History of New River Artisans

New River Artisans is a premier provider of world-class, fully custom, hand-tufted wool rugs. We are pleased to be known as an authoritative and trustworthy partner in the design community.

Our company was founded, and is still owned and operated, by the Satterwhite family. Sharing a desire for authentic living and a vocation in service of creativity, Leith and Neal Satterwhite opened a small rug mill in North Carolina’s New River Valley in 1981. Their custom rugs were soon commissioned by some of the country’s most accomplished interior designers, including Jay Spectre and Geoffrey Bradfield.

As our company grew, New River Artisans earned recognition for being the first to develop basketweave loop pile construction, first to bring historic Aubusson patterns into needlepoint constructions, and for being a versatile and responsive design partner. Today we’re a recognized leader in contemporary design. But we continue to execute each rug design in the finest authentic, traditional constructions.

It remains our aim to provide interior designers and their clients personalized service and the highest quality, most beautiful custom rugs available in the marketplace – each crafted here in the mountains of North Carolina and Southwest Virginia.

It is our joy to help bring comfort and beauty into people’s lives.