Rugs are planning a cover up!

Good Friday to you cool rug shopping cats! I introduce myself as the partner to Mr. Paul Johnson who has written so many interesting blogs about the exciting world of rugs. Without further ado, allow me to share a brief story about my recent cover up!

So I had family coming over the other day, and I was running around like a lunatic trying to get my home straightened up. The rugs in my living room and kitchen were freshly vacuumed and were looking great.


My foyer on the other hand was another story. I live in a new construction townhome in downtown Detroit, and the builder covered the foyer floor with vinyl. Now, seeing as Detroit is a 4 season town, the vinyl is looking pretty lousy. It has some scrapes in it where I had accidentally drug gravel in, and some marks from when salt followed me in during the winter months.



With this being the first part of my home anyone sees when paying a visit, what was I to do? Well, I could try to lay a new ceramic floor on the fly, or I could put down some rugs and cover up the marks. Seeing as I own a site that sells rugs, I am sure you can already imagine my choice.



I ran over to our offices and grabbed a rug sample to toss down onto the floor. Rugs can be a great way to cover up an unsightly floor. Whether it is a hard surface area like mine, or a wall to wall carpeted area, placing rugs down is a great way to enliven a room and make it feel fresh and crisp again. The ideal part of rugs is that if you have a few different ones for a given room, you can toss one into storage and when the place starts feeling a little boring, you can just switch them out. This is what I do during the season changes. The rugs I have down in the spring and summer season are not usually what I have down in the fall and winter months. I tend to put down brighter cheerier colors in the fall and winter to make up for the grey Detroit skies.

So when you have family planning to come over for a visit, consider rugs to spruce up the joint. We have several items that are in stock and ready to ship. If you need any help whatsoever in finding the ideal rug for you home, please give us a shout. We really do love what we do and can help you discover the ideal item for your home's interior!

Signed,
Wes Jenkins

21 steps to perfection.

The time honored tradition of crafting hand tufted rugs include several steps that are quite intensive to complete correctly. The end product is a wool area rug that will hold up for several years. But just how do the rugs you select end up being so durable?

Well, I am glad you asked! It all has to do with the way the item is put together. I am going to break it down into bite sized steps, much like what was done for me when I was new to the world of rugs.

Now please note, this may seem like a lot of text. That said, be mindful that each step involves a whole lot of work. So if you think reading this is a lot of work, just imagine yourself actually doing each task. Rugs are a wonderful artform, but they literally do not get to that point overnight but over several weeks or months. Here goes...

1) Sheep are bred so that their wool can be used in certain applications. The wool used in area rugs is usually a longer staple length and clearer in coloring. In the most well made area rugs, the fiber is New Zealand Wool. The wool is sheared once the coat is well grown, then put into bales.

2) The bales of wool are then hand sorted, where items such as burrs or other organic matter such as leaves are removed. At this point the wool is in it's very raw state and is actually oily to the touch. This oil is the natural lanolin that the sheep gives off.

3) Once larger organic matter is removed, the wool is machine scoured. The scouring process is done to ensure the wool is oil free and has no debris remaining in it. The appearance of the wool at this point is more likely what one would envision when thinking of wool. In short it is pretty, it is clean, and has very little aroma to it at all.

4) Once the wool is scoured, it is placed on a drying table. In very arid climates, the drying tables are left outdoors.

5) If the rugs are going to be "natural" or undyed, the wool skips this step. If the yarn has any color added to it whatsoever, it is more often than not done now. The wool is placed into a bath of dye much like how we dye easter eggs, but on a massive scale. The yarn is left to rest in the dye. The amount of time the yarn is left in the dye depends on the intensity of color that the rug craftsperson is looking to achieve.

6) The yarn is then removed from the dye bath and left out on a new set of drying tables.

7) Once dry, the yarn is taken to a spinner. Rugs yarns in modern days are usually spun by a machine. With this in mind, some spinners still use the manual method, where the mechanism being used to spin the yarn looks much like the front end of a bicycle.

