Let the floor set a design tone

Ikat Design Area Rug - Siam By Nourison

The area rug can be a room’s focal point, organize furnishings, add warmth and baffle sound.

Botanical rug adds color, becomes a focal pint and adds warmth to your room

BY ELAINE MARKOUTSAS
UNIVERSAL UCLICK


Carpet diem! Area rugs are seizing the day when it comes to dialing up personality in a room. And that goes for indoors and outdoors.


From flat weaves to bas relief, which adds sculptural dimension, it’s modern design that especially stands out, in an impressive range of prismatic colors, stylish patterns and tantalizing textures, many of which are obviously informed by fashion. And while some motifs like circles or squares or chevrons may be familiar, even vintage references are re-framed in an unexpected bold palette, scale or placement so that they look fresh.


The area rug long has played a pivotal role in interior design. It can be a focal point, much like a piece of art on the wall. It serves to ground a space, organize furnishings, add warmth and baffle sound.


For some designers, a rug sets the tone for a room, launching its color scheme — even one that’s monochromatic, which is best expressed by nuances with shades and textures.


But placing a rug in a room requires visualization. This is why retailer websites often show how color and pattern look underfoot and totally change the dynamic in a space. New York artist Madeline Weinrib told San Francisco writer Diane Dorrans Saeks that she had to rethink technique when she began to design rugs 12 years ago.


“I trained myself to see from the floor as opposed to the wall and realized that (a rug) had to exist in dialogue with the decor in the room, that it would have furniture placed on it,” says Weinrib, whose textiles and rugs are sold at ABC Carpet and Home and through her new showroom in Manhattan. “In painting, it’s a world of its own. That’s not true for rugs, which are part of the decor and must be functional.”




TIBETAN PIECES

 Transitional style rug made in Tibet

It’s the distinctive appearance of Tibetan rugs that really jelled in the 1990s and sparked renewed interest in an ancient tradition, especially among those who favor clean design like mid-century modern. The luster of rich wools and dense pile sparked attention, as well as a simplification of patterns that often emphasize geometric elements, such as squares, sometimes punctuated in silk for glossy sheen.


But in recent years, rug design really has exploded. Fashion, interior and lifestyle designers have added cache with collections that have an instant fandom for those who embrace their particular aesthetic. Technology has boosted methodology, allowing the equivalent of performance fabrics as well as digital printing.


Still, as in the past, it’s the materials and weave that enable so much variation. Sheep or goat wool from Iran, Turkey or New Zealand or cotton from India will vary in thickness and pile depending on how the weft threads are woven across the warp or foundation, whether the pile is sheered, tufted or looped. Some wools are more coarse, so the result is more rustic. Wool or cotton flat weaves without pile such


Besides weaves, it’s application of color that lends character. The most coveted antiques are appreciated for their natural dyes, from plants like madder (red), indigo (blue), walnut (brown and gray) and rhubarb (yellow). Today’s fashion-forward hues include deep pinks and raspberries, magenta, tangerine and greens, from kiwi to emerald.


Intentional shading also has added another level of sophistication, with striations that look like worn or wrinkled areas becoming part of the pattern, for example. Another effect called “ombre,” from the French word for “shaded,” features gradations from light to dark, often expressed in a single hue, but the fading effect also can apply to multiple colors. Paint techniques also can be replicated, such as sponged or watercolor prints seen in couture.


Another appealing genre is one that features vintage pieces of traditional Oriental rugs stitched together in a patchwork design, then “overdyed,” usually in rich jewel tones. What’s cool is that the original patterns peek through.


One Turkish-based rug wholesaler, Knotisse, celebrates green by rescuing old kelims from the 1920s to the 1980s, unraveling them piece by piece, then reweaving the yarn in very modern designs and colors. Owner Burak Aydogan calls it “upcycling.”




REPURPOSED RUGS

Over-dyed Patchwork Kilim Area Rug - Re-purposing perfected!

Santa Fe, N.M.-based manufacturer Foreign Accents recycles denim from blue jeans, silk saris and men’s ties, bits of sweaters and even bicycle inner tubes for its Deja New collection.


