Area Rugs Blog

These days, you cannot buy an area rug from a reputable seller without being offered free shipping; the two go hand in hand. It is always nice to know that companies care about not only the selling part but also the safe and trouble free shipping of your precious area rug. With the area rug industry growing with leaps and bounds, the aim shifts from only selling the product to creating a new bond between the company and it’s valued customer, you. Free shipping is one of the most important values that can be added to the selling of a product. Customers love it, and when it comes to be a matter of choice, they will always go for that area rug which comes with free shipping.

AreaRugsClub.com offers free shipping and no tax!

Speaking of area rugs, the limits to your choice are endless. From the representation of your whimsical desire to pure class and elegance, the area rug of today provides for all of that with little or rather no difficulty at all. With the shattering of the barrier between the machine woven area rug and the handmade, the diversification in terms of quality, style and design is wondrous. And, the best part is that you don’t have to pay a single cent to ship it to anywhere you want. They have not started fedexing to moon at the time of this writing, but if there were people up there, and they were buying area rugs, I wouldn’t be surprised if these dealers offered free shipping. In today’s competitive market, that is, to reiterate, one of the best values that a seller can add to that splendid rug for your home décor.

Do not be under the impression that you have to spend a lot of money in order to elevate the mood of your home to a new exquisite height. An area rug does the job with acute precision. Brands like the famous Karastan sell affordable area rugs that will simply blow your mind. Though Karastan manufactures machine made rugs; don’t get fooled with that, because when placed beside a handmade rug, even the experts have doubts deciding which one is the machine-made one and which the handmade. To create something like this, a complete mimicry of human artwork, this is sheer mechanical excellence. It is not though that Karastan makes only machine made area rugs, as they import a lot of Persian rugs and Indian ones. Whether handmade or machine woven, one general assurance that the brand provides you is the guarantee of the quality of the wool, which is used to manufacture the rugs. Karastan uses wool of the highest quality to make their wonder rugs. This is a guarantee that has been there since 1928 and they intend to keep it that way, with no compromises on this one, ever.

Discount rugs are available from most dealers and you’d be amazed to see the level of quality you can get even when there is the discount tag attached to it. The discount is not because the rugs are bad but rather it is the celebration of the goodwill of the various companies as they are out to provide the customer satisfaction and in return, the inception of a life long relationship between them. The free shipping policy plays a pivotal role in developing this relationship.

Choice of material is never a matter of constraint. So what if you don’t like wool? There’s so much to choose from. New materials and fibers are being introduced constantly, in an effort to provide you the best possible option that you can have for your home. For example, manufacturers are using nylon in ways that you can’t imagine. It won’t even feel like nylon to you. Some may say that this is overworking the methods of rug making but on the contrary, it is the evidence of the untiring dedication of the manufacturers to furnish the maximum possible choices for you. They are very well aware of the fact that your home is important to you and it is important that you get an exhaustive range of options from which you can find the perfect one for your home.

Rugs and home; the former complements the latter and becomes the pride of any home owner for whom the look and feel of his or her home matters. This relationship has its own history and the variety of rugs that are found all across the globe are a testament to it. The Persians made their rugs a whole aspect of their identity and so did many other cultures. The explanation is simple, because rugs can define one’s home, add that essential warmth and color to any part of your home. This wonderful property of the area rug makes it the pride of any room and of course, your home. Use a rug to change your home and the way you will remember your home when days have passed across the landscape of time. A rug adds to the perfect home and takes the not so perfect home to the pedestal of perfection. If you own a good rug from a reputable collection, your satisfaction, so far as making your home a more livable place is concerned, is guaranteed.

So stop looking for expensive ways to achieve your goal of beautifying your home, and go buy an area rug. You’ll most definitely end up saying, “why didn’t I try this before?”

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Posted on August 22nd, 2008 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, discount rugs, free delivery, free shipping, handmade, home decor, karastan, karastan area rugs, karastan rugs, machinemade, persian rugs, rug, rug and home, rugs, wool, wool rug, wool rugs. Comments: None

Area Rugs in the West

The art of area rug making and the taste for wool area rugs spread across Europe with her contact with Islamic civilization. The earliest European rugs were made in Spain, and some of these pre-date the Muslim invasion. The Synagogue rug, a wool area rug dating from the 14th century, is the earliest extant example of this ancient style. The Armorial carpets, another well-known remnant of this style, has birds and flowers motifs and depictions of Spanish Christian families. This style gave way to the Renaissance style with its silk designs and wreath and pomegranate motifs as the land was re-conquered from the Moors.

The Flying Carpet by Viktor Vasnetsov (1880). Oil, canvas.