8) Rugs that are being made with multiple colors would go through the yarn process in steps 1 through 7 for each color that is being used in the rug. Once all of the yarns are spun and on a spool, the frame work for the rug is set up.

9) The framework for a rug is built at this point. The framework is traditionally made of pine. A mesh like material is stretched over the wooden frame and is used as what one may relate to a paint by color. The mesh material has an outline of the pattern to be created.

10) The spooled yarn is pushed through a handheld piece of machinery that looks like a glue gun.

11) The gun is held up against the mesh material and is used to push the yarn through the mesh. This process is repeated for each color of the rug until the mesh is entirely filled with densely packed wool.

12) The mesh is untacked from the frame and placed face down on a clean floor.

13) The backside of the rug is covered in a latex material that resembles Elmer's glue. It is smeared uniformly across the entire backside if the rug.

14) The latex adhesive is then covered over with a secondary backing. This portion is called secondary because the mesh discussed in previous steps is considered the primary backing.

15) The rug is left on the floor face down for several days to allow time for the latex to adhere to the primary backing, yarns, and secondary backing.

16) The rug is turned over so the pile is facing up. A machine that resembles a lawn mower is used to trim off the random yarns on the face of the rug. The machine is used in multiple directions on the rug to ensure a clean and velvety feel to the rug.

17) If the rug is carved, a beveler is used. The beveler look much like the barber clippers that are used to trim a man's neck. This step is truly an artform. One quick slip and the entire rug would be ruined and scrapped. A delicate bevel carve is achieved after several years of training. The beveler is so high powered that it literally shakes the hand, arm and side of the body that is nearest the beveler.

18) Once carved, the rug is vacuumed.

19) After vacuuming, the rug is raked. The raking processed is done to remove much of the "dead yarns" that are in the rug. Dead yarns are pieces of wool that were not long enough to make it into and out of the backing repeatedly. Bundle encapsulation refers to the way that rugs hold in fibers. The bundle encapsulation rate is lower in wools than synthetics since a wool yarn is traditionally shorter than a synthetic.

20) The rug is again vacuumed.

21) The rug is inspected for defects, and staged for packaging. This is when the rug gets a UPS label slapped on it and arrives to my doorstep.

Rugs are a truly incredible value. There are 21 distinctive steps that go into making each and every one. Something to keep in mind is that even though the rug is raked, there will still be some dead yarns. Rugs that are walked on frequently will have a bit of fuzz on their surface. This should not cause alarm. It is simply the dead yarns making their way to the surface where they can be easily vacuumed off.

Please wander our rug assortment, but with a renewed sense of understanding. Making an area rug is truly a craft. The process is passed on from generation to generation and yields a good deal of pride among the families that call such a trade their own.

Tell me more

When we select new rug patterns for the site, we often consider the historical significance of their general styling. With this in mind, we will intermittently explain what one of the genres means. So be sure to check back from time to time to learn more about area rugs.

I am going to start this training camp with the exciting world of Traditional Rugs. This grouping is made up of several very distinct patterns.

The first is Sarouk.

A sarouk pattern is easily recognized by its groupings of floral bouquets. Oftentimes a sarouk will have a large floral burst in the center with smaller sprays along the edges of the pattern. A sarouk is considered to be a more casual traditional pattern. A sarouk being placed in a sun room or a brightly colored living room will enliven the spaced with balanced freshness. Rugs with a sarouk pattern can be viewed on our site by clicking on the red sarouk red above, from our Patina Collection.

The second area rug that falls under a traditional category is the Medallion.

This category is really straight forward. The essential part of a Medallion rug is the round design in the very center of the pattern. One other thing is the symmetry of a Medallion rug pattern. Medallion rugs are often used in settings that are very formal. Examples include a dressy living room or a formal dining room. The great thing about many of our Medallion rugs is their fibers are usually synthetic so using them in a dining room is ideal.

The third area rug that falls under a traditional category is Kirman Panel.Rugs that fall under a Kirman Panel grouping are pretty straight forward. They are classified by a panel of differing colors. The panel may be as the one above is, or it may be a boxed panel. Kirman Panels are an interesting bunch of patterns because they can be either really dressy or really casual or even rustic depending on the pattern itself and the setting that it is being used in. Often Kirman Panel rugs are called chameleons.

