Born and raised in New York and New Jersey, Nathalie Douge is the eldest of three. Her parents came to the United States from Haiti to escape the tyranny of the Duvalier dictatorship in search of a better life for themselves and their children. In addition to providing the example of hard work and perseverance,  her parents gave them access to all things beautiful and the hand made was ever present in their home. Hand crafts in the form of sewing and needle work, but also furniture design and vintage auto restoration were part of their every day life. They were encouraged to read, listen to jazz and classical music, draw and travel.  All this instilled in Douge a lifelong desire to make and to find her voice in the mindful pursuit of usefulness and beauty.

When it came time to go to college and decide upon a profession, architecture was Douge’s first choice. She has been practicing residential architecture for over 20 years and loves the relationship between the making of buildings and the lasting contribution that her work  has in the lives of the people who entrust her with the privilege of designing their homes.

The step to rug making came rather naturally, after the birth of Douge’s youngest. Her daughter spent some of those early years before going to school on job sites, showrooms or at her feet while she was designing. Douge found herself drawing more, at first as a means of doing something with her daughter, and later simply for pleasure and exploration of it. Later she shared some of her work, wondering what she could do with the images.  A generous friend suggested  turning them into rugs. Douge was captivated.

In these first works Douge hopes to bring a sense of warmth and modernity into an interior,  with integrity and respect for the craft and the craftsmen.