Before Visiting


Measure the floor (or wall) space you are looking to cover, thinking about Minimum size and also a Maximum size for both the length and also the width; as every rug in store is unique it is important to allow tolerances in each direction. You may be limited to a very set size or might want to keep options open for anything from a rug for under a coffee table to a piece which will go underneath furniture. Bear in mind that generally the larger the rug the more expensive it will be.

We find laying newspaper on the floor is useful to workout the shape and sizes that will look right in the room.

You may want to consider your colour scheme and bring along samples of fabrics, wallpapers, paints and sketch of the room and furniture position.

If a rug on our website interests you, please note its reference number so we can display the rug to you in showroom or send you more images and description at request.

It is also possible to source a rug if you don't find a match amongst our current stock. Bespoke and custom rugs are another approach to realize your very own design, colours and sizes.

What to Consider


While searching for a rug, you should consider the following: functional use, decorative appeal, condition, price & investment potential.
When choosing a rug you should take into consideration the level of traffic that it will have to cope with, its functional use. Rugs are designed to be used, even the best ones, but you might not want kids running all over the top of your silk rug or highly detailed Isfahan masterpiece. Fine rugs are best kept for the bedroom, the wall or a formal lounge area which does not see a lot of heavy traffic. Of course darker rugs are best at hiding stains but all quality wool rugs have a degree of natural stain resistance. Common sense would rule that an ivory-fielded rug is not a great idea of the dining room or entrance hall. Thickness is not necessarily an indication of how hard wearing a rug will be, most of the better quality Persian rugs are quite thin in pile-height, around 10mm. Often the better the quality wool and more knots per square inch the shorter the pile can be cut. Persian & Oriental rugs can last for decades with heavy traffic, the best indication of resilience is the quality (not density) of the knotting and the wool; your local Persian rug specialist should be able to point you to the rugs that you should avoid if there is likely to be heavy traffic.

Decortative aspects


Decorative Aspect of the rug are equally, if not most important when buying your rug. While it helps if the rug fits in with your existing décor it is also worth noting that if the rug is of good quality it will be with you longer than most of your furniture so you should go for a rug that you like, not one that will get along with your existing surroundings. Size is of course important and should be able to fit in your room but it is best not to restrict yourself, rugs can go in the centre of the floor or under furniture, it is entirely up to you. Size is a factor in the price so a 8 metre square rug will cost twice as much as a 4 metre square identical rug. Of course some 4 metre square rugs can cost twice as much as an 8 metre square one but it is worth noting. Persian and Oriental rugs have been around for thousands of years, they aren’t about to go out of fashion. We’ve seen people use traditional rugs in ultra-modern spaces creating a stylish transitional effect; traditional rugs perfectly finish any Victorian or Georgian home and exert a peaceful, calming effect in most interiors while geometric and tribal rugs are versatile in that they lend themselves to both traditional and contemporary settings.
It’s important to go for a rug that you like over anything else. Occasionally a rug ‘speaks’ to someone, it’s something we’ve heard many times over the years and we’ve all experienced it with certain rugs. It doesn’t happen often and of course it’s normally a top quality rug that will do it but if it happens to you we recommend you take the plunge or risk regretting it for years to come. These are special pieces and can somehow trigger some emotion to the right person, if you see a rug and it speaks to you the chances are it has your name on it.

The Rugs Condition


The rugs condition ties in with both its functional use and the investment value of the piece. While a rug of any age can be an investment the ones that are most likely to raise in value are the older pieces which are in good condition, older rugs are obviously rarer than new rugs so to find one in pristine condition makes it valuable to collectors of rugs or antiques worldwide. Condition also has an influence on the rugs functional use, a worn or fragile rug is best used in low-traffic areas to ensure a longer life. That is not to say if a rug is not in perfect condition it cannot be used but frayed fringes or selvages (sides) should be repaired before the damage can spread. At times rugs with low pile or damage can be picked up at a reduced price however with very old pieces this is almost expected and low-pile antique rugs still sell for many thousands of pounds. Tip: rugs in worn condition can often be found at cut prices, although you may not like the idea of a worn rug on your floor the same piece hung on a wall makes an attractive and bold artistic statement, in fact often older rugs with wear and tear look better on the wall than new rugs.

Handmade Rug Buying Guide


Handmade rugs are often considered an investment – and with good reason. They have aesthetic, functional and investment value, which means that time and care must be taken in selecting a rug for your home. In addition, the durability of the rug needs to be taken into consideration, and is impacted not only by the quality of the piece but also its location in the home and number of people in the household.
The key factors that determine the quality (and thus the price) of a handmade rug are:
• Size – larger rugs not only contain more material and require more labour, but are more difficult to handle and transport, increasing the cost.
• Workmanship – the most skilled weavers work in workshops in the major cities; there is value placed on their experience and training, reflected in higher wages, as well as the cost associated with running a commercial workshop.
• Country of origin – while beautiful handmade rugs are woven in many countries, more monetary value is placed on rugs rom Persia, due to the known quality of these rugs.
• Materials used (both the type of fibre and the dye) –
as with any product, a higher cost for inputs is reflected in a higher final product price. In this instance, rugs made with silk command a higher price than those made with wool, and rugs made with wool shorn from spring lambs will be more expensive than wool from an older animal that has been slaughtered for food. Likewise, natural dyes are more time-consuming to produce, so naturally-dyed yarn will be more expensive than synthetically-dyed yarn.
• Number of knots – to make more detailed and intricate rugs, the weaver needs to use a greater number of knots per square inch. This level of detail takes more time, adding to the cost of the rug.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a rug that will truly last and retain its value, here are the key tips to consider:
• Go to a specialist oriental carpet shop; their range has been carefully selected and sourced by experts
• Use the information on this website (Rug Glossary) to guide the questions you should ask and help you understand how different factors impact value
• Ensure that you are buying from a source that offers after-sales service and a guarantee
• Ask for a home approval period, allowing you to try the rug in your own home; this will give you a chance to see whether the carpet’s size, design and colour scheme works well in your home

Quality and Number of Knots


The number of knots in a carpet is one of the key factors that determines its quality. As the number of knots increases, the design becomes sharper, in the same way that a high-resolution photo has a higher number of dots per square inch (DPS) than a standard resolution photo.
A higher number of knots also creates a stronger foundation and protects the pile.
In general, carpets with a higher number of knots are more expensive. This makes sense; more material is used, more time is taken in the weaving process, and more expert workmanship is required to ensure precision in the design. Such rugs, because they are expensive, will generally use the best quality wool, the best dye and a carefully prepared design.
It can, however, be argued that the quality of the wool and dye are more important than the number of knots. It is not unusual to see a beautiful antique carpet made with fewer knots but excellent quality wool and dye.

Knot Density

The following is an approximate guide to knot density:
• Up to 30 knots per sq. in: very coarse
• 30 — 60 knots per sq. in: coarse
• 60 — 130 knots per sq. in: medium fine
• 130 — 160 knots per sq. in: fine
• 160 - 290 knots per sq. in: very fine
• Over 290 knots per sq. in: extremely fine
Note that the thickness of the pile is not an indication of the rug's quality; more often than not the finest carpets have the shortest pile.