Clothing designers are stepping into brand new territory — rugs

Calvin Klein Rug- Woven Textures

You admired hip designer Nanette Lepore's peacock-patterned dresses, but they were so three years ago. Now you can resurrect the pattern for your floor.

Lepore has joined a growing list of fashion designers — Calvin Klein and Liz Claiborne (with Nourison), Oscar de la Renta (with elson & co.), Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith, Diane Von Furstenberg, Lulu Guinness (with The RUG Company) — all translating their passion for fashion design to floor coverings.

Lepore recently introduced a bold-patterned area rug with her peacock design for the Doris Leslie Blau carpet gallery in New York. The gallery also in early March unveiled two nautically-inspired rugs designed by Tommy Hilfiger (one blue with white anchors, the other navy with a red chain-link pattern).

In a phone interview, Lepore said she was approached by the carpet folks and is happy she did the project, especially since she now has one of her rugs in her own living room.
"The way it transformed my living room with color and a bold pattern, it would be fun to do more of that," the designer said. In fact, she's considering designing another rug for her pool table area that the public may see in stores some day.

What do those in the world of interior design think about fashionistas stepping in?
"I believe good design is good design and a good designer is a good designer," said Thom Filicia, best known as the design expert on the television series "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy."

Filicia, who has also designed for celebrity clients including Jennifer Lopez and Marc Antony through his New York firm, Thom Filicia Inc., said the important thing in interior design is understanding people's lifestyles, something fashion designers do well.

"A good designer can transcend from the area they are focused on into other areas and do it very successfully," Filicia said.

But would he recommend consumers start buying area rugs based on what's in their wardrobes?

Filicia said he wouldn't go that far. Still, he has a new show on the Style Network called "Dress My Nest" in which he will use fashion as a springboard to help folks figure out interiors.

"I do think there's a relationship. Saying you want to match your house to your clothes is too literal, but clothes do indicate your point of view, your aesthetic," he said.

"Young and hip or traditional or conservative, you can tell when you see someone," Filicia added. "And you get color from people's wardrobes."

Filicia will also soon launch a series of seminars in U.S. cities as spokesman for Karastan carpets. His big advice: Designing from the floor up is a good start.

"When they (his clients) don't know where to begin, I tell them to start from the rug, in terms of colors and what sets the tone whether classical or modern, or whatever."
And yes, he foresees having his own rug line (in addition to furniture and bedding), but not for a year or two.

Designer Lepore said what was appealing to her about designing rugs was that rug patterns have a longer shelf life.

"People don't change their homes as much as they change their closets," she said.
As for the trend of fashion designers stepping into rug design, she said, it brings "a fresh eye" and new brands that will create more interest.

Julie Rosenblum, brand manager for Nourison, the manufacturer of the Calvin Klein and Liz Claiborn carpets, agreed.

"In this day and age people associate certain looks and concepts with fashion designers," Rosenblum said. "It's reaffirming to the consumer that the product has a point of view and they understand that point of few."

Rosenblum said she suspects more fashion designers will introduce area rugs, and that's a good thing. "It brings rugs to the forefront. They (the consumer) may not know who the manufacturer is. What they know is there's a line by that designer. It takes the business to a whole new level."

By Fran Golden
For The Associated Press

Source- http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,660211600,00.html?pg=1


Click here to see more about Designers rugs.


Mark Gonsenhauser's Rug and Carpet Superstore
4153 Virginia Beach Blvd.Virginia Beach, VA 23452757-486-6600

Website:

http://www.IGotYourRug.com/

Amy Butler Design Handcrafted Rugs

Lacework rug by Amy Butler Design

We are happy to announce the addition of Amy Butler Designer rugs to our product lines.

In fact we are the only rug retailer in Hampton Roads that carries Amy Butler handcrafted rugs.

Here is some information to get you acquainted with Amy Butler Design and why we are excited to offer her designer rugs.


Amy Butler is definitely on to something. As a former contributing editor for Country Living Magazine and now at the helm of her own multi-product design business, she is someone to follow.


Her style is a mix of modest contemporary and updated country and is a look that has been coined "Midwest Modern". With exuberant patterns and lovely colors her style gets your attention and pulls you in.

Georgia Rug- Amy Butler Design 

"I started making small passport sized bags while living in Kansas City in the late 80's. There was a great energy about it.....I started thinking about those little bags that I had made less than 10 years ago. I wanted to create that feeling again so I started my sewing pattern business. My company, my brand, is really just a great vehicle to share my work. I love meeting other artists and trading notes. I love the process. Everybody has a personal story, and a personal creative voice. I just want to help my "friends" realize it." (From Amy Butler website).

Acanthus rug from Amy Butler Design

Amy Butler Design includes the following product lines; sewing patterns, fabrics, fashion and travel bags, books and kits, organic bedding, towels, wall art, desk top collection, paper craft, stationary, gift wrap and table ware, soft wares, and of course hand crafted area rugs.

Caracus Rug by Amy Butler Design

Be sure to come into our store to see these beautiful rugs in person. We carry the full line of styles and colors for your shopping pleasure!


Mark Gonsenhauser's Rug and Carpet Superstore
4153 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
757-486-6600

Links:

http://www.igotyourrug.com/


Proudly providing you Amy Butler rugs in the Hampton Roads cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News. 

The Making of a Custom Rug

The Making of a Custom Rug

Sometimes a client wants a special rug made specifically to their criteria. We proudly offer this service to our customers.



These pictures walk you through the process of making a custom rug in India for one of our clients.

This particular rug was quite a grand project. Although your custom rug may not require such a large undertaking, this demonstrates that there is nothing too big for us!

This client wanted a rug that could cover a basketball court measuring 20’ x 40’. They chose the colors and style they wanted. They also requested to have their family crest woven into the design.

Here are the steps to making a rug!

Design the Pattern.








Draw the family crest onto the pattern.




This is what the crest looks like woven into the rug pattern.






Choose the wool. This is premium lambs wool from New Zealand.







Dye the wool to the match the chosen colors.





Set up the loom to begin the weaving process.








Weaving of the rug. Notice the pattern is the weavers guide.










Finishing process.





Washing process.









The Final Product !







Inspection Process.









Packing for Shipment to the USA.










Delivery of the rug to our warehouse.










Delivery of the rug to our very happy client!










Mark Gonsenhauser's Rug and Carpet Superstore
4153 Virginia Beach Blvd.
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
757-486-6600



Website: http://www.IGotYourRug.com/




Proudly providing you Custom Rug making for the Hampton Roads cities of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News ans Williamsburg.