Sober Natural has the colour of undyed wool: a warm beige that drifts from oatmeal to cream, scattered with short flecks of light brown, caramel and the occasional darker thread. The weave is chunky and clearly visible, built up from plump little knots of yarn that stand slightly proud of the surface. From a distance the rug reads as one calm, light plane. Come closer and it turns out to be full of small irregularities, the kind that tell you a person made it and not a machine.

Few rugs are as easy to live with as a light natural one. This rectangular piece brightens a room with a dark floor and blends softly into a pale one, whether that is concrete, limestone or whitewashed oak. Combine it with cream upholstery, warm wood, glass and one strong accent colour in a book or a vase. In the bedroom the thick weave is a pleasure to step onto in the morning, and beneath a dining table the flecked surface stays good looking between vacuuming rounds.

Each Sober rug is woven by hand in Hungary, in 100% pure new wool, to a thickness of about 12 mm. There is no backing underneath, which is why a non slip underlay is a wise addition on hard, smooth floors. Underfloor heating is fine. Wool is resilient by nature and springs back after use. In the first weeks you will find some fluff in the vacuum cleaner, a normal sign of new wool that soon stops. Vacuum without a rotating brush and blot spills straight away with a clean dry cloth.

You can see and feel our rugs in our rug shop and showroom in Willebroek, in the Antwerp region, easily accessible from Antwerp, Brussels, Mechelen and Sint-Niklaas. Delivery is free across Europe and you have 30 days to return.