A collaboration between Mehraban and Kirsten Blazek of A1000xBetter, featured in California Home+Design
When Kirsten Blazek took on the redesign of a 1930s Spanish Colonial in Altadena, she wasn’t looking to erase the past. Her goal was to refine it. The bones of the home were already rich with texture and time. Rather than compete with that history, she chose to emphasize quiet beauty, soft transitions, and organic materials that could stand the test of time.
Blazek, founder and principal designer of A1000xBetter, is known for this kind of restraint. Her projects are deeply personal, layered, and thoughtful. This one was no exception—and Mehraban was the natural partner for one of the most foundational layers of the home: the rugs.
Rugs That Hold the Room Together
The project required rugs that could support each space with texture, tone, and presence—without taking over. The selections from Mehraban provided that grounding. Each rug helped define its setting and soften the transition between old and new, heritage and modernity.
In the entry, Blazek laid down the Vintage Turkish Anatolian Runner, a narrow piece that instantly sets the mood. Its palette is faded and balanced—tones of warm stone, chalky earth, and subtle ochre that feel aged but never tired. It’s the kind of rug that looks like it’s always belonged.
Living Room as Anchor
For the main living room, scale was key. The generous footprint allowed for a larger rug that could pull together a mix of modern furnishings, heirloom accents, and vintage lighting. Blazek chose the Jorja from the Atlas Collection, a handwoven rug that draws on Moroccan weaving traditions while keeping the tones soft and neutral. Its pattern is rhythmic but quiet, grounding the room without interrupting the flow.
The Jorja plays off of other materials in the space—limewash walls, aged wood, and raw-edge ceramics. There’s no bold statement here. Just alignment, balance, and purpose.
A Home with Layers, Not Themes
This project doesn’t rely on color blocking or high contrast. Instead, it uses layers. The rugs are part of that strategy.
In a corner seating nook, the Kaouki from the Atlas Collection, Seasons offers a sense of place. Its design references desert terrain, shifting light, and earthy transitions. It’s a rug with visual movement but stillness in tone. Blazek placed it under a pair of linen chairs and a low-profile table—nothing to distract from the story told underfoot.
In the dining room, the Modlina from the Kust Collection was selected for its restraint. This piece is rooted in geometry, but with a softened edge—no sharp contrast, just repeated form that works in harmony with the room’s wood tones and worn leather.
Soft Transitions and Thoughtful Texture
Blazek’s choices extend to the private spaces, where softness becomes even more important.
In the bedroom, she used the Amia from the Sahara Collection, a rug that feels light in tone but strong in texture. Amia is hand-knotted with high-low carving, bringing subtle elevation changes that echo natural erosion. It plays well with plaster finishes and hand-dyed linens, completing a palette that feels restful without being bland.
In a hallway, the Ayrad Runner from the Atlas Collection adds purpose and progression. Its design isn’t loud, but it keeps the eye moving. It guides rather than competes, offering enough detail to feel intentional without drawing attention away from the architecture.
The Value of Vintage
Part of what makes this project successful is the mix of new and old. While many of the rugs came from Mehraban’s contemporary collections, Blazek also incorporated vintage pieces that bring authenticity and irregularity.
One of those is the Vintage Turkish Anatolian Tulu, a small rug that feels like sculpture. It was placed in a reading corner, underneath a low-slung woven chair and beside a bookshelf stacked with ceramic vessels. The Tulu’s rough texture and wild pile contrast with the polished details around it, creating a moment of tactile richness.
Another standout is the Vintage Moroccan Beni M'Guild Tribe Rug. Handwoven in the Middle Atlas Mountains, this piece carries deep reds, slate blues, and softened browns—tones that feel grounded and saturated. It was used in a den-like retreat, paired with low lighting and a built-in daybed. Its palette adds weight and mood, making the space feel enclosed in the best way.
Haute Bohemian as Accent and Art
Some spaces in the home called for something more sculptural. Blazek turned to Mehraban’s Haute Bohemian collection for those moments—rugs that could act as art underfoot.
The Fohn, a smaller-scale rug with architectural carvings, was used in a dressing area. Its tone-on-tone surface feels like stone relief—a subtle reference to Mediterranean design without being literal.
The Cierzo and Beshabar add similar energy. Cierzo was placed in an entry vestibule, where its form plays against plaster arches. Beshabar was used beneath a writing desk in the home office, bringing a sense of weight to an otherwise open space.
Material Honesty and Shared Values
What makes this collaboration between Mehraban and A1000xBetter successful isn’t just the visual cohesion—it’s the shared approach to material and meaning.
Both brands prioritize craft over trend, subtlety over flash. The rugs aren’t used to steal attention; they’re chosen to support the life being lived in the home. Texture, scale, and heritage matter. So does context.
From hallway runners to statement rugs in central spaces, each piece was selected with restraint and intention. The result is a home that feels grounded—not only in design but in story.