Having recently moved into an open-plan house with timber floors throughout, I'm going to be requiring a rug or two to muffle the comings and goings of chattering and colliding children. If clattering cutlery echoing throughout your dining space is driving you mad, a rug can also bring a soft touch.

A recent collaboration between Ceadogan Rugs in Wexford and designers Liz Nilsson, Patricia Murphy and Orla Kelly has resulted in some seriously stylish visual and feet treats. Keen to update and advance its existing collection of 42 designs, Denis Kenny of Ceadogan allowed the three free rein in reinventing his pure wool rug range.

The collection which will be unveiled at the Wexford Opera Festival (25 October), reflects the individuality of the three designers.

"While Liz went for a very minimalist, spare look, that is extremely simple, with just two colours in each rug, Patricia's is very painterly, full of colour with reds and oranges in a complete contrast, and Orla's is almost retro, with shades of the 1950s and '60s and a quirky, completely different effect, " says Kenny.

Nilsson, a Dublin-based Swedish-born textile designer, aimed to work with an understated aesthetic purity to make rugs that can easily fit into an existing interior.

"They are not intended to dominate a room, but quietly to change the impression.

They project understanding and respect for simplicity of decorative interior elements."

Nilsson's designs are divided into two groups, one subtle and gentle, and the other bolder and dynamic. All the rugs have different colour permutations in a bid to give buyers greater flexibility and choice.

"With Ripple, Dalaman and Swirl, I took inspiration from drawings based on my observation around water in different geographic situations.

They are discreet with just two tonal colours, " Nilsson remarks.

"In Stepping Stones, Causeway and Oval, I have allowed myself the freedom to play and experiment with my favourite geometric shape, the oval, " she remarked.

These designs contain more intensive colours and stronger visual expression.

Colour is key to Patricia Murphy, also a textile designer, who works from Blackrock, Co Louth.

"I believe people have an emotional response to colour.

Colour can transform people's ideas on things. In a climate like ours, I think it is very important, especially in minimalist homes, " she says.

"It's lovely to have a focal point with a bit of colour."

Blues and greens, blues and reds and oranges and reds pack a punch in Murphy's designs. She also brings her varied skills to the project.

"I had done a lot of wallhangings and rugs in the past as well as accepting private and corporate commissions for paintings and installations, " she says.

Having worked with Kenny previously, she was impressed with his attention to detail.

After getting the call in January to be part of the Ceadogan rug revamp, she set out to create a collection that was the essence of her work, with broad appeal.

Orla Kelly, a freelance designer who studied architecture, and who has worked on interiors with the Irish Landmark Trust, relished the opportunity to focus on a specific piece rather than an entire room.

"I had designed rugs and fabrics ten years ago and had just started designing wallpaper, so when the chance to work with rugs came along, it was perfect, " she says.

Kelly believes there is a real appreciation out there for what Ceadogan is doing, in concentrating on quality Irish materials, design and craftsmanship.

"People have had enough of globalisation of design. The whole area of commissioning for interiors is going to become really big, " she says.

"The only way you can put your own stamp on your home is to go for bespoke design."

The secret to commissioning a rug successfully, she says, is to go for the best materials and a timeless design.

"Even if you change other objects in your interior, you probably won't change your rug."

One of Kelly's rugs is called 'Georgian Oval' a contemporary take on a Georgian pattern.

"I took a lot of classic design ideas and played with pattern on them, " she says. "Two are based on liquorice allsorts and another is a modern and minimalist take on a traditional Turkish carpet. Another is a circle that has been defracted and I also did 'Meadow Flowers'. The specific thing I wanted was designs that could easily translate into other sizes. What I have done is like an ideas book for people, almost a template."

Murphy describes rugs as an expression of art in a sensual form. If you don't want to run your toes over a Ceadogan number, you can always put it on the wall, Kelly points out.

"Rugs can look fantastic on walls, instead of paintings, " she says.

The collection is available only at Ceadogan's showrooms in Wexford and ranges in price from 800 to 2,000.

"One of our strengths is that we make the rugs ourselves and we can meet with people and discuss what they want, " says Kenny. "Irish designed rugs are as good as you can get anywhere throughout the world."

A lot of Ceadogan's business is generated through architects and interiors designers. Irish businesses have also displayed a hankering for bespoke rugs, with the new McCann Fitzgerald offices at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, Monart Spa, Enniscorthy, the OPW, and Microsoft among its commercial clients.

"Globalisation is taking its toll on the craft market, " reflects Kenny who liaised with the Crafts Council of Ireland on this venture. "It's being savaged. We're in a niche market and we're looking that the trend is for people to want their own imprint in their homes and businesses."

Ceadogan Rugs, Barrystown, Wellington Bridge, Wexford 051561349.