“The very idea of repurposing is compelling,” says Brian Rojanasumaphong, sales manager and buyer at Chicago retailer Oscar Isberian Rugs. “We live in a time where we’re cognizant of the impact we have on the environment. Anything we can do to reuse and repurpose resonates. When you reference the past there’s an almost spiritual connection.”


And romance. Some manufacturers are recreating vintage with new pieces washed and treated to look worn. The idea is analogous to roughed-up or stonewashed jeans, to instantly age them for a desirable patina.


No surprise then that there’s plenty of inspiration from women’s fashions, from hot colors to patterns.


“We love fashion,” says Chris Chapin, co-founder of the Concord, N.H.-based Company C. “So we often keep an eye on the latest in couture. We don’t recommend designing one’s entire home based on the latest fashion trends, but it is fun to sprinkle into our seasonal colors and designs fabulous influences from the runway.”


Large-scale florals and leafy designs echo the popularity of motifs from nature. Animal prints are especially fetching in fun combos such as azalea and green cheetah (from Company C), or a blue green jaguar from Suzanne Kasler for Safavieh. There are plenty of global and ethnic influences: supersized scrolls and paisleys, fretwork and Greek keys, lattice and Moroccan tile motifs.


But there’s also a practical plus for rugs.


“Rugs add so much to a room’s design,” says Chapin. “One of my favorite (things to do) is to stretch out on our rug after a run. Bare floors would not be as comfortable!”




Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/07/21/v-fullstory/2904059/let-the-floor-set-a-design-tone.html

Mark Gonsenhauser's Rug and Carpet Superstore 

4153 Virginia Beach Blvd.

Virginia Beach, VA 23452

757-486-6600 

Website: http://www.igotyourrug.com/ 

What Rug For What Room?

Rug  Size & Room Chart

Beside the obvious questions of color and style to be decided by an individual’s personal taste, to determine what type of rug or what size rug is needed for a given location, you should take several factors into consideration.


Of course, price will play an important role in that decision. Within your budgetary parameters, however, the type of construction and quality you choose will be a key factor in ensuring that you will be happy with your new purchase. Putting a light colored needlepoint runner in a foyer or hallway is not usually recommended. Why? Even top quality needlepoints are not made to stand up to high traffic, especially in entry areas where dirt and salt can damage the rug. Conversely, a beautiful soumak flatweave, which has a much denser construction to resist dirt and traffic, could be perfect for such an application. The needlepoint can be a wonderful addition to a bedroom room, a “barefoot” area, where the soumak with its rougher texture might be less desirable from a comfort standpoint. These are just two examples of how placement of different constructions should be taken into consideration.

Another factor you will certainly want to consider is size. From small scatter rugs to palatial carpets, both the actual room size and the specific decorating scheme are critical in determining the size of the rug best suited to your needs. Dining room rugs need to be sized for the placement of the chairs and the table as well as for the absolute measurements of the room. Take into account how much of the pattern will be hidden or obscured under the table. Obviously, a center medallion design would not be the ideal choice for this purpose.

Living rooms can have a wide array of layouts and elements. Sofas, chairs. occasional tables, and lighting fixtures can be arranged in a single unified configuration or in separate seating or "conversation" areas. In either case, your rugs should play a key role in focussing and enhancing the placement of your other furnishings. In effect, they should function as the "foundation" of your design plan for any area in which they are used. The possibilities of decorating with rugs are endless, and with the Nourison family of collections, you can be assured of the very best in color, design, and quality for every room in your home.


Source: http://nourison.com/main.aspx?FORM=NU3



At Mark Gonsenhauser's we can help you choose the right rug for the right room! 


I Got Your Rug!

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


Website: http://www.igotyourrug.com/ 

Fresh new look; You'll be 'less bored with your space' with a seasonal change

Karastan Carmel Monte Vista in Crimson

Dear Readers, 


The article below expresses a fundamental decorating concept that many of our customers and designers practice. Changing your decor for the season brings a whole new look and ambiance to your space. Of course one of the easiest ways to do this is with area rugs! 


A great idea for freshening your decor this fall and winter is to incorporate the 2011 color trends of deep shades of purple and eggplant, shades of gray, brown, red and orange. 

Purple Rugs at Mark Gonsenhauser's

 Below is some color inspiration for you from Pantone.

