Area Rug Decor

2009-03-03T11:47:00.000-08:00

An interior designer named Rosemary Sadez Friedmann wrote a nice article about “decorating in hard economic times”. She gives 5 quick decorating tips that will help spruce up your décor on a limited budget. Number 2 is about decorating with area rugs.

“Use area rugs. Instead of re-carpeting, throw an area rug over the rough spots. First get the old carpet cleaned, then get an attractive rug to put over part of it. You will not only cover the messy, overused parts, but will also add newness to the room. An area rug can also define a room. If you have tile or marble that spans two or more rooms, an area rug can visually separate the rooms.” By ROSEMARY SADEZ FRIEDMANN Scripps Howard News Service Posted on KNXV TV Phoenix

You should check out the article. It is a quick read with some simple straight forward tips. If your like a lot of Americans and can’t afford to move you should at least try to be happy where you are.

New Info Pages On RugSale.com

2008-12-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

RugSale.com has produced a whole series of pages with information on different types of area rugs on its web site. They explain everything from shag rugs to braided rugs. They talk about the different materials like wool rugs and sisal rug. They discuss machine made contemporary rugs verses a hand tufted rug. There is even an article describing finished edge carpet rugs. Their parent company specializes in high end oriental rugs and persian rugs but they also talk about things like bath rugs, discount rugs and the kids rugs they carry online.

Atlanta Rug Market News

2007-01-24T13:55:00.000-08:00

Now we go live to the show…OK…not anymore. Home Textiles Today was reporting from the Atlanta market last week in Bulletins from Atlanta Rug Market. They had some interesting things to say. They have information on: Capel Inc., Shaw Living, Momeni, Balta US, Nourison, Sphinx by Oriental Weavers. Check It Out.

Size Matters…With Area Rugs

2007-01-16T14:02:00.000-08:00

At least as far as Kate McIntyre is concerned. She says “The size of your rug depends on several factors.” and goes on to explain why in this brief but informative article.

You do not want your rug to touch the walls, nor do you want your rug to seem dwarfed by the rest of the room's interior decorating. A good rule of thumb is that your rug's length should be two feet shorter than the room's width. InteriorDesignSchoolReview.com

The article goes on to give a few more helpful hints. Kate has good tips on size and quality and her article is well worth the time.

After The Decorations Get Put Away…

2007-01-15T12:37:00.000-08:00

Some people get a little glum after the holiday decorations get put away. It can be a bit of a depressing time for many people. There is an article in the Cape Cod Times that talks about just this problem.

It's always a shock for people when the sparkle and lights of holiday decorations are gone, says designer Diane Halunen, owner of As You Like It Interiors in Brewster. Cape Cod Times

Diane discusses some tricks she has for cheering up a room without depressing your bank account. This is actually a problem I can relate to. Both Christmas and my birthday come at about the same time so there is a big celebration high and then it all fades. Of course this all happens at a time of year when we are hunkered down in the house to get away from the cold bleak weather. Diane has some tips to help keep your house from being as bleak as the out doors.

Some options: chenille or velvet toss pillows; a fresh area rug (even on top of carpeting); a red candle on a table; a new lampshade; a woven throw on the back of a sofa; or extra vases. Cape Cod Times

Besides some texture from the pillows and rugs that Diane discusses some other designers also throw in there thoughts on “Adding cheer” and “A clean palette”. The article is worth a read if you’re feeling a little blue and could use to perk up your décor.

Rug Auction Breaks Records

2007-01-11T13:54:00.000-08:00

Freeman's Auction, in Philadelphia PA, surpassed it greatest expectations with an auction that included some very expensive rugs. Many rugs sold for far beyond there expected price. An 18th century North Indian measuring 22’ x 13’-6” area rug brought in $17,925 when it was only expected to go for between $10,000 to $15,000. A 15’-5” x 11’-10” Northwest Persian Bakshaish from the late-19th-century went for $26,290, twice its estimated value. Here are a couple more examples.

“A late-19th-century 17-foot-six-inch-by-12-foot Haji Jalili Tabriz from North Persia wove to $46,605 (estimate $20,000-$30,000), while another 23-foot-seven-inch-by-15-foot-two-inch Northwest Persian Tabriz achieved $38,838 against its $8,000-$10,000 forecast.” ReadingEagle.com

The biggest surprise of all was a Chelaberd Kazak rug which sold for a record $341,625.

