Rugs Direct

Why Buy a Luxury Rug?

Copyright © 2007 Rugs Direct®

What do most people mean when they use the term "luxury rug?" Does it just mean that the rug is expensive? Not necessarily. It actually has more to do with the way it is made, its use and the effect that it creates in its setting. The term also implies that the rug will last for many, many years - possibly for many, many generations. The word "heirloom" is often used interchangeably when discussing rugs of this superior quality and craftsmanship.

Luxury area rugs are defined by their superior quality and craftsmanship. Often called "functional works of art for your floor," the warmth and beauty of handmade rugs brings interest and appeal to any room in the house. There are three major construction techniques used to create beautiful luxury rugs. The common factor is that they are carefully made by hand - no machines, no shortcuts here. One yarn at a time in the hands of an experienced craftsperson.

Hand-Knotted
The creation of a hand-knotted rug requires the infinite patience of a team of experienced, dedicated craftspeople. Each tuft is created by tying a knot around a warp thread and then placed one by one into the rug's pattern. It can take six months to a year to weave a large rug, but the final product is the ultimate in luxury and precision.

Hand-Tufted
This technique involves shooting small clusters of yarns through an extremely fine and tight canvas. By doing so, a rug is created that is almost identical to one that is hand-knotted, but at a fraction of the time and expense. Because there are no knots, an additional backing must be adhered to the canvas. Typically hand-tufted rugs do not have fringes.

Flat-Woven
This basic construction technique is used to create highly versatile and durable floor coverings and tapestries. Originally developed in rural areas around the world using the simplest of lines and colors, today flat-woven rugs are designed to fit any setting. A great appeal of area rugs created this way is that they are reversible, which can dramatically extend their life in your home.

When you purchase a luxury handmade rug you are not just buying a floor covering; you are decorating your floors with a unique and special type of art for which there is no equal. Consider a luxury rug an investment that will hold its value - and beauty - for generations.

To explore the wide variety of styles and colors of luxury rugs available at Rugs Direct, please click here.

Difference Between a Rug and Carpet

Copyright © 2007 Rugs Direct®

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a "rug" and a "carpet?"

Many people use the terms interchangeably, but in the floor-covering industry there is a distinction. The following is how this difference is explained at Nourison University:

The difference between a rug and a carpet is purely a matter of size. Within the customary terminology of the industry, any piece less than 40 square feet is called a rug while anything larger is considered a carpet. Today, however, the term rug is most commonly used to distinguish an area rug from wall-to-wall carpeting or broadloom. (Courtesy of Nourison University)

Simple enough, but what then is a "Flying Carpet?"

Viktor Vasnetsov. The Flying Carpet (1880). Oil, canvas. On exhibit at the Nizhny Novgorod Art Museum.

A flying carpet, or alternately a magic carpet, is technically a rug that has the ability to transport people standing on it to a distant location. In some instances it automatically transports its users, but most often it flies through the air.

There have been references to magic carpets throughout literature for more than two thousand years. They are most prevalent in stories originating in the Middle East, ancient Persia and India. They captured the imagination of Western audiences with the collection of stories called 1001 Arabian Nights.

Of course there have been many references to magic carpets in popular culture, ranging from Disney's 1992 animated film, Aladdin to  the Super Mario Brothers 2 videogame.  The Ministry of Magic made them illegal in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. And who can forget the classic 1968 song from Steppenwolf, Magic Carpet Ride?

A very interesting article on the Secret History of the Flying Carpet can be found at museum.com.

Of course we invite you to search for your very own "magic carpet" by visiting Rugs Direct.

Featured Designer - Liora Manné

Copyright © 2007 Rugs Direct®

One of the most exciting designers creating area rugs today is Liora Manné. A native of Jerusalem, Israel, Manné moved to Atlanta with her family at age 16. After graduating from Georgia State University she completed her Masters Program in Textile Design and Engineering at North Carolina State University.

Manné moved to New York and began to design textiles for the fashion industry. As her career progressed she longed to use her talent in textile design in a new, different and unique manner. Inspired by exploration of new media and materials, Manné developed a revolutionary process called Lamontage. In this process acrylic fibers are layered and then interlocked by hand-needle-punching to create custom blended colors. Lamontage allowed Manné to create patterns that could not be achieved through traditional printing, weaving or knitting. Her distinctive rugs and upholstery quickly gained popularity. In fact, her flat format and intricate patterns started to change the face of the area-rug industry! It wasn't long before Manné could open her own design studio in New York City.

The word "Lamontage" is derived from "lamina" for layering and "montage" for image. It is a patented medium for creating textiles that combines the ancient art of felting with modern materials. A Lamontage product is specially created by blending and mixing custom dyed acrylic fibers, which results in a rich palette of over six hundred hues. These are then manipulated to generate intricate colors and patterns.

If you would like to learn more about Liora Manné's work and vision, you can visit her website: www.lioramanne.com.

Recently Manné patented a new medium for creating textiles called Montique. This encases Lamontage fabric designs between two layers of clear molded plastic, creating a translucent and fresh texture. Montique is being used for such items as handbags, shoes, placemats and platters.

Rugs Direct carries over 200 of Liora Manné's unique area-rug designs. They range from classic, traditional styles that look good in any environment to bright, colorful, contemporary designs to add excitement and flair. Click here to explore the area rugs Liora Manné has created for your home.