Beginning with animal hides and woven weeds, rugs have been used since the early days of mankind. Various types of flat weaving were well developed more than 4,000 years ago, based on evidence of fragments that were found in Mesopotamian and Egyptian tombs. There’s evidence suggesting that the weaving of pile rugs was present in the Middle East and parts of Asia well before 2000 BC. Rugs were first created in quantity by the nomadic wanderers of Asia, who most likely developed the craft of weaving the wool of their sheep into rugs and blankets as a replacement for the use of the rough animal hide. The oldest known surviving rug was found at a burial site in Siberia in 1949. The “Pazyrvk” carpet, as it has become known, dates back to the 5th century BC and is remarkable for its rich colors, striking details, and use of a hand-knotted technique (Turkish/Ghiordes knot) that is still in popular use. The rug had an average of 200 knots per square inch and is regarded as an outstanding work of Scythian art that most likely was woven by people who came from Mongolia. Even if the Mongolians first wove pile rugs, it is generally agreed that the Persian took the craft and made it into a true form of art. A rug belonging to the King of Persia dating back to about 550 BC was the oldest known rug prior to the discovery of the Pazyryk carpet. It was hand-knotted out of wool, silk, gold, silver and precious stones, measured 400 feet by 100 feet in size and weighed several tons. It was after 1,000 AD when the art of pile rug weaving started in Europe, most likely in Spain. Most of Europe, Great Britain and the Scandinavian countries were making their own rugs by the mid 18th to 19th century. Handmade rugs from these areas are rare today, however, because they can't compete with the high quality and low cost of labor for Oriental rugs.
Recently, we've been seeing some stunning rugs from St. Simons Island interior designer Dee Simmons, who is spreading her wings, so to speak, and launching new lines as part of her Delinah Simmons brand in 2017. New innovations will include a Rug Collection with both custom creations and a carefully curated collection of vintage and handmade rugs, a summer pop-up shop on St. Simons Island featuring unique finds, and the development of lighting and furniture lines.
Since Dee launched Dee Simmons Interiors in 2012, after several years working for well-known residential and hospitality interior design firms in Atlanta and St. Simons Island, she has established herself as a respected innovator in the industry. Extensive travels in both the professional arena and her personal adventures are a major inspiration for Dee’s work. However, respect for local architecture and the history of a project are something Dee considers equally important, regardless of diverse styles and locations of her firm’s projects. Dee’s guiding philosophy for every job is the desire to create “a sanctuary of happiness and wellness” for those clients. She prides herself on attention to detail and the development of strong relationships with her clients. Working to this end, Dee collaborates intimately with the client, architect, contractor, and an array of other professionals and artisans for each project.
Together with partner, Martin Nash, Dee opened a "Trade Only" showroom at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) in 2013. Named simply Martin Nash, the 4200 square-foot showroom and its eclectic mix of exclusive furniture, lighting, artwork, and decorative objects brought a fresh energy to ADAC. By introducing a New York style and Los Angeles flair to Atlanta, the showroom changed ADAC and the surrounding design community. Dee and Martin have since been recognized in publications such as Elle Decor, Atlanta Magazine, Modern Luxury and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and have received national acclaim as well.
Yet another creative outlet for Dee is her eponymous line, Delinah Simmons. Represented at the Martin Nash Showroom, this constantly evolving brand boasts beautiful velvets, mohairs, and wools in luxurious colors. A lifetime collection of silk scarves from icons such as Emilio Pucci and Vera Neumann have been fabricated into art and pillows. That brand will be taking a major turn in 2017 with several new and exciting introductions.
First and foremost, is an extensive Rug Collection from carefully selected sources from around the world. Like Dee's design style, her custom rugs are inspired by her travels. Included are some fabulous designs she reinterpreted from rare prints and textiles she purchased at the Paris Flea Market on her honeymoon. In addition to her own creations, Dee has collected rare vintage Oushak and handmade Indian and Turkish rugs that complement the color palette of her luxurious textile collection.
In the late Spring of 2017, Dee is launching another endeavor with a summer pop-up shop called Objects on St. Simons Island. The shop will feature items collected by Dee through her extensive travels, along with other unique and curated treasures for the home, such as the rare agate geodes that she sources from around the globe. Furniture, rugs, and lighting are a few of the carefully selected pieces Objects will carry at the Dee Simmons Interiors design studio located in Hanover Square.
Dee has been busy developing lighting and furniture lines which will be debuting this summer and fall respectively. The dragonfly is the impetus for one of her eclectic lighting designs with chandeliers, sconces, and lamps on the drawing board. In almost every part of the world, the dragonfly symbolizes change that has its source in mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life. Dee embraces that symbol and its deeper meaning as it applies to the development of her own work. The furniture Dee is designing is casual yet sophisticated, and classic but with modern design elements. This bespoke collection epitomizes comfort and lifestyle, both of which are integral to Dee's design mantra.
In addition to Martin Nash in Atlanta, the Delinah Simmons line is also represented at a prestigious showroom in Vancouver, Canada. There are plans to expand to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and London in 2018. Locally, you can find Dee Simmons Interiors at 1802 Frederica Road, Ste. A., on St. Simons Island. For more information and examples of her work, visit deesimmonsinteriors.com.
