Today we’d like to introduce you to Kyle Bunting.
Hi Kyle , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today?
I didn’t start in design—I found it by accident, or maybe inheritance. My father, Jim Bunting, was a hobbyist who worked with cowhide in our garage. He developed a technique for creating seamless hide rugs, which at the time was completely unheard of. Years later, I left a corporate job in media and returned to that idea, realizing there was a creative and commercial future in what he had started.
In 2000, I launched Kyle Bunting with a single goal: to completely redefine how people thought about hide. Not just as a rustic accent, but as an expressive, luxury design material. Over the past 25 years, we’ve become known for bold, custom hide rugs, wall coverings, and upholstery used in residential, hospitality, and commercial spaces around the world.
What began in a garage is now a full-scale studio in Austin, Texas, where we collaborate with some of the most talented interior designers and architects in the business. From Kips Bay Show Houses to collaborations with icons like Amy Lau, Jan Showers, and Timothy Corrigan, the work continues to evolve. Most recently, we expanded into wool and silk—a natural next step born out of long-term creative relationships and a shared love for materials.
At the heart of it, this has always been a family-driven business—both literally and in spirit.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The short answer? No—definitely not smooth. But I wouldn’t trade the bumps for anything.
When you’re building something original—especially in a niche as specific as decorative hide—you’re constantly explaining your value. Early on, I had to convince people that hide wasn’t just for rustic interiors. That it could be modern, elegant, even architectural. Changing perception is hard work.
There were also the growing pains of running a creative business: scaling production without sacrificing quality, staying innovative while maintaining what makes you recognizable. And of course, the economy doesn’t always cooperate. Like any design business, we’ve weathered market shifts, supply chain disruptions, and more recently, the increased noise of digital competition.
But through it all, the relationships have been the anchor. Collaborators who’ve believed in what we do, clients who come back project after project, and a team that treats every rug like a piece of art—that’s what’s kept us moving forward. I wouldn’t call the road smooth, but I’d definitely call it meaningful.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
At Kyle Bunting, we specialize in one thing—doing extraordinary things with hide. We design and produce custom rugs, wall coverings, upholstery, and architectural applications using natural cowhide, and more recently, wool and silk. Our studio takes what was once considered a rustic material and reimagines it as something highly graphic, refined, and contemporary.
We’re best known for bold color, strong geometry, and a totally custom approach—everything we do is made to order. No two projects are ever the same. We collaborate closely with interior designers, architects, and clients to create pieces that feel personal and completely integrated into their spaces.
I’m proud that, after 25 years, we’re still innovating. We’ve created work for showhouses, boutique hotels, luxury residences—you name it. But beyond the projects, what I’m most proud of is the way we’ve built our business: family-led, artistically driven, and deeply collaborative.
What sets us apart is our commitment to both craft and vision. We don’t treat hide as a limitation—we treat it as a medium. That mindset allows us to explore the edge of what’s possible with the material. It’s not about trends or templates. It’s about telling stories through design and making something that feels both timeless and completely new.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t wait for permission. If you believe in your idea—start. Refine it, evolve it, take feedback, but don’t sit around waiting for someone to validate you before you begin. I didn’t come from a traditional design background, and I didn’t follow a straight line to get here. But I started, and I stayed curious. That’s what matters.
Also—surround yourself with people who challenge you and believe in you. This industry is about relationships as much as talent. Some of the best ideas I’ve had came from conversations, not sketchbooks.
And finally, know that the path will never be linear. Some years will feel like rocket fuel, others like quicksand. But if you keep showing up and doing the work with integrity, you’ll build something that lasts. I wish someone had told me that early on: it’s not just about success, it’s about stamina.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kylebunting.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kylebunting/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kylebuntinginc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kyle-bunting/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl2GZQC41zh9X3AtY2JJWgQ
Image Credits
Photos courtesy of Kyle Bunting