In early seventeenth century, France began producing wool area rugs at Savonnerie in the style of Persian rugs. These were densely ornamented with flowers, and were characterized by architectural framing and mythological scenes. The most famous of these were a set of 105 carpets produced under the direction of Charles Le Brun for the palace at Louvre.

Area rug making came to England in late 16th century AD. The 14 extant specimens are called “Norwich carpets” after the town in Northern England where they were produced. These are adaptations of Oriental rug making, especially of the Indo-Persian art. In the coming centuries, the carpet manufacturers Exeter, Moorfields and Axminster became prominent in England. The heart of English area rug manufacture was at Kiddernminster in Worcestershire, where, to this day, a majority of the population is engaged in the industry.

1791 saw the beginning of area rug manufacturing in the United States with William Sprague’s first woven carpet mill in Philadelphia. Other such manufacturers sprung up in New England, and the Beattie Manufacturing Company in New Jersey of that era lasted until 1979.

The revolutionary power loom was invented by Erastus Bigelow in 1839. Area rug making doubled and then tripled in the next few years due to the impact of the power loom. Various enhancements and modifications began to be made, and new companies sprung up based on each such modification. Alexander Smith and sons, which was based on the Skinner powerloom, was founded in 1845 and grew to become the largest manufacturer of area rugs in the world by 1929.

At around the same time, in 1926, Marshall Fields, the well-known Chicago retailer, had a traditional Axminster loom modified to create an unprecedented area rug – a wool rug that was woven through the back like Oriental carpets and with the same sort of color variations as an Oriental. These area rugs were called Karastan rugs, and they are still widely manufactured and fawned upon by carpet-lovers.

Another development took place in Dalton, Northern Georgia, where a young woman named Catherine Evans Whitener invented a new method for weaving wool area rugs – this was called tufting and mainly used for making bedspreads. This became widely popular throughout the US and elsewhere, and Dalton became known as the Bedspread Capital of the World.

Meanwhile, wool area rugs also began to mature as an industry. Various new finishing processes were invented by manufacturers in a bid to give their area rugs a more antique, oriental quality. The creation of a faded, vintage patina, much like the grayed photographs of old days, began to gain a sophistication which made it hard to tell an ancient oriental area rug from a present-day rug manufactured by the likes of Karastan. Using chemical dyes, wool area rugs made in present day USA could be given the same texture and appearance that a fabulously ancient Persian rug using vegetable dye could have. The ancient industry seemed to have come full circle.

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Posted on August 18th, 2008 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, European carpet, European rugs, history, karastan, karastan area rugs, oriental carpets, oriental rugs, rug, rugs. Comments: None

Wool area rugs, and area rugs in general, have been with us since the dawn of human civilization. From the first reed and animal skin rugs used by Paleolithic men, to modern machine-loomed wool area rugs decorating multi-million dollar homes, area rugs have been prized possessions of many a household. In the days of Jesus, sheep was reared, their wool sheared and made into wool area rugs, one or two of which He probably might have used; 500 years earlier, it was not unusual for another such man, Buddha, to sit on a coarse woolen area rug and talk to his disciples. Both were eastern men, and oriental rugs were an important part of the life of the Orient.

The earliest area rug was discovered by Sergei Ivanovich Rudenko in a Russian archaeological exploration in 1949. Made of hand-woven wool, the Pazyryk area rug’s exquisite design, texture and its rich colors were remarkably well-preserved in the frozen Siberian burial site where it had laid hidden under the earth for 25 long centuries. This wool area rug is an exceptional example of Saka art, featuring a hand-knotting technique still used in modern times.

Another famous wool area rug from the ancient times is the legendary “Spring of Khosrau,” an enormous and richly decorated hand-knotted area rug belonging to the King of Persia. Made about 550 BC, this area rug was made of wool, silk, gold, silver and gemstones. It had beautiful springtime sceneries woven into its texture, and its “flowers in bloom”, birds, green meadows and other carpet art are wonders of Persian carpentry. No wonder the King spent many a long winter evening wandering along its four hundred thousand square feet area, and admiring the exquisite art of his carpeteers.

Carpetmaking is an ancient household tradition in Turkey as well. A group of eighteen carpets, called the Konya carpets, is the oldest surviving knotted pile area rug in the world. Woven in the 13th century, in the Anatolia peninsula, these wool area rugs were produced under the Seljuc dynasty and had calligraphy borders called kufi, as well as symmetrical geometrical designs repeated at the center field.

The Indus Valley civilization in modern day India and Pakistan shows signs of some of the earliest area rug manufacture. A wide variety of spindles and weaving material has been discovered in these ruins. Four thousand years later, the Mughal conquerors brought to this very same region the art of area rug-making, an art that was developed in India into the exquisite perfection that it has today.

