Introducing The Plains Collection, a new collection of handwoven wool rugs by Pelican House and Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. The collection brings together Edward Bulmer Natural Paint and Pelican House in a collaboration rooted in natural materials, considered colour and lasting craftsmanship. Comprising eight handwoven rugs, it explores the relationship between colour and texture, pairing undyed natural wool with borders in shades drawn from Edward Bulmer’s natural paint palette and The Chatsworth Collection. Marking Pelican House’s first exploration of plain rugs, The Plains Collection celebrates the versatility of colour, creating pieces designed to sit comfortably within a home for years to come. The collaboration grew from a shared appreciation for responsible design, traditional craftsmanship and natural materials. For Pelican House, whose collections are known for their decorative patterns, working with Edward Bulmer offered an opportunity to explore a more restrained approach, allowing colour, texture and the character of the wool to take centre stage. Each of the four colourways is available in two designs. Tonal combines three variations of a single paint colour, while Contrast introduces a complementary shade to the outer border. These combinations have been selected directly from Edward’s palette, making it easy to coordinate a rug with the colours on your walls and woodwork. The result is a collection that feels both understated and distinctive, with each colourway designed to complement the natural pigments and nuanced tones of Edward Bulmer’s paint palette. The collection is now available to shop at Pelican House. Bella Valenzia and India Holmes, founders of Pelican House An insight into the tonal palettes and sampling stage Deciding on the final colour pairings Handwoven in Nepal Each rug is handwoven by skilled artisans in Boudha, Kathmandu, from 100% Himalayan wool, using traditional techniques passed down through generations. The wool is hand-carded before weaving, giving the flatweave borders their distinctive texture, while the centres are left undyed to celebrate the natural character of the material. This combination creates a tactile surface with subtle variations in colour and texture. Pelican House works with weaving partners certified by Label STEP, an organisation supporting fair working conditions in the handmade carpet industry and the preservation of traditional weaving skills. As part of the collaboration, Pelican House and Label STEP have also co-funded a life cycle assessment measuring the carbon footprint of each rug, from production in Kathmandu to its arrival at Edward Bulmer’s showroom. The findings provide greater transparency about the collection’s environmental impact and help identify opportunities for improvement. The full life cycle assessment is available to read on the Pelican House website. Drab Green Drab Green Contrast Drab Green Contrast pairs two tones of Edward Bulmer’s Drab Green with an outer border in Brick, a soft, earthy red reminiscent of aged clay. Together, these colours create a pleasing contrast, bringing richness to the border while allowing the undyed natural wool centre to take focus. Shop Drab Green Contrast. Drab Green contrast rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Photography: Milo Brown Drab Green contrast rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Photography: Milo Brown Drab Green Tonal Drab Green Tonal draws on a colour whose name comes from an old term for the light brown of undyed cloth, though Edward Bulmer’s interpretation is a rich brown-green with plenty of character. Here, three tonal variations of the shade frame an undyed natural wool centre, creating a layered border with subtle shifts in colour. Shop Drab Green Tonal. Drab Green tonal rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Photography: Milo Brown Drab Green tonal rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Photography: Milo Brown Ethereal Blue Ethereal Blue Contrast Ethereal Blue Contrast pairs two tones of our bestselling Ethereal Blue with an outer edge in Hawtrey, an earth-pigment brown originally mixed to complement the oak and holly panelling at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s official country residence. The earthy border grounds the cooler blue-green tones, framing a centre of undyed natural wool. The hand-carded flatweave brings texture and character to the design. Shop Ethereal Blue Contrast. Ethereal Blue contrast rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Photography: Milo Brown Ethereal Blue contrast rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, walls painted in Lilac Pink. Photography: Milo Brown Ethereal Blue Tonal Ethereal Blue Tonal draws on a colour based on Prussian blue, sitting somewhere between blue, green and grey. A shade that shifts subtly with its surroundings, Ethereal Blue