SYMBIOTIC LIVING AT LONDON DESIGN WEEK Celebrating Craft, Materials, and the Art of Designing for Wellbeing
It is not every day that you receive an invitation to be part of London Design Week, so this year we were genuinely honoured to join the conversation. Symbiotic Living joined a panel event hosted by Jaipur Rugs at their beautiful London showroom in the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre, celebrating the UK launch of /be-spok/: A Philosophy of Beauty, a book featuring our very own Sharlene Young alongside 29 of the world's most visionary interior designers. Joined by Beth from Benton Buckley and surrounded by Jaipur's extraordinary collection, the conversation turned to the profound role that materials and craftsmanship play in shaping how we feel inside our homes.
Materials as storytelling
We have always believed that a home is an expression of its owner's story. When a client brings us something they treasure, an inherited object, a textile collected on travels, a piece with deep personal meaning, we feel privileged to honour that within the broader design. A textile is never simply a finish. It carries meaning, sets an emotional tone, and forms part of the narrative of a room. Jaipur Rugs understands this innately. Each piece in their collection is the result of generations of craft knowledge, with the skill and story of the maker woven into every thread.
Designing for how a space feels
Great design operates on a sensory level far beyond the visual. The weight of a fabric, the grain of timber, the coolness of stone underfoot, these are what determine whether a room truly feels like home. A handknotted rug does not simply anchor a room visually. It changes the acoustics, introduces warmth underfoot, and brings a tactile richness that no machine-made piece can replicate. Sensory experience and wellbeing are not finishing touches in our process. They are the starting point.
The case for natural materials
Research consistently shows that tactile, organic materials reduce stress and support genuine calm. With people now spending around 90% of their time indoors, the home has a real responsibility to restore our connection to the natural world. Jaipur's use of natural fibres, wool, silk, and hand-spun yarns, aligns perfectly with this thinking. These are materials that breathe, age beautifully, and feel genuinely restorative to live with.
Designing with the intention to last
We design with the intention to last, choosing pieces with provenance, working with skilled artisans, and incorporating vintage pieces wherever meaningful. A material made with real skill and care brings an authenticity to a space that no trend-driven purchase ever can. Jaipur Rugs is a powerful example of that, keeping traditional weaving techniques alive across generations and producing pieces built to endure. That shared sense of purpose is what made this evening feel so natural.
Wellbeing-led design is not a luxury. Research increasingly shows that biophilic, sensory-rich environments have a measurable impact on mental health, productivity, and quality of life. For homeowners, that translates into real and lasting value, not just in how a space feels to live in every day, but in the long-term value of a home that has been designed with genuine intention.
Thank you to Jaipur Rugs for hosting such a wonderful event. It was a privilege to be part of London Design Week 2026.