OK...that's all for now. Check back in from time to time though. There are a whole lot of rug groupings that fall under the "Traditional" grouping. Thanks for reading, and be sure to check back. Next time we will discuss rugs that are traditional in the Herati, Neo-Classical, and Floral categories.

Happy viewing!

GO Team!!

Living in a college town (Lansing, MI the home of the Michigan State Spartans thank you very much!) I think I am reminded almost daily that football season is upon us. People offering to tailgate, the refusal on Saturday’s to do nothing until the game is over, seeing Green and White everywhere, it’s a constant buzz around town. I see people sporting big green S’s and profiles of Sparty everywhere. I’ve come to see that people are fanatic about college football and their college football teams. Well have I got an idea for you. College rugs; yep you heard me right, support your favorite team with a rug. We even have a MSU rug in our office. It doesn’t matter if you’re doing a “Man Cave”, media room, or a kid’s room, these rugs make a great statement if you’re a college football fan. These are even great for alumni and other supporters of your favorite university.

I’ll give you a few examples below, but don’t hesitate to call customer service if you don’t see your favorite, chances are we have it, but just haven’t had a chance to post it.

My mom’s from Arkansas, so I heard about those Razorbacks growing up….

My good friend Bernadette’s husband Bob is from Nebraska, I hear “Go Big Red” all the time.

I gave this rug to my friend Heather who went to the University of Tennessee

And of course my brother and sister are rivals in Michigan so I have to have these two.

And go ahead and click on this for an even bigger selection of College Rugs.

Until again,

I remain your rug fanatic,

Paul Johnson

Buyer for Rugs to My Door

Nesting... Already!?!?!

I know this doesn’t have to do directly with area rugs (except maybe that it explains my adventure in buying one myself) but I’ve noticed over the past week or so that I’ve started nesting. I don’t know if it’s because the heat finally broke, rain came back, or I’ve started seeing student heading back to school, but I’m starting to think fall. It’s probably more like that I’m anticipating my favorite season and some of my favorite things. I love how the light is in late August and early September. I really love the warm (but not hot) days and cooler nights. The farm stands in Michigan are amazing, so I love the time of harvest (and all the great things you can cook) then there are the leaves and the color tours. So with all that, I’ve started unconsciously (and now consciously) preparing my home for fall and what’s to come. I think I’ve overly cleaned everything. I’m organizing shelves and cabinets and doing some minor redecorating. I’ve found a rug for my dining room, but now I want one for the kitchen. It’s the curse of nesting I guess, or maybe it’s a blessing. But I’m working to make sure my home will be warm and comfortable for my friends and family over the course (cover your eyes oh ye faint of heart) of another long dark winter. With that in mind here are a couple of my favorite fall things and where I go to find them.

Color Tours, bonfires on the beach at Lake Michigan, and wandering the antique shops of northern Michigan. Check out Traverse City and the other quaint towns around it.


Now that the heat is finally subsiding, I’m getting back into the kitchen and creating. I love the Barefoot Contessa, her recipes, and her way of entertaining.


Well that should get you started, I’m off to bake something or rearrange another closet.

Until again,
I remain your (nesting) rug fanatic,

Paul Johnson
Buyer for Rugs to My Door

Impeccible Quality - Incredible Value

If you’re anything like me, when you shop for things you’re always looking for the best quality at a value. You want to get a lot for your money. Because of my tendency to be a frugal shopper, Rugs to My Door put together an exclusive brand of area rugs called Fashion Source. This collection is made up from rugs from across the globe and is sure to meet your fashion requirements and not hit your pocketbook too hard. So when you’re looking at our rugs, make sure you look at our Fashion Source brand for rugs with impeccable quality and incredible value.

One of our most popular collections of rugs within the Fashion Source brand is Poplar Ridge. This collection is made up of olefin machine woven rugs with a contemporary style. 5x8 rugs in this collection start out at $199.

