HANALEI BAY DESIGNS Out of sight, out of mind, the saying goes, and because we're told from youth to walk with our chins up, it's no wonder what's underfoot is overlooked.
Often an afterthought,
Rug rules
area rugs can add artistic
flair to the look of a roomBy Ruby Mata-Viti
ruby@starbulletin.comDo-it-yourself design divas who fuss over details such as wall hangings, window coverings and table accents seldom turn their attention on area rugs.
Although no one really looks down on these floor accents, they're often treated as afterthoughts, when with vibrant colors and intricate weaves they can add impact to any room arrangement and could provide a unifying element.
Even without the lore of the Arabian Nights, area carpets can be quite magical. Their cushy tufts do wonders for the millions of nerve endings of feet trapped in shoes all day. With the right padding, area rugs, also called throws, can pull an eclectic grouping of furniture together on any type of flooring, even wall-to-wall carpet.
Also, like couch slipcovers and throw pillows, rugs are an easy way to change the look of a room. Depending on the type, it doesn't have to cost a fortune. Some are beautiful enough to use as wall hangings.
Although area rugs are deemed simply decorative today, they have practical beginnings. Early American settlers used animal skins as floor coverings to block winter air from creeping into floor cracks of their rustic cabins. Tibetans wove carpets for centuries for bedding, saddle blankets and meditation mats in monasteries.
HAWAII HAS COME a long way from use of the lau hala mat alone. Wall-to-wall carpet was the rage in the early '60s, according to David Arita, president of American Carpet One, a company that specializes in carpeting and flooring such as wood, stone and tile. Although it's traditional here to kick off one's slippers before entering a home, and quite nice to feel the cushioning beneath one's feet, isle homeowners concerned about humidity and health are beginning to see the value of these types of flooring -- perfect as accents but not pervasive enough to trap unmanageable amounts of allergens and require constant maintenance.
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM
Area rugs such as "Volcano" by Hanalei Bay Designs at top, add interest to a room and can unify its elements. Above, Gwen Nagata, sales manager at Indich Collection, takes a break on their popular Hawaiian dhurrie rug, in an ulu design that also graces a lobby of the Molokai Ranch resort.
These days, there are so many specialty shops, carpet outlets and home improvement stores, it's hard to know where to begin to shop.
For starters, those in the field say budget and existing furniture are prime factors to consider.
Prices can range from affordable to extremely expensive, depending on method and degree of artistry. At the high end are handmade wool or silk varieties, or a combination of the two fibers. According to the World Floor Covering Association's consumer guide, rugs made of these materials are so durable, they're prime for heirloom and collectible status.
As far as existing furniture, coming full circle with animal skin if your home has a modern motif, or lau hala if it has a Hawaiian one, could have pleasing results.
LUCKY MAGAZINE'S January issue featured a redo of an apartment using an eight-pelt sheepskin rug ($639) from Overland.com. (We checked; their pelts are byproducts of the meat industry.)
LUCKY MAGAZINE
The soft texture of a sheepskin rug softens the sharp lines of 20th-century modern furniture.
Room stylist Allison Tick used the rug's cloudlike texture and organic shape to provide contrast, softening the sharp, sterile lines of modern furniture. The Web site sells the rugs in various sizes, as well as cow pelts, but you might find some for much less on eBay.
Lau hala, bamboo or tatami mats are suitable for homes with Hawaiian decor, as seen recently in a model home at the Peninsula in Hawaii Kai. The plant fibers may not be as up to wear and tear nor as inviting to sprawl upon, but you might forgive these points for the low cost. These are available at Bamboo Barn/Teak & Asian Treasures, INDO Pacific Traders, East of Java and similar stores. An unlined, 6-by-9-foot bamboo mat sells for about $200.
If you're wedded to Hawaiian and won't stray, Bill Indich, owner of Indich Collection and a veteran in the field, said you may as well invest in a rug that's top-notch.
Indich, who considers himself the inventor of the Hawaiian motif area rug, said his 8-by-10-foot Hawaiian Dhurrie Rug (about $500) is an easy match for island contemporary furnishings.
The entrepreneur opened shop 24 years ago, when "business was dismal because wall-to-wall was trendy." His stick-to-itiveness earned Indich Collection a mention last summer in Architectural Digest magazine and has led to the opening of two stores stocking hundreds of designs. Custom work costs about the same as purchasing a carpet off the floor, he said.
Indich's stock, some of which can be viewed online at www.hawaiianrugs.com, is imported from Nepal, India, China, Pakistan and Iran, and are mostly handmade using wool or silk. "These will last," he said.
NO MATTER WHAT your decor, Melissa Vincenty, president of Hanalei Bay Designs, a vendor company at Costco that stocks mostly contemporary fare, said area rugs are a good way to pull a look together.
