Reasonable Rug Resources

Rug purchases often make people wince because high price tags aren't uncommon. And with pets and kids, many aren't willing to put anything too precious or expensive on the floor because it will surely see abuse. If the budget allows, I will always argue that high quality, hand-knotted wool rugs are amongst the toughest textiles out there...there's a reason why decades-old antique Persian/Turkish rugs are still alive and kickin'. They are tough as nails. But, those kinds of rugs can cost tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars and for most folks finding something that is durable and affordable is the real key.

Well, durability is certainly a relative factor and I won't bore you with my long-winded thoughts on the matter right now. The gist of my spiel is to buy woven or knotted natural fiber rugs. As far as composition goes, avoid viscose/poly, and other synthetics and for construction, I'm not a huge fan of tufted or hooked options. Flatweaves are all the rage these days because they are so cheap, but keep in mind that they may take some time (or ironing) to lay flat and depending on the weight, you'll probably need to rig something to the corners so they don't curl up.

And with those points made, let's move on to sources for affordable rugs. Here are some of my favorites, beginning with Lulu & Georgia. L&G is a darling web boutique that carries a wide selection of fabulous and inexpensive rugs. I especially love the ones by Alix Soubiran (the first one shown below) and these other picks:

Two of my other favorite sources are actually kids' retailers! Despite their juvenile focus, both The Land of Nod and RH Baby & Child stock some rather modern and/or sophisticated looking styles. Land of Nod is definitely more punchy and fun while RH offers more muted, low-key looks...

Other good places to look include:

Shades of Light

Serena & Lily

Calypso Home

West Elm (they're having a 20% off rug sale right now!)

Capel

One Kings Lane

Any sources I'm forgetting about? Do share...

Spotted on the WWW

A few things that have recently caught my eye while prowling the interwebs and I thought you might want to see them too...

1) Beaded Candle Curtain, 2012 by Joshua Aster, Oil on linen - via Sam Lee Gallery

2) Markos Hanging Shade - Circa Lighting - $1,260

3) Ethno Vintage Style Grandpa Wing Arm Chair - Rugs USA - $763

4) Organic Pillow Cover in Raindrops,Chocolate - Swanky Swell - $65

5) Jaipur Urban Bungalow Doha Mango Flat Weave Rug - Zinc Door - starting at $70

6) Lamp Table - Vanguard

7) Inventing Abstraction, 1910-1925 - Amazon - $47

8) Bone Burst Chest - Zinc Door - $3992

Any favorite things? I'd be curious to see the green arm chair in person...I'm guessing that the quality isn't very high. I put it on here because I really like the green linen paired with the grey wood finish. And I'm dying to flip through the Inventing Abstraction book!

New at Dash & Albert

I use Dash & Albert rugs quite often because most of my clients have kids and/or pets. D&A makes fantastic polypropylene indoor/outdoor rugs that are tough, good looking, and well-priced so they are a perfect fit for households that can't handle anything too precious. Their diamond pattern is one of my go-tos...

Platinum/White colorway

Because I'm such a fan, it makes me happy to see that they've been adding new designs to the indoor/outdoor set and to the rest of their product lineup. Here are some of my favorite things from the bunch:

 I adore the new indoor/outdoor Two-Tone Rope design. It looks like a great texture and has just enough pattern to add interest.

It comes in lots of colors!

Not all of Dash & Albert's rugs are indoor/outdoor. They also offer lots of great cotton rugs including this new, super cute Fair Isle style...

Fair Isle Grey/Platinum Cotton Woven Rug

 Another favorite, the Cut Stripe Grey Hand Knotted Rug. I couldn't find the material content on this one, but I like the way it looks. The subtle stripe is really versatile and so is this color combo...

Besides new rugs, Dash & Albert has also released some cool benches/ottomans

that are upholstered with the indoor/outdoor rug material. This is such a great idea and I'll definitely be keeping these in mind to use as ottomans.

Catamaran Stripe Platinum Turned Leg Rug Ottoman - $1,025

I need to go check out the samples of the Two-Tone Rope. I think it would be a good option for a project where I'm making a formal dining room more usable for a family that has a two-year-old (as those of you with toddlers know, a rug around a 2 yo's eating area essentially functions as a drop cloth). I also want to try out one of their extra grip rug pads. The worst thing about flatweaves is that their corners can easily pop up and get dog-eared, so I'm thinking this pad may mitigate that.

Random Rug Resource - PB Teen

Would you ever think to buy a rug at PB Teen? Well, if you're on the hunt for inexpensive rug options, you should check them out. I spotted a couple of good-looking options and they are all well under $1k for an 8'x10' size. Here are my favs:

Scroll Border Dhurrie Rug

Decorator Border Rug 

Leaf Medallion Lurex Rug

Zoe Rug

Lattice Rug

Traveler's Kilim Rug

They have some good options, don't you think? I REALLY like the Dhurrie at the top of the list and I think the Leaf Medallion is super cute too. And I can picture the hot pink kilim layered over a larger Plain Jane sisal to add some excitement.

I have no way to accurately judge the quality but based on the price, these are probably not forever rugs. They are fun and trendy and would be ideal for low traffic zones like guest bedrooms or in spaces where the decor is somewhat temporary (i.e. apartments, nurseries, or kids rooms).