Another great collection is the Abner’s Ridge grouping. This Fashion Source collection is made up of hand-made wool rugs with traditional styling. This collection has 5x8’s starting at $399

With all these options and great prices I know you are sure to find just the right rug.

Until again,
I remain your rug fanatic,

Paul Johnson
Buyer for Rugs to My Door.

Introducing.... United Weavers

I’d like to introduce you to one of our newest vendors, United Weavers of America. With an eye to leading the Home Fashion Industry, United Weavers gives us global sources for some of the best designs and fashions available. You’ll notice that their extensive collection of rugs covers a variety of price points and designs. They are one of the few manufacturers that actually give us a grouping of products in the Lodge style. Their designs and colors are very current and offer you a lot of design options.

Okay, enough with the words, here are some of the United Weavers Area Rug collections you should check out.

Some of the Lodge looks in the
Genesis and Genesis II


Amazing values with contemporary styles in
the Styles Collection.


Look at the novelties in the Safari Collection.


I’ll try to keep you informed as we add new collections and vendors so you can see what’s new in the world of area rugs.

I remain
Your rug fanatic

Paul Johnson
Buyer for Rugs to My Door

Variety is the Spice of Life

I continue on the quest for a rug for my dining room. And I spent an hour or so yesterday trying to decide on the dining room table that I’ll get (the old card table is starting to look kinda shabby) and then figure out what rug will go with it. I only wish there was the variety of tables as there are rugs. I’ve narrowed my search down to a round or square table. There about a dozen out there that fit that bill. Then I went searching for round and square rugs, do you realize that there are dozens of pages of rounds and squares on our site?? I didn’t. You think I would, I bought ‘em… but until you really start looking, you don’t even begin to realize what’s available. At this point in my search for the perfect dining room rug, I had my epiphany, Rugs to My Door offers an amazing variety of area rugs, and we’re not content with what we have, we’re on a never ending search for new products and shapes and colors and sizes to give you even more options. Usually, the people that own the business rarely use the business the way their customers do. But in this instance, I’m doing exactly what you do. (It’s 100 times easier to search our site and see everything sorted the way I want it, as opposed to looking through catalogs.) And because we use the site ourselves, we are constantly updating it, making it easier to use and adding products. We want your rug buying experience to be fun and fulfilling. We want you to be happy when you’re done and we want you to have seen every option available. Because if you’re like me, you’re not happy until you do.

So, here’s the rug I think I’m going with. What do you think? (in a 7'8"x7'8" square)

I remain,
Your rug fanatic

Paul Johnson

The Blend

I was speaking with a customer yesterday and talking about the colors in a rug. She was very concerned (as well she should be) that the colors she was seeing on the internet would be what she would get and that they would match. I re-assured her that we do the best to give an accurate depiction of the colors but they do vary from monitor to monitor. She was very concerned that the color would be an exact match to something she already had in her home.

This brings me to the point about this blog entry.

In the design world we try to blend colors. The best designs don’t match things perfectly, they blend. When done this way rooms tend to look more natural and feel more put together. Your eye does this wonderful thing when putting colors together, if they blend they make them match and meld. When you try to match exactly the room looks plastic and staged.

So, as you’re looking at colors, regardless if it’s a rug, a pillow, fabric or paint, make your rooms blend, you will be happier with your design in the long run.

I remain,
Your rug fanatic,

Paul Johnson
Buyer for Rugs to My Door

Roll out the new rugs!

At rugs to my door, we continue to find some really exciting new patterns to add to our site. But how do I decide what rugs to add?
Well, sometimes I will just wander the site as if I was a customer looking for a certain style of area rug to complete my home. If I search for something and don't find exactly what I had in mind, I will have it made or find a manufacturer to buy it from.



On our home page, you will see a link that will take you to the many new patterns for sale now. Whether you are looking for rugs of a contemporary, traditional, casual, or even country home interior, we have over 40,000 items to choose from. So what makes us different from everyone else on line? Well, at rugs to my door we:

1) Select our rugs based on their quality and styling
2) Freshen our selection with exciting new patterns constantly
3) Negotiate lower prices with our suppliers, and pass the savings along to you.
4) Build a speedy site that is really fun and easy to use
5) Have a customer care specialist that really does care about your order, and makes it her own.