Oriental area rugs first entered Europe with the returning Crusaders. But these were mainly used on walls and table tapestries, and were considered too precious to be actually used as area rugs. With the colonization of the Orient, a large importing of oriental area rugs began to take place.

The earliest known European-made area rugs began to be produced in Spain around the time of the Moorish invasion. A lot of these were wool area rugs. These had the distinct impact of the conquering Islamic civilization; they had the same floral motifs, geometrical patterns, delicacy of color and lack of any human figures as had the Persian and Turkish area rugs and other Oriental rugs.

From Spain, the art of rug-manufacturing spread to France. During the seventeenth century onwards, important battles fought by France were gloriously depicted on area rugs of that era. The art slowly spread to England and other areas of the Continent; in England, the earliest surviving rugs, called the Bayes rug, are to be found in the Cathedral of the city of that name. They have exquisite designs and depictions of battles against France.

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Posted on August 11th, 2008 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, history, oriental rugs, persian rugs, rug, rugs, wool area rugs, wool rugs. Comments: None

The Momeni New Wave Collection embodies the perfect combination of form and function. These fabulous wool rugs draw inspiration from the 20th Century decorative arts. Momeni New Wave rugs celebrate the intricate tapestry that depicts the influences of Abstract Expressionism, Art Deco and Vienna Succession. Needless to say, these beautiful rugs can easily become the ultimate centerpiece in your home.

Area rugs are largely considered as one of the essential home décor pieces since the beginning of civilization. And why not? These functional pieces have evolved from simple plush floor and wall coverings to stunning artistic canvases that beautifully set the stage for any home interior. Today, modern rugs are now regarded as fabulous conversation pieces that never fail to add interest to any room.

Consistent to the impeccable craftsmanship of all products featured in Area Rugs Club, the Momeni New Wave Collection are exceptional works of art. Made of 100% hand-tufted wool, these luxurious area rugs make ideal floor or even wall coverings for creating that cozy, inviting ambience. If you greatly value quality and durability, then you must know that wools are far superior to synthetic rugs when it comes to both structural and aesthetic advantages. For one, the spring-like properties of wool rugs offers greater density, resilience, comfort and elasticity. Wool is known to retain its original beauty longer than any other rug and carpet materials available today. Of course, maintenance is also one of the primary concerns when it comes to rugs, however, you can breathe easy since wool is known to be naturally resistant to soil and stain! Now that’s a major consideration for any home especially one with kids and pets.

With the creative use of bold colors and keen eye for details, these beautiful rugs present contemporary designs at its finest. Whether you want to add a warm splash of color in a minimalist design, or complement an ultra-modern interior, the Momeni New Wave rugs easily fits right in place. Since these area rugs are available in different sizes to fit your design preference and requirements, you enjoy the freedom of indulging your creative side. You will never run out of nooks and crannies to drape an area rug to lively up a bare spot. Momeni New Wave Collection offers area rugs in different shapes and sizes.

There are a lot of designers that suggest making modern rugs as focal points or the very foundation of one’s interior. With the modern rugs, admiring eyes will naturally be drawn to the bold and unique centerpiece. Area rugs also make the perfect practical accessories especially in high-traffic areas of the house. Large rugs are known to go well in dining and living room areas, while the smaller sizes are ideal for hallways, foyers and bathrooms.
However, the floor is not the only the best spot to showcase an exceptional work of art. Rugs are now enjoying the growing popularity of becoming striking wall adornments. This is mainly because tapestries are larger and bolder in designs, adding a striking addition to any bare wall. With numerous design options, you can now unleash that creative side and think of unique ways put your very own Momeni rug to good use. Many interior designers share the belief that area rugs are the simplest and fastest design element to reinvent or revitalize a room. Offering good sound absorption, floor surface protection, depth and ware, area rugs are simply an integral component to any modern home

With the Momeni New Wave Collection, you do not need to sacrifice between quality and good design – you can easily have both. These beautiful rugs are practical investments when you want to give a room a facelift without having to spend a fortune on new interiors. A Momeni rug may just be the missing piece in your home.

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Posted on April 23rd, 2008 under Area Rugs. Tags: Area Rugs, discount momeni rugs, momeni, momeni carpet, Momeni New Wave Collection, momeni rugs, rug. Comments: None

Copyright © 2008 Area Rugs Club

Wool is one of the oldest textile fibers known to man and because of its unique natural properties it has been treasured from Stone Age human to today’s top fashion divas. Wool has been providing man with shelter, clothing, decoration and floor covering.

