Drawn to glamour, symmetry, and the Art Deco aesthetic of the 1930’s and 40’s, we are diving in to the design process of interior designer Susan Van Meter and exploring the bespoke Roger Oates rugs and runners she uses within her projects.

Shaped by early years painting with her grandmother and countless hours browsing antique shops, Susan Van Meter has developed her signature interior design style, reminiscent of the glitz and glamour of the old Hollywood movies she would grow up watching with her grandparents. With an impressive portfolio, Susan has done it all, from studio apartments, to restaurants, right through to opulent London terraces. While Susan admits she is naturally drawn to the elegance and symmetry found in Georgian period properties, it is clear to see that her creativity is not confined to one style.

When she is not designing, Susan can be found wandering the many parks of London or spending a quiet afternoon in an art gallery. We managed to find a moment with her to gain insight on her design process, her iconic staircase transformations, and the role sustainability plays within her work.

If you follow Roger Oates, you most likely will have seen Susan Van Meters work in the form of this glorious London staircase adorned with Chatham Multi. As part of the renovation of a 5 story, grade II listed property in the heart of Belgravia, Susan’s client approached her with dreams of a scheme that incorporated colour, texture and pattern, whilst retaining the original historic details and feel of the interior.

We asked about her design process and how a project like this is approached, Susan explains:

“We have a questionnaire for our new clients to complete, this gives us an idea of what they are trying to achieve. We expand on this with further conversations with the client to “get into their heads” and fully understand what it is they are wanting to achieve. We then produce a wish list of our understanding of what this means. We might send some inspirational images via Pinterest. Measurements are taken, plans and elevations drawn up, finishes are collated on mood boards. We present to the client, revisions are made if requested. Once we are at the right stage we create 3D photo realistic renders for client approval. A budget is created and adhered to, a design and construction package created and sent for pricing using contractors we know and trust. We project manage the process for the client with reports sent regularly to track quality of work, progress and adherence to the budget. We hold the client’s proverbial hand throughout the process.”

The Belgravia Townhouse Staircase

For this specific project, Susan Van Meter opted for our Chatham Multi, working with our design team to create a bespoke width. By adding in some additional stripes to the design, we were able to create a runner that fit the stairs perfectly, elevating the overall look and creating a tailored and striking staircase. 

We love how Susan has picked out a colour from within the design to paint the staircases with. This not only complements the runner, but also creates cohesion throughout the whole property, with Susan explaining that green was the common colour that seemed to appear on each floor of the house. By choosing a green shade for the staircases she was therefore able to link each level, creating a central thread of colour to bring cohesion to the whole property.

Susan’s advice when decorating a space like this, be it a staircase, hallway or landing area, is to “create impact, make it welcoming, use colour drenching techniques, keep it uncluttered and use good lighting. Show who you are by using the things you love, let the world see them too.”

We couldn’t agree more with her point about showcasing who you are within your home. Interiors should be personal to you and a true celebration of your own design tastes. Whether you’re into bold colour and pattern or prefer the more subtle designs, our runners are a great starting point to create a scheme around. Just as Susan has done, if there is a particular design you love, why not pick out colours from within the design to incorporate throughout the space. This could be in the form of a painted staircase or simply through your use of home accessories and trinkets. 

A common trick used by many interior designers is to find a hero piece, whether it’s a unique piece of furniture or a specific painting you know will be in the room, and create a scheme around that. Our rugs and runners are no different, in fact, we often describe our products as ‘art for the floor’, with unique patterns and carefully curated colour patterns, they truly are a launching pad for your imagination, so take a leaf out of Susan Van Meter’s book and get creative with your space.

Alternatively, if you are selecting your Roger Oates runner to match an existing item or wall colour in your mind, our bespoke colour matching service allows you to create your own custom yarn colour to perfectly match. Customise any of the colours in an existing design for a quick and easy bespoke option.

For more information on our bespoke service click here, and for inspiration and advice when painting your staircases, look to our painted staircases article.

