I just finished chatting with Christopher Sharp owner and founder of The Rug Co. Besides being tongue-tying-ly handsome, he’s quite funny and has great stories. I went to hear the stories—if you work with the top interior and fashion designers ( egos?) in the world, you’re bound to have some good stories. The Rug Co. started in 1997 and invited the top 10 interior designers in England like Nina Campbell, Tricia Guild, and Kit Kathson to design a rug for them, and they would take care of the logistics of having the rugs handmade in Nepal and Iran. The plan obviously worked because now they work with over 400 artists including fashion designers and fine artists and ceramicists like Grayson Perry of the YBA. “The first time I met Perry was at an art show. Here’s this big bloke, about six feet tall dressed in a little frock with white stockings and little girl shoes. He had rouge on his face like a little doll and his hair was back in pig tails. I introduced myself and we quickly started talking about motor cycles, which we both have a passion for,” says Sharp. I, of course, asked him if Perry rides in a dress, and he said, “No, he’s quite normal, married with kids, he only dresses up like that for special occasions.” Now, that’s a story. For more stories, or just to look at Sharp, head over to The Rug Co tonight on Hi Line Drive at 6:30 for their grand opening.