“The single medallion six-foot-one-inch-by-five-foot-four-inch rug, which only had a $15,000-$25,000 pre-sale estimate, was from the Robert Montgomery Scott estate “Androssan,” Radnor, Montgomery County. Freeman's said the price, which included a 19.5 percent buyer's fee on the first $75,000 and 12 percent on the balance, ‘represented a record for a Caucasian carpet of any kind at auction.’” ReadingEagle.com

That would have been a very exciting auction. Hopefully no one bid over there heads. I haven’t seen any picture of the pieces but I’m sure they were beautiful.

Iranian Rug Exports Running at Record Pace

2007-01-09T12:44:00.000-08:00

The Mehr News Agency is reporting that the National Iranian Carpet Center has announced that Persian rug exports are already at $388 million in the first 9 months of the Iranian calendar year. Last years total was just $480 million. This means that they are at 81% of last years numbers with only 75% of the year gone. The centers chairman, Morteza Faraji, said he expected to see the number hit $500 million before the end of the year. This change comes from an effort by the NICC to turn around sagging sales numbers in the recent past.

"In light of the measures taken, we expect an upward trend worldwide in Persian rug business by the end of the current year, he reiterated. So far, we have identified ten target countries for Persian rug exports, he stipulated, adding that National Iranian Carpet Center is planning to begin negotiations with foreign marketing companies to that end." MEHRNEWS.com

It looks like the measures they have been taking are turning the corner on sluggish Persian rug sales.

Animal Rights or Animal Rugs

2007-01-08T13:02:00.000-08:00

There is a rise in the use of animal rugs even in this age of animal rights. An article in the Kane County Chronicle, of suburban Chicago, points to a “new acceptance of cowhide and sheepskin rugs, especially in exotic patterns, unusual colors and different shapes.”

When the discussion of the acceptability of animal skins comes up, Frank Conn, an industry insider says “these are products that many of those same people eat and wear. They eat lamb chops, hamburgers and steaks.” He goes on to point out that these rugs are just byproducts of those acceptable consumer goods.

Some people say that the dramatic growth in the use of animal rugs is because so many decorating magazines have been highlighting animal-pattern rugs in their pages as of late. But Jim Muller, the manager of wholesaler Pacific Hide & Leather in L.A. sees it much differently.

“This is no trend for us; it’s a steady business that’s important to high-end designers who want an exotic look. We consistently do well with zebra-stenciled cowhide pieces that look like the real deal.”

If you do think it is a short term trend or just feel a little uncomfortable about animal rugs there are still many traditional and modern area rugs that can give a room a real exotic feel.

New Years Decorating Article

2007-01-08T11:01:00.000-08:00

The Sun News in Myrtle Beach has some advice for a “New Year New look”. Design consultant Wayne Graffius has some creative tips like, fresh fruit being a “great and inexpensive way to add pops of color throughout a space.” The article is full of thoughts for brightening things up.

“Other ways to inject new life in a room are by adding throw pillows, changing out the area rug or adding a swag of fabric to an existing window treatment, Graffius suggested.” The Sun News

The article also has quite a few specific tips for picking area rugs. As they say “Another easy and inexpensive way to liven up a room and add texture and warmth is with throw and area rugs.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.

What's New In Rug Fashions

2007-01-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

An article in OCRegister.com takes a look at “what's afoot in rug fashions”.

Upscale, downright bold attitudes are expressed in florals that are sassy rather than sweet, stripes that don't follow conventional palettes, and gutsy geometrics as kinetic as pop art. There are retro looks with bubbles or squiggles but not stuck in 1950s or '60s color schemes. OCRegister.com

Though the article deals for the most part with bright and unconventional colors and patterns it rightly warns of the obvious problems that can arise if you think of the area rug as secondary to other furnishings.

But most people buy furniture first, considering rugs an accessory. With the more visually provocative rugs, that can be a challenge. OCRegister.com

This is why professional designers pick the rug first to define the palette of colors for the rest of the room.

