Photo: Mark Weinberg
A Sanctuary Underfoot: Inside Padma Lakshmi’s Debut Rug Collection
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In the heart of summer, Padma Lakshmi, Emmy-nominated producer, author, model, and beloved television host, stepped into a new creative arena: home design. On July 24, Rugs USA debuted the Padma Lakshmi x Rugs USA collection, a carefully curated line of 17 rugs that reflects Lakshmi’s global sensibility, love of comfort, and appreciation for beauty with purpose.
For Padma, home is more than just a backdrop, it’s a sanctuary. “I travel a lot for my work. When I come home, it’s my sanctuary where I seek solace and comfort. It is where I want people to feel nurtured,” she said. “These rugs help create that warmth and welcome. I wanted to have something for everyone while ensuring the rugs still retain their personality. I’m someone who lives on the floor, so what’s under my feet matters to me — and now I get to design that.”
The collection showcases both versatility and touch. Hand-tufted wools provide a luxurious feel underfoot, while flatweaves and machine-washable designs address the needs of modern living. Neutral, elegant palettes are highlighted with subtle shifts in tone, varied textures, and artistic patterns — each piece designed to blend seamlessly into a room or quietly serve as its focal point.
When asked about her designs, Padma said, “With this collection in particular, I wanted to have something for everyone, but also make sure even when the rugs were neutral, they still have some personality, that they would still have some luxuriousness and some character.”
The collection is intimate, as if each rug tells a story. Some designs evoke distant markets and coastal views, while others reflect the simple geometry of traditional craft. All pieces embody the layered yet minimal style Padma prefers — a look that combines simplicity with soul.
Padma’s career has touched many fields — from fashion to culinary to literary to humanitarian work — and this collection is a natural progression of that journey. From the catwalks of Europe to kitchens across America, Padma has refused to be defined by a single role.
Born in Chennai, India, she moved to the United States at a young age — growing up between New York, Los Angeles, and summers in Chennai. While studying abroad in Madrid, she was discovered by a modeling agent. Soon after, she broke into the elite fashion scenes of Paris, Milan, and New York.
Modeling was just the beginning. By the late 1990s, Padma had transitioned to television, hosting the Italian program “Domenica In.” Food soon became her medium of choice: she fronted “Padma’s Passport” on the Food Network, traveling the world to explore culinary traditions.
Her big break came in 2006 when she joined Bravo’s “Top Chef.” As host and later executive producer, Padma helped shape the show into a pop-culture phenomenon. Over nearly two decades, she earned Emmy nominations and awards while bringing warmth, wit, and authority to the series.
In 2020, Padma expanded her food storytelling with “Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi” on Hulu. The docuseries, which won a James Beard Media Award, celebrates specific food and culture in American cities. Through dishes and conversations, she reframed food as a lens for history, identity, and belonging.
Padma has also been a celebrated figure at distinguished Hamptons culinary events, including as an honoree at the James Beard Foundation’s Chefs & Champagne gala held at Wölffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack. She has long valued the Hamptons as a serene respite. Padma’s Hamptons rituals are simple and rooted in everyday pleasures — like stopping by the farm stand.
“I don’t eat out in the Hamptons all that often — we usually cook at home. It’s such a relaxing place to be with family away from the crowds,” she once told James Lane Post’s Editor Jessica Mackin-Cipro in a previous interview with The Independent Newspaper. “I love the bounty of produce available every summer — whether it’s stone fruit like red or black plums, juicy peaches, fresh greens, or corn that’s been roasted on the grill and rubbed with a little bit of lime and smoked paprika.”
Beyond food and television, Padma has made advocacy central to her life’s work. After years of misdiagnoses, she was diagnosed with endometriosis. Determined to help other women avoid the same fate, she co-founded the Endometriosis Foundation of America in 2009. The organization has since educated many about the disease and pushed for research and policy change.
Her activism extends globally. In 2019, she was named a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, using her platform to fight inequality worldwide. She also serves as an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) ambassador for immigration and women’s rights.
Writing has always been a parallel thread in Padma’s career. Her first cookbook, “Easy Exotic” (1999), won a Gourmand World Cookbook Award for Best First Book. She followed it with “Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet” (2007), a blend of recipes and personal reflections. Her 2016 memoir, “Love, Loss, and What We Ate,” became a New York Times bestseller.
Just as her television and writing projects invite audiences into new experiences, her rugs invite homeowners to build spaces that are warm, genuine, and uniquely theirs.
“We’re thrilled to work with Padma on this exclusive collection of rugs that combines her refined personal style with our passion for accessible design,” said Koorosh Yarahi, founder and CEO of Rugs USA. “Padma brings her global viewpoint and love for craft and storytelling to this project. The collection is about more than just beautiful rugs — it’s about creating pieces for our customers’ homes that feel inspired.”
The Padma Lakshmi x Rugs USA collection is available now, featuring a rare combination: rugs that fit perfectly in a minimalist Manhattan loft, a coastal retreat, or a lively family space. Each rug, in its way, carries Padma’s ethos — beauty meant to be lived with.
To learn more, visit rugsusa.com.
