A New Chapter for Your Favourite Rugs | Darren Palmer on His Latest Collection with Unitex

There’s no doubt that your mood boards loved the first Darren Palmer x Unitex collaboration, and now, there's even more to love. Elevate your interior design projects with Darren Palmer 2.0: a richly layered collection of rugs that blends versatility, texture, and warmth into every fibre. Designed to ground your spaces and elevate your interiors, these pieces feel as effortless as they are considered. We caught up with Darren to dive into the creative journey behind the collection, from inspiration to execution, and how each rug has been thoughtfully crafted to suit real homes, lived-in spaces, and the everyday beauty of Australian life. Let’s see what he had to say. 

Hi Darren, it’s so lovely to sit down with you again! Can you tell us a little bit about what we might find in this new rug collection with Unitex?

This new collection features traditional patterning interpreted in a contemporary manner. They are all price-pointed for everyday interiors, and due to their construction, they are robust and easy to care for. The aesthetic works in many types and trends of homes and suits all family types, including those with kids and pets.

What inspired the 2.0 collection?

We wanted to give the same beautiful design to customers but at a lighter weight than the 100% wool ones, which meant we could scale up the sizing to a maximum of 4m x 3m. We also wanted to provide great value for every type of home, but with the same level of finesse and consideration as the first collection.

“Darren Palmer 2.0 collection has been crafted to add colour and interest to homes of all types in all locations. I can’t wait to see how you use them in your home.”

Darren Palmer, Interior Designer & TV Personality

 We love the use of colour (especially that plum!) and texture. Can you tell us about the tones and textures within this range?

The fig and plum tones were a deliberate direction to sit alongside contemporary palettes featuring warm chocolate-toned timbers and brown toned schemes. The patterning too plays a big part in this range, with traditional, ambient, sculptural and simplified patterns to allow the range to have something for everyone.  I love that we have runners for every rug in this range as well, which allows them to be used not only in hallways and transitional spaces but underfoot in kitchens too, which can add another interesting element to their schemes.

Who do you see as the ideal customer for this collection? How do you envision these rugs enhancing their spaces?

There’s a home for each of the rugs in this range and a rug for every home. The Morgana stone, Raking and Sandridge outdoor rugs suit contemporary spaces and trends, like modern coastal or Japandi, with Heirloom and Mooreland rugs both more suited to traditional homes and trends such as modern farmhouse.

What was your creative process like for this collection, and how did it differ from your past design projects?

I work closely with Unitex to find patterns and colours that suit the creative brief. this time to be a warm palette with colour and interest in pattern at an everyday price point. We then collate and curate from many directions and distil into a concise range where each piece has its own place and the range covers a variety of directions without overlapping each other.

We know it’s always a positive experience working with Unitex. Can you give us a little insight into the collaboration process?

Unitex are such a lovely family-run business full of industry professionals with a wealth of experience. They’re a great partner and great people.

As always, Darren’s thoughtful approach to design shines through, offering not just beautiful rugs, but pieces with purpose, soul, and flexibility. Whether you’re styling a coastal retreat, a family home, or a modern apartment, the Darren Palmer 2.0 Collection brings the same sense of warmth, consideration, and character that has become his signature. With Unitex’s trusted craftsmanship and Darren’s design vision, this collaboration offers a new way to elevate your space, one layer at a time.

Is a rug from the Unitex x Darren Palmer 2.0 collection just what your interior design projects are missing? Find these rugs in our product library and bring your projects to life through our mood board tool and Project Studio!