Carpets for a Cause: A Rousing Success at Oscar Isberian

What a night! Beautiful handmade rugs imagined by a selection of Chicago’s most influential designers and architects, all to benefit DesignsforDignity.org; it was an inspired collaboration! We could not be prouder to have played a part in this meaningful event.

The initial idea sounded simple. Invite a group of infinitely talented designers to create original rug patterns and then have the patterns hand-knotted into 4×6′ wool or wool and silk rugs overseas, before being shipped back to Chicago for a charity auction. In reality, the production of 16 one-of-a-kind designs is anything but simple. Working with one of our valued rug producers in Nepal, Doug Tashjian, yielded results that were beyond our expectations.

As for the Carpets for a Cause creators, well they represent some of Chicago’s biggest names in the design and architect scene today. Kudos to Buckingham Interiors + Design Ltd.; Elizabeth Krueger Design; Frank Ponterio Interior Design; Fredman Design Group; Gary Lee Partners; hk+c; JamesThomas Interiors; Jeannie Balsam Interiors; Jessica Lagrange Interiors; Kaufman Segal Design; Michael Abrams Interiors; Michael Del Piero Good Design; Morgante-Wilson Architects; Nicholas Moriarty Interiors; Soucie Horner, Ltd.; and TOM STRINGER Design Partners. Your unique talents continue to inspire us.

All 16 handmade rugs were on display and available for bids at the standing-room-only event, October 26, 2017, at Oscar Isberian Rugs, Chicago. Proceeds from the sale will benefit Designs 4 Dignity, whose mission is to transform nonprofit environments through pro bono design services and in-kind donations — empowering lives through design. Oscar Isberian Rugs has been a loyal Designs 4 Dignity supporter; we believe in its mission, the intention behind it and the local design community that makes it a reality day after day.

Carpets for a Cause turned into one of the most extraordinary events we’ve been involved in to date. Congratulations to the winning bidders for scoring exquisite handmade rugs, to the talented carpet designers, and to the entire Chicago design community for working together to benefit Designs for Dignity! We are honored to be part of this dynamic group of artists and friends.

Sarkis and Oscar Tatosian*

*Ghost blog as told to Diane Cotton Caplan. Originally posted October 2017.