Friday, March 30, 2007

Karastan Area Rugs For Home Decorating

Read how Karastan area rugs can break completely the look of any room into your house. However, how to choose the perfect rug that more fits with your home decoration? Keep in mind that area rugs can start as well as finish off the fashion of your living room, bedroom, entrance, kitchen and even your patio deck style. You must reach a decision on the most suitable rug that complements the overall environment scheme and color for a room. Area rugs come in many different color schemes, basically there are 2 or 3 to work with. Choose the one that more fits with your desired decoration.

The Importance Of The Furniture

The kind of furniture in the room is also very important when choosing an area rug. Most people that want to compliment any room of their houses with a rug, know what are looking for before start. For example, if your room features dark wood furniture, probably your best choice might be darker colors in the mood of the area rug. No matter what pattern you have chosen, you will be totally surprised on how the feeling of the room has changed. Anyhow, there exist a wide range of colors, patterns and sizes that reflect all possible styles for enhancing your home. Just choose the correct one and your house will seem totally different.

The most winning rugs

There are as many rugs styles as colors or designs. However, Oriental styles are the most demanded for current houses. Oriental area rugs, including Persians are those compliments in which colors are nearly dark, featuring no spots that keep the attention of the visitor. Small rugs are also becoming very popular. Even hang rugs, sometimes called tapestries, which are showed on the wall to be put on view for everyone who pass around. The most important thing for buying an area rug is to find the most suitable as well as the one that more fits into your own decoration.

Find Discount Area Rugs Online

Area rugs have been popular during years. They are relatively easy to take care of, there are many styles, textures, materials and sizes to choose from, so why don’t buy one? It’s time to replace some old furniture, all that you need is some creativity and money. First of all you need to establish a budget before start searching. You can check many internet websites in order to get an idea of the prices. There are some net online that sell discount rugs at affordable prices.

What to look for online discount area rugs? The first and most important thing when search online is the quality; Make sure that you purchase good quality items as well as durable that last at least some years, especially whether you have small children around. If so, think about the durability of the offered discounted area rugs. You should do a deep research around internet before decide on your purchase.

You should study all possible affordable types of materials. Probably, you already have a rough idea of the material that you would like your new rug to be. No matter what style, color or material is, area rugs are a necessity for households. Everyone should have a great rug for her or his home. Surprise everyone by adding a new compliment to your entrance, your friends will be amazed with your new style, do not hesitate about that.

You Can't Beat Oriental Rugs For Elegance

Oriental rugs will add timeless beauty to your home, will coordinate with any decor, and enhance any room, hallway, or entrance. They are also a favorite option when decorating home offices, and are a particularly good choice for high traffic areas because of the intricacies of their designs, which hide wear and tear. The term "oriental" refers to rugs produced on the continent of Asia, such as Persian (from Iran), Indian, Chinese, and Turkish rugs. Imitations of the popular oriental patterns are also available and produced by manufacturers such as Nourison in the USA, and Sphinx, also in the USA but with its parent company in Egypt.

Making rugs by hand is an ancient art and the old designs reflect the religious and ethnic structures of the times in the countries or areas of origin. Many of these ancient designs are still produced today, sometimes hand-woven and hand-knotted, other times woven by machine. The most traditional patterns are those with a floral or garden motif, or geometric or curvilinear designs around a central medallion or a central painting-like scene. Oriental rugs used to be constructed only with such natural fibers as wool, cotton, silk, or goat and camel hair, or blends of these materials, but now you can find them made with less expensive synthetic materials such as olefin (polypropylene), nylon, polyester, and acrylic. Wool rugs remain the first choice in durable, soft, dirt-and-fire resistant, warm rugs, but synthetic reproductions make oriental area rugs more affordable. They come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes – round, oval, rectangular, and, of course, the popular runner.

How to Choose Oriental Rugs for Your Home
Decide on how you are going to use each area rug. Is it going to define furniture groupings or unify all the elements in the room? Is its primary use to protect a floor or a carpet? Is its prime function to add warmth and comfort? The use of the rug will dictate its size and shape. As well, you should keep these points in mind:
  • The colors should be harmonious with other colors in the room.

  • If the center of the carpet will be visible, medallions or central scenes are good choices, but if the center will be fully or partially hidden under a table or other furniture, it is better to go with a repetitive design or an elaborate and interesting border.

  • A family with health problems will appreciate rugs with natural fibers since they have the advantage of not releasing chemicals into the air as synthetics do.

  • Very colorful and busy designs can make an oriental rug the focal point in a room, but if the room is already colorful with intricate drapery and upholstery fabric designs, choose simple designs and subtle colors.

