Showrooms
How Kate Daskalakis Uses Vintage Rugs as the Foundation for Interiors
By Lauren Small
We have long been admirers of Kate’s work and always look forward to opportunities to collaborate. Recently, we invited her to the showroom to preview a new batch of antique and vintage rugs and to talk about all things design. When she walked in carrying bags filled with accessories, swatches, and samples, we knew immediately it was going to be a fun afternoon.
We headed straight to the stacks of rugs we had set aside for her, and the first piece to catch her eye was an antique Bijar. Almost immediately, she began unpacking the contents of her bags, building a flat-lay vignette directly on top of the rug to demonstrate how she develops ideas for a space. As antique artwork, fabric swatches, samples, metal hardware, and small decorative objects began to layer across the rug’s surface, the feeling of a room started to take shape before our eyes.
Kate has such a distinctive point of view, and this rug checked all the boxes for the foundation of a KSD Designs project—it looked like it could easily belong in one of her clients’ homes. The flat lays she created were stunning, filled with patterns that worked beautifully together, often in the most unexpected ways. When we asked, "when does mixing so many patterns, prints, and styles become too much?", she laughed and said, “You’re asking the wrong person!”
Clients hire her because she loves mixing patterns. Even when working within a neutral palette, she looks for ways to “create something you’re not going to see in your neighbor’s house.” She might pull a neutral wallpaper with just a hint of green that quietly echoes the tones in the rug. Solids, stripes, and block prints get layered together. She also encourages clients to lean into wool—not just for its sophistication, but for its durability.
“Working with rugs that already carry multiple tones,” she explains, “makes it easier to play with color. They give you permission to explore. They become the palette.” Her philosophy is simple: “When mixing style, lean in. Edit thoughtfully, yes—but don’t hold back out of fear.”
Starting with the Rug
Her aesthetic leans antique and period-inspired, always honoring the architecture first. Because of that, the rug is often where she begins.
“In historic homes, nothing is standard. Rooms are slightly irregular. Windows aren’t perfectly placed. Proportions feel a little ‘off’ in the best possible way. A vintage rug works beautifully in these spaces precisely because it isn’t rigid or formulaic either. It has nuance, softness, and character—just like the home itself.”
Rather than forcing the room to conform to the rug, she prefers to let the rug guide the space. It sets the tone, and the furniture arrangement follows. She’s also mindful not to overdo it. If you’ve invested in beautiful floors—whether in an 1805 colonial or a new build—there’s no need to hide them. “A rug doesn’t have to cover every inch. Let the floor show. Let the rug complement it.”
When it comes to layout, she often recommends “placing just the front two legs of the sofa or chairs on the rug, leaving the back legs off. It keeps the room feeling open and allows everything to breathe.” Even with her maximalist style, she values white space. Thoughtful restraint is often what makes the layers feel intentional instead of overwhelming.
Refine First
One of her most powerful design strategies is simple: instead of asking clients what they like, she asks what they don’t like. In her experience, people can identify dislikes much more quickly than preferences. “When choosing rugs, fabrics, paint, or furniture, it’s often easier to react to what feels wrong — too busy, too cold, too traditional, or just off — than to immediately define what feels perfect.”
She compares it to asking kids how their day was. “A broad question gets vague answers. But when you narrow it down, clarity follows. The same approach works when flipping through rugs in a showroom or making decisions for your home. Ask yourself: What am I not drawn to? Eliminating options that don’t resonate brings you closer to what does.”
She also notes that “it’s often easier to make decisions for someone else’s space than your own. Personal homes come with overthinking and emotional attachment.” But even as a designer, she moves slowly in her own space, allowing time for pieces to feel right.
And when it comes to interior design, she believes one of the biggest misconceptions is that there are strict rules. “Yes, there are guidelines — curtain lengths matter, scale matters, proportions matter. But beyond that, design is about creating a space that feels authentic and brings you joy. A contemporary rug can live beautifully in an antique home. An old home can hold modern pieces. A mid-century chair can sit beside a grandmother’s rocking chair. The mix is what makes it interesting. Design isn’t about rigid rules — it’s about thoughtful editing, intentional layering, and choosing what feels aligned after you’ve eliminated what doesn’t.”
For the Neutral Client
For clients who prefer to keep things neutral, she doesn’t suggest playing it safe everywhere. Instead, she often recommends a vintage rug. “You can have beige or white sofas, keep the palette calm and quiet—and suddenly the rug becomes the art. It adds that little something else without overwhelming the space.”
Many clients initially hesitate with vintage rugs, worried about durability. But she’s quick to reassure them, “they’re incredibly durable. And sometimes, the existing wear makes them feel even more approachable.”
Some clients even prefer imperfections. “If a rug already has character—slight distressing, visible wefting, subtle fading—then living on it feels natural. A spill doesn’t feel catastrophic. It feels human.”
Rug Feeling Stuck? Start Small.
We asked what advice she’d give someone feeling stuck—but not ready to redo an entire room. Her answer was simple: “Paint is the least expensive way to change your space.”
But right behind paint? “Rugs. And art. A new rug can unexpectedly unlock inspiration. You might bring one home and suddenly see a color you hadn’t noticed before. That spark can lead to subtle, organic changes over time. This slow evolution can lead to the most authentic results. Patience can be hard. That’s often why people hire designers—to help speed up the process.”
But the core idea remains: “choose what speaks to you.”
The Art of More
Though she describes her style as maximalist, she admits she struggles with the label at times. “A room can hold its own with just a rug and furniture, maximalism often shows up in the decor layer—the styling.”
Stacked art instead of perfectly hung frames. Meaningful objects layered on coffee tables. Using what clients already have rather than constantly pushing new purchases. She loves ‘ransacking’ clients’ homes—finding sentimental pieces tucked away in drawers and giving them new life in the room. When clients walk in at the end, she wants them to feel that sense of surprise: “I would have never put those things there.”
At its core, she sees design as art. That emotional response—that feeling—is the goal.
Bringing the Feeling Home
At the end of our conversation, we talked about what home should ultimately feel like.
L&A: You walk in after a long day—good, bad, or ugly—and you close the chapter. You shed the outside world. How do rugs help bring that feeling of sanctuary home?
“Color plays a huge role. A client who wants light and bright won’t choose a deep red navy rug. Someone craving richness might. The beauty of handmade and vintage rugs is the range: reds and blues, soft creams and pinks, teals and beige. Plush new pile or timeworn patina. You can set the tone before anything else enters the room. More often than not, the rug defines the mood. The art and furnishings gather around it.”
And that’s why, in so many of her projects—and in so many of ours—the rug isn’t the finishing touch. It’s the foundation.
Kate Daskalakis, Founder and Principal Designer, KSD Designs
Kate opened KSD Designs in downtown Newburyport alongside a team of experienced design professionals. She takes a holistic approach to the design process, from early collaboration with architects and builders, to the final details of textile selection and art placement. Her style draws on natural elements of design, and is inspired by art, travel, and a respect for historic and classical structures. She loves blending old with new and sources unique antique pieces for every project. Side by side her clients every step of the way, it is Kate’s goal to serve as the ultimate collaborative partner and guide in a process that delivers a bespoke design aligned with the client’s goals and personal style.
Website: ksddesigns.com
Email: kate@ksddesigns.com
Instagram: @ksd.designs
