Livid: Clouded Wool with Silk Breaking Through
Livid is hand tufted in New Zealand wool and silk, clouded in tone with the silk breaking through. It is the Rugberry rug we have photographed most, and the photographs show one thing clearly: a grey wool and silk rug changes with the light more than any plain grey can.
In short
- The Rugberry Livid rug is hand tufted in New Zealand wool and silk, with flowing grey strokes across an ivory ground.
- Livid starts from about ₹40,000 and comes in 5x8, 6x9, 8x10, 9x12, 10x14 and 12x15 ft, with any size made to order.
- In a wool and silk rug such as Livid, the silk strokes look pale and bright when light falls along them and dark when it falls against them.
- Mayhem and Stream are Livid's closest companions at Rugberry, both hand tufted in New Zealand wool and silk in grey and ivory.
Here is what the Livid shoot teaches about sheen, and how to use it at home.
What is the Livid rug?
Livid is a hand-tufted rug in New Zealand wool and silk, with flowing strokes of grey running across an ivory ground. The strokes bend and split like ink drawn with a loaded brush.
The product page describes the feel as soft, with a low sheen that shifts as you cross the room. The wool carries the ground and the silk lifts the drawing, so the pattern seems to move as you walk.
What does the Livid shoot show about sheen?
Across more than thirty frames of the same rug, Livid's strokes read anywhere from soft slate to near black. Nothing in the rug changes between frames; only the angle of the camera and the light.
That is sheen at work. Silk fibres are smooth and reflect light like a mirror when it falls along them, and absorb it when it falls against them. Wool scatters light evenly, so the ivory ground stays steady while the grey moves.
Use this when you choose where the rug goes. The view from your main seat is the one that counts, so judge the rug from there.
How does Livid look in Indian light?
In strong Indian daylight Livid looks bright and graphic; under warm evening lamps it softens into grey on cream. Few rugs change character so much across a single day.
- Morning, east light: low light grazes the pile and the silk strokes shine silver.
- Noon: light from above flattens the sheen, and Livid reads as a clean ink drawing.
- Evening lamps: warm, low light turns the ivory to cream and the silk to a soft pewter.
If you want to read more on how light changes a rug, see our guide to silk rug sheen.
Nothing in the rug changes between frames. Only the angle of the light.
Where does a grey wool and silk rug work best?
A grey wool and silk rug works best in a living room or bedroom with daylight from one side, where the sheen has a direction to play with. In a windowless room it loses most of its life.
Grey and ivory suit the white and greige walls of most Indian apartments, as well as black metal, glass and pale oak. Livid is graphic enough to carry a room with plain furniture, so keep the sofa and cushions quiet.
In a home with heavy footfall, place Livid where people sit rather than where they walk. Silk flattens on a path faster than wool, and a flattened silk stroke reads lighter than the rest.
How do Livid, Mayhem and Stream compare?
All three are hand tufted in New Zealand wool and silk in grey and ivory. They differ in the energy of the drawing.
| Livid | Mayhem | Stream | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawing | Clouded tone, silk breaking through | Energetic marks, narrow palette | Continuous lines edge to edge |
| From | About ₹40,000 | About ₹44,000 | About ₹40,000 |
| Best for | A room that needs one strong piece | A room that can take more movement | Long rooms, where lines lead the eye |
For a calm bedroom, choose Stream over Mayhem, because continuous lines rest the eye while energetic marks keep it busy. All three are in the grey rugs edit.
How do you care for Livid?
Vacuum Livid on suction only, blot spills at once, and brush the pile gently in one direction if walked areas start to look lighter.
Keep the rug out of direct afternoon sun, which fades the grey and can dull the silk. In the monsoon, keep the floor below fully dry and lift a corner every couple of weeks to check. Rotate it every few months so wear and light fall evenly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Livid rug made of?
Livid is hand tufted in New Zealand wool and silk. The wool forms the soft ivory ground and the silk lifts the grey drawing with a low sheen.
Why does my wool and silk rug look different from each side?
Silk reflects light along the direction the pile lies. Seen with the pile, it looks bright; seen against it, darker. This is normal for any wool and silk rug.
Is Livid suitable for a home with children?
Yes, in a sitting area rather than a main walkway. Wool gives the rug resilience, while the silk areas need gentler use and quick blotting of spills.
Can Livid be made larger than 12x15 ft?
Yes. Rugberry makes Livid in any size to order, beyond the six standard sizes.
Grey that moves with the day. Browse the silk rugs.
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