…designers like to start with the rug when outfitting an interior, pulling out one or more of its colors for upholstery, walls and window treatments, as well as accessories such as pillows, lamp shades and even flowers in a vase. OCRegister.com

This is a long and important article. Everyone should take a few minutes to read it over.

Shake-Up at Shaw

2007-01-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

Jeff Meadows, the man who moved Shaw Living aggressively into home textiles, has left the company. Furniture Today is reporting that Jeff Brown, the former director of operations, has assumed his position as vice president, on an interim basis.

Meadows had been head of the rug division of Shaw Inds. since 2000. Under his leadership, the division broadened its product range to include bath and kitchen rugs as well as room-size and accent rugs. FurnitureToday.com

Jeff also helped deepened Shaw’s commitment to the very popular Mary Kate & Ashley and Kathy Ireland lines. His are mighty big shoes to have to fill. Having come to Shaw directly from college he seemed to be a fixture at the company. It will be tough to replace his understanding of Shaw’s relationship with their customers and the distribution network that he gained from his experience as sales and marketing executive in the broadloom division.

People Choose Area Rugs Over Carpet

2007-01-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

The carpet industry is off from its sales last year. It looks like people are opting for hardwood and ceramic tile floors and area rugs over carpeting.

“Carpet makers tried to address the increase in popularity of hard surface products, such as wood, laminate and ceramic tile, over carpet.” News 11

This is not surprising considering the amount of diversity flooring and rug combinations can provide. The colors and contrasts can give a room a much more dynamic feel than a wall to wall carpet.

An Oval Office Area Rug Accident

2006-12-28T12:10:00.000-08:00

I would be curious what the area rug pattern in the Oval Office was at the time (typically, each new administration redecorates the office) but apparently Gerald Ford's dog, Liberty, didn’t care for it.

One day Ford's dog, Liberty, made a mess on the rug in the Oval Office. A Navy steward rushed to clean it up. "I'll do that," Ford said. "No man should have to clean up after another man's dog." WashingtonPost.com

His reaction to Libertys commentary tells us a lot about Fords character. As the saying goes, you know a mans character by the way he treats people he doesn't have to be nice to. I think whatever people thought of his politics the country truly respected this man.

Area Rug Plays Part in Ongoing Da Vinci Code Mystery

2006-12-27T10:10:00.000-08:00

Dan Brown, author of the Da Vinci Code, left some cryptic messages in a hotel in Scotland. Was he just having fun or was this an attempt to make news and keep discussion of the book going.

Brown recently checked out of the Witchery Hotel in Edinburgh but not before leaving behind a cryptic code (93065) in permanent ink under one of the rugs in his £275-a-night Armoury Suite and leaving a riddle in the guest book. HotelChatter

I was kind of wondering how they found the writing underneath the area rug in the first place. For over $360 dollars per night I hope they weren’t sweeping the dust under there.

Rudolph Makes For a Bad Rug but a Great Sausage

2006-12-26T09:21:00.000-08:00

The Casper Wyoming Star Tribune has a story about how Rudolph doesn’t just “deliver the presents, he is the present”.

"I'll tell them it's Rudolph," Hicks, a retired lawyer who moved to Alaska in 1971 from the Boston area, said with a devilish grin inside the bustling Alaska Sausage and Seafood shop. Behind the counter, workers hustled to fill holiday orders, including the ever-popular all-reindeer package. CasperStarTribune.net

As far as we are concerned reindeer can stay in from of Santa’s sleigh. They may taste good but the make bad rugs.

They (hides and pelts) are ideal for hanging on a wall or sofa back. But reindeer hair is hollow and easily breaks, so it wouldn't last long as a rug. CasperStarTribune.net

I waited to post this until after Christmas, I think if Santa had seen this before then he wouldn’t have come any where near my house.

And You Thought Vacuuming Was Simple

2006-12-22T10:46:00.000-08:00

So you bought that all wool Shaw area rug from their W E Poole Collection that you fell in love with. It gets delivered and as you spread it out you vow to take good care of it. The most important step in caring for your carpet is vacuuming and you need to do this thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high traffice areas. Bear in mind that walking on soiled carpet permits the soil particles to work their way below the surface of the pile where they are far more difficult to remove. Frequent vacuuming removes these particles from the surface before this happens.

