The Red Carpet To Impress Visitors To Your Home

What do you think of when you hear the expression "the red carpet?" You probably conjured up images of celebrities or royalty. Actually though, this was not really the original use for red carpets. The process of becoming what they are today is an interesting journey.

These days, the red carpet has come to have a different meaning. Of course, celebrities, royalty and other important people still walk on red carpets for special occasions, but there are other things that they are used for as well. Most often, a reference to a red carpet indicates that something special is going on.

The "red carpet treatment" is where all the stops are pulled out to make someone feel welcome, yet many businesses have taken advantage of this perceived idea to sell their products in a different way. They hope that the "red carpet" reference will make people more likely to buy their products and services. Sometimes this marketing ploy works and sometimes is doesn't.

The red carpet has had a very long history. From being used as a dirt guard, as a welcoming mat for celebrities and dignitaries, to being used for marketing purposes, it has had a long and interesting life.

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Turkish Carpets For Better Home Decor

Because of their beauty and artistry, Turkish carpets are highly sought after. They are loved throughout the world for their warm, rich colors and intricate patterns. Depending on how they are made, and the materials used, they can be used as carpets for floors or as wall hangings. Given the expense of obtaining one of these carpets, as well as the possibility of fakes, it can be helpful to know more about them before purchasing one.

Before buying Turkish carpets, it is important to be able to tell the difference between the various production methods. Typically, wool on wool carpets have a low knot count and the designs are non-intricate, usually consisting of geometric patterns.

Wool on cotton generally has a higher knot count and the designs are more intricate, while silk on silk has the highest knot count and the most intricate patterns. In addition to material, you can tell whether natural or chemical dyes have been used by rubbing a damp white cloth on the carpet.

If color bleeds off, in addition to the fibers, then chemical dyes have been used, which creates the possibility of bleeding onto lighter colors in the rug when if it is washed. Finally, turn the carpet over and see if all the squares of the weave are the same size. If they are, then it has been machine spun, which weakens wool and shortens the lifespan of the carpet.

Not all Turkish carpets are available for sale. Weavers also make them for their own use to cover floors, as wall hangings, and covers for protection from the severe weather changes in those few areas where the rugs are made. Combine those factors with the decline in hand weaving, and the rugs can be difficult to find.

Although these rugs are still of heirloom quality, it's important to know what you are looking at before buying one.

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Oriental Rugs Decorate With Style

Some individuals may not know that Oriental rugs, which are made in different areas, carry different patterns. These beautiful pieces of art are as individual as paintings and are so much more than just a carpet to cover the living room floor. These beautiful rugs can add a touch of class and romance to any room and even tell a story with their designs.

Oriental rugs are very unique and carry different designs, depending on where the rug was made. A rug that was made in China will most likely have patterns that contain dragons and exotic birds. The rugs that are created in Persia or India will likely have elaborate floral designs. It truly depends on the area where they are made.

No matter what rug is chosen, you can be sure that they are truly unique and offer gorgeous craftsmanship and intriguing designs. While many people have a favorite type of rug that they enjoy, many love the fact that they can choose from different types of designs and never be bored with the patterns.

The process of making Oriental rugs is not exactly an easy one, but what form of art is truly easy? These beautiful rugs that we use to cover our floors are truly works of art and should be appreciated as such. If you are thinking of purchasing one of these beautiful area rugs, then consider it a work of art and not just a way to cover your flooring.

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Tufted Carpets For Affordable Home Improvement

A look a the history of tufted carpets proves to be very intriguing. It all began with a Georgia woman in the 1890s. Catherine Evans Whitener began hand crafting tufted products. Her crafts were so popular that it soon became a craze that spread throughout Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolina's.

The 1930s showed Singer, a producer of small sewing machines, adapting his machines to the tufted textile industry. This allowed companies to quickly generate large quantities of robes, throw rugs, toilet covers and bedspreads. By the 1940s, the tufted-textile industry had progressed into a very profitable one.

Manufacturers of wool carpets soon began putting the new tufted carpets down by claiming that they were of poor quality because of the cotton fibers used. This issue was resolved for tufted textile manufacturers when DuPont introduced the bulked, continuous filament nylon.

Performing at the same level as wool, the new nylon was as inexpensive as cotton and could be made and sold for a square foot price that was half that of wool carpeting. The 1960s proved to be a decade of significant growth in the carpet industry.

Four companies controlled the majority of the carpeting industry in the year 2000. Beaulieu, Mohawk, Shaw and Interface were the four companies that produced 80% of the carpets made in the United States.

The newest company in the group was Interface. Interface chose not to get into the residential carpet market, and instead ventured into the relatively new commercial carpeting market. This was when the tufted carpets industry was introduced to "modular carpeting," or floor mats.

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