Stepping onto Style

This month, we take a look at how you can transform your home with the perfect carpet. Giving you all the options of how best to make sure you’re stepping onto style and elegance this autumn... Stepping onto Style CONTINUED OVER THE PAGE

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Advanced weaving techniques for rugs and carpets have been around for centuries. The oldest found example is that of the Paztryk Rug that was excavated from the Altai Mountains in Siberia in 1948. Thought to be from the 5th Century BC and with it’s sophisticated design, it suggests that the practice of carpet weaving goes back even further in history.

The process has come a long way throughout the years, with different styles and techniques filtering all around the world; with different cultures developing their own sense of identity and unique patterns. Whether its woven, tufted, saxony or knotted, brightly coloured patterns or a simple design, there’s a perfect carpet out there for you.

The perfect carpet for you In colder climates, carpets are the perfect insulator, but they also trap dust, pollen, particles, reduce sound and even clean the air. They can add style and personality to your home. And if you’re a little indecisive and don’t want a permanent fixture to your home, you can always add a rug over a wooden floor and change it time after time. Combine with bright colours and create a space for your home thats exciting, fresh and fun. When deciding on what type of carpet you want for your home, there are a few choices to bear in mind to help you plan for a strong, durable, safe and eco-friendly carpet. Acrylic carpets are more likely to catch fire than a natural fibre such as wool and modern carpets are designed to resist ignition. Whilst wool is considered the ideal fire resistant material, it is also worth remembering that the more dense the material, the harder it is for fires to live on their surface. It is also best to avoid carpets or rugs in any part of the home where there could be naked flames.

Choosing the style Woven: Woven carpets are more expensive as they use the traditional method going back hundreds of years. High quality and coming in a rich variety of colours, the two main producers of this type of carpet in the UK are Axminster carpets and Wilton carpets. Both of which are masters of their trade.

Loop Pile: These carpets are durable and good value for money. The yarn is twisted then cut to produce an even pile.

Hand knotted: Hand-knotted refers to the are intricate pieces of art that are hand woven on special looms. They have a flatter pile with less texture. The most popular types of this kind of weaving are the Oriental or Perisian varieties. These will usually be one off pieces and more expensive but will last for years and years.

Hand tufted: Hand-tufted is a quicker process and requires less skill than hand knotted. It is made by punching strands of wool into a canvas, stretched onto a frame with a tool.

Twist: This type of carpet is made by tightly twisting the yarn during the manufacturing process. It creates a shorter, more dense pile that is easy to keep clean and tidy.

Saxony: A more dense carpet making a more soft and cosier feel to the touch. Perfect for bedrooms, not quite as good for high footfall places like the hallway.

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Spa Decorators Limited, based in Droitwich Spa was established in 1993 and has serviced the local community for over 25 years. • Decorating • Building Work • Carpentry • Plastering • Kitchen Fitting • UPVC Fascia & Sofits

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If you don’t fancy something as permanent as a carpet, opt instead for a statement rug. The Royal Classic Red Carpet (£145.50) from www.runrug.com is hand-tufted in India using 100% wool. The Royal is a classic embossed Aubusson design. Available in timeless colours, The Royal is guaranteed to make an impact in the home. The quality wool gives this carpet the most luxurious pile available.

Choosing the fibre of your carpet With an every increasing interest in the environment and all the ways we can be eco friendly in our homes, we can choose a carpet by assessing how good they are for the planet. However expensive it may be to have a natural material in your home, they are some of the most durable. Eco-friendly carpet choices include those made of;

Wool Wool is a durable material with many benefits. Not only is it a natural insulator, it is renewable and flame retardant. The sustainable fibre is also highly resilient and recovers quickly from furniture compression. Wool is energy efficient and the most forgiving and easiest fiber to clean. It brings strength, resistance, and warmth whilst still being easy to maintain, with the benefit of being hypo-allergenic. Kersaint Cobb is a natural flooring specialist that produces traditional and modern designs that will bring character and richness into your home. Its carpet range reflects the variety and beauty of the natural world in which we live. The Luna in seashell from Kersaint Cobb is made from 70% wool and 30% goat hair and is a simple design. Paired with rich colours such Sisal Sisal is durable and comes in a natural white colour. Non toxic , biodegradable and tough Sisal is native to southern Mexico but widely cultivated and naturalized in many other countries. Sisal & Seagrass, specialise in using only natural material floors in their collection, from sisal, coir, jute, pure wool and seagrass. All are sustainable and natural products that can be used within the home. They recently introduced a bespoke Rug Creator tool so that home owners and interior designers can create a rug that fits in with their home or project. Their Pure Wool collection is created from 100% British wool yarn and patterns are created using various breeds meaning there are no harmful dying processes.

Jute Jute is a natural fibre that can be spun into coarse, strong threads. It has been used for thousands of years to make textiles and is renewable, biodegradable, and carbondioxide neutral. It is soft and durable and has a natural tan colour that adheres to most colour schemes and palettes. n

Odyessy, Twilight www.kersaintcobb.co.uk

By Daisy Bennett