Homey Rugs, Putting on a Floor Show

A big contender for this year's hot-picks list has to be a Dash & Albert woven rug. They have been showing up in virtually every home magazine in the past few months as stair runners, in kids' rooms, by kitchen sinks and under dining tables. Affordable (less than $200 for a 6-by-9-foot) and cheery (plaids and stripes), the flat cotton rugs evoke the Eastern Shore, Nantucket and an old house near the beach.

"We've definitely had an impact on the rug business," said Annie Selke, the owner of four-year-old Dash & Albert. In the early days, the rugs got a publicity boost from Real Simple magazine, which featured them on its cover and inside pages. "They gave us a ton of exposure," Selke said, "and put us on the map."

This month, Dash & Albert began selling indoor-outdoor rugs made of polypropylene. They are more expensive than the cotton versions ($288 for a 6-by-9) and available in fewer patterns. But Selke said they pass any durability test -- inside or out.

The all-weather versions were tested for nine months by messy children and drooling dogs, and with gloppy substances such as peanut butter, yogurt and ketchup. If you get one for the dining room that won't fit in the washing machine, Selke recommends just taking it outside and hosing it down. She said she has put one in her mudroom and another in her daughter's bedroom in the family's house in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, where her company is based.

Selke also owns Pine Cone Hill, a furniture and bedding company, and Potluck Studios, a tableware and furniture company.

The rugs have one clear downside: Dash&Albert does not offer shopping by catalogue or computer. In this area, the only place to buy them is at Urban Country in Bethesda. For more information, visit http://www.dashandalbertrugs.com or call 800-442-8157.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/23/AR2007052300372.html

Area Rugs Retailer Adds Policy to Eliminate Return Shipping Charges

RugSale.com has improved it's return policy as a follow up to the release of the redesign of its area rugs web site. Above and beyond the extensive aesthetic changes to the site the company has added an exchange policy to ensure new and existing customers are happy with their area rugs.

We not only wanted to make the site more visually pleasing, we wanted to ensure our policies provided the customer with enough flexibility to find the perfect area rug. We think allowing them to return the first rug and get a second with no shipping charge will give them that flexibility.

CEO and Founder Charlie Kaoud Says "We not only wanted to make the site more visually pleasing, we wanted to ensure our policies provided the customer with enough flexibility to find the perfect area rug. We think allowing them to return the first rug and get a second with no shipping charge will give them that flexibility."

In an attempt to make the industry standard "No Hassle Return Policy", that requires the customer to pay for return shipping, even more customer friendly RugSale has launched their "Try Another Rug" policy. This procedure allows customers to return the first rug they buy and try a second one with no shipping charges. If customers decide other RugSale area rugs would work better they simply call customer service and RugSale will arrange for the return shipment of the first rug and will ship the customer a second rug of equal or greater cost with no shipping charge for either. As with all offers there are certain stipulations that can be found at RugSales' web site.

Charlie Kaoud Adds "We hope this change will ensure that our customers get a rug they are really happy with. We are not just trying to sell a single rug, we are trying to earn a customer for life."

For additional information on this release contact Paul Nangle or visit RugSale.com.

About RugSale:
Rugsale.com was established in 1999 by the largest importer of area rugs in New England. After serving our friends and neighbors in the New England area for over 5 decades we decided to bring that same spirit to the internet. The RugSale.com model is to provide affordable area rugs and unsurpassed service to our web customers.

Natural Area Rugs: Customer Satisfaction is Our Highest Priority

Natural Area Rugs, a leading manufacturer of fine natural fiber rugs, has continually proven their dedication to their customer’s satisfaction. They have shown their dedication by accepting any return and work quickly to refund the customer’s money. Natural Area Rugs also strives to meet their shipping deadline to ensure the prompt arrival of a rug at its intended destination. Their customer service hotline, is truly there to do the best they can in answering and listening to customer’s questions and concerns.

“With the ever increasing online shopping market, it is crucial to put your customer’s satisfaction first,” explains Mike Dennis of Natural Area Rugs. “We are not satisfied until we see that our customer is.”

In today’s online shopping world it can be very hard to choose an honest and legitimate e-Retailer. Many online auction sites, such as Ebay, have created user ranking systems to let buyers know the level of legitimacy of a seller. This allows many unsatisfied online consumers to voice their frustration over failed return and refund policies, false shipping dates and no customer support. On the other hand, the rating systems allow customers to reward honest sellers with ratings of “good” or “excellent.”

In any online market Natural Area Rugs has received more than stellar ratings. They have achieved a five-star, excellent rating from Yahoo shopping, Ebay, Amazon, Bizrate, and Shopping.com. They are also a member of the BBB OnLine Reliability program. Natural Area Rugs’ purpose is to provide the best possible customer service, never become a nuisance to their customers and to stand behind their service guarantee.

