Step lively on fun, fantastic and fabulous area rugs

Dyann Espinosa
Special to FineLife Home
Photos submitted

More homes today are being designed or remodeled with large expanses of bare floor made from wood or other natural materials. This lustrous palette provides the perfect backdrop for area rugs that can visually anchor different living zones in the home, direct patterns of movement, reduce noise and add softness and create a personal statement.
When choosing an area rug, consider the amount of traffic it will receive and how it will stand up to cleaning. There are many fibers to select from, depending on your needs and taste. The rich feel of wool is still unmatched by man made fibers and wool produces a long-lasting luxury carpet. A new version of nylon, called “soft nylon,” is used for quality carpets. It is made from a very fine denier (small gauge) fiber, which gives the rug a good feel – known as its “hand” to carpet professionals. Further down the scale are man-made fibers such as olefin, a product that weathers well and resists stains, but will not hold up to high traffic.

Fine fabrics for your floors
Feizy Chameleon
Deceptively detailed tints masquerade as solid color blocks in the hand-tufted Chameleon carpet line. Woven from wool and faux silk by artisans in India, what appears to be a bright, straightforward design looks simple and playful at first, but upon closer look, fine gradations in the thick wool strands produce illusory, beautiful effects. Price: 4 x 6 - $513
H. Frank, 28 W. Spain St.
707.938.5800

Tread the Celeb carpet
Mary-Kate and Ashley City Blocks rug
One of the most popular “girls” brands in America, the Mary-Kate and Ashley line is an effervescent assortment of funky florals, bold geometrics and mod motifs in a vivid color palette. Teens and tweens can keep up with trendy fashion with these cool combinations of color, texture and pattern. Made in the U.S. Price: 5 x 7 - $219
www.shopmarykateandashley.com

Tibetan tranquility
Designer Series Bamboo Blue
Hand-knotted with pure Tibetan wool and silk, this collection of 100-percent wool area rugs offers distinctive, contemporary designs in updated natural dyes and colors. Created for a variety of modern interiors, the color, size and design can be customized to suit any environment or space. Handmade in Nepal. Price: 4 x 6 - $1599
www.modernrugs.com

Dream weaver
Custom rug design
Create your own design at Build-A-Rug’s online site. Start with the theme, such as modern or traditional, then pick from 140 colors, add woven fabric borders, select the pile, even match the carpet to your furniture. Custom rugs are made with 58-ounce-weight carpet, are one-half-inch thick and meet the standards for the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Indoor Air Quality Green Label Carpet Testing Program. Price: 4 x 6 – from $695 - $975. www.buildarug.com