  • If you are going to use two different rugs in one room, make sure the colors and patterns blend and complement each other.


Important Cost Considerations when Choosing an Oriental Rug
It is not as difficult as you may think to find good quality, cheap area rugs with oriental designs. When you shop online, you deal directly with online retailers who can offer discount and warehouse prices because there are no storefront costs and no middlemen to pay. As well as shopping online, here are other considerations that can make the oriental rug of your dreams affordable:
  • An antique rug is the most expensive and should have documentation attesting to its authenticity; imitations are much less costly.

  • Natural fibers are more expensive than synthetic.

  • Hand-made, hand-woven, and hand-knotted rugs made by weavers are more durable and much more expensive than machine woven and knotted.

  • The number of knots per square inch indicates its quality, and a higher number means a higher cost.

  • Very intricate and rare designs are the most expensive.

  • The country or area of origin affects the price.


Whether you spring for a genuine antique oriental wool rug that has been hand woven and hand knotted in Iran, or you choose a polypropylene machine woven rug with an oriental design manufactured in North America, you will be adding beauty, warmth and comfort to your home. Enjoy!

Karastan area rugs

Karastan area rugs are works of art designed to satisfy both aesthetic and practical demands.

Karastan is backed by a tradition of enduring quality and timeless design. In 1928, Karastan was the first to introduce broad-loomed rugs with all the rich complexity of hand-woven orientals. Since that time, Karastan has reproduced Persian, Turkish and Chinese rugs - down to the plush pile of premium wool.

Karastan is also setting trends in broadloom carpeting with striking colors and sophisticated patterns. Karastan broadloom is woven using the finest fibers - from select synthetics to 100% wool - ensuring durability that will stand the test of time.

Karastan feels very strongly about personal style and gives you a palette of timeless designs, colors and patterns. Karastan carpets and rugs are inspired by the spirit of an older time, but their techniques and designs are anything but dated.

Karastan rugs have a look all their own. In signature style, Karastan reflects the arts, the textiles and the architecture of our rich past. Their designers draw their inspiration from skilled artisans of ancient Prussia, Turkey and India. They also recapture the decors of historic Williamsburg. Their weaving process enables them to artfully construct intricate, finely detailed patterns and capture luxury and distinctive shading. From subtle to contemporary, there is a personal style waiting for you.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

How to select a Karastan rug

Selecting a Karastan rug can be a daunting task for most people. There is a lot of misinformation out there as to what to look for. Lets face it, a good Karastan rug can cost a lot of money, and most people will be hesitant to make a significant investment on something they know little about.

The best solution for most is to find a reputable dealer who will work with you to find the rug you are looking for. The disadvantage to this is you will be paying for their help and advice in the markup of the rug, which can be quite high.

Another alternative is to use the power of the internet. There are number of sites out there that sell authentic Karastan rugs, with money back guarantees and free shipping.

Which ever way you choose, a little knowledge can go a long way.

An authentic Karastan rug is handmade. There are a lot of machine woven imitation rugs out on the market. How do you tell the difference? Two ways:

  1. The loops on the back of the rug will be visible on a handmade rug.

  2. If the fringe is sewn on, then the rug is probably machine made.

Another advantage of an authentic rug is its durability. The natural fibers have a greater level of strength than machine-made rugs with synthetic fibers.

Once you have determine a rugs authenticity, there are several things to look for in selecting a rug. Probably the most well known and widely used is Knots Per Square Inch, commonly abbreviated as KPSI. Karastan rugs can typically have between 20 and 700 knots or more in a one-inch by one-inch area. Generally, the more knots per square inch, the more valuable the rug. As a rule, a good quality rug should have at least 70 knots per square inch.

Another factor to look for is how long it took to make the rug. This can help determine the value when comparing similar rugs. It is not unusual for a hand woven rug to take many months to many years to create. A typically sized rug can taken between 6-12 months to complete.

How old a Karastan rug is important as well. An older carpet is generally more expensive. Be careful of dealers who chemically wash the Karastan rug to give it that aged look.

Learn about the different styles. Various terms you will hear are Tribal styles and City styles. Selecting among the two is more a matter of personal preference. Within each style, there are many popular and well known variations. Gabbeh, Shiraz and Bakhtiari are popular Tribal styles. Isfahan, Tabriz and Qum are popular City styles. There is a story behind each rug.

This is just the starting point. Use the internet or your local library to learn more Karastan rugs.

Karastan Rugs - What A Great Cover-up!