About Natural Area Rugs

Natural Area Rugs is the distributor of fine quality, contemporary area rugs. It is the fastest growing company in the field of natural area rugs distribution. A strong dedication in achieving world class performance through their belief in honesty and integrity in all their dealings with their customers. Their goal is to achieve the highest level of customer satisfaction by providing highest degree of product quality, competitive prices and their excellent customer service. Natural Area Rugs is located in Beverly Hills, California with warehouse and manufacturing facilities in Los Angeles, California. For more information visit http://www.naturalarearugs.com or call 800-661-7847.

Former Buddy's Carpet exec pleads guilty to tax charge

A former executive of the Buddy's Carpet and Flooring retail chain has pleaded guilty to a charge of tax evasion.

Bruce Cohen, 61, faces up to five years in jail followed by two years of supervised release, and a maximum $250,000 fine for allegedly conspiring to commit tax fraud and filing false income tax returns, the U.S Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio said.

Cohen, of Louisville, Ky., served as a financial services and insurance salesman for Buddy's Carpet.

In 2005, a federal grand jury in Columbus returned a seven-count indictment alleging tax evasion, conspiracy to commit tax fraud and filing false income tax returns against the following:
Former owner Burton "Buddy" Kallick of Cincinnati.
Former owner Leif Rozin of Bonita Springs, Fla.
Former in-house counsel Alan Koehler of Purcellville, Va.
Milton Liss of Cincinnati, the company's former investment and insurance adviser.

Kallick passed away in January and is no longer a defendant in the case. Rozin, Koehler and Liss are scheduled for a trial in September.

Buddy's Carpet, based in Franklin, has about 29 stores in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Kallick once was the company's top pitchman, who assured customers in advertisements that they had "a buddy in the carpet business."

http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2007/05/07/daily5.html

Monaco Carpet Designer Announces Bold New Concept

Monaco-based avant garde carpet designer Kamyar Moghadam reveals his new line of floor coverings which borrows concepts from the fashion world

Floors have not been getting quite the respect they deserve, if you listen to Monaco-based avant garde carpet designer Kamyar Moghadam. He's advocating equal treatment for these places which we may have grown accustomed to simply walking all over.

With "Fashion for Floors", his new line, he says: "You look at your floor the same way you look at yourself. You dress up: you dress your floor the same way you dress yourself."

Moghadam told the online magazine MonacoRevue.com he borrows techniques and materials from the fashion industry to create unique and luxurious pieces that could easily pass for works of art. Making no concessions to animal rights activists such as PETA, he mixes fur and leather in exquisite bed runners. "When you get out of the bed in the morning and you walk on that piece, you can only have a good day," he says. Another creation is a patchwork of raw silk and hand-dyed raw cashmere, which could work equally as a wall hanging or a floor covering, Moghadam suggests.

With saving the environment being such a hot issue, Moghadam even has a carpet that embraces eco-friendly principles. Instead of letting old jeans go to the landfill, he cuts them into squares and rectangles, then crafts them into quilted denim carpets.

Moghadam represents the second generation of the renowned Moghadam carpet house in Monte Carlo, which bears the title "official supplier to S.A.S. The Sovereign Prince of Monaco". And although the current ruler, Prince Albert II of Monaco, promotes himself as a champion of the environment, Moghadam betrays no hint as to whether princely feet tread on such recycled jeans up at the pink palace.

Moghadam presents his bold new concept in a video found at the website, an online celebrity and lifestyle magazine featuring articles from Monaco and around the world for an international readership.
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/17739/

Carpet contractor wants payment for judicial complex work

A Rincon businessman who carpeted the two floors on the Effingham County Judicial Complex but says his costs for the project are not being covered.

"It makes me want to go in and rip out the carpet," Ronnie Phillips said Monday. "If I don't pay my electric bill, my electricity gets cut off. If I don't pay my taxes, they can come and take my property. But the county won't pay for the flooring, and I don't know what else to do. I was over there earlier today, but it doesn't seem to do any good to talk to anyone.''

County spokesman Adam Kobek said Phillips' dispute is with LPS Construction and XL Bonding. Effingham is in the process of making its final payment to the project's general contractor and bonding company.

Phillips' contract for $111,000 - which is short $11,000 - is with LPS, Kobek said.

"We hired LPS to build us the building," Kobek said. "We will finish paying what we owe to LPS, and they will settle with the subcontractors."

Paying final bills is expected to be the last in a series of problems associated with the judicial complex - the largest single project in county's history. Some of those issues came up at a meeting last month when LPS asked commissioners to split $144,000 in cost overruns.

