Tony Duquette Rug Collection Launched by Roubini
"They are crazy rugs but that's what I like," says Michael Roubini of Roubini Rugs. Since 1985, his family's rug company has been partnering with designers to create special collections. Being Italian, they started with some of their favorite Italian designers such as Missoni, Roberto Cavalli, Versace and Fornasetti. Last week they added a new, bold-faced name to their list of collaborators.
A reception at the company's New York showroom launched its newest line in partnership with the Tony Duquette company. Duquette (above right), who designed sets for Fred Astaire musicals, jewelry for Tom Ford and costumes for Broadway plays, in addition to a host of lavish interiors, passed away in 1999, but his business partner of 25 years, Hutton Wilkinson (above left) has carried on the venerable "More is More" mantra of the interior design business.
Wilkinson has written two best-selling books, designed a line of silk fabrics for Jim Thompson Thai Silk, a jewelry line for Saks and Bergdorf Goodman, furniture for Baker and he continues to take on new design clients -- while in New York he met with one potential client who's looking for a designer for her five homes around the world.
Duquette believed in matching carpets and curtains, says Wilkinson, and since the Roubini line is almost identical to the Jim Thompson silk line, fans looking to recreate the Duquette look could try to pull it off.
Wilkinson carries the torch for the Duquette brand and says Tony would have been proud of the rugs because they are all hand made on looms and can be customized to a client's specifications, whether materials or size. "That's the definition of luxury, to have something hand made for you," he said. "Tony used to say, beauty not luxury is what matters."
Duquette believed in matching carpets and curtains, says Wilkinson, and since the Roubini line is almost identical to the Jim Thompson silk line, fans looking to recreate the Duquette look could try to pull it off.
Wilkinson carries the torch for the Duquette brand and says Tony would have been proud of the rugs because they are all hand made on looms and can be customized to a client's specifications, whether materials or size. "That's the definition of luxury, to have something hand made for you," he said. "Tony used to say, beauty not luxury is what matters."
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