So please wander our site. See the thousands of fresh new rugs we have added recently. If you
wish we had an item we currently do not offer, please give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We will do what it takes to find it and most of all to make you happy.

Rugs to my door is not a big company. We genuinely pay close attention to every single order. If you have a concern, give me a call. I am the buyer and owner-partner. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy the shopping experience as much as I enjoy selecting the rugs that we currently offer.

As always,
Your rug fanatic,
Paul Johnson
Buyer/Owner

What's good for the goose....

So, I’m looking for a rug for my dining room. Yeah, the rug guy is gonna finally get a new one for his own house. You’d think that I’d know exactly what I want, but guess what? I’m just like you, I haven’t the foggiest idea, so I need to look at ALL the options. Well, if you’re anything like me, looking at ALL the options can be daunting. And I was definitely feeling overwhelmed, until I realize (actually my brain kicked in and I remembered) that we designed the site for issues just like this. We have a fabulous “Detailed Search” that helps a person that’s feeling overwhelmed by all the rugs on our site narrow things down a bit.

You can search by Style, Main Color, Secondary Color, Shape, Price, Fiber, Fringe, Origin, Manufacturer or Collection or ANY combination there of. Well for me, that helped gobs! I knew I wanted a Contemporary, Red, Rectangle, Wool with NO fringe. Guess, what, I only saw the Contemporary Red rugs that are rectangles made from wool fringe. And if this little search feature can make my life easier (and I’m supposed to KNOW rugs) I figure it’s got to help you too. So, here I am today, excited that I found my rug, and hoping this helps you find yours too. By the way, if this still seems too daunting for you, don’t hesitate to call Danielle in Customer Care; she’s a whiz at helping customers find just the right rug.

Until again,
Your rug fanatic

Paul Johnson

Back to School

Do I have a great idea for back to school! Dorm rooms, college apartments, frat houses, sorority houses all have floors that aren’t up to what we think is perfect. Usually they’re hard or just plain gross. Well instead of buying a carpet remnent, how about an inexpensive area rug? Give your college student a bit of flair in their room. We have all sorts of fun exciting area rugs that can give dorm room look that isn’t like everybody elses. Instead of giving you a bunch of words in this blog entry, (because a picture is definitely worth 1000 words) I want to give you some cool back to school ideas for the students out there. (Inexpensive ideas at that!)

First idea, the classic prep school look....


Now, how about something a little funky??


And a little school spirit with our College Rugs? If you can't find your school call customer care we'll see if it's available.

(yes, we're based in Michigan)

So, there are just a few ideas of what's available for the students out there, but don't just limit it to what I've shown you, there are 1000's of other choices just waiting to be discovered, so happy hunting, and Welcome Back Kotter.

Until again,
Your rug fanatic

Paul Johnson
Buyer for Rugs to My Door.

Americana

I was at the Great Lakes Folk Festival this weekend and ran into a woman who makes hand-braided wool rugs. Her booth was filled with beautiful examples of her art and it made me think that we don’t give the braided rug much due as a true fixture of American decorating. It might be because the history of the braided rug is that of the working class and poor. It was a way to use scraps of material and worn out clothing to add a bit of warmth to a home. But just like most utilitarian housing applications, the braided rug has now become part of Americana, and if you’re home has a country, colonial, or especially an Arts and Crafts feel to it, these rugs are an absolute must for your floors.

Rugs to My Door carries two great lines of braided rugs, Capel and Colonial (CMI). Capel, from Troy, North Carolina, has been making braided rugs for 90 years. (In fact 2007 marks their 90th Anniversary) They have braids from room size to scatter and from wool to cotton to polypropylene. CMI is a New England braided rug company that has been around for about 50 years. They produce mainly synthetic braided rugs, but also do work in wool and cotton. Together we feel these two lines give you a great selection of braided rugs for all sorts of applications. Check them out and let me know what you think.