Commissioners are still considering the request of LPS owner Wallace Wiggins, who said various construction problems with the three-story building cost his company about $2 million more than expected. A decision is expected at the May 15 commission meeting.

Phillips said he does not want to wait until that meeting to be paid. He said county officials have made sure other subcontractors were paid and he was promised a timely payment in December.

"All I get are promises," Phillips said. "I don't need to be on hold any longer. I need to be paid now. There are issues they can straighten out, and this is one of them."

The Rincon businessman said he had other projects lined up two years ago when he was contacted about covering the first and second floors at the new complex, funded by a special purpose local option sales tax. Phillips said he did not want to take on the project but was convinced to take it. The carpet and tile sat at his business nearly two years because of construction delays.

Flooring was finally installed last fall, and Phillips was paid about $100,000 in installments. But he has not received anything since December when he was told the final payment would be made within weeks.

Kobek said county officials sent a letter to XL Bonding weeks ago asking about nonpayment of the Phillips Flooring bill. Kobek said the bonding company has since responded with a letter asking Phillips for more information.

Kobek said the situation does not involve the county and was unsure if commissioners will address it.

Phillips said he is growing more frustrated with the debt.

"I called some friends and asked if they could bail me out of jail if I got arrested for going there and taking out the flooring," Phillips said.

http://www.savannahnow.com/node/280144

How to pick rugs that will floor you

The day we moved into our 130-year-old money pit, my husband Dan and I went crazy stripping away the old, worn trappings that covered the marvelous bones of our house.

One morning I awoke to find Dan ripping up the ancient carpet to see what was underneath. We struck gold by unearthing wonderful hardwood flooring. But now we had a new challenge: Finding a fleet of area rugs to warm up and pull together each room.

Unless you run into one heck of a sale, area rugs can be a hefty investment. For that reason, once you select a rug, you’re likely to keep it forever. Since you and your rugs will be married for life, you need to be careful selecting them. Here are a few tips you can use to find rugs that will absolutely floor you.

• Love the rug

First, don’t settle for a rug you aren’t head over heels in love with. Rugs are like artwork — they have to speak to you. Don’t be in a hurry or settle for second best just to get something down on the floor. Take your time to find the rug that’s just right.

• Stay true

Second, select a rug that works perfectly in your space. Pick area rugs that stay true to the architecture of your home, reflect your personal design style and harmonize with the rest of your home decor. For instance, if you’re going for a country cottage look, choose a romantic needlepoint rug over a traditional Persian wool.

• Be fearless

Third, don’t be afraid to mix up your rug styles, material and colors. In my home, I have wool Oriental rugs, delicate needlepoint carpets and durable sisal mats all jumbled together willy-nilly, and I think the overall effect works well.
One of the reasons I upholstered my living-room furniture in white fabric was so I could bring in lots of color through accents such as flooring.
I had a blast scouting for rugs in lots of different hues. In my living room alone I have one carpet in navy, taupe and maroon, a second in blue green and rusty red, and a third in turquoise and tan. Sounds overwhelming, but it’s not. Every color in the carpets is repeated in the room’s other accessories to create a harmonious, lively space.

• Always pick area rugs that match your lifestyle.

If you have kids, pets or husbands who put lots of wear and tear on your home, make your life easier by selecting rugs that are durable and cleaned easily.

Because I entertain so much in my dining room, I’ve had more than a few glasses of red wine spilled on the formal Oriental carpet under my table. Tired of stressing out about rug stains, I decided to trade the Oriental with a forgiving sisal rug.

I’ve fallen in love with natural fiber rugs because they are attractive, durable and affordable. A friend of mine absolutely swears by natural sea-grass carpets because they can take anything kids dish out. Made from salt marsh grass, sea grass carpets are wonderfully water and stain resistant.

One night her teen boys spilled cola on the rug. When she discovered the puddle the next morning, she simply wiped it up. The rug still looked fantastic.

Finally, make sure you size your area rug correctly. I like a border of wood showing in my rooms, so I pick rugs at least 1 to 2 feet smaller than the dimensions of the room. Old design rules dictate that all the furnishings in a seating arrangement have to be on or off the carpet, but I prefer the front legs on the carpet and the back legs off.

To get the rug size right, arrange your furnishings just as they’ll be when you have your rug, then mark off the rug dimensions with masking tape. Be sure to get two measurements before you go rug shopping: the largest and smallest size that would be acceptable to you.

When you’ve found the perfect rug, you’ll be amazed by how it adds character and charm to your room.

