TIMELESS STYLES

CARPETS AND RUGS

Classic and timeless

STYLES Kelebogile Nondzaba speaks to the experts about the latest in carpets and rugs

MARCH 2020 Coricraft

Husky Design Paras Carpets

COLOURS You need to decide if your rug is intended to be a statement piece or something more subdued. You can either use a neutral or complementary colour, or something quite striking, depending on what you are trying to achieve in the room. – Trevor Blumberg

Paras Carpets

Husky Design

Coricraft

people know the difference between a carpet and a rug. But for those who don’t, let me tell you. A carpet is often glued to the floor and made to cover it from wall to wall. A rug is usually used on the carpet for décor purposes such as adding colour or adding another layer of texture. Rugs are smaller than carpets and come in different materials.

COLOUR INFLUENCE “We are a fan of gelato-inspired hues this season, from sherbet pinks to sorbet yellows. Not only are these rugs fun and soothing to one’s feet, but they are a surprisingly perfect base for most furniture styles,” says Catherine Mo, content manager at Coricraft. “Marrying the old with the new in the latest collection of patchwork-style rugs that are made up of smaller pieces of traditional kelim and Persian rugs. Their colours have been updated in shades of blue, pink and yellow.”

For Trevor Blumberg of Rugs Original, it is about the neutrals, greys and pastels –as most people use rugs to accentuate an area, or to create texture in a room.

POPULAR TEXTURES AND PATTERNS According to Mo, “When it comes to the types of rugs available, the possibilities are endless. However at Coricraft most of our rugs are natural textures, polypropylene for outdoors and a poly-blend for our other indoor styles.” >

Paras Carpets

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RUG AND A CARPET Blumberg says, “Carpets usually refer to the wall-to-wall variety, whereas rugs are movable and usually areaspecific. You can most certainly use the two together – mostly with a neutral carpet, and then a rug that adds colour or texture. Similarly, if you have a dark carpet, you can add more neutral rugs to lighten the space.” Mo adds that, “Carpets are fixed features that need to be installed professionally. Rugs are not fixed and a lot more interchangeable as your style evolves. You can absolutely pair rugs and carpets together. Our advice is to select a fairly neutral carpet colour and texture and update it with patterned, colourful rugs.”

MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING Care and cleaning instructions differ from one rug to the next, depending on the type of fibre it’s made from, says Mo. “The best way to care for your rug is to ensure you vacuum it regularly to keep dust and dirt from pulling into the fibres. For small stains you can do spot cleaning, but for anything else we recommend you get it professionally cleaned.”

For Blumberg, the following points depend on the kind of rug: • We suggest professional cleaning for Persian and Oriental rugs. • We have a range of machine-washable rugs that can be cold-washed in your washing machine (provided it is large enough) and then left out to dry in the sun. • Our outdoor rugs are easy to clean, as

they are mildew-resistant and UV-stable, which means they can be used in an outdoor environment, with little damage being experienced. The outdoor rugs can be washed with a hosepipe and any carpet shampoo.

DID YOU KNOW? Persian and Oriental rugs are considered investment pieces and can create a more opulent and sophisticated look, but come at a higher cost. The modern machine-made ranges are more affordable for most consumers, and therefore tend to be more popular. – Trevor Blumberg, Rugs Original Husky Carpets are made to any size, shape, colour and design. Our handmade carpets are designed and manufactured in South Africa to complete customer specification. We serve the domestic, retail, hospitality and corporate industries. – Mike Dias, Husky Design Rugs Original

WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR WHEN PURCHASING A CARPET OR RUG Mo says the three main elements to consider when selecting a rug are colour, size and fabric. “When selecting the colour of the rug, keep in mind the existing colours and patterns of your interior and balance them out with your rug’s colour and pattern. As a general rule of thumb, your rug should fit the size of your seating area, ideally with the front legs of the furniture sitting on the rug. It’s also important to consider practicalities such as how much foot traffic your rug will have and whether it will be prone to spills and stains.” Q

With thanks to Coricraft, Husky Design, Paras Carpets and Rugs Original

Coricraft Rugs Original Rugs Original