s style).

What I love most about Loloi’s rugs, especially this collection, is how beautifully they age. They soften. They deepen. They hold the imprint of real life. Every footstep, every time a sofa shifts slightly, it becomes part of the story. It feels lived in, in the best way. These rugs dont just last they age to perfection and I will always support them!

— THE LIVING ROOM—

When I designed the living room, which sits just off the kitchen, I was very aware of how dramatically the volume of the space shifts. You move from high, vaulted ceilings into a much lower, more intimate room, and I wanted that transition to feel intentional. This space was meant to be a place to unwind after dinner, for long evenings by the fire and lounging movie nights with family. In a room like this, the rug truly sets the tone.

I really needed the rug to reinforce the transition from kitchen to living room, something soft underfoot that absorbs sound and invites you to settle in. Elma-01-wheat does that beautifully, which is why I chose it for this space. I loved the muted palette it gives a sense of calm, grounding the space with just enough variation to create movement without pulling focus. It brings an immediate sense of ease to the room when I put it in and really allowed the surrounding elements to melt together.

— THE DINING ROOM —

Walking into the dining room, I really wanted it to feel like a cocoon the moment you stepped inside. A space that naturally makes you want to linger a little longer at the table. I kept imagining long dinners, slow conversations, and that comfortable feeling when no one rushes to clear the plates. That’s why I chose the SCU-01 Beige / Sand from Loloi Rugs.

With hand-troweled walls in Farrow & Ball Shadow White, layered drapery, and deeper chair upholstery, the rug was the piece that quietly pulled everything together. It sets an easy rhythm in the room. Nothing feels forced. Everything feels intentional.

What I love most is the cross-hatching and the variation in the vertical lines. I wanted it to almost reflect the texture of the beautiful plaster undulated walls when the light hits it in the morning. For me everything needs to feel connected. So the room almost feels like a storyline that you travel with.

— THE BEDROOM —

This room might be my favorite. I always imagined it as the place you retreat to after a long day at the pool, skin still warm from the sun, hair a little salty, completely unhurried. I wanted the rug to be the first thing your bare feet touch before you crawl into bed and fully exhale. The WOOSWDS-02OT00 from Loloi Rugs sets that tone instantly.

The custom Roweam bed anchors the space with clean, simple lines. Around it, we layered a mix of vintage finds, a reworked Napoleon chair and ottoman, and a simple cabinet that adds both character and utility. The gathering of the corners on the Napoleon Chair and ottoman almost feel like the patterns in the rug and I LOVE IT!

The palette deepens here with warm rusts, rich browns, and soft naturals. Everything works together to enhance the rug’s grounding presence.

— THE BATHROOM —

Walking into the bedroom bath, with doors that open directly out to the pool, I knew the rug needed to be matted and tightly woven for any wet feet. I’ve always said rugs ALWAYS in a bathroom. No bath mats here.

I chose the OI 01 Blue Natural from Loloi Rug for that purpose. It’s smaller in scale, but perfectly suited for wet feet and sun-soaked afternoons.

Bathrooms are often overlooked, but this rug brings real soul into the space. The subtle blue gently grounds the room, balancing the warm and cool tones I chose to play with consistently in this project really shine through in this rug.

— THE SMOKING ROOM —

Whilst no one smokes in this house this room I wanted to feel like a secret New York prohibition hideaway where you light up a cigar and pour a bourbon and well….. the rest of the night is then HISTORY! Hidden behind a seamless paneled wall, is the smoking room.

We selected Rug: STL-01 Mocha, because the rug has weight, in the best way. It anchors the room like a poured whiskey at the end of a long day. The mocha tone pulls the light down, softens the edges, and sets the tone for slower conversations and sharper thinking. It’s not trying to be clever, it just is. Paired with dark wood, worn leather, and a playlist that leans jazz... it’s a room for decisions, not distractions.

— Q&A WITH LOLOI & BLAIR —

Why do you go to Loloi when you're searching for a rug for a project?