But to talk about wool area rugs and carpet I like to go over a brief history of sheep, where wool comes from. Sheep were among the first animals to be domesticated by man. This was a marriage of convenience - man protected the sheep from predators, while the sheep provided man with food and clothing. Domestication of the sheep took place in South West Asia at the foothills of the Zargos Mountains (modern day Iran) around 9,000 B.C. Flocks were a medium of exchange in barter economies. Babylonians, Sumerians, and Persians all depended on sheep. Since then sheep have become an important part of the global agricultural economy.
Sheep also have had a strong cultural presence from ancient times when Egyptians considered ram as sacred, symbol of several gods and mummified them to Mary Had a Little Lamb and the St. Luis Rams.

Wool Characteristics

Wool is a natural fiber given to us by mother nature and no synthetic fibre has been able to combine all wool’s characteristics (see glossary of wool terms). It is truly a nature’s masterpiece of design.

Image Courtesy of Australian Wool Innovation

Wool is Healthy:

Wool does not promote the growth of dust mites or bacteria, it actually contributes to air purity indoors by absorbing polluting gases. Wool resists mildew and mold which are one of the most detrimental irritants to the immune system.
Because it has the ability to insulate against heat and cold, wool protects against sudden changes of temperature. A study conducted by scientists at the Polytechnic Institute of Wales measured the effects of many common fibers on human subjects as they slept. The scientists discovered that the subjects using wool-fill comforters actually had lower heart rates which indicates the sleeper is in a deep, relaxed state.

Natural Resistance To Mildew:

The wool fiber while holding moisture within itself, allow moisture to pass through without retaining any of the moisture in the wool itself therefore it will never mildew.

Wool insulates against heat and cold:

Rooms covered with wool rugs and carpet stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter therefore reducing energy usage. It’s good for your health and your pocket. Wool is commonly used in insulation for buildings, ventilation ducts, pipes, boilers, vehicles, ships and other applications.

Wool rugs wears longer:

Wool rugs wears longer, therefore they retain their good appearance for a long time. The world’s oldest wool rug that is still around was made in Iran in 5th Century BC.

Wool is fire resistant:

Wool is naturally safe and fire resistant. It does not have to be chemically treated to become non-flammable. While it can catch alight, it will not flare up nor support a flame. Because of its fire-resistant attribute, furnishings and carpets in your home are good insurance. In many rural areas, firemen ensure they dress themselves in wool before rushing to fight a fire.

Wool resists static:

Because wool naturally absorbs moisture from the air, the tendency to collect static electricity is reduced. You are less likely to receive a shock walking across a wool carpet and touching a grounded object. Wool clothing are much less likely to cling to the body or generate a spark.

Wool insulates against noise:

Wool absorbs sound and reduces noise level considerably. Wool is used in many places such as home, offices and concert halls to get the best acoustics possible.

Wool is green:

Using wool rugs and carpets in your home will reduce your energy usage. Although there is a close competition for “the greenest” title between wool and cotton, wool production is a lot less damaging to environment than production of synthatic fibers. Wool insulations have been widely used for more than 60 years as thermal and fire protection. Insulation wools make a significant contribution to energy-saving and thus to the protection of the environment.

Wool Rugs and Carpets

Wool rugs came to existence as simple articles of need to protect the nomadic tribesmen from the cold and damp, but their increasing beauty found them new admirers; kings and noblemen who looked upon wool rugs as signs of prestige, wealth and distinction. Wool handmade rugs have been used as a medium of currency in many cultures and just like a fine wine they have increased in value in time. Today wool rugs are rightfully one of the most desired objects in furnishing homes around the world. You can use area rugs to add warmth and colors to any room. Decorating with wool area rugs is easy, probably the easiest way to revitalize a room and tie together your home decor elements. Wool area rugs are highly regarded for their strength, durability, crush resistance, cleanability, comfort, and beauty. Wool is considered the superior fiber for area rugs. Wool has a special oil called Lanolin that stops water and spills from soaking in. That makes wool rugs more practical, easier to keep looking new and clean. Find your beautiful wool rug by browsing Area Rugs Club’s selection of high quality rugs including Karastan, Safavieh and Sphinx just to name a few.

Did you know…

• Australia is the world’s largest producer of wool followed by China.
• There are 13 sheep for every person in New Zealand.
• 60% of New Zealand wool is used to make carpet.
• The majority of sheep shearing is done in spring.
• Wool is comparatively stronger than steel.

Image Courtesy of IWTO

See our selection of Area Rugs. We have hundreds of fine quality wool rugs including Karastan rugs, Sphinx by Oriental Weavers and Safavieh. Your satisfaction means everything to us!

External Links:

• Preparing wool for market
  Wool Processing
  Education and Health for Carpet Knotting Families
  Australian Wool Innovation

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Posted on March 5th, 2008 under Area Rugs. Tags: area rug, Area Rugs, karastan, karastan rugs, rug, rugs, safavieh, sheep, sphinx, wool rug, wool rugs. Comments: None