Until again,
Your rug fanatic

Paul Johnson
Buyer for Rugs to My Door

Back in Black (and white)!

Trends in rugs seem to change from season to season. Just like in clothing, as time passes by some things that seem old become new again. With a fresh and new approach, the simple and sophisticated black and white color palette is one such example.

From fiercely contemporary collections such as a selection from our Koi series of rugs to a more subdued series of patterns as may be found in our Claire Murray Home Collection, black and white area rugs are being seen in more and more genres, usable in a wide range of applications.

Another great benefit of choosing a black and white area rug is that it can go with a wide range of other interior elements. Have a room with multiple colors? Select a black and white rug as an accent to the room. The point is that it is very rare for a black and white accessory to fight with the other elements within a room. Whether considering it for a living space or a tranquil bedroom, take another look at the black and white option. It sure as heck isn't what I expected to find!

Try a quick browse of options from our detailed search...it is a great starting point to see what all the newest looks in rug trends are. If you need help, opinion or guidance please just let me know by giving me a call.

Until again,

Your Rug Fanatic,

Paul Johnson.

How to care for it, now that you have it.

Unlike your favorite blouse or those great pants you can’t just send your rug to the local dry cleaner or toss it in the washing machine. And just like your favorite blouse and those great pants you need too maintain your rug to keep it looking good. With that in mind, here are some basic tips to do just that.

Day-to-Day Care

The three basic things you can do to keep your new rug looking great are:

1. Vacuum frequently.
2. Clean spills promptly
3. Have your rug professionally cleaned every few years.

Why do you need to vacuum? Well, it’s one of the most important and easiest ways to keep your rug looking great. Vacuuming helps remove dirt (and other small particles) which both dull the appearance and break-down the fibers. Note, if you have a synthetic fiber rug use the beater bar on your vacuum, if you have a wool rug do not use it.

Here are a few tips about cleaning spills – they’re rather basic and can be used on most spills.
- You’ll need clean white clothes (other color cloth can transfer from the rag to the rug, so don’t use them!)
- ¼ teaspoon liquid dishwashing detergent per 1 cup warm (NOT hot) water.
- Clean clear warm water to rinse.

So, here goes:

1. Scoop up as much of the spill as possible. Then BLOT (do NOT rub) the area with clean white clothes to remove any excess moisture.

2. Now, apply warm (NOT hot) water to the spill area and blot. Repeat this step until no stain is evident on the towel.

3. If the stain remains after this, time to use a little bit of detergent. (Do NOT use more than the recommended amount above; soap residue will cause your rug to soil quicker.) Take one of your clean clothes, wet it with the mixture and apply it to the spill area. Let it soak for about 5 minutes. Rinse with clear warm water. Make sure you rinse it well.

4. Once you’re done with the cleaning, it’s time to dry things out. Absorb any remaining moisture with layers of white paper towels, weighting them down with a non-staining glass or ceramic object. You may want to leave it over night.

5. When the rug is dry, vacuum the area to restore the texture.

Finally, why do you need to have it professionally cleaned?

Just like anything else you own, would you never wash your car? How about dry cleaning a suit? Well your rug needs a little TLC too. You can do this yourself on synthetic fibers, but make sure you don’t get the rug too wet or use too much soap. With wool or other natural fibers you really need to use a professional.

Well, I hope this helps you keep your new area rug looking great, and as always if you have any questions, we’re only a phone call or e-mail away.

I remain,
Your rug fanatic,

Paul Johnson
Buyer for Rugs to My Door

How to Get the Right Size

Yesterday I overheard Danielle in Customer Care helping one of our customers decide what size rug to order. I figured this might be a good topic to discuss, so here are some tips.

If you’re looking for a rug for under a coffee table, you can generally assume that a 4x6 or a 6x9 will be the size you need, but here’s how to make sure. Measure the size of your coffee table and add 4 to 6 inches to both the length and the width. Now, look for a rug that has approximately those measurements. And don’t worry, design is an art not a science and it doesn’t have to be perfect. Once you find the right size and get it home, here’s how to place it so it looks balanced. Put your rug over the rug pad and then the coffee table on top. Now, place the other furniture around the rug leaving a gap of 6 to 12 inches. Realize that you made need more or less space between the rug and the other furniture, but when you’re finished there should be a balance.

