My Story

My simple desire to make a kitchen rug in 1979 led me to a life devoted to art for the floor! 

Inspired by a magazine photo and a discarded piece of canvas, my journey unfolded in that first floorcloth.  Selling a few here and there, I paid for a booth at my first art show. People were buying my work and soon I was selling on Madison Avenue in NYC. 

An ad in a brand new magazine (Country Living) helped build a larger audience. Selling in NYC gave me the opportunity to make custom rugs for many famous clients including Carrie Fisher, Christina Ferrari, Michael Keaton, Paul Newman, Henry Winkler and others! My work also started showing up in lots of shelter magazines and the publicity helped fuel the interest in floorcloths. 

People kept asking for directions to make a floorcloth which led to The Complete Book of Floorcloths (1997).  With a book in tow I became a guest on HGTV’s DIY network reaching a national audience.  My second book Painting Floorcloths (1999) grew out of my effort to simplify the process for workshops.

Somewhere on this journey Kathy Cooper was branded with floorcloths. I became widely known for painted rugs and artists from all over the world began to contact me with their questions or stories.

Over the years I listened to customers and continued to look for ways to improve my floorcloths and in 2011 launched a line of printed floorcloths. The printed line has allowed me to offer online sales and meet a need. Everyone wants a rug that can be used and cleaned easily.  My customers have been incredibly loyal and supportive in this new endeavor.

Today I am still painting floorcloths and adding to the reproduction line, spreading joy one rug at a time. My days are divided between custom work, gardening and yoga!  I love color, patterns, flowers and animals and I am known for fun whimsical designs.  This work makes me happy and that conveys to my clients!

I hope you get years of pleasure from your floorcloth purchase. Thank you for supporting my small business dream and being a part of the Kathy Cooper journey!  You have become a friend to me.

- Kathy