With many clients requesting bespoke details, we want to know, are there any other requirements set by your clients – is sustainability a factor for them?

Within the brief of the Belgravia project, the client had a preference for Susan Van Meter to specify products that met some level of sustainability. With a greater demand from homeowners for products and materials that are kinder to the planet, we wanted to find out what role sustainability plays in Susan’s work:

“It is important to me to select products that are made in the UK using local materials. If we need to look further than this, I will try to restrict the procurement of products within the EU. I would always check the provenance of a product, its processes and a company’s policies with regard to caring for our planet – one of the reasons I love Roger Oates, they tick all the boxes!”

With responsible material sourcing and manufacturing at our core, we share the same passion for local materials. Through our partnership with the Woolkeepers initiative, our rugs and runners are now made with 100% traceable British wool and as they have always been, all made within the UK. To find out more about our responsibility promise and our relationship with the Woolkeepers, click here.

Tufted rugs for luxurious living rooms

It is not just our flatweave stair runners that Susan likes to use within her schemes, in fact, for some of her recent projects, transforming a modern coastal property and stately Victorian home, Susan has included our hand tufted area rugs to create comfort and luxury within living room spaces.

For this breathtaking bespoke playroom fit for both children and adults alike, Susan Van meter has used our hand tufted Harford rug in Old Rose to perfectly complement the soft tonal colour palette of her scheme. Flowing delicately through blush pinks and creamy neutrals, Susan has brought together a space that feels feminine and elegant, perfectly blending modern elements with the traditional architectural features of the house.

Selecting a custom size or bespoke colour for your rug can be the step needed to take your space to the next level. Achieve the ‘interior designer effect’ through tailoring pieces to perfectly fit your space – instantly making it feel more considered and designed.

It is often grand open-plan spaces like this coastal Kent property, that can benefit the most from a custom or bespoke rug.

Utilising rugs to define different spaces within an open plan concept can be a great way of creating separation, however, selecting the perfect size for the space can be crucial.

If budget is not a constraint, we always recommend opting for a living room rug large enough for the furniture to sit comfortably within its footprint. This will connect the space and help define different areas within the house. Having a rug that sits at least halfway under the furniture pieces can also make the space appear larger than it is, whereas rugs that are too small run the risk of appearing lost, leaving areas disjointed with floating furniture pieces.

This serene, beachfront scheme from Susan Van Meter is a great example of a perfectly selected, zone-defining rug. Having opted for a contemporary, neutral scheme, our hand tufted Tide Rug was the perfect addition to help ground the space and create a connection to the coastal surroundings through its textural design. Working with our team at Roger Oates to create a large custom size, Susan has created something truly beautiful. Using natural elements and sculptural furniture, we absolutely love this warming, textural space.

Our Tide rug is an evocative flowing pattern with contrasting areas of stippled colour and bright loop pile. Part of our Vista collection, the rugs within this collection were designed to tread a fine line between abstraction and reality, hinting at the familiar whilst still being open to interpretation. For in depth guides on choosing the right rug size as well as our bespoke service, click here.

Looking to the future

Having evidently used multiple different flatweave and tufted designs within her projects, all with varying styles and aesthetics, we were curious to know which design from our flatweave Venetian collection Susan would choose to incorporate within a potential future scheme.

“That’s a difficult question… I adore the colour of Venice Sera, the plums are gorgeous. For the design, my favourite is Sgraffito Osso, it’s architectural and smart, and would look good as a runner too.”

We are often approached by customers with this same internal dilemma, not able to decide on a rug or runner but loving elements from multiple designs. This is where our bespoke service can become so fun. For example if, like Susan, the rich colours of Venice Sera have caught your attention, but a more organic pattern like Sgraffito feels better suited to your space, talk to our team and explore the possibilities of a hybrid design. The opportunities are endless and our team are on hand to help with design advice as well as technical requirements for your project.

Head over to susanvanmeter.com to explore Susan’s interior design portfolio and browse the projects we have mentioned in this article along with many others.