Greenstreet Collection by Lifestyles USA
Brand new to market, the colors in this hand knotted wool rug stand out amongst its competition.
Designer Notebook: Melanie Turner
Melanie Turner, ASID
Melanie Turner Interiors, Atlanta, GA
When do you chose your floor covering?
It can be either right at the beginning or near the end, depending on the job. If the client has a lot of furniture and items, I sometimes use the rug to tie it all together or to add punch to the room. I prefer to choose the carpet first as it can set the tone.
What markets do you attend?
I often go to the High Point and Atlanta markets. I do go to the D&D Building in New York, The Merchandise Mart in Chicago and sometimes shop in Los Angeles It often has to do with convenience, depending on where my client may live or have a home
Where do you source your rugs?
I really like Stark, Keivan Woven Arts, Asia Minor Carpets, The Rug Market, Merida Meridian and Mastour. Stark is always coming up with new ideas, fresh ideas. I mostly purchase custom rugs to get the correct size or color.
Do you have a favorite style or fiber of area rug?
It depends on the look and style needed. I love old oushaks. Of course I love wool. I do have to decide on whether a casual or traditional rug is needed and the price point. That all makes a big difference. Stylewise, I do like geometrics and graphics.
Are there any design rules you care a lot about?
I care a lot about the size of the carpet. People don’t buy them large enough, which looks ridiculous. The furniture should all be on the carpet, even if they have to buy two carpets and get them put together. Or all the furniture should be off the carpet, but not half on and half off. The scale gets thrown off.
Do you shop online or use catalogs?
I do shop online for indoor/outdoor rugs, as I consider the color of the rug to be less important then. I often buy Flor modular carpet tiles online.
Want to see more? Go to www.turnerdavisinteriors.com
Designers Notebook: Susan Seaman
Susan Seaman
Susan Seaman Designs, Kalispell, MT
When and how do you choose the floor covering?
I work closely with my clients to determine both their design aesthetic and their practical needs. Do you have small children or pets? Do they remove their shoes in their home? Living in Montana, our weather can be pretty fierce. It helps to consider all of these factors together, so that the end result looks stunning and lasts for a long time in spite of normal use.
Where do you source your rugs?
I am a loyal customer of Dawn Platke at Carpet Studio in Whitefish, Montana. I always try to source everything locally, if possible. I learned a lot from a rug dealer in Pakistan, about 18 years ago, and I have carried that knowledge with me to inform my purchases now.
What markets or market centers do you attend?
When I was learning about design, I regularly attended shows at the Atlanta Merchandise Mart. Over the years I have streamlined my operation to keep my costs down — both for weathering the economic storms and for my customers. I don’t have a retail store, so unless I have a really large project going, I can rarely meet minimums. And shipping is a nightmare. I find it best to rely on local experts, so that I can be in the business of design.
Do you have a favorite style or fiber of area rug?
For me quality is everything. A great quality rug will make the room! I like to purchase natural fibers like wool, cotton, silk and bamboo with natural eco-conscious dyes.
Do you follow any design rules specifically or are there ones you like to break?
My philosophy is that a client’s home is their soft place to land at the end of the day. It should be a place that is peaceful and makes them happy. So, if achieving that goal for them means that I have to put disparate styles together or follow a carefully scripted rule book, so be it, as long as it is done well. I also realize that a home or an office is a sort of living thing, in that it is constantly changing to reflect the people living there. So I don’t have a huge ownership in the finished product. It has to be beautiful to the client.
Important Things to Know Before Buying Area Rugs
Summary: Area rugs not only bring beauty to a room but also help in hiding the blemishes of the floor. By selecting the right one for your room, you can make the room look cosy and luxurious and at the same time protect your wooden flooring. After knowing the numerous advantages associated with area rugs, it is natural that you would want to rush to buy them. However, you must not make the mistake of making your decision in a rush and select the first rug that appeals to you.
Smart Area Rugs Buying Tips to Guide You
First and foremost, you have to be aware of your own expectations before making the purchasing. Therefore, the first thing that you need to do is to carefully evaluate the room where you want to place the rug. Consider the size and colour of the room as well as any furniture that exists in it so that you can make your choice of the area rug accordingly. You must NOT ever try to guess the size of the room. It is always sensible to take the accurate measurements. The standard size rugs measure about 90cm x 150cm, medium size ones 240cm x 150cm and the large ones measure around 330cm.
When you are exploring the markets for the area rug that matches your unique styles you will find that there are a number of options available to you. You can take your pick from different designs and materials but they should be decided by keeping the current décor of the room in mind.
Another important decision that has to be made is regarding the shape of the rug. They come in a number of shapes like round, square, rectangular, etc. These days it is also possible to buy custom design rugs that will suit the design of your room perfectly. However, you may have to shell out a larger sum of money on them.
Colour of the rug is as important as its size and design. Although the rug does not necessarily have to match the colour of the room, it is vital that the rug goes with the colour of the wall as well as the furniture. A mismatched rug will get you no compliments from your guests.
Last but not the least is the cost factor. The amount that you are willing to spend for the rug should be set according to the usability of the rug. For instance, if the rug is to be placed in an area that is not used much then it makes no sense to invest in a highly priced rug. It is advisable to check out the online markets that offer area rugs on reduced prices.
For more information visit – www.nal.gov.au/
Liora Manne New for 2012 Visions II Collection Rugs at NYHF
This is a Liora Manne Visions II Collection rug, new for 2012. This is the Big Dot in Amber, made of 100% acrylic and available in a variety of sizes.
