Charleston student wins Momeni rug contest  

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 6/30/2008 1:27:00 PM

Carlstadt, N.J. – Rug supplier Momeni recently announced the winner of its first annual co-sponsored Student Art Contest, which the rug company hosts with Fine Rugs of Charleston.

Cassie Schmitt, a first-semester interior design student at the Art Institute of Charleston, was honored for her nature-inspired design, based on a photograph of her home state, Kentucky.

The contest was conceived last November when Bonnie Grant, professor of Interior Design at the Art Institute, brought her students to Fine Rugs of Charleston for a two-day seminar regarding the history and qualities of area rugs.

“The students were so interested in the rug design process that we agreed they would benefit from creating their own designs,” Grant said.

As part of the first place prize, Schmitt spent three days in New York City, where she saw a Broadway show, did some shopping, stopped at museums and design firms and visited Momeni. She toured the company’s new facility here, where she was showed its assortment of programmed and one-of-a-kind rugs. She was also invited to participate on a design session with Momeni’s staff designer.