Armadillo returns to its roots with its first Adelaide atelier, fusing purpose, craft and connection in a space inside Terrace Floors + Furnishings that honours quiet design and local legacy

Photography by Ekaterina Shipova

In 2009, Sally Pottharst and Jodie Fried launched Armadillo in SA–a purpose-led and ethical rug label creating thoughtfully made sanctuaries. It’s a mission that’s taken the pair global–from Los Angeles to New York and Singapore–and seen the company become the Australian/American rug maker to achieve B Corp Status.

Despite Armadillo’s global reach, the desire to return home never waned. “Returning home with Armadillo feels like closing a circle but also opening a new one,” Sally reflects. “There’s a quiet renaissance happening [in Adelaide]–an appetite for spaces and objects that feel personal, enduring and meaningful. We felt the timing was right to contribute to that movement.

“South Australia has always had a rich creative undercurrent. Now, it feels like people are truly embracing that uniqueness and looking to support brands with integrity and local connection.

”The new atelier takes form inside Terrace Floors + Furnishings, a longtime Pottharst family business, in a move Sally describes as a “beautiful alignment of values and history.” “Terrace Floors was built on relationships; on a deep understanding of how design can shape a home. Armadillo shares that belief.

”While the Eastwood showroom was already the largest stockist of Armadillo in SA, this new space is an intimate introduction to the label’s DNA–where the pursuit of quiet living comes first. “We wanted the atelier to offer something far more immersive than a traditional showroom–a sensory experience that reveals the layers of thought, craft and care behind every rug,” explains Sally. “It’s a space to feel grounded and inspired–where the story behind each piece can unfold naturally.

”The pair tapped David Goss–the creative brain behind Melbourne firm Studio Goss–for the Adelaide fit-out. A long-time collaborator with Armadillo, the architect converged the brand’s “focus on form and materiality” with “South Australia’s landscape and warm sensibility”.

The space leans on natural timber and brass, with touches of blackened steel details, like the roof design, used to add a subtle confidence. “These choices echo our ethos of slow design–nothing is rushed, nothing is purely decorative,” says Sally. It’s about integrity, both in how something is made and how it makes you feel.

”Intent is something that has defined Armadillo for 15 years. The brand is only ever guided by its ethical roots–honouring the craft and its makers–regardless of demand and pace. Sustainability and longevity are always front of mind, with tactility“ an antidote to overwhelm.” “In a world that’s moving faster than ever, we’re drawn to the idea of creating grounding moments through design,” explains Sally. “We don’t chase trends; we follow feeling. If a rug doesn’t move us in some way, then it doesn’t belong in our collection”.

Looking ahead, Sally says the atelier “signals a deepening, not a shift.” “It’s a beautiful evolution. Together, we’re creating something that feels both grounded and visionary.

Terrace Floors + Furnishings
51 Glen Osmond Rd, Eastwood
08 8274 1125
terracefloors.com.au
@terracefloors