Designer Loulou Van Damme's palatial guest house in the bucolic Tamil Nadu hills is awash with layers of raw and ruddy spreads by Jaipur Rugs as their team tempt her for a first of its kind photoshoot amidst lush coffee estate. A unique and creative collaboration strikes amazingly  between her, Greg Foster, Jaipur Rugs and adroit photographer Ashish Shah which brings an alluring contrast between gaudiness of red and serenity of green cover all around. Born in Kodaikanal to Belgian parents, Isla Maria Van Damme or Loulou moved to England to finish her education, and establish herself as a designer in Belgium but India was always in her mind and she would often return to her roots for fabric and antiques.

Later, Loulou started building Isla’s Ridge after she finished her own home, which draws many features of colonial bungalows — such as broad, open verandas — with her own contemporary designs.

It is absolutely refreshing to see the sharp colored carpet covering the lush trails and vast landscapes of western ghats.

Ashish Shah has photographed innumerable seaside resorts, heritage hotels and interior projects and his latest project of capturing the vivid hues of hand knotted carpets seems as ravishing as ruddier it gets. The photographs will also  be on display at Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke in Mumbai for a one-night exhibition this Thursday on 4th January 2024. Photographs by Ashish Shah for Jaipur Rugs Follow us on Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn and don't miss out on the latest updates from the Indian Art & Craft Industry! Content Disclaimer