Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyra Schulhof.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Fayette Studio was born by happy accident. In 2008, I went into the real estate business buying and flipping homes. After I staged them, people started noticing my aesthetic and began
hiring me to decorate.
Luxury carpeting can be extremely expensive, and I was always looking to get my clients better
pricing. By opening wholesale accounts, I was able to buy high-end carpets at a dealer’s cost.
What I didn’t realize, however, was that in order to keep a wholesale account active, you have
to purchase new samples as new designs come out. As samples began to arrive to my home it became like an I Love Lucy episode when Lucy and Ethel work at the chocolate factory and can’t keep up with the chocolates coming down the conveyor belt. The rug samples were literally piling up at my door by the truckload. I was putting them in closets, under the beds—they were everywhere and I ran out of space.
I had to act quickly and decided to approach my local upholsterer, Plaza Park Interiors, located on Fayette Avenue in Mamaroneck, NY. I convinced the owner to let me display the samples in his workroom. This way, I was able to get in front of his network of interior designers—and the designers had a one-stop shop for fabrics, window treatments, pillows, furniture, and now rugs. At the same time, it took quite a bit of grit and determination to drum up new business. I drove, with my rug samples in tow, from one local designer’s door to the next.
Eight years later, Fayette Studio, which is now headquartered in Greenwich, CT, with a
seasonal summer store in Watermill, NY, specializes in custom rugs to the trade. We’re known
for our bespoke made-to-order designs and our client-first concierge-like service. We don’t just
sell rugs, we’ act like an extension of the designer’s team—helping them find a rug,
bringing samples to their clients, even sourcing rugs from other stores if we can’t source it
ourselves.
I never set out to be a rug purveyor, but I love creating something special and seeing a
designer’s vision come to life. Designers come to us with inspiration, a description or a
drawing and we help them create a unique rug. It’s truly art for the floor.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There are challenges in any industry and if it were easy everyone would be doing it!
In a world where almost everything is instant, managing client expectations can be challenging. Custom handmade rugs are an ancient art and each rug takes weeks if not months to create. Even though we often deliver rugs ahead of schedule, clients are anxiously waiting from the moment they place the order.
Custom rugs can also be intimidating to a client who doesn’t have experience creating a rug from scratch. We aim to make it easy! We walk the client through each stage from design and choosing colors to the final product and keep them updated with images of the process when possible. We have a wide variety of options for custom including machine made broadloom, which we can cut and bind into a rug at a much more affordable price point.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At our core, we are a boutique trade resource specializing in custom rugs. What truly sets us apart is our commitment to a highly personalized experience, tailored to each client’s specific needs. As a small, bespoke operation, we offer the kind of attention to detail that larger companies simply can’t match. Our services extend far beyond the point of sale: we personally assist with installations, conduct home visits to select the perfect pom colors, and guide our clients through every step of the rug-making process, from initial renderings to loom photos of the rug in progress.
Unlike larger companies that are often constrained by volume and loom availability, we pride ourselves on our ability to deliver custom rugs faster, shipping each piece by air to ensure timely delivery. Our dedication to client satisfaction knows no bounds— we have been known to source rugs from other suppliers if it means meeting our clients’ needs. Our approach ensures that every rug we create is not just a product, but a truly unique piece crafted with care and attention to detail.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I always loved interior design. When I was a little girl and through my teenage years, I’d constantly rearrange my room—I probably did it 50 times! My mother would come in and all the furniture would be rearranged.
Pricing:
- Each rug is unique and made to order. Pricing depends on size, complexity of design and materials. Our custom rugs range from $25-$160 per square foot.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fayettestudio.com
- Instagram: @fayettestudio
Image Credits
Living room and stair runner are in a project by Lori Ceisler Interiors. Not sure if quality is good enough. Taken on my iphone
