Case study: Ege Carpets at The Elvetham – a harmony of heritage and design

Located in Hampshire, UK, The Elvetham is a luxury hotel that embodies centuries of English history. With roots tracing back to the 11th century, the estate has witnessed pivotal moments, from Eadric the Wild’s defiance against William the Conqueror to King Henry VIII’s romance with Jane Seymour. The hotel’s grounds, ancient oak trees, and parklands whisper tales of England’s storied past.

Although the medieval house has changed over time, its heritage is preserved in the stunning interiors of a hotel that offers modern luxury with a deep respect for history. With 43 guestrooms in the main house and a total of 91 rooms including the adjacent court building, The Elvetham merges the charm of its historic setting with contemporary design and hospitality.

Image credit: The Elvetham Hotel

The hotel’s recent transformation was led by Sindri Matharu, Design Director at Jastar Capital, following its acquisition by her family. They immediately recognised the need to update the interior to reflect the grandeur of the exterior. “Historic properties always present a challenge in balancing old and new,” commented Matharu. “The rooms, with their high ceilings and wood details, felt cold, so adding warmth through carpets was essential. However, during the renovation, we discovered original tiling beneath the old carpets in public areas, leading us to use runners and rugs to highlight these features.”

When designing the 2,000 m² of carpet with Ege Carpets for the hotel, Matharu took inspiration from The Elvetham’s historic architecture. She used the octagonal ceilings as the basis for the custom Colortec carpet designs and matched the colours to the original tiling that was uncovered. For key areas like the Top Hall and Bar, inspiration was drawn from the textiles of William Morris, whose influence is seen as a cornerstone of early British design.

Image credit: The Elvetham Hotel

For the bedrooms, a subtle herringbone design from Ege Carpets’ Graphic concept was chosen, offering a nod to the classic English gentleman while complementing the intricately designed headboards. “Working with Ege Carpets was a seamless experience,” said Matharu. “I made changes to the initial specifications, and they were understanding, patient, and flexible throughout the process”.

Guests are particularly impressed by the ground floor runners and rugs that highlight the original tiles revealed during the renovation. Designer Matharu’s favourite piece, however, is the rug in the Top Hall. “It brings a sense of opulence and enhances the intricate ceiling details and surrounding tiling”.

Reflecting on the design process, the importance of respecting the building’s history is highlighted. “Design is subjective, and everyone will have an opinion. The key is to be respectful of the past and ensure your work complements it, rather than detracting from it” added Matharu.

Ege Carpets specialises in supplying high-quality textile flooring to luxury hotels worldwide. With the Graphic and Colortec collections, it combines sophisticated aesthetics with plush comfort to create spaces of timeless elegance. Colortec allows for complete design flexibility, enabling hoteliers to integrate brand identity and signature elements into custom carpet designs. In addition, The use of pre-dyed yarn allows for perfect colour matching and seamless integration of multiple shades in a single design, ensuring creative freedom without compromise.

With a focus on sustainability, both Graphic and Colortec carpets are Cradle to Cradle and Indoor Air Comfort Gold certified, ensuring top performance while prioritising environmental sustainability. Waste reduction and cost efficiency means that carpets can be tailored to room size, reducing waste, installation time, and cost.

Its pe-cut service ensures that Ege Carpets is ideal for rooms and corridors, streamlining installation while enhancing site handling.  With the option of textile or felt backings, Ege Carpets ensures comfort, superior acoustics, and optimal support for luxury hotel interiors. Realistic carpet samples and large-scale paper prints aid decision-making, enabling hoteliers to visualise the final result and feel the quality of the materials before installation.

Ege Carpets is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.

Main image credit: The Elvetham Hotel