Stripes run the full length of the Lara in blue, so the pattern reads clearly. The ground has the warm, natural look of jute, and the blue sits on top of it.

Woven by hand from jute and cotton

This jute runner is made in India on a handloom. The face is 80% jute and 20% cotton, with a jute and cotton back, and the flat weave gives crumbs little to catch on. Jute is a renewable plant fibre and biodegradable. Blue stripes on natural fibre set this Lara apart within jaloom's Jute Rugs, and the same stripes come in brown, green, orange, turquoise and white.

A blue runner for the kitchen

Laid in front of the worktop, the Lara gives the floor some colour without fuss. It also works as a hallway runner if your kitchen opens onto a passage. Jute feels firmer underfoot than wool, and the rug is suitable for use over underfloor heating. Measure from the end of the worktop to the door before deciding which size to pick, because runner rugs like the Lara look right with a little floor showing at each end.

Keeping the blue Lara looking good

Vacuum with the brush switched off and keep steam away from it. Jute takes in a lot of moisture, so a splash needs kitchen roll straight away, before a ring dries in. Laid on a pad cut slightly smaller than the runner, the blue Lara stays put and keeps its corners flat, as our guide to looking after your rug explains. Damp rooms don't suit it.