By MARY CAROL GARRITY
Scripps Howard News Service

How To Buy Kid’s Area Rugs

Those that are looking to add a lot of fun to their child’s room should consider the addition of kid’s area rugs. There are some really amazing choices out there that your children will love. No matter if they are just babies or a blossoming teen; they will enjoy having a great looking room to call their own. It used to be that many parents just left their carpeting on the floor of these rooms to provide enough comfort and padding. But, today, adding a fun area rug to the room adds more dimension, character and makes their room, well, more like their own room! Of course, you can also purchase area rugs for kid’s playrooms or just for the area of the home that they tend to play in.

There are several things that you should consider, though, when you purchase a kids rug. You do not want to just head out and just pick one up. You need to consider several aspects about the room, the carpet and your child before you do so to insure that you are making a wise investment. Here are some tips to help you to make the right choice.

• Get the size right. One of the biggest mistakes that people tend to make when purchasing any area rug is assuming that they know what the right size for the rug they need is. The goal is not to think about it at all but to get out a tap measure and take some measurements. In a kid’s room, you may need to purchase an off size or something that is large enough to fit under their furniture. Getting the size right is your first step to finding the right area rug.
• Next, consider the color. If you are designing your child’s room from scratch, you may want to start with the area rug. In many cases, your child will find and fall in love with the area rugs. They come in so many various colors and patterns that it is easy to really enjoy one or the other. You should consider the color scheme of your room as well as the patterns in the area rug. If the area rug will have butterflies on it, adding butterflies to the room’s décor works well.
• Your child’s tastes. One of the fundamentals of decorating a child’s room is to make it his room. That means paying attention to the things that he really loves and adding them to his room. The rest of the house is yours to decorate, but a kid’s room should say something about them. If they have a favorite theme, such as cars and trucks, you will find a good amount of area rugs for this. You can even look for the child’s favorite cartoon characters as many of them are available on area rugs.
• Educational options. Some of those that are looking to add area rugs to their child’s room want to add an educational element to them. This is an excellent way to teach them something without them really realizing that is what you are up to. It’s easy to do with all of the options that you have as well. Area rugs are available in a wide range of themes such as ABC’s and counting, space, and even those that teach things like sharing and friendship. This is a great way to add a theme to a room that is still fun and educational at the same time.
• Quality. There are several things to consider when it comes to the quality of the rug that you will put into your child’s room. First off, kids are rough and tough as well as being messy. The area rugs that you purchase should be able to take what your child can throw at it. Consider the pile of the area rug as well. This is the height of the rug’s fibers. Longer will provide a thicker, more impact resistant surface for falls and bumps. Consider the material. Those that are washable are an excellent choice here. They should be comfortable as well.

Keeping all of these things in mind is essential to providing your child with a kid’s rug that is perfect for them. Now, the higher in quality that the area rug is, the more costly it is likely to be. But, you can still benefit from the highest in quality. That’s because a high quality product will last longer and take more of a beating. If the rug delivers a smile to your child’s face, that makes it even more beneficial to your needs.

Take your time when selecting the right area rug for your child’s bedroom or his playroom. The area rug can add to the fun of his room as well as the character it has. He will love it if you take just a few extra minutes to find the perfect rug for his room.

By: Genuine Area Rugs

Round Area Rugs

Round area rugs are made with wool and are woven using a hand hook, similar in shape to a crochet hook, to form a looped pile. These Round area rugs are regarded as having originated in rural England during the late 18th Century and had taken root in America. Round area rugs attained immense popularity and Round area rugs are still today recognized as specialty of American craft.

However, most Round area rugs today are made in China on a canvas backing.
Many people who need Round area rugs are unaware of the incredible opportunity to find quality area rugs on the internet. At first glance, you might not think that Round area rugs are the best items to buy online.

Traditionally, folks go to the rug store and sift through the Round area rugs offered on the display floor. You'd have to fit the rugs you buy in your car and drive them home yourself, unless you want to pay extra for delivery.

If you wanted Round area rugs, you would have to go to a store that you felt would have good prices. If you want to compare prices, you would have to go to another shop and try to match up the same style rug.

Online shops’ strength is in their relationships both with their artisans and with their clients. Their relationships with suppliers allow them to eliminate the middleman and layers of markup by going straight to the weavers and merchants to purchase and distribute their Round area rugs designs. The result is an unbeatable selection of beautiful wholesale rugs at or below wholesale prices.

Finding quality products and competitive pricing on today’s web sites can often be a daunting and tedious task. For finding affordable quality Round area rugs on the web online shops are number one. Online shops makers decided to eliminate the guesswork in the online store industry today and compile a reputable list of sites for the most price conscience shopper today. The sites they list are constantly changing their prices to remain competitive in today’s fast-paced market, and list their Round area rugs by brand for your convenience.