brings a wonderful complexity to interiors. Here, three tones frame an undyed natural wool centre, creating an understated design that balances colour with texture. Shop Ethereal Blue Tonal. Ethereal Blue tonal rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Photography: Milo Brown Ethereal Blue tonal rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, walls painted in Burlington from The Chatsworth Collection. Photography: Milo Brown Lute Lute Contrast Lute Contrast pairs two tones of golden yellow with an outer edge in Saxony, a deep blue-green inspired by the woad-dyed cloth of medieval Saxon dyers. The cool, inky edge brings definition to the golden tones of Lute, a combination Edward often turns to in his own colour schemes. An undyed natural wool centre completes the design. Shop Lute Contrast. Lute contrast rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, walls painted in Persian. Photography: Milo Brown Lute contrast rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Photography: Milo Brown Lute Tonal Lute Tonal celebrates the character of Lute, a historic colour whose name derives from the Latin luteus, meaning golden-yellow. Its red and yellow pigments recall the rich colours of Georgian interiors. Here, three tones, from golden yellow to soft cream, frame a centre of undyed natural wool, creating a layered design with subtle variations in colour. Shop Lute Tonal. Lute tonal rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, walls painted in Lilac Pink. Photography: Milo Brown Lute tonal rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Photography: Milo Brown Burlington Burlington Contrast Burlington Contrast pairs two tones of Burlington, inspired by Lord Burlington’s velvet coat, with an outer edge in Georgiana, a deep burgundy red-purple named after the Duchess of Devonshire and inspired by Derbyshire’s Blue John mineral. The rich border frames an undyed natural wool centre, bringing a sense of history and character to the design. Both colours belong to our recently launched collaboration with Chatsworth House, featuring 24 colours inspired by the house and gardens. Explore The Chatsworth Collection. Shop Burlington Contrast. Burlington contrast rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, walls painted in DNA and Blue John from The Chatsworth Collection Photography: Milo Brown Burlington contrast rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint. Photography: Milo Brown Burlington Tonal Burlington Tonal takes its inspiration from the velvet coat worn by Lord Burlington, the 18th-century architect and patron of Palladianism, in a portrait now part of the Cavendish family collection. Three tones of Burlington, a rich, burnt-orange red, frame an undyed natural wool centre, creating a striking design that celebrates the colour’s historic origins. Discover the 24 new colours in The Chatsworth Collection. Shop Burlington Tonal. Burlington tonal rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, walls painted in Invisible Green. Photography: Milo Brown Burlington tonal rug by Pelican House for Edward Bulmer Natural Paint, walls painted in Invisible Green. Photography: Milo Brown How to pair The Plains Collection with your paint colours One of the pleasures of The Plains Collection is that each rug has been designed to work alongside Edward Bulmer’s natural paint palette. For a harmonious scheme, choose a Tonal rug in the same colour family as your walls. The subtle variations in the border introduce texture and interest without creating a strong contrast. Alternatively, a Contrast rug offers an opportunity to introduce another colour into the room. The Brick border of Drab Green Contrast, for example, could be picked up in painted woodwork, upholstery or decorative accessories. The idea is to treat the rug and walls as part of one scheme, with the colours already selected to complement one another. Whether you prefer a closely coordinated palette or something more playful, the collection offers a natural starting point for bringing colour from the walls to the floor. Bringing together Pelican House’s expertise in traditional rug making with Edward Bulmer’s distinctive approach to colour, The Plains Collection celebrates the beauty of natural materials and thoughtful craftsmanship. Designed to complement both contemporary and traditional interiors, each rug offers a lasting foundation for a home filled with colour and character. Discover the full Plains Collection at Pelican House. Documenting the process: Bella and India colour scheming at their London based studio Colours featured in this article: Lilac Pink Order a Sample Invisible Green Order a Sample Ethereal Blue Order a Sample Drab Green Order a Sample Burlington Order a Sample Blue John Order a Sample DNA Order a Sample Saxony Order a Sample Hawtrey Order a Sample Brick Order a Sample
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