The floor of your home says a lot about your style and personality. It’s the first thing that people see when they enter and they’re constantly reminded of it since they’re standing on it. A lot of homeowners opt to go with hardwood floors these days and, indeed, these can be quite lovely…but they are hard, therefore the name. Sadly, carpets are known for attracting huge amounts of dust and other undesirables, so they’re not always an option. Have no fear; a wonderful balance can be achieved by using rugs or, more specifically, oriental rugs.

Karastan rugs are hand-woven pieces, made from wool, silk or cotton, and created in what would be considered one of the Eastern countries. The major producers of oriental rugs are Iran, China, Afghanistan, Turkey, Pakistan and India. Although sold there, genuine oriental rugs are not woven in the United States. Instead, ‘oriental design’ rugs are manufactured using machines. Perhaps the most famous examples of authentic oriental rugs are Persian rugs.

Let’s get this straight from the start. A Karastan rug is an example of an oriental rug, but not all oriental rugs are necessarily Karstan rugs. A Karastan rug is defined as one which was specifically woven in present-day Iran. These rugs are beautifully designed and have become a major source of income for many Iranians as the worldwide demand continues to grow.

However, the greatest demand is not for contemporary pieces but rather for antiques. Antique Persian rugs are typically over 100 years old and, as such, originated from the former Persian Empire. They are categorized mainly on the basis of their designs. Basically, the name says it all. Flower rugs will feature flowered patterns, and animal rugs have animals on them. Antique Karastan rugs are very distinctive and offer a striking balance of color and elegance.

They can cost quite a bit, though, depending on the age and the intricacy of the design. On the other hand, antique Karastan rugs are, of course, long-lasting. They’ve made it past a hundred years so I doubt very much that they won’t last the duration of your lifetime. Antique Karastan rugs are therefore an excellent choice if you’re looking for something that you want to keep for a long time, or that you’d like to pass down through the generations. In other words, they’re a great investment and they look good too. Antique Karastan rugs can enhance the decor of any living space for years to come.

Antique Karastan Rugs

These are the largest antique Karastan rug dealers, importers, providers, online galleries and companies available in the United States.
  • Krikor Markarian antique rug and carpet gallery (markarianantiquerugs.com): Located in New York City, Krikor Markarian specializes in collectible antique tribal rugs and other woven artefacts from the main Near Eastern and Asian weaving areas. It features 19th century Caucasian rugs, 19th century Persian tribal and village rugs, antique Central Asian weavings and antique Anatolian rugs.
  • Nalbandian Inc. (www.nalbandian.com/antiques/antiques.htm): is a floor covering company that includes antique Oriental rugs, tapestries and textiles in its collection since 1826. The business started in Ceasaria, (kaisery) Turkey, extending to Erevan, Tehran, Beirut, Paris, Monte Carlo, Aix En Provence, Marseille, Zurich, Boston and Los Angeles. Services also include Restoration and Conservation.
  • Oriental Rug Mart (demanesrug.com): An Oriental rug company which has been buying, selling, cleaning and repairing Oriental rugs in central Illinois since 1919, in the name of James Demanes & Sons. Their rug emporium is located in the Demanes Galleries building in Peoria, Illinois. Services include Hand wash, repair, restoration, and appraisal.
  • Pasargad (pasargadcarpets.com): Pasargad is an importer of hand-woven oriental rugs, featuring an extensive line of hand-woven Chinese, Persian-design, and Indian masterpieces in vegetable-dyed wool. It is a family owned business established in 1904, well-known for its in-house restoration and cleaning facilities, with showrooms in New York and Washington D.C.
  • Antiqueorientalrugs.com: is an online shopping gallery of an Oriental rug business started by Robert T. Mosby since 1969, who deals strictly in handmade, antique oriental rugs and not in mass produced program rugs. The website has a link to Ebay, where a selection of antique rugs is showcased, changing on a weekly basis. The business is located in Sarasota, Florida.
  • Abraham Moheban & Son Inc. (moheban.com): The Company offers trade, designers and retail clients a choice of antique Persian, Indian, Turkish and European rugs and carpets. Located in New York City, it has an extensive collection of 18th to early 20th century pieces. Services include hand washing, conservation, restoration and insurance valuation.
  • A.E. Runge Oriental Rugs (rungerugs.com): Located in Yarmouth, Maine, Runge Rugs was started in the 1880s by Edward Runge. Its large inventory of handmade Orientals has been purchased almost entirely from estates and private individuals in New England and Europe dated between date between 1900 and the 1930s. All the products in the store is claimed to be authentic oriental rugs.
  • Antique Rug Gallery, Inc. (antiqueruggallery.com): This is an online gallery only, which operates in Massachusetts. The Antique Rug Gallery Inc. offers exclusively antique oriental carpets and tribal rugs, and accepts dealers as well as retail customers at wholesale prices. Services include written appraisals, wash and repair.
  • Antique Textile Gallery (frankames.com): The Company, buyer and seller of antique oriental carpets, Turkmen trappings, tribal rugs, decorative textiles and Kashmir shawls, was founded in Paris 25 years ago and moved to Manhattan's Upper West Side in 1986. The gallery is also a consultant and appraiser of antique, ancient and decorative textiles. Business is conducted by appointment only.