Fall 2011 Home Fashion Color Report from Pantone

Enjoy the article! 




Fresh new look; 
You'll be 'less bored of your space' with a seasonal change


Kelly Olive's decor changes with the weather.


Every winter, the 25-year-old chooses warm shades of purple and grey, infusing it into her bedding and self-made abstract artwork. Come spring, Olive changes it up with colours that scream summer - white, yellow, green and red splashed on the sheets and walls.


Though a biannual update makes perfect sense to Olive, she says her friends think it's "weird." In fact, until recently she thought she was the only one with the odd seasonal habit. But being a confident nonconformist sort, Olive is sticking to her plan.


"When spring is coming and you stop wearing winter jackets, that's the switch time for me," explains Olive. "When it's sunny and nice outside, it should be sunny and nice inside my home. It refreshes it. You get less bored of your space."


Walk into any home decor store right now and it's clear that Olive and others like her are on to something. After a long cold winter, Canadians desperate for a reprieve are refreshing their homes to welcome gentler weather.


In response, stores are bursting with fun bright hues of yellow, green, blue and coral infused in everything from pillows and rugs to furniture and accessories.


Andrea Mills, design spokeswoman for Ikea Canada, likens a spring home makeover to a wardrobe update. Just as people tuck away their winter clothes at the first sign of spring and buy a few new pieces for a different look, she says, the same can be done for the home.


"The change of season, especially into summer, is a time of renewal," says Mills. "The days are longer and lighter. There's just a new feeling in the air and it's a good time for change and to clean up. It's a time when a lot of people start exercising more and going out more and socializing more, so it's nice to celebrate that and reflect that in your home as well."


Refreshing a tired-looking space can be as simple as rearranging furniture or splashing a new coat of paint on baseboards and trim, on one wall or an entire room. Ottawa interior designer Ellen Lee suggests dry earthy neutrals such as pebbles, sand colours and greys since they're lighter and less insulating than darker shades.


"When it's drier it gives an airier feel, so when you're walking through the space it feels very clean, it feels very refreshing but it's not boring," says Lee. "You don't get tired of those colours all that often. With accents you can go for brighter, but only for accents because you don't know if you're going to change your mind later on.


"Particular colours come and go and your tastes change, and if you stay with some of the drier neutral colours for some of your bigger walls and some of your furniture, you'll have a lot more to go on. As the year changes, you can change up the decor a bit more easily."


Pillows, throws and mats also transform a space. Frank Turco, Home Depot's senior manager of trend and design, says the fruits and florals on today's fashion runways have found their way onto drapery, sofas and scatter rugs. For those who can't afford to reupholster, he says slipcovers, throws and pillows in vibrant shades and patterns can make a tired piece of furniture look fresh again.


Texture also plays a role. Toronto interior designer Michelle Mawby says spring means putting away cashmere throws, velvet drapery and shearling rugs and bringing out linen or silk drapery and cotton pillows. Texture makes a home interesting, she explains, but in warmer weather it should be light and airy.


Still, don't think seasonal decorating has to be costly. Start by cleaning the windows to bring in more light, says Lee, or remove one chair to open the space. And if money is tight, head to the hardware store.


"If something is not the right colour, spray paint it," says Mawby.


TIPS TO BRIGHTEN UP A HOME


Do your rooms feel tired? Here are some perk-up tips from the experts:


■ It's a lifestyle thing. Do you use your living room as an entertainment room or is it a room where you watch TV? Frank Turco, of Home Depot, says examining how you use it will better prepare it for the season. He says a casual room calls for seagrass or jute area rug on the floor, natural wood throughout, an open and airy feel and white and natural fabrics throughout, while a formal room begs for more tailored or sophisticated accents.


■ Make it feel good. If yellow is your favourite colour, paint or accessorize in yellow or invest in picture frames or artwork that have yellow in them. Says Turco


■ Look for bargains all year long. Think of more than the designer stores. Check out the mall's home decor stores for inexpensive items and then collect them over time.


Says Toronto interior designer Michelle Mawby, "For $250, you can probably bring in a lot of nice items if you searched in the right places."


Source: 
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/entertainment/Fresh+look/4991097/story.html#ixzz1ag1yjRl5




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

Website: http://www.IGotYourRug.com/