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| Decorator Rugs |
| Some great advice for decorating with rugs. |
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With the current decorating trend moving away from wall-to-wall carpeting to hard surfaces "softened" with rugs, there is a huge and often confusing range of rugs available. So how do you go about buying one?
Sydney store-owner, Robyn Cosgrove, has been buying and selling rugs for 21 years. Coming from an interior and textile design background, she has always been interested in the history and intricate processes of rug-making. Rug weaving has been dated as far back as 2000 BC and probably originated in Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries.
Robyn purchases her rugs overseas, travelling several times a year to countries such as Turkey, India, China, Romania, Nepal and Egypt. She looks out for "restraint in both design and palette, with harmonious and well-blended colours". Each trip typically yields between 150 and 200 rugs. Robyn only sells hand-knotted rugs, as she feels that machine-made ones lack character. It's worth noting that a rug will last several "lifetimes", whereas other furnishings are often changed within the course of a few years.
Robyn's Tips for Rug Buying and Maintenance
1
First size up your required dimensions, considering furniture placement, and establishing the maximum and minimum length and width acceptable. For example, if positioning under a dining room table, allow sufficient clearance for the chairs to be comfortably withdrawn without "catching" an edge.
2
Work out whether the rug will be covering an area of high or low traffic. Take inspiration from your surroundings and keep in mind the room setting and the colours and atmosphere you wish to create. Is it an informal or formal area? Will the rug be lying on timber, terracotta or carpet? Does the room have lots of natural light? If not, stronger, richer tones will generally be needed.
3
Examine the rug carefully in good light for minor imperfections, which can often be a "trademark" of the individual weaver. Take care not to confuse degrees of imperfection with bad workmanship. Rugs can take the form of a piled look, or a flat woven textile known as kelim.
4
To recognise good quality, turn the rug over and look for tight, even knottage with the pattern still clearly visible. On the top, or wear side, the wool should be soft and lustrous not coarse or brittle.
5
Buying at liquidation sales or auctions is not necessarily a good idea. You can't try it out at home first, and if you have any problems with the rug you probably won't be able to locate the seller. Many people buy the wrong design or colour of rug in the heat of the moment.
6
Rugs should not be exposed to direct sunlight or their colours will fade. If the floor is uneven or highly polished an underlay should be used.
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Avoid damp areas as this can attract both mildew and pests such as moths and silverfish. To safeguard the overall condition of your carpet you should change its position occasionally so that no particular part of the carpet is subject to excessive use.
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Kelim rugs are less robust than pile rugs and should not be placed under a dining table or in high-traffic areas. They are best displayed in quiet corners or on walls, as they do not have the weight to hold them in position on flooring.
Nepalese rugs are Robyn's best sellers. They incorporate well into the current trend for minimal, clean design as they contain simple pattern and colour schemes. Robyn's oldest rug is a 100-year-old Karabagh, which is named after its origins - a town in Russia's south. Robyn's main philosophy behind rug selling is that they can be both decorative and prestigious and add real quality to the interior design of a home.
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Cost
Prices range from $350 for small rugs, up to $35,000 for the much larger sizes.
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More Info
Robyn Cosgrove rugs are located at:
18 Transvaal Ave, Double Bay, Sydney. For more information contact Robyn:
Ph: (02) 9328 7692; fax: (02) 9327 6110.
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Disclaimer
All Fact Sheets and other material on the Our House website are provided as a general information service only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for the advice of a properly qualified tradesman. Neither ninemsn nor its licensors (including the Nine Network) assume or accept any responsibility for, and will not be liable for the accuracy or appropriate application of any information whatsoever in any Fact Sheet or other material on the Our House web site. Your use of the Our House web site is governed by this disclaimer and the ninemsn's Terms of Use.
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