Kim Parker Art + Textiles

If your home is in need of a jolt of color and vitality, then consider bringing in some of Kim Parker's creations. A painter whose work has attracted attention from heavy-hitting retailers like Bloomingdale's and licensing deals with companies like Spode and the Rug Company, Kim Parker has built a little empire with her art. Not only can you purchase KP's original works and prints for your walls, you can also buy her pillows, rugs, fabric, bedding, accessories, and stationery.

Not surprisingly, I really like her bold, quirky textiles. Pillows, rugs, and fabrics are produced under her own label,  and can be purchased directly through her online store. These hand-embroidered 100% New Zealand wool pillows are super fresh and fun:

Kim Parker Home® Designer Pillow Collection

KP's Jeweled Garden fabric is available by the yard in silk shantung, linen, and velvet. I love this for draperies in a girls room:

Jeweled Garden from the Kim Parker Home® Fabric Collection

Now produced by hand in India (she talks about this on her blog), Kim Parker Home® rugs are packed with the same exuberant, colorful original designs as the other textiles in the collection. Add one of these to a bland space and trust that it will no longer be boring to the eye. As you can imagine, many of the styles are floral but I'm more partial to the geometric and abstract ones:

"Cantaloupe Stripe" Throw Rug

Kim Parker Home® "Samba" Plush Designer Rug, © Kim Parker 2009. All rights reserved.

I loved this one that the Rug Company produced when KP was collaborating with them:

Blue Rink rug, © Kim Parker 2009. All rights reserved.

Kim Parker Home® produces lots of bedding. The "Anil's Garden" design is available in a Kantha pillow and quilt set. I love its funky boho vibe:

Kim Parker Home® Kantha Quilt "Anil's Garden"

And to wrap up, we have to go back to the brand's foundation, Kim's artwork. I'm a fan of Kim Parker's paintings, which can be viewed on her online gallery. She is a brilliant colorist and has a knack for creating movement, life, and texture. Her floral pieces area really beautiful...here's one of my favorites (it's for sale):

"Morea Garden" ©Kim Parker 2010. 20'' x 26"; acrylic on canvas.

And I was immediately drawn to many of her abstract works...most of the ones on my wish list are from her Urban Essay series. I'd love to have a set of them hanging in my house. Although I insist that you go look at the whole lot, here are a few examples:

"Urban Essay No. 1" 22'' X 30'' ; Acrylic on paper ©Kim Parker 2012. All rights reserved.

"Urban Essay No. 24" 22'' X 30'' ; Acrylic on paper ©Kim Parker 2012. All rights reserved.

"Urban Essay No. 3" 22'' X 30'' ; Acrylic on paper ©Kim Parker 2012. All rights reserved.

What do you think of the Kim Parker Home set? I can't help but love all of the color and flowers. And it's so great to see an artist's work used in so many different iterations. It must be pretty wild to see your art on everything from plates to pillows! 

I also applaud her for progressing beyond the licensing deals with the larger companies. With her own brand, she decides how her products are manufactured and distributed which puts her closer to the artisans who produce everything. That freedom and control helps ensure that her vision is executed and I'm sure it will keep the brand from becoming overexposed and generic.

Custom Cool Bespoke Rugs

I'm always on the lookout for custom rug options. I bookmarked Custom Cool a while back after seeing their store featured in a fall issue of Elle Decor, but for whatever reason I didn't delve into their site until recently. After hundreds of clicks, I'm now very well acquainted with their creations and I couldn't be more excited about this new resource.

Here an interior shot of their adorable store in the Hamptons...

Image via Elle Decor, photo by Eric Striffler

As you might have surmised from their name, Custom Cool creates custom rugs, pillows, and other accessories for the home. Their hand-woven rugs and kilims are made with top-notch materials like silk, Pashmina, Linen, Nettle, and New Zealand and Himalayan wool. And best of all, they amazing designs. There are ikats, geometrics, florals, and fresh abstracts...and all can be ordered in any color combination. My mind is spinning after seeing just a fraction of the gorgeous options...

This photo was taken in Nepal, where some of the rugs are made. This fab design is called Opaque...

And here are some of my other favorites from the site (you will see them as you click through the different color palettes)...

 This photo is from a Facebook album of shots for their catalog. That chair is so cool, isn't it?

Here are a few of the exquisite, handmade Custom Cool cushions...

Whew, lots to look at and believe it or not, that's only a fraction of what you can see on the Custom Cool site! 

What do you think of Custom Cool's creations? I really like their designs and the whole concept of being able to customize every facet of a rug. Well-made rugs are expensive so you might as well get exactly what you want and need! I also appreciate that Custom Cool is GoodWeave certified (i.e. no child labor is used). 

The only slight downside to CC is the price point and the lead time. The prices are not out of line though, because they reflect the premium materials and expert craftsmanship that make each piece so special. In the long run, the higher level of quality and durability will offset the initial cost. Also, the long production/delivery schedule (2-3 months) is very typical for custom, handmade rugs. So if you have the budget and a bit of patience, definitely consider using Custom Cool. To me, they are a much needed alternative to Madeleine Weinrib and I'm excited to have them as a resource!