Now when I am talking about frequent I’m not talking about just spring cleaning or even once a month. For rooms with light traffic you really need to vacuum the traffic lanes twice a week and the entire rug once every week. For those areas with heavier traffic the traffic lanes should really be vacuumed daily and the entire area rug about twice a week.

Now you want to stop thinking in the back and forth, making sure the whole thing is covered mind set. You will want to make up to three passes of the vacuum cleaner will suffice for lightly soiled areas, but you may need five to seven passes for more heavily soiled areas.

We will talk about vacuum cleaners in another post but for now break out that machine you have that is gathering dust in the closet and take care of that Shaw area rug investment you have lying in the middle of the floor.

There is one other alternative, just rope off the room as a friend of mines mother did when we were young. Come to think of it I am probably still not allowed in that room.

Nourison Grabs Up Paula Paquette

2006-12-22T09:01:00.000-08:00

Home Textiles Today is reporting area rug manufacturer Nourison has hired Paula Paquette. With this hire they brought on board someone with a whole new perspective. She has more than 20 years experience on the retail side of the industry and she has a lot to add.

Starting her career as a linens and area rugs buyer at Caldor, then working as the home fashions merchandising executive at Kmart and finally as Vice President of decorative housewares at Linens ’n Things, it is no wonder Executive Vice President Rita Karmiol says “We…believe we will see accelerated growth come from the area under Paula’s direction.” Paula will assume the newly created post of Vice President, soft home at Nourison Area Rugs.

An Explanation of Area Rug Fibers

2006-12-21T10:14:00.000-08:00

In this blog John Tredor explains the different fibers that area rugs are made from. He goes through each of the most prominent fibers and explains where they are from and there advantages and disadvantages.

“Natural fibers used with carpet are produced either by insects, animals, or even plants. The fibers that are produced by insects or animals are known as protein fibers. Those that are made by plants are known as vegetable fibers.” carpetscentral.blogspot.com

This will help people figure out what type of material they should be looking for before they start to look at area rugs. It is very thorough and well written.

Does Your Insurance Cover Your Area Rug?

2006-12-21T09:24:00.000-08:00

I found this Blog about insurance and what it does and doesn’t cover. I was surprised to find this information in a motor freight and trucking blog but I know this to be true. I live near the ocean and use to work in a building by a tidal river that flooded every few years and have seen the insurance implications. All the right conditions had to be met for the area to flood, strong on-shore wind at the same time you had a new or full moon tide. But if this happened, anywhere from an inch or so up to about 6 inches of water would flow in the back door and out the front. Would your insurance cover this?

“Many homeowners are also surprised to learn that flood insurance is not included under their regular homeowner’s insurance policy or renter’s policy.” motorfreighttrucking.wordpress.com

Your area rugs being literally the lowest thing in any room are most susceptible to flooding and water damage. If you are fond of nice rugs they may also be the most expensive thing in the room. Now I am not sure of the validity of this next statement.

“…a surprising statistic is that in general, you are 30 times more likely to lose your home to a flood than a fire.” motorfreighttrucking.wordpress.com

But even a minor flood could ruin an expensive area rug. It would be smart to take a look at your property and it’s propensity for even minor flooding and alter your insurance accordingly.

Rumor Of An Afghan Man Crafting A Rug For President Bush

2006-12-20T12:19:00.000-08:00

A conservative blog discusses a rug that was supposedly crafted by an “Afghan man anxious to show his gratitude to President George W. Bush for this country’s efforts to bring democracy to Afghanistan”. Though there is a picture, I have never seen this story before and can’t confirm it. Whatever the real story behind it, it is certainly an interesting rug, not exactly the kind of area rug you would have your kids play on.

Exquisite Framed Rug Donated To Museum In Northern Iran

2006-12-20T12:04:00.000-08:00

The Mehr News Agency reports that a prominent Iranian artist donated an exquisite framed rug to the Astan-e Qods Razavi Museum in Khorassan Razavi Province in northern Iran.