Dining room tables follow a similar route. Measure your dining room table and then add 4 feet to both the length and the width. Now, look for a rug that is similar to these sizes. (Note you’ll probably need an 8x10 or larger) One thing you will want to remember is that you need a large enough rug so that the chairs around the table stay on the rug when people are seated in them.

Room size rugs – you’ll want to leave an even area around the room that isn’t covered by the rug. The size of your room will determine this but it’s usually at least 18” and can be as much as 4-5 feet. Assuming that you like to have furniture in your room (I know I find it more comfortable) it’s quite acceptable to have the front legs of a sofa on the rug and the back legs off. You may need furniture coasters to make sure the back legs are level with the front.

You can use these tips on other piece of furniture as well, such as pianos, desks, or beds, the best idea is to make it look the way you want it to, you have to live with it and love it, and if you need more help just give Customer Care a call and we will be glad to add our 2 cents worth.

One last thing, make sure you put rug pad down when placing furniture over a rug, it helps keep the rug in place and prevents creeping and bunching.

Until again,
Your rug fanatic,

Paul Johnson
Buyer for Rugs to My Door

Youve got the look!

I was recently visiting with a good friend of mine. She was thinking of painting her livingroom and entryway a new color. The builder-white she has been living with for a few years now was growing old and tired, and she just wanted to liven the place up a bit.

As I was listening to her ideas, an underlying thought came to mind. Some people are afraid to use color, but actually see it in other people's homes. The moral of the story is don't be afraid to use color to define a given area of the home, or add visual stimulation to an otherwise architecturally drab part of the home. If you love to see it in other homes, get comfortable with seeing it in your own home.

At first my friend suggested she use an "exciting ivory" for the main color on her walls. After looking at the swatch for a while, I realized that a good friend would tell her the truth which is just what I did. I told her the "exciting ivory" looked almost exactly like the builder selected color that she found to be so boring. I convinced her to use a color that had more personality to it. While she was hesitant at first, the finished room proved that using bolder colors makes the home interior an exciting and visually stimulating place to both relax and visit with friends.

This concept may also be applied to area rugs. We often receive calls from customers that the rugs they ordered are just a little less exciting than they had hoped, and decide to select a replacement that has more color and life to it. The great thing about doing this with rugstomydoor is we offer a 110% credit for the reselection, so obtaining a replacement is a lot easier than with some other merchants. So browse our assortment of rugs...but keep in mind that a bolder rug does not necessarily mean you are over the top nuts about color. A balanced decor should include the life that oftentimes comes from a vibrant new rug.

Sherwin Williams has an incredible assortment of colors to browse...take a peak at their site and some of their design advice. Step out of your comfort zone for a bit. You may very well realize that fun new colors are just what both you and your home need!

I remain your rug fanatic.

Paul Johnson.

A Lesson in Acrylic

Discovered in Germany in 1893, but not developed until 1944 by duPont; Acrylic fiber was first commercially produced for carpets and rugs in 1950. This fiber is known as “art wool” or “mad-made wool” because of its strikingly similar characteristics to natural sheep’s wool. Acrylic truly emulates some of the best characteristics of wool. It accepts dyes in such a way to give rich true colors. It has a softness and feel to it that is similar to wool. And unlike wool it is very low in static and is both moisture and mildew resistant.

Most commonly used in apparel, carpet and rugs, acrylic is known by many names including Acrilan, Creslan and Duraspun. Although not as durable as wool or nylon in high traffic areas; acrylic makes a wonderful fiber for area rugs seeing as it creates a finish that is beautiful at a price that is affordable.

Acrylic is not produced in the quantities it was in the mid 20th century, but we have a few lovely collections that have this fine fiber. Take a look at them and let me know what you think.

Until again,
Your rug fanatic

Paul Johnson
Buyer for Rugs to My Door

Some lovely rugs made with Acrylic
Visions
Comfort Shag
Conversationals