Vincenty, a part-time attorney, said customers often ask her to "design around their couch. I tell them, 'Sure, bring in a fabric swatch,' or I'll go to their home."
A newcomer to the marketplace, the company, owned by Vincenty and husband Jamie Mather, a computer specialist, are presenting an exhibition of rug designs as artwork at the Waipio Costco.
The show, continuing through March 9, will feature demonstrations of the traditional Tibetan hand-knotted method which the company uses. Their rugs are made in Nepal and although they don't have a storefront, "We're doing quite well at the Costcos," and through the Web site www.hanaleibaydesigns.com.
Wall-to-wall carpets don't stop people from using throws, she said. Renters personalize their living quarters using rugs because they have little or no control over choice of flooring; or homeowners use them to protect high traffic areas. In these cases, they'll need a special padding, which most rug stores stock, to keep the throw from constant shifting.
When looking for a rug, she suggests considering tuft count, especially for high-use areas.
Think of tufts as pixels, the dots of color per inch that create an image on a computer or television screen, she said. The higher the count, the tighter the weave, which makes the piece stronger and allows the design to be more intricate.
IF THESE OPTIONS still don't fit the flooring bill, another avenue to try is the remnant section of a carpet store.
Arita, who has been with American Carpet One since it started 29 years ago, said the store phased out its accent rug collection here during wall-to-wall carpet heydays, when "people weren't buying them."
But the flooring store has a section of bound carpet remnants in various sizes, ready to take home. A 6-by-9-foot rug costs about $160. He recommends Berber, which most are drawn to for their loop texture and diamond or triangular patterns. "Plus, it's neutral. Some people don't like too much pattern. The texture gives the rug character."
But if you've been admiring the swirly shapes and bright colors on the carpet in the pediatrician's waiting room, you just might be lucky enough to find it.
A good alternative, he said, is commercial-grade carpet, which they'll cut to spec. Used in department stores, malls and offices, they're made to withstand heavy wear, and a store like his can sell these retail.
Arita said customers can pick from samples and the store will finish the edge at $1 per foot, which includes cutting. Costs would run about $500 for a top-grade 12-by-9-foot rug. The process takes about a week.
For more information and ideas about using throw rugs, consumers can also check out www.hgtv.com.
Whatever the choice, your space deserves red-carpet treatment.
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Rug rules
Melissa Vincenty, of Hanalei Bay Designs, offers these tips on choosing an area rug:
PLACEMENT
>> When using one large rug in a living or family room, make sure there is an even border of flooring around all four sides, or at least that the borders of exposed flooring opposite each other are even. The rug shouldn't be so large that it touches or rides up a baseboard.>> Try using two rugs of varying scale and design in one room to define different areas or functions, which adds interest to a room. The rugs should be complementary, however, whether in pattern or color.
>> As a general rule, keep front legs of furniture pieces on the rugs and the back legs off.
>> Consider color and room decor when choosing a rug. If possible, bring wallpaper and fabric samples with you when you shop.
>> Bedrooms are ideal for area rugs as they make the room cozy and muffle sound.
SIZE MATTERS
>> The rug can be a foundation for your room and should be big enough to anchor a furniture grouping, but it should not serve as wall-to-wall carpeting.>> To make a room seem larger, go with the largest rug that the room can accommodate, exposing a nice proportion of hardwood, at least 12 to 18 inches.
>> The perfect dining room rug is one that is 4 feet larger than the width and length of the table. If the rug is large enough so the chairs can be moved without falling off the edge, it's the right size. Surrounding furniture, such as a china cabinet, should be on the floor, not on the rug.
TUFT ENOUGH
Intricate designs need more knots, whereas bold designs do not require as many. Finer knots relate to higher costs, but that doesn't mean a modestly priced carpet of lower knot count is of lesser quality or durability.Tibetan/Nepalese rugs usually have lower knot density because their designs do not require a fine knot. These lend themselves to a more relaxed style of decorating.
HAND- VS. MACHINE-KNOTTED
Look at the backside of these two styles of rugs, and the differences will be obvious. With machine-made rugs, the wool fiber is put into place by machine, then secured with latex backing, making it the back rough to the touch. The latex and glue break down over time, causing wear and holes.In hand tufting, a tufting gun is used to force yarn into the carpet grid. These rugs are sometimes marketed as handmade.
Hand-carved rugs are machine-made rugs that have some finishing details cut out by hand. These usually have fake fringe sewn on, as well as canvas backing.
In a hand-knotted rug, the design can be seen on the back of the rug as well, created out of tiny rows of knots. More knots allow for a more intricate pattern of design. The more knots per square inch, the more labor it took. A skilled craftsman will tie about 800 knots an hour, taking months to complete a large rug.
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