For me, a rug is one of the most grounding elements in a space — it sets the tone before adding anything else. Loloi’s collections strike that rare balance of soul and accessibility, which is why I was initially drawn to them. Their pieces feel storied but still fresh, and I love how they play with texture, patina, and scale in a way that doesn’t overpower a room. I also really trust their consistency. When we’re pulling together a space with layers of vintage, custom, and handcrafted materials, I need to know that the rug will hold its own and elevate everything around it. Loloi gets that.

What are you looking for in a rug for any project, not just this one?

I’m always looking for a rug that can anchor the room without overtaking it. It should feel lived-in from the moment it’s laid down, like it’s always been there. Texture is big for me. I want something that invites you to sit on the floor, kick your shoes off, and’ just be in the space. I also look for a sense of depth, whether that comes from a washed-out palette, a vintage-inspired weave, or subtle patterning that shifts in different light. It has to have that quiet presence. If it feels too shiny, too flat, or too perfect, it loses the soul I’m after. I want a rug to hold space the way furniture or art does, but with softness and intention.

What do you know you're getting from a Loloi rug (or pillow, or art!)?

With Loloi, I know I’m getting pieces that feel considered. Whether it’s a rug, a pillow, or a piece of art, there’s always a tactile quality, something that adds warmth and dimension without trying too hard. The materials are thoughtful, the palettes are nuanced, and the craftsmanship always shows up. I trust that what I bring into a space from Loloi won’t just fill a gap, it’ll quietly elevate the room. There’s a groundedness to their pieces that supports whatever story we’re telling in the design, and I love that!

What advice do you have for someone just beginning a career in interior design?

Stay deeply curious. It’s easy to get caught up in trends or trying to prove you belong, but the most meaningful designs come from a place of observation and pay attention to how people feel in a space, not just how it looks. The best part of a project is when you get to curl up with your clients in a space and see how they interact with it. I had one of the best moments of my career talking to these clients and getting to experience how their family lives within the space. And don’t be afraid to start small—styling a bookshelf, rethinking a hallway, rearranging a room. That’s where your voice starts to take shape. PLAY ALWAYS! The most valuable thing you can bring to this work is your point of view, so protect it, nurture it, and trust that it will evolve over time.

What’s a personal quirk or habit of yours that has unexpectedly influenced your design style?

I’m someone who rearranges objects constantly, books, vases, branches, even the salt on the kitchen counter. I can’t help but fine-tune a space until it feels right, even if it’s just for me. I used to think it was just a habit, but I’ve realized it’s actually how I listen to a room. That quiet restlessness has shaped my design style, it’s why I pay attention to negative space, to how something breathes in a corner or glows in afternoon light. It’s less about perfection and more about presence. That instinct to shift and edit has become one of my most trusted tools.

What’s a common piece of advice in interior design that you completely disagree with, and why?

That every room needs a pop of color. I hear that all the time, and I think it can lead to design choices that feel forced or disconnected from the space. For me, a room doesn’t need to shout to be impactful. Sometimes the most powerful spaces are the quietest ones. The rooms that are built on tone, texture, and something a bit off about it. I’d rather see a room layered in neutrals with depth than something that’s relying on a bold accent just to feel complete. Color should feel earned, not obligatory.

If you had a soundtrack as an interior design, what genres or specific songs would best represent your style?

It would definitely be a mix of old soul, ambient jazz, and a little French psych rock—something that lingers, builds slowly, and surprises you halfway through. "I think my style lives somewhere between Miles Davis’s Blue in Green and Erykah Badu’s Didn’t Cha Know. It’s rooted in jazz—improvisational, intuitive, full of nuance—but there’s also soul and softness woven through. I’m drawn to rhythm and restraint, spaces that unfold like a slow burn.

What’s a completely irrational but deeply held belief you have about design?

That furniture can feel emotions. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I genuinely believe a chair knows when it’s in the wrong spot, or when it’s being ignored. I’ve moved the same side table five times in one project just to give it the moment it deserves. Design isn’t static. I believe objects carry a certain energy, and part of our role as designers is to listen closely enough to understand where they want to be. It may sound irrational, but it’s never steered me wrong. That instinct is part of why I started designing furniture. With Roweam, I wanted to create pieces made to be passed down, generation to generation, so the memory of your loved ones doesn’t fade. It’s woven into every stitch, every curve, every hand-finished detail. A quiet reminder that they were here and still are.