Soft Wood

The Soft Wood Rug is a kaleidoscopic vision that unfolds and tessellates across the surface of a handknotted rug. Crafted by skilled Tibetan artisans in Nepal, this design is an evolution of Bethan Laura Wood extensive work in custom wooden veneers, originally created with Alpi, the renowned Italian specialist in wood composites.
Now, in 2025, the dynamic pattern takes textile form with the Soft Wood rug, where the intricate design has been translated with Himalayan wool, creating a mesmerizing soft-focus effect, delicately transitioning between color and shape.

“I love to create visual landscapes or depth within my work through the details and patternation.”

says Bethan Laura Wood 

To create the design, Bethan matched and manipulated pages from her custom ‘ book block’ veneers. Working digitally, she carefully selected and cut the pages into various shapes, forming a complex, non-repeating, yet mirroring composition—a homage to the artistry of transforming small pieces of exotic woods into expansive surfaces though book-matching and marquetry techniques.
Describing her creative process, Bethan says, “I love to create visual landscapes or depth within my work through the details and patternation.” The immersive design invites endless exploration, revealing an ever-changing landscape of bats, butterflies, and mysterious creatures—emerging and fading as if viewed through a microscope.