At home with Mariah Nielson at JB Blunk House

By Nodi Rugs + Carpets

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At home with Mariah Nielson at JB Blunk House banner

We are excited to share this project that brings together a love of craftsmanship and nature...

Built in 1959 by Californian artist JB Blunk, using timber and stones that were found nearby, this iconic handcrafted cabin's aesthetics were guided by material, using river stones, ceramic and wood. Curator and design historian, Mariah Nielson, JB Blunk's daughter, spent her childhood here, a space that she now shares with her own family, raising her son in the same environment that deeply informed her eye of form and material.

Softening the unique entrance and book-filled living room, our rugs echo the warming tones found in the home's locally-sourced redwood timber. Greta van der Star visited Mariah at home, photographing our bamboo silk + wool blend rug in brick and our braided jute entrance rug in natural. It is an honour to see our handcrafted rugs living inside this gentle private residence.

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Never hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
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Have you noticed any shift in the space, as in how it is utilised, since you laid the rug down?

My son loves to play on the rug, and I now have a place to lounge so it’s brought a lot more life to this corner of the home. Before, that area was basically a gallery for several of my father’s pieces (a chair and side tables); the addition of the rug created a little room for it. Visitors are also engaging more with the library because it’s a great place to sit and read a book.  

Why is it important to you to seek out and be around handcrafted objects?

The handcrafted objects in our home each tell a story about a place and a person. I can look around our home and tell you the story of each object in the room: who made it, where it came from, and how it ended up in our house. This adds so many layers to the space, visually and energetically. In a way, I feel that I am continuing my father’s legacy by living my own life and assembling my own objects here, as opposed to trying to preserve his life as a static, past moment.

How would you describe the feeling and energy of your home?

Familiar, nurturing, humble, layered

For me, the home will always be familiar and nurturing, not just because I was born and raised there but because each part of the home was thoughtfully handmade and assembled. There's humility, too, because of the small scale and because almost all the materials were salvaged. In every space I see layers of my father, his first wife Nancy (whom he built the house with), my mother, brothers, myself, and all the artists who have spent time and lived in the home.  

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The JB Blunk House is located in Inverness, California. 


https://www.jbblunk.com/house 


NODI RUGS LOCATED AT JB BLUNK HOUSE

Bamboo Silk + Wool Blend Rug in Brick

Braided Jute Entrance Rug in Natural


CREDITS https://gretavanderstar.com/https://mariahnielson.com/

Professionals used in
At home with Mariah Nielson at JB Blunk House

About the
Professional

Nodi's collection of natural rugs and carpets offer unique textures crafted from hand spun wool, jute and bamboo silk.

Collaborating with fair-trade organisation Goodweave, Nodi offers transparency across all handcrafted manufacturing processes. This ensures our working environments are respectful and sustainable.

Located in Auckland's Ponsonby suburb, Nodi's showroom is home to their design team and a full collection of samples and rugs on display. The showroom is open to the public and trade professionals.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.