Designer Series: Bruce Kading on Luxury Rugs & Timeless Interior Design
Posted On July 10, 2025Designer Series: Bruce Kading Shares Knowledge about Luxury Rugs and Timeless Interior Design
A well-designed room doesn’t announce itself—it unfolds. It invites you in with layers of texture, balanced scale, and a quiet sense that everything belongs. This philosophy came to life in our recent conversation with Bruce Kading of Bruce Kading Interior Design. His approach to creating living environments favors timeless, collected spaces that evolve naturally, often brought to life through custom interior detailing—such as cabinetry and finely crafted trim—designed to suit each space with intention.
From hand-knotted rugs chosen for their bold patterns and rich colors to antique pieces that bring history underfoot, Bruce treats each rug as a foundational element that is selected to define the layout, ground multiple seating areas, or inject a bit of whimsy. His work, whether in a refined English pub room or a sunlit hallway, reveals a quiet confidence—where contrast is carefully calibrated, and nothing feels accidental.
From Farm Fields to Curated Spaces
Bruce Kading’s journey from an Iowa farm boy to a nationally recognized interior designer is rooted in a lifelong passion for crafting spaces that feel collected, not contrived. After graduating from Iowa State University, he began his career at Gabberts, where he spent 31 years refining his craft before joining Beson Kading Interior Design (formerly Billy Beson Design Studio). Along the way, he has been honored with numerous accolades, including Designer of Distinction, the Tom Gunkelman Legacy Award, and “Best in Show” at the 2025 ASID Design Awards.
“Design should look naturally accumulated, reflecting genuine authenticity rather than appearing staged,” Bruce asserts, a guiding principle that has long shaped his work. He and his team thrive on close collaboration with clients, architects, and builders, ensuring that every element—from furnishings to finishes—works in harmony. “Our goal is to create spaces that unite various styles harmoniously,” adds Bruce. It’s an approach that resonates with those seeking environments that feel both deeply personal and beautifully balanced.
How the Rug Informs Bruce’s Design Process
A rug is never just an afterthought—it’s a quiet force that brings a room into focus. Whether grounding the palette, defining the layout, or adding depth through texture, the rug often sets the stage for everything that follows. At the heart of Bruce’s design process are three guiding principles:
Start with color.
“Colors by far are the most important element, followed by patterns and then textures,” Bruce explains. He also emphasizes the need for contrast and cohesion: “It’s important to mix rough and smooth textures to create a balance.”
Get the size right.
Rugs that are too small can disrupt a room’s flow. “Scale is very important and often overlooked,” Bruce says. “Many times homeowners will choose a rug that’s too small for a space and it ends up looking like a postage stamp!”
A pro tip from Bruce: “I like using generously sized rugs that fill the room and pull together the furnishings. In a much larger room, I’ll use several rugs to define seating spaces.”
Let the rug lead—or give it a supporting role.
Not every rug needs to take center stage. “I often choose rugs that make a primary statement with patterns and colors that are more important than the furnishings,” Bruce adds. “Other times, I’ll select a rug to make a secondary statement, with smaller designs and fewer colors, allowing the fabrics, furnishings and draperies to take center stage.”
Real Life Project: Manor Reimagined
As part of a European-inspired manor house, Bruce and his team designed a space that exudes old-world charm: “an authentic English pub room, complete with oak paneling and reclaimed wood flooring.”
To enhance both the look and feel of the space, Bruce added upholstered walls “for visual and acoustic effect,” a detail that brings softness and intimacy to the room. On the walls, he curated “a collection of antique pictures and paintings,” layering in visual history and character.
The room was richly furnished with texture and color. “I layered the pub room with colorful rugs and upholstered furniture in a variety of patterns,” Bruce says, “including an embroidered stool.”
But even within this traditionally styled setting, he added a modern, unexpected touch. “By adding a large-scale, contemporary pillow to the classic wing chair,” he explains, “I brought a bit of ‘today’ with a touch of whimsy into the room, making it feel collected and not overly designed.”
Choosing the Right Rug—And Knowing When It’s Right
While Bruce Kading takes a thoughtful approach to rug selection, he also trusts his instincts. The perfect rug doesn’t just check design boxes—it resonates. As he puts it, “It comes down to that intuitive feeling that just hits you when you know you’ve found the perfect rug.”
Follow your instincts—but mind the details.
There are many technical considerations: “Size, style and pattern, the texture or relief, the colors, and the type of knots and fibers,” Bruce says. Each factor plays a role—but in the end, that gut feeling often seals the decision.
Prioritize craftsmanship.
Bruce gravitates toward hand-knotted rugs for their richness and depth. “They’re richer, hand-crafted, and it shows,” he explains. “The type of knots changes the whole presence of the rug. They can be loosely woven for a more casual look or tightly woven for a more detailed and formal design.”
Still, Bruce acknowledges practicality: “Of course, if you’re on a limited budget, machine-made rugs do have their place.”
Use rugs everywhere.
For Bruce, rugs aren’t confined to the expected. “I use rugs everywhere—living rooms, dining rooms, hallways, outdoor rooms, and even kitchens and bathrooms, where they add softness and color.” He often places them over hardwood, stone, or tile, and occasionally layers them on flat carpet to define a space.
Future Trends in Rug Styling: Texture, History, and Personality
Bruce Kading sees the future of luxury rugs not as a single trend, but as a layered evolution—one that blends innovation with character, and timeless design with a sense of individuality.
Texture is becoming more dimensional.
Bruce is drawn to rugs that offer tactile interest: “The introduction of silk mixed with wool has been great, as the silk brings life to the wool fibers.” He also values relief and depth in construction: “Sometimes even down to the warp and weft with a pile used for design rising above the background.”
Old meets new—in color, form, and feeling.
He enjoys the contrast between traditional and modern styles, especially when there’s an unexpected twist. “It’s fun to see so many unique modern rugs, and I love the classic traditional designs with new colors,” he says. And while new innovations excite him, he continues to value the soul of the past: “I love working with antique rugs, even if they’re worn, as they add a little sense of history to the design scheme.”
Design is becoming more personal.
Interior design, Bruce believes, is moving away from the overly clean, beige-everything aesthetic that has dominated in recent years. In its place? A return to personality, texture, and lived-in character, with more and more people wanting “well-done rooms with quirkiness and character that look like they happened spontaneously.”
“I believe homes will become even more eclectic, showing off the owners’ life experiences and favorite things in a collected but not overly designed way,” he says.
Bruce’s Tips for Selecting the Right Rug
Choosing the right rug is as much about instinct as it is about craftsmanship. For a piece that not only stands the test of time but also tells the story you want it to tell, Bruce offers a few timeless insights.
Work with someone you trust.
“Find a trustworthy interior designer who has a longstanding relationship with a fine rug vendor,” Bruce suggests. An experienced designer can guide you toward pieces that align with your taste, lifestyle, and budget—while avoiding costly mistakes.
Let the rug speak to you.
Don’t just follow trends—choose what resonates. “Look for rugs that speak to you, with colors and patterns that you love and will want to live with for a long time,” he says. The right rug should feel timeless to you, not temporary.
Don’t sacrifice scale or quality.
While price is always a factor, Bruce cautions against compromising on size or craftsmanship. “Make sure you don’t skimp on the size and quality of the rug just because of the price,” he says. “You never want to decide later that the rug is too small or not right for your space!”
Explore more of their work at brucekading.com, where you’ll find a gallery of projects spanning a range of styles and thoughtfully layered interiors.
Have you found your perfect rug yet? Share your rug experiences and questions with us in the comments below.