“Astane-e Qods Razavi Museum is a treasure trove of Iranian rare carpets date back to different eras ranging from Safavid dynasty to the present time.” Mehr News Agency

I would love to get a look at an Iranian area rug collection dating back to the 14th century. But I think for the time being I will hold off on any area rug tourist excisions too the Middle East.

Rizzy Rugs Expands U.S. Presence

2006-12-19T11:25:00.000-08:00

An area rug company known better to European consumers is planning to expand its presence in the U.S. As reported in FURNITURE Today Rizzy Rugs plans to open a 4,500-square-foot showroom and warehouse in the spring of 2007.

“Much of the company's past growth has been in the European market. In recent years, (CEO Rizwan) Ansari began working with domestic furniture retailers to develop customized products for the U.S. market.” furnituretoday.com

This will make Rizzy Rugs a more attractive supplier to area rug retailers in the states.

Eco Friendly Inn Uses “bon voyage” Pattern Area Rug

2006-12-19T09:38:00.000-08:00

An "eco inn", set to open on first day of spring and Earth Day, features a very interesting area rug.

“A handmade wool rug in a 'bon voyage' pattern leads down a hallway in the Topia Inn in Adams. The eco-friendly building is expected to open in March.” Northern Berkshires MA, TheTranscript.com

The Topia Inn, on Pleasant Street in Adams MA, used eco friendly materials when renovating the abandoned lodge building. The 100 percent New Zealand wool rug they chose is a very interesting “bon voyage” pattern. Here is a good picture of the area rug which they are using as a runner. I have been to Adams many times and it is a beautiful town. This inn could be an interesting place to stay if you go to visit. While there you may want to visit Tanglewood to listen to the BSO.

A Design Reality Show

2006-12-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

The Television Blog TV Envy and the reality show blog realityblurred.com, among others, have stories about Bravo introducing a reality show called Top Design. It is most likely in the same vein as Project Runway and Top Chef. I am not a big fan of reality TV, or just reality for that matter when it comes to interpersonal tension, but in that these shows are so popular with so many people I felt I had to pass it along.

The New 'Age In Place' Trend Offers Good Advice

2006-12-18T08:20:00.000-08:00

As an article in the Pittsburgh, Pa. Post Gazette states the aging baby boomer generation is “…giving rise to an army of experts who are eager to help people age in place.” The article has some practical and sound advice even with respect to area rugs. To keep people who are aging, and whose reactions may not be as fast as they once were, safe they are advised to always “Secure all carpets and area rugs with double-sided tape.” But this is of course sound advice for everyone whether you use double sided tape or a good non-slip padding.

Author Honored With A Hand Hooked Area Rug

2006-12-18T07:36:00.000-08:00

One of America's most famous authors of children’s books, Virginia Hamilton, was honored by two sisters, Georgia Kay Glass and Toby Ann Baker, with a hand hooked area rug.

“The rug, which took 300 hours to research, 700 to plan and dye and 2,400 hours to hook, took a first place ribbon at the annual Pearl H. McGown Rug HookCrafters gathering Oct. 27-29 in DesMoines, Iowa. Among the 700 rugs on display only 15 earned that distinction.” By Tom Stafford, Staff Writer, Springfield News Sun.

That was quite an endeavor. For more about this you can find the article with pictures at the Springfield News Sun.

Safavieh® Introduces Martha Stewart Area Rug collection

2006-12-15T11:15:00.000-08:00

A press release from Safavieh® says the will introduce a Martha Stewart Area Rug collection January 19 during the Atlanta International Area Rug Market®. The collection will consist of four categories with 32 designs. Martha’s MSLO’s (Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia) ideas and patterns and her own collection of antique area rugs are what inspired the collection. You can read the press release here.

The release explains that it “will include handmade and machine-made area rugs, as well as wire-loom rugs, targeting the consumer who desires great design at affordable prices.” Those prices are said to range from $200 to $3,000 “and above”.

Federated Department Stores is vying for distribution rights to sell the line through their Macy's stores.

This venture into the floor coverings industry should go a lot smoother than her initial work with Shaw and their signature flooring collection. That rollout came just as the allegation of her insider trading came to light. You can find a look back at that turmoil here.

I am curious to see what this collection will hold because whether you like or dislike her you have to admit she has come out with some beautiful products in the past.