Tips In Choosing Karastan Area Rugs

A house or office may be very minimalist but what can make it an eye pleaser are the accessories and furnishings, properly used and coordinated with the other furniture in the room. One such furnishing that can be used to achieve an over-all effect is the use of area rugs.

Area rugs are available in all shapes and sizes and definitely in all colors. Area rugs need not be expensive to serve their purpose. It all depends on the creativity of the decorator.

The art of using rugs has been in existence thousands of years ago when the weavers incorporate religious or tribal symbolisms in the rug designs. In fact, rug styles and designs have been named after cities like Kashan and tribes like Bakhtiari due to the strong influence of these tribes and places to the rug designers.

The Persian rugs became famous among royal courts, thanks to the European traders who bartered the rugs to Europe’s rich and powerful families. From then on, the Europeans learned from the Persian rug techniques and later on created their own designs and rug motifs. The evolution of rigs is really a good example of cross cultural influences.

Modern day rug makers may have all the high technology equipment but ancient rug makers had to contend with their creative hands to create hand-woven rugs that characterized great artistry. The invention of chemical and commercial dyes made the rug making industry better and more colorful since rig makers can now experiment on a variety of colors.

When buying rugs, always consider its purpose and where it will be placed. One can opt for Karastan antique rugs which comes in traditional designs and styles or modern rugs which are available in all shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Aside from the design consideration, your choice of rug should also be based on where the rug is to be placed. If you need a rug for your private rooms then an antique rug would be fine. However, an antique rug may be frail and easily damaged so it should not be placed in areas with maximum exposure. Antique rugs will definitely cost more than modern rugs so you must also make sure that you have researched on the authenticity as well as the proper price of Karastan antique rugs.

Rugs that are to be placed in areas with high people traffic should be in colors that are more dirt resistant. The material should also be taken into consideration since a soft and fragile rug may be out of place in a room often visited by people. Unless of course, you want to gamble on the rug’s toughness.

Modern day rugs are not only machine-made but they can also be hand-knotted or hooked, or the rugs can be a product of needlepoint. Rugs made of machines are available in all designs and quality.

While the type, design and color of the Karastan rug is of paramount consideration when buying rugs, the price of the rug should also be a primary concern. A more expensive rug made of sturdier and quality materials would be more cost effective than a cheap rug that can easily be damaged.

A house or office may be very minimalist but what can make it an eye pleaser are the accessories and furnishings, properly used and coordinated with the other furniture in the room. One such furnishing that can be used to achieve an over-all effect is the use of area rugs.

Karastan area rugs are available in all shapes and sizes and definitely in all colors. Area rugs need not be expensive to serve their purpose. It all depends on the creativity of the decorator.

 

Karastan Rugs

The Karastan area rugs have more style than any other rugs and they are suitable both for a flat and for a house. Get much fun and gaiety with our Karastan area rugs. The area rugs will fit your accommodation if you like stylish area rugs. The area rugs have the most tender fur and the cutest ornaments. There are ornaments of different cultures in different area rugs.

Get some floor rugs and put them on the floor. Get some food and a blanket if you feel cold. Turn on some calm music and drink wine and eat your favorite food lying on the floor rugs. Your tiredness will disappear so quickly that you will never remember you have ever had it. So the floor rugs are very useful rugs for spending your free time

The karastan rugs have been manufactured in great numbers. The huge company that has been making many kinds of the rugs all over the world for several centuries is now producing the best rugs in the world. So if you know what the really good rugs are you know the name and the label “ The Karastan Rugs”.

The karastan rugs can be found in any place of the world, even in Africa. So pick the karastan rugs at our shop and bring a little fresh air into your life and into your flat as well! If you buy the karastan rugs in our shop you will have the opportunity to get the best journal with some advice how to take care of the karastan rugs and the information how to make them serve you for ages.

The karastan rugs possess the wonderfully soft fur and the best kinds of the ornaments that can be taken from different cultures. So the karastan rugs will make your life more interesting and gripping.

You will recognize much